Review: Samsung Smart TV (Preview in Dubai)

From 'idiot box' into a smart box - that's how Samsung sees the Smart TV will fit. In a special Dubai bloggers meetup held March 31 at Media One Hotel, Samsung exclusively unveiled their latest innovation and let us experience some of its features, well, some.

Basically, it is a TV that has access to the internet. Through its Smart Hub - the user menu interface, you can socialize, browse any websites, search for contents you want to watch - did I say in 3D? And like your smartphones, you can also install apps in it. So you can access Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Google Talk or your mail, etc while watching. Imagine while you're watching football, you're seeing your Facebook wall and you can easily exchange rants and raves with your friends. Cool huh? Also, the Smart TV recommends contents related to your interests, primarily by your browsing history.

What we've spent a lot time on was its 3D feature. I must admit, it's really amazing. The picture quality is superb. I've also learned that it also has 3D sound system so it's definitely a shoo-in for a home theater.

Trying the LED 3D viewing 

Another cool feature of the Smart TV is converting 2D videos into 3D - any video - be it from YouTube, a DVD or even a mobile phone video.

File Transfer
Transferring photos, videos or music from your mobile device to the TV is so effortless. Thru AllShare, you can wirelessly transfer files from any compatible media such as Samsung Galaxy Tab or other Smartphones and hard drives.

Input Mode
The presenter used what appears like a typical remote control to navigate through during the presentation. Although they say, a remote control with a trackball on the front and a QWERTY keyboard at the back is coming out. There's also an Android app to download on your smartphone that you can use as remote control.

What apps does Samsung Smart TV support?
You can download Samsung Apps - which according to the presenter have around 300 apps to date. I know right! This is also what most of the bloggers cry about. But Samsung sees the number to grow byat least a  thousand by the end of the year. If you're an applications developer, you can contribute via their Samsung TV apps SDK.

The Expert Panel's Clamor
One of the most evident clamor from the bloggers is pointed to the lack of Bluetooth support. It's just an uncool idea to have a wireless smart device that doesn't support one of the basics and first in short-range connectivity.

While currently it doesn't have a built-in web cam, I hope it would support a 3rd-party webcam plugin too.

Nevertheless, I'm excited to pimp my living room with a Samsung Smart TV. It's like having a YouTube on a boob tube - and more than that. Did I say you can also play your favorite games, and you can convert them into 3D as well?

More photos from the Bloggers Meetup:

Hangal na pagmangha

Bakit marami sa ating mga Pilipino (tayo) ang namamangha tuwing nakaririnig ng matalinhagang salitang Tagalog? [Read: Wow ang lalim nun pre!] Tuluyan na nga ba tayong nagiging dayunan sa sarili nating wika? Nawa'y hindi na maulit ang nangyari sa Alibata -ang sarili nating alpabeto na hinayaan lang nating maglaho nang yakapin natin ang dayuhang sistema ng pagbaybay.

Hindi naman kailangang talikuran ang Ingles. Ngunit hindi ba't mas kahanga-hanga kung magiging bihasa sa dalawang wika? 

Burj Khalifa (yeah, the Burj Dubai) spectacular, dramatic unveiling...

 

It was Amazing, Brilliant, Champ, Dramatic, Exemptional, Fabulous, Glamourous, Hyper, Inspiring, Joyful... I could almost complete the alphabet with all positive and great adjectives to describe the launch last night. Let the pictures tell the story. [More on my Facebook - click here]

Filipino artists world tours growing yet limiting

A lot of Filipino artists, mainstream musicians particularly are enjoying the luxury of touring worldwide. They should thank us - 9 million expats scattered around the globe for their so-called 'world tours.'

It's also surprising that even the super-newbies (and the super-oldies) get into this chance. Good for them. Gone are the days when we only get to see the likes of Gary V or Regine or APO performing on the world stage. Don't get me wrong. I do like the idea that the music we love are now the one coming closer to us.

But our musicians could do more I guess. While they strut their wares in foreign land, they still 'just' perform in front of us - OFWs. A lot of artists from the Philippines can now be lined-up with the international mainstream (aside of course from Arnel Pineda, Allan Pineda and Charice). Wouldn't it be better if they could also pull audiences from other nation?

Pilipino para sa mundo!