Galaxy Beam, Tab 310 and 13 other products unveiled by Samsung

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd, has showcased its diverse array of new products at the Samsung South West Asia Forum 2012 in Bangkok. The company unveiled a line up of thirteen new products along with sharing its strategy on how to expand its Asian markets.“The South West Asia region remains a strong growth market for Samsung and will continue to grow as consumers today lead increasingly dynamic lifestyles, requiring technology and products that will enrich and enhance their experiences,” said Mr. B D Park, President and CEO of Samsung Electronics, South West Asia and Managing Director of Samsung India. “To achieve our goals, we must push boundaries. We will continue to ensure that our products are always one step ahead, through new product innovation and continued investment in research and development in the region.”

13 new products unveiled!

In 2011, Samsung Electronics achieved record sales of $143 billion. In South West Asia, the company achieved a healthy growth in 2011 and retained its number one position in a number of product categories including flat panel televisions, side by side refrigerators, and colour monitors. It also became the market leader for smartphones for the first time.

More from News & Analysis

What is the US HIRE Bill and why is India’s $250-billion IT sector worried? Is the internet dead? What's this theory that OpenAI's Sam Altman says might be true?

Let’s quickly have a look at the devices that were unveiled. 

ES8000 LED TV

The ES8000 LED TV features the slim bezel Samsung first introduced in 2011, complemented this year by a new matching arch flow stand and an increased screen size of up to 75 inches. Inside, a dual-core processor powers the ES8000, allowing users to multitask by surfing the web while using or downloading multiple apps simultaneously. A variety of content is also available through Samsung Apps. 

The ES8000 LED TV comprises three new features:

• Smart Interaction enables Smart TV owners to communicate with their TVs via voice control, motion control and face recognition. For example, consumers can use the Samsung Skype HD camera and dual-microphones to prompt the TV. Say “Hi TV” and turn on voice control, speak “Web Browser” to get online, and browse and select results or increase the volume by just pointing a hand.
• Smart Content includes the expansion of more robust and personalized content through Smart TV apps, as well as AllShare Play, which enables consumers to easily access personal content across multiple device screens – anywhere, anytime. Additional exclusive services include Family Story, Fitness and Kids.
• Smart Evolution is defined by Samsung’s new Evolution Kit. Each year, the kit will include all necessary hardware and software enhancements using proprietary system-on-chip technology. Select 2012 TVs will come equipped with a simple slot-in to the back of the TV.

GALAXY Tab 310

Joining the GALAXY family this year is the GALAXY Tab 310 (7 inch), the first series to run on the Android 4.0 operating system. Available in 3G and Wi-Fi versions, the GALAXY Tab 310 device is launching across different markets starting April 2012. The GALAXY Tab 310 is powered by a 1GHz dual core processor and features WiFi Direct and built-in social networking features such as ChatON, Samsung’s cross-platform communication service and voice call capability as well.

SMART Wi-Fi Camera

The shift from analog to digital imaging has never been so evident than with today’s culture of instantly capturing, uploading and sharing photos with friends and family. To make this process more accessible, convenient and fast, Samsung introduced a full line of SMART cameras and camcorders with the new SMART Wi-Fi technology.

Leading the new line-up of Wi-Fi enabled SMART cameras is the WB850F, a long zoom camera that consists a 21x optical zoom and ultra-compact design to give users the freedom to shoot in clarity while on the move. With Wi-Fi Direct, photo enthusiasts can link their camera to a phone or tablet for photo sharing across platforms like Facebook, YouTube or Picasa. Photos can even be emailed directly from the camera for simple sharing. Additionally, users can use the Auto Backup function to transfer images to their PC without having to carry around cables.

New Generation of Home Appliances

For 2012, Samsung will expand the use of innovative features in its home appliances in Asia. The company is approaching this by investing in the development and launch of new products that push boundaries, in the present and future, through three modes: Eco, Space and Smart Future.

The first one is the new air conditioner, S-Crystal Plus, which features significant energy savings. Through the Smart Saver technology feature, the air conditioner automatically cools the room in the least amount of time necessary, helping consumers save up to 31 percent on electricity bills. In addition, Samsung’s brand new Side by Side Refrigerator includes Samsung’s innovative Digital Inverter Compressor which enhances cooling performance and energy efficiency by up to 26% compared to conventional refrigerators.

Samsung has also developed the SBS refrigerator which not only fits well with their kitchen line but gives 890-liter capacity, India’s largest to date. This is achieved by applying Space Max– a technology that increases the inner storage space, by reducing the thickness of the product wall without affecting the refrigerator’s body size.

Delivering on the Smart Future vision, the new Top Load washing machine is equipped with Samsung’s Wobble 3D Technology, which saves water consumption by upto 30 percent and eliminates tangles and prevents fabric damage caused by friction. Developed specially for the Indian market, the washer is equipped with special functions, such as Sari Course, which enables consumers to gently wash their Saris with convenience and without any worries of damaging them. 

EcoBubble Digital Inverter Compressor & Motor

This year also marks Samsung’s investment in the development of components, specifically for the expansion of its Digital Inverter Motors within the EcoBubble line-up and Digital Inverter Compressor for the Refrigerator Line-up. The latest motors and compressors feature energy consumption and durability. In fact, Samsung offers a 10-year warranty to consumers for these components.

Samsung Galaxy Beam

• The upcoming projector phone, the Galaxy Beam has been a head turner all around. Here’s what the spec sheet for the Galaxy Beam looks like: 
• 4-inch WVGA TFT display with a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels
• 1GHz dual core processor
• Android 2.3 Gingerbread
• 6Gb RAM, 8GB internal memory
• 5 megapixel rear camera with LED flash, 720p recording
• 1.3 megapixel front camera
• 3G, EDGE / GPRS, Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth 3.0+ HS
• microSD card slot expandable up to 32GB
• 3.5 mm headphone jack
• 2000 mAh battery

The World’s Slimmest Notebook

Also unveiled was the second generation of Samsung’s Notebook Series 9. The new Series 9 is 21 percent thinner and 28 percent smaller than its predecessor. The Series 9 stands as the thinnest premium notebook in the market. It has an Intel Core i7 Processor and Samsungs SSDs and powers up in 9.8 seconds with a wake time of 1.4 seconds. The notebook has a single-shell aluminum body with a sand-blasted surface that prevents fingerprints. Its Super Bright Plus display enables superior picture quality with 400nit brightness.

Powerful Office Technology

In addition to the company’s notebooks, Samsung announced its mono laser multi-function printer, the SCX-3406FW. The printer’s “ecobutton”  aims to reduce overall print costs by more than 20 percent. The device also comes set with a downloadable mobile print application, enabling customers to print and order items all from the convenience of a single smart device, such as PCs, mobile phones and tablets. The SCX-3406FW has a 20 page per minute printing speed, along with faxing, scanning and copying capabilities.

Samsung also announced its 27-inch Series 9 (S27B970) monitor that provides life-like picture quality. The S27B970 features Samsung’s exclusive professional-grade Plane Line Switching (PLS) panel technology for accurate colour reproduction with over one billion colours that can be viewed at wide horizontal and vertical angles. With customization and attention to detail in mind, the new Series 9 monitor utilizes Samsung’s exclusive Natural Colour Expert technology for maximum panel performance.

So, that wraps up the entire list of products that Samsung has announced. Pricing and availability will be coming soon enough, so stay tuned to this space.