Samsung’s smart TVs are getting smarter next year.
The Korean company announced today that it will showcase its 2014 Smart TV at the Consumer Electronics Show in January, which features improved voice interaction capability by focusing on the most frequently-used functions and taking usage patterns into consideration.
Users can change their TV channel in one step by just saying the channel number, unlike Samsung’s 2013 Smart TV which requires a two-step channel change. When using voice interaction to search for information, a pop-up window appears on the bottom of the TV with search results, and users can move to the app and see the details.
Other than voice interaction, Samsung’s 2014 Smart TV will see improved motion control via a new feature called the “finger gesture.” This means users can change the TV channel, adjust the volume, and search and pick what they want to watch just by using their fingers. They can also stop videos by simply moving their finger counterclockwise.
The voice interaction service, which understands natural languages, will also expand into 12 new markets next year. It is currently available in 11 countries.
Headline image via Odd Andersen/AFP/Getty Images
Forget the gold iPhone, here’s the 18ct gold HTC One valued at $4,400 – but you can’t buy one
While some handset manufacturers have recently released gold color versions of their devices like the iPhone 5s or Galaxy S4, none of them are actual gold, which is what makes the Gold HTC One a little different.
Before you get too excited though, there are only 5 of the gold HTC handsets in existence, valued at around £2,750 ($4,416), and one of those is reserved for the winner of the Best Newcomer category in the MOBO awards on October 19.
As well as having an 18ct gold plated front and rear, the device also has MOBO 18 etched on to it, to commemorate the 18th anniversary of the awards. Let’s just hope HTC is still sponsoring a category in the awards when it moves into its 24th year.
Featured Image Credit – AFP/ Getty Images
Samsung Galaxy S4 Active will be available on AT&T for $199 from June 21, pre-orders begin tomorrow
US mobile network provider AT&T will begin selling the Galaxy S4 Active, a new ruggedized version of Samsung’s latest flagship Android smartphone , on June 21.
Consumers will be able to pick up the device both in-store and online for $199.99 on a two-year agreement, although it’s unknown exactly how high the monthly instalments will be, as well as the data, texts and minutes included in the call plan.
AT&T will begin taking pre-orders for the device tomorrow in both ‘Urban Gray’ and ‘Dive Blue’. There’s no word yet on the ‘Orange Flare’ color variant, however.
The Samsung Galaxy S4 Active is a no-compromise smartphone that offers consumers high-end specs in a durable body. It boasts a 5-inch 1080p display at an impressive 443 pixels per inch, as well as a 1.9 GHz quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage.
It differs from the original Samsung Galaxy S4, however, because it’s also water-resistant for up to 30 minutes, at a depth of one meter. The device also features a new ‘Aqua Mode’ in the camera app, which increases the detail and clarity for both video and photographs shot underwater.
“It’s truly summer-proof,” Jeff Bradley, senior vice president for Devices and Developer Services at AT&T said.