IFA 2009: Samsung Press Conference

[David Mackenzie]

9:58am:
Here we are at the Samsung press conference. Soaking wet, but we made it!

10am:

Boo-Keun Yoon, president of Samsung's Visual Display Division appears. BusinessWeek calls him a "master of innovation", so let's hear what he has to say.

He mentions the (sigh) "global economic downturn". Europe plays a key part on the growth and way out, though. It's one of the most sophisticated markets, and it plays a key part in Samsung's success.

"We continue to innovate and create new product, and with them, new markets. For example, the LED TV [sic] market has been driven by Samsung". I was not aware that Samsung manufactured LED TVs; of course, they are discussing an LCD TV with LED backlighting. Apparently they've sold more than 1million of them, and think they will sell 2m before the end of this year.

10:07am:

"Seamless digital experience" (interconnected devices) and "eco friendly products" (Samsung "Planet First brand") are mentioned. This is all very familiar.

10:09am:

Michael Zoller, of the European Visual Office, takes the stand.

Since 2006, Samsung has held the no. 1 TV market share position in Europe. Every 4th TV set sold in Europe is a Samsung - an impressive statistic. A key driver has been LED [LED backlight LCD TVs]. They are ready to provide a "full range of LED TV [sic]".

They have everything iside: HD tuners, too. In Germany, from today, ALL LED TVs will be CI+ qualified. [So, German customers no longer have the need for a separate cable/satellite STB]. Too bad UK broadcasters can't agree on this sort of functionality. And, Internet@TV, which apparently means that a PC is no longer required to browse the web. (It will probably still be required to browse the web and actually get things done, though!)

Music video channel with "VEEQUALIZER" feature. You tell it what you like and/or don't like and it plays what you want to see.

All BD players will be able to play YouTube videos. (So we can get the best image quality along with the worst, in one box).

And all TVs are DLNA compliant.

A digital camera with an LCD screen beside the lens - for the MySpace generation?

10:19am:
An "LED Monitor" for computer use, XL2379.

10:22am:
Talk of displays is over and we're now onto washing machines. A thoroughly disappointing lack of new TV/projector models means that we leave for our next destination.