Samsung CES 2014 press event liveblog

by John_A

Based on what Samsung announced at CES 2013, we have a pretty good idea of what to expect at this year’s show. Namely, some mammoth (and ultra-expensive) UHD TVs, with a few high-end laptops thrown in for good measure. Needless to say, there will be big news, and we will be there taking it all in. Join us for the live play-by-play!

January 6, 2014 2:00:00 PM PST

About 17 minutes to go and it’s already getting rather crowded in here. Apparently there’s also a room just to contain the long line outside.

You guys, you guys — we’re getting close!

I’m here with the delightful Richard Lai and Mr. Zach Honig (on photos).

We have a lot of time — I mean a LOT — waiting for this presser to start. We even made this Vine: https://t.co/P25TgA8t5x

The waiting experience was actually a huge improvement over last year’s Samsung presser at CES. I may have had to push a journo or two.

As you can imagine, it’s packed to the brim here at Samsung’s setup in the Mandalay Bay.

Samsung’s all about “discover the world of possibilities” this time. What could that mean?

It’s fun sitting next to Richard because he knows who everyone is. Sunny Lee, a display exec, just walked by.

So… predictions about what’s in store? Tweet ‘em: @sarahsilbert, @richardlai, @zachhonig

“We’re about to begin, thank you.”

Music is mellower than it has been in past years. It’s good, because events like this already have our heart rate up. There are just that many hoops to jump through to get a seat up front.

“Discover the World of Possibilities” is the tagline on-stage. Hmmm…

@B1zzle predicts a Wifi toaster, which I’m frankly surprised Samsung hasn’t made yet.

Zach got a prime seat up front, so you can thank him for the great photos on this liveblog.

The music playing now is some sort of samba-jazz, kind of like one of the radio stations in the game Sims.

We’re starting!!!

Video montage: happy families, creative people with stereos in the background, a woman who looks entirely too happy to be holding a vacuum.

Just realized that Samsung’s already showing a massive curved screen in front of us all.

“Welcome BK Yoon!”

“I’m here to talk about just two things today: 1) the changes ahead of us, and 2) how Samsung will conquer them.”

“These changes come not from technology, but from consumers like you, who are choosing new technologies.”

Talking about the growth of smart devices and increasing adoption rates.

“Four key factors will change our world.”

“Creativity, and mobile devices”

“Second: globalization.” Growing cities need to get smarter.

In 10 years, one billion people will be over the age of 16. “How can we make the lives of an aging population more comfortable?”

“Extreme weather events.” This is actually pretty interesting; thinking about some of the biggest cultural trends that affect our use of technology

In all of this, he says, the home has become an even more important place than ever. “A protective home.”

“A flexible home” — working from home is on the rise.

“By working at home we can be more productive and spend more times with our families.” Marissa Mayer, care to respond?

Finally, he emphasizes, a home should be responsive. It should know you — as in know your thermostat preferences, etc.

Yoon’s talking about Samsung’s partnerships with content providers.

Aaaand now talking about examples of a Samsung Smart Home. You’re watching an instructional cooking video on the living-room TV, and it ports seamlessly to the kitchen.

Not to take you away from the action, but some juicy Samsung embargoes just lifted: http://www.engadget.com/2014/01/06/samsung-galaxy-tab-pro-series-2014/

“Samsung will provide solutions” for the home of the future.

Now Samsung America President Tim Baxter is on stage, having already said “the internet of things.”

Smart Designs / Smart Connections / Smart Devices — “that’s what we’ve given our consumers.”

Baxter’s touching on Chromebooks, saying Samsung’s been a leader in this market, getting the laptops into schools.

Samsung is looking at how consumers “live their passions.”

Another tagline here: “Living smarter.”

He gives the Samsung Smart Home as an example, citing the device control for home settings.

Using just one voice command on the Galaxy Gear to switch off everything at home as you go out seems like a neat idea.

The Smart Home concept is here at CES, and more info lives here: http://www.engadget.com/2014/01/04/samsung-smart-home-service-2014/

Talking partnerships with MLB and UFC….. and now, the NBA!

Tablets, TVs, smartphones will be integrated with the basketball experience.

Samsung is also partnering with the PGA to bring the golfing experience to your big screen.

The PGA CEO is on stage now, talking about the new relationship with Samsung.

They’ve co-developed an exclusive app for PGA America.

(Wayyy more interested in NBA than PGA, personally.)

Guess what? MARK CUBAN is on stage!

He’s an entrepreneur at Mark Cuban Companies, btw.

Cuban: “Second screen 2.0 is happening. It’s about communicating and interacting with the screens.”

He’s also talking about U HD and “all those extra pixels.”

Photo op time…and now they’re off stage.

Cut to another video: home theater products. Kids looking really excited about seeing Las Vegas’ New York, New York hotel on their sleek big-screen TV.

EVP Joe Stinziano on the stage now to talk about UHD.

He’s also talking about smart TVs and their future-proofing (think Samsung’s upgrade cartridges).

“Let me start by throwing you a curve, the first of many.”

“UHD will not be the only star of 2014 — let me introduce the jaw-dropped curved UHD TVs.”

“The world’s first curved UHD TV.” It’s 105 inches, guys.

“A curve for a truly cinematic experience.”

The curve supposedly also draws viewers in more with its “wider field of view.”

Improved contrast ratio, and an auto-enhancement feature provides a glass-free 3D effect.

“Who better to talk about this than a Hollywood transformer?”

….Something tells me Michael Bay is about to come out.

Yep.

Stinziano mentioned that 4K TV shipment is expected to hit 60 million units by 2017. That was from DisplaySearch.

“I create visual worlds that are so beyond normal life experiences…..what i try to do as a director….eh, ach, the type is all off sorry. I’ll just wing this.”