Connected TVs are expected to boom in coming years with Bain & Company forecasting 60 percent of households would be watching Internet TV by 2014, and research from Strategy Analytics expecting sales smart TVs to grow at a CAGR of 38 percent, topping $95 billion by 2015.
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InTouch includes Wi-Fi, 720p HD video and a range of pre-loaded apps and functionalities. |
But, Samsung is offering owners of "normal" TVs a peak into their connected future, releasing its inTouch camera system at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
InTouch includes Wi-Fi technology, 720p high-definition video and a range of pre-loaded apps and functionalities, including Skype, YouTube and full Web browsing, all available on ordinary TVs.
"While Internet connected HDTVs are now common, not every household gets to experience this fun and interactive feature, especially if they have an HDTV purchased just a few years ago," said Mike Palazzolo, vice president of sales and marketing, consumer video monitoring and security products, Samsung Techwin America. "With the inTouch camera system, Samsung is now bridging the gap between this experience and those consumers who own HDTVs without networking capability."
InTouch hooks up to an HDTV with one cable, and can be placed on the TV or a shelf. It includes an embedded mic and speakers, enabling consumers to use Skype, and a palm-sized QWERTY keyboard.
The Samsung inTouch will be available March 2012 and will retail for $199.99.
For more:
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Show Coverage: CES 2012: In-depth coverage
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