Samsung's new 2014 range of products for the living room, kitchen and laundry will all communicate and work together to form a comprehensive household ecosystem. At the heart of this ecosystem is the company's new range of tablets and its Galaxy smartphones.
The South-Korean company showcased its range of upcoming consumer electronics and household appliances at the Samsung Forum 2014 in Bali.
Leading the range was the company's U9000 television, a 78in model that combines a curved panel with the clarity of Ultra high-definition (UHD).
The company's AV and TV head, Andrew Woon, said "the U9000 will extend our leading position in the UHD market. Our market is set for a UHD revolution, but more importantly, it will be the year of the curve."
Asides from its curve and support for the new UHD standard, the television offers several software innovations. These include side-by-side multitasking (which makes it possible to watch TV and surf the Web on a shared screen), and the ability to capture and share screenshots/audio snippets with devices such as smartphones or tablets.
The idea of sharing functions between devices is something Samsung has focussed on in its new range. The company's WW9000 washing machine can be instructed to start or stop washing remotely from a smartphone, and it can provide updates on a current wash cycle.
The design of the WW9000 was met with general fanfare. The company omitted the common knobs and buttons, choosing rather to replace them with 5in touchscreen capable of understanding the gestures used on everyday smartphones.
Samsung President and CEO of consumer electronics, Boo-Keun Yoon, said the new design of the washer played a big role in creating an emotional connection between it and the people who own it. "Our new washer opens up a new chapter in washing machine design — allowing it to blend in with other home appliances, furnishing and fittings. Along with its elegant design, the WW9000 is also equipped and ready to handle the needs of the modern household."
Other products that departed from the norm include a triangular-shaped air-conditioner, a multi-door fridge, and a 12.2in Galaxy NotePro tablet.
The company claims the 8mm Galaxy NotePro feels more comfortable to hold because it is roughly the same size as an A4 page. Features include a 2560x1600-pixel screen, a quad-core 2.3GHz CPU, 3GB of RAM and a 9500mAh battery.
Samsung has yet to confirm which products will be made available in Australia.
Updated: Photos from the event have been added to this article on 24 February, 2014.
Tony Ibrahim traveled to the Samsung Forum 2014 as a guest of Samsung
