NEWS TOSHIBA TVS
NEWS TOSHIBA TVS INTEGRATE ALEXA Viewers of Toshiba sets will not need Echo or Remote to activate Voice Hisense HZ75U9D Hisense revolutionises TV experience Company unveils Quantum DOT displays, ULED and Laser TV Hisense used IFA 2018 to unveil a broad and innovative portfolio of TV products. Highlights included the U9D with over 5,000 local dimming zones, the thin and frameless ULED-TV HZ65U8A design display, several TVs with laser technology and screen diagonals up to 100 inches, and the unique VIDAA U2.5 user interface. According to Hisense, the secret of exceptional images lies not only in the largest possible image diagonal, but also in the contrast range of the image. At around 1.9 metres, its Premium ULED TV U9D delivers impressive pictures and sets new standards in terms of contrast range. The Hisense flagship is the first TV display to feature a 4K Quantum Dot Display, which is divided into over 5,000 local dimming zones. In each of these zones, the LEDs on the screen can be dimmed or switched off completely. Combined with premium backlighting (Prime Array Backlight), the Hisense U9D produces dynamic images with very deep black and bright white. Meanwhile, the new Hisense ULED design television U8A impressed with its elegant appearance. Its frameless and super-slim look combined with high-quality metal housing underlines the design claim of the 65-inch display. The U8A is also equipped with a 4K-Quantum Dot-Display with 120 Hz refresh rate. Thanks to local dimming and processor-controlled brightness control, Hisense’s Elite Backlight technology delivers brilliant contrast values and images in a wide colour spectrum. Another key highlight was the Hisense Laser-TV Personal home cinema surrounding, with phenomenal screen diagonals of up to around 2.5m (100 inches). This technology is well known in the professional sector and has extremely good contrasts and realistic colours combined with very high brightness values. When it comes to handling and ease of use, these projection giants are in no way inferior to conventional TV sets Viewers will soon be able to talk to Alexa using their Toshiba TVs alone. Starting in 2019, most Toshiba OLED, 4K HDR and Full HD Smart ranges in the UK and Germany will be Alexa-enabled, allowing viewers to interact with Alexa via the TV itself. Instead of relying on an Amazon Echo, or a voice-activated remote control, the Alexa-enabled models will pick up requests for Alexa using a far-field microphone. Bringing additional smart user benefits to more homes, the Alexa-enabled TVs are set to provide a wider variety of voice features, right out of the box. Viewers will not only be able to use their voice to change the volume, channels and inputs, but also to ask Alexa to play music, read the news, launch apps, offer movie recommendations, and access Alexa skills built by third party developers. This Alexa-enabled functionality is one of several new smart features that Toshiba is to offer. As part of the Toshiba Smart Lounge Experience, the brand is not only extending the range of online entertainment available through its Smart portal, but also making it quicker and easier to access. As well as providing one-click access to on-demand services, such as Netflix with dedicated buttons on its remote control, Toshiba has launched a customisable “scroll as you view” menu, enabling viewers to browse through ondemand options without leaving what they are watching. Of the Alexa-enabled TVs, European Sales and Marketing Director, Bart Kuijten commented, “This launch is extremely important, enabling us to offer an “out of the box” home entertainment experience that’s intuitive and ultra-convenient. The appeal of TV has always been its unique capacity to work as an entertainment hub in its own right. So it makes absolute sense to build on this with an integrated cutting-edge smart feature that can ensure support and ease of control” www.ifa-international.org IFA International • Friday 14 th September 2018 11
