'It's almost human,’ Samsung unveils new smart TV and other gadgets at CES

The Samsung press conference was arguably the most anticipated of the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show (CES). And based on the initial response, the company did not disappoint, showcasing everything from a “smart TV” to a refrigerator that gives you more freezer space when you need it.

"The TV is almost human," Tim Baxter, president of Samsung America, told the capacity audience inside the Mandalay Bay ballroom on Monday. The F8000 LED is expected to become Samsung's signature mainstream television offering.
 "It demonstrates our commitment to bring back the wow," Baxter said.

Like a beefed -up version of the iPhone's Siri functionality, the F8000's S-Recommendation system can understand questions from viewers and offers responses to their inquiries. For example, Baxter asked the television, “Anything good on today?" and was greeted with a sampling of programming choices that evolve based on not only the type of programming he normally views but also the actual time he views it.

Similar to the Xbox's Kinect camera system, the F8000 also makes use of hand -gesture functionality; instead of using a remote control, users move their hands to change TV channels or record a movie.

"It's the most powerful, personal TV experience ever created," Baxter said."It will change the way you discover content."
 And speaking of personal, Samsung America Senior Vice President Joe Stinziano said the company would soon offer viewing glasses that will allow two users to view different channels, full-screen, from the same television at the same time. The high-resolution images will be transmitted directly into the lenses while the sound will be piped in through earbuds built -into the glasses. Analysts from CNET jokingly referred to the glasses as “hate vision" saying they were the "ultimate anti-social tool" for viewing audiences. In other words, they are almost certain to be a hit.

Stinziano went into further detail, explaining how the S-Recommendation works. When viewers turns their televisions on, they are greeted by five different panels, which include current shows and movies, upcoming titles, and access to different social media platforms.

Last summer, Samsung released similar technology for its Galaxy smartphones, but this is the first time a mass-market version of interactive voice technology has been produced for televisions.