Samsung has added the 8500 Series to the top of their line of HDTVs. The new sets are highlighted by a very high contrast ratio, fast frame rates, internet connectivity, and power-efficient LED lighting tech that are listed to use up to 40% less power than conventional LCD TVs—all in a frame that’s only 1.6-inches thick.
The 8-Series currently sit on top of Samsung’s HDTV heap to include the very best of the company’s current imaging tech into a frame designed with Samsung’s Touch of Color glass border. The 8500 Series sports an LCD-backlit Ultra Clear panel and Wide Color Enhancement Pro imaging tech to maintain optimized clarity, brightness and color reproduction regardless of the room’s ambient lighting. It’s also capable of a 7,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio for more details in shadows and highlights, a quick 2ms (240Hz) refresh rate to lessen the blurs, and an energy savings mode that automatically adjusts the backlight to save on power.
The new 8500 Series HDTVs also features Samsung’s Media Suite 2.0 that manages content pulled in from the internet or through a pair of USB ports. The net connection allows it to connect to web-based content for sports and weather, Twitter updates, and YouTube videos. It also supports Yahoo’s Connected TV platform that offers a widget-based interface for adding more quick-links to other web-based content. Videos, photos and music can also be played from portable media or storage devices through USB. Connectivity options also include four HDMI ports, a VGA port (for connecting to a PC), Ethernet LAN, and 2xUSB 2.0 ports.
Two models are currently available: 55 inches for $3,999, and a 46-incher for $3,199. Both come with a secondary (simplified) pebble-shaped remote also designed with Samsung’s Touch of Color style to match.
