Kathy Gibson reports from Samsung Africa Forum in Cape Town – Digital technology is being used to make consumer appliances smarter and more efficient. – and they are connected, making the smart home a reality.
Sunil Gupta, regional product manager for digital appliances at Samsung Africa, says that Samsung has introduced a range of products that showcase innovation plus built-in design, that fit into the consumer’s life.
“These products are designed to make your live better without you even noticing. They have the potential to change people’s lives in 2017.”
Among the products that are designed for use in Africa is a new air conditioner.
“Africa is well known for its hot climate. In many places air conditioners are not a luxury; they are necessity.”
Samsung has introduced its world first wind-free air conditioner.
“The device gets cool fast, and maintains the temperature without wind. And it consumes 72% less energy than traditional fast cooling,” Gupta says.
The AR9500M is designed to provide customers with ideal room conditions, by maintaining a comfortable temperature while using Wind-Free Cooling to gently disperse cold air through 21 000 micro air holes.
Using Samsung’s new Digital Inverter 8-Pole with Powerboost technology, the AR9500M’s motor generates fewer torque fluctuations. This reduces the overall energy required and shortens the time needed for the compressor to reach its maximum speed.
The air-conditioner is WiFi-enabled, meaning that it can be controlled from anywhere, through Samsung’s Smart Home app using a Samsung mobile device. Users can remotely regulate temperature, adjust settings, receive real time updates about performance and daily energy usage, as well as troubleshoot solutions when a repair is necessary.
The company also launched a range of other appliances that employ digital technology to improve their functionality and connect into the smart home network.
QLED TV
Samsung Electronics has launched its new QLED Q9, Q8, and Q7 TV series, offering improved colour performance. Displaying DCI-P3 colour space accurately, QLED TVs are capable of reproducing 100% colour volume at any brightness level, with even the subtlest of differences visible at the QLED’s peak luminance – between 1 500 and 2 000 nits.
The new Quantum dots allow Samsung QLED TV to express deep blacks and rich detail regardless of how light or dark the on screen scene is, or whether the content is played in a brightly lit or darkened room. With its metal alloy Quantum Dot technology, the room no longer needs to be darkened to boost colour performance; which remains regardless of how wide the viewing angle may be.
Samsung’s Q7 range varies in price from R32 800 for the 55-inch 4K flat panel QLED TV, to R78 800 for the 75-inch version. Its Q8 range of curved panel 4K models are available from R46 000 for the 55-inch model to R59 000 for the 65-inch TV. The prices for the Q9 range are still to be announced.
Soundbar
Samsung has launched the new MS750 Soundbar that uses proprietary UHQ 32bit Audio Technology and the company’s own audio algorithms to produce perfect ultra-high quality sound.
The all-involving experience created by the MS750 Soundbar is a result of its up-firing capabilities and overhead sound system that uses vertical tweeters with upmixing technology. When paired with the Samsung Smart Remote Control, the room’s home audio is powered by the same device as the TV.
TMF Refrigerator
Samsung’s new top mounted freezer (TMF) refrigerator is perfect for hot African conditions.
By separating cooling and freezing, the Samsung RT7000 maintains an optimum humidity level of approximately 70% in the fridge compartment, extending the life of fruit and vegetables – no matter where in the fridge these are stored. At the same time, it uses smart power technology for up to a 42% power saving and offers smart new features such as Power Freeze and Power Cool modes to make ice and chilled drinks faster than ever before.
The Space Max-optimised 620L TMF refrigerator helps lock moisture into fresh fruit and vegetables, thus maintaining freshness and taste. Twin Cooling Plus™ not only prevents fridge odours from affecting frozen foods, it also keeps the freezer compartment completely frost-free, prolonging the shelf life and the flavour of its contents and eliminating the need to defrost the freezer.
AddWash washing machine
Samsung’s AddWash front-loader washing machines have been designed to have less of an impact on both the environment and the consumer’s pocket, thanks to their innovative Eco Bubble technology that quickly activates detergent and penetrates laundry fibres to remove stains more effectively.
In addition, the 9kg and 12kg AddWash washing machines allow users to instantly add overlooked laundry items into the washing machine during the wash cycle.
The washers deliver touch-of-button intensive stain removal, even in cool water, through specialised Bubble Soak technology; while Samsung’s Steam Wash uses the power of steam released from the bottom of the laundry tub to eliminate stains without pre-treatment.
The AddWash door enables users to add laundry items or even top up fabric softener at any stage during the wash cycle, while the larger load capacity and a Super Speed wash cycle option let users get through your normal washing up to 50% faster.