Samsung to launch Smart Media Player

Samsung is set to launch a web-streaming set to box, offering live TV content and smart TV apps to viewers that don’t have internet-connected TVs.

The Samsung Smart Media Player (GX-SM530CF) goes on sale in the US this week and will offer more than 100 smart apps at launch – including Amazon Instant Video, Netflix, Vudu and YouTube.

The box will retail at US$149.99 (€109.65) and will let users access TV content from the major cable providers, without the monthly service fees associated with a cable box rental.

A built-in Samsung ‘S-Recommendation’ feature is designed to help customers discover what they want to watch without surfing channels, intelligently queuing new shows and content to watch.

A function called AllShare also allows viewers to share content from their mobile devices to their TV, with a screen-mirroring feature allowing customers to easily share video and photos from a compatible smartphone or tablet.

“With our new Samsung Smart Media Player, we’re providing consumers with an all-in-one solution that makes the TV-watching experience ‘smarter.’ This great product brings the Samsung Smart TV experience to any digital TV, giving customers a seamless home entertainment experience that combines live cable content and Smart TV applications all in one device,” said Jim Kiczek, director of digital audio and video at Samsung Electronics America.