OFFICIAL Samsung Smart TV "Evolution Kit" Thread - Page 6

Originally Posted by digimat 

sabesh you are the only left who still uses the Smart Hub... it's a total POS.
In fact shelling out extra money to Samsung for something they should have done right in the first place, just justifies their BS marketing works....

Originally Posted by EndeaverouX 

yes, I cant agree with you more....they finally just fixed the flashing issue on smart hub this week...about time...my wife loves netflix and amazon video thru the TV..makes it easier for her... I personally stream all those services thru my PS3...much much better picture quality than smart hub itself....

Originally Posted by Jestered 

My thoughts...

From what I understand and have read, the new micro-dimming or cinema black (whatever the Samsung kids are calling it these days) is software based and not hardware based. If that's true, and the 9000 panel is exactly the same as the 8000 panel there's no reason it cannot be enabled for the older TVs through the Evo kit. The fact that there's one kit/box that will connect to multiple models and TVs doesn't matter. It's extremely basic, simple and easy for the kit/box to detect which model TV it's connected to and configure it's parameters and settings based on that TV alone. It could also enable a new dimming feature if the panel in the TV it's connected to could support it. That's very easy stuff to do and there's nothing tricky or impossible about that.

With all that being said, do I think we will get a new dimming feature even though it could be possible? No, probably not. From the little bit of information that's out there (not proven fact at this point), there's no reason the Evo kit could not add that feature IF Samsung wanted to. Again, this is based on rumored facts that are floating around at this time. Once the kit has been released is when we'll know whether it has added that feature, and if not, whether or not they could have it they wanted to.

I'm also amazed at how people can get mad at a company offering an upgrade like this. If you don't like it, feel it's unnecessary or not worth the money, then please don't buy it. No one is forcing anyone to purchase this kit, so why the hostility?

Originally Posted by Jestered 

My thoughts...

From what I understand and have read, the new micro-dimming or cinema black (whatever the Samsung kids are calling it these days) is software based and not hardware based. If that's true, and the 9000 panel is exactly the same as the 8000 panel there's no reason it cannot be enabled for the older TVs through the Evo kit. The fact that there's one kit/box that will connect to multiple models and TVs doesn't matter. It's extremely basic, simple and easy for the kit/box to detect which model TV it's connected to and configure it's parameters and settings based on that TV alone. It could also enable a new dimming feature if the panel in the TV it's connected to could support it. That's very easy stuff to do and there's nothing tricky or impossible about that.

With all that being said, do I think we will get a new dimming feature even though it could be possible? No, probably not. From the little bit of information that's out there (not proven fact at this point), there's no reason the Evo kit could not add that feature IF Samsung wanted to. Again, this is based on rumored facts that are floating around at this time. Once the kit has been released is when we'll know whether it has added that feature, and if not, whether or not they could have it they wanted to.

I'm also amazed at how people can get mad at a company offering an upgrade like this. If you don't like it, feel it's unnecessary or not worth the money, then please don't buy it. No one is forcing anyone to purchase this kit, so why the hostility?

Originally Posted by dad0118 

They marketed the ES8000 with the promise that the evolution kit available in future years would include picture quality improvements. Now it seems as if there won't be any (as evidenced by them not touting this as a feature at ces - and of course they would have if there was). If people purchased the ES8000 under the assumption that PQ would improve , then yes, they have a right to be mad.

Originally Posted by digimat 

Your amazed how people can be angry that a company is charging you for essentially at software update? Really... the only reason you need a quad core is to run all the natural voice ******** Samsung is pushing along with the smart hub... just give me the ****ing smart hub update, I don't want your other ******** I won't ever use.

Originally Posted by pitchman 

Not that I would ever leap to the defense of Samsung, but isn't it also possible that the new Smart Hub just doesn't perform the way it is designed to without the quad-core processor? If that's the case and Samsung releases it as a free software upgrade, they would be inundated with complaints from users upset that the new hub works even worse than the current one. Perhaps they can offer a scaled-down, less robust version of the hub for those who choose to not purchase the EVO Kit. That way, there is still a reasonable incentive for people to purchase the kit and Samsung still provides a free upgrade path for everyone else.

Originally Posted by cmay91472 

I'd be willing to bet that if the team that develops the firmware updates for the PS3 were working on it, it would be a non issue in regards to running the new smart hub without the EVO kit. Even though the PS3 is not my primary bluray player, I'm still amazed at how well it performs considering its 7 years old almost. Did anyone think they would figure out how to add 3D, DTS HDMA and Dolby True HD for 2D playback on the old fat versions, and be able to play 3D and DTS HDMA at the same time on the slims.... Free of Charge!

I like the idea of the EVO kit, but Sony did it the right way by rewarding loyal owners with future proofing upgrades free of charge. For that, I know I will be one of the first to buy the new PS4 once I can get one without camping out overnight.

Originally Posted by pitchman 

Absolutely agree about the Sony sentiments. I have two PS3's (an 80g fat and a new 250g super slim) and I use them daily. I keep telling myself that one of these days I'll get an Oppo when the fat PS3 fails, but I just don't see that happening any time soon. I have well over 2,500 discs (Blu-ray & DVD) and I have never encountered a single one that the PS3 won't play. I have some reservations about the build quality of the new slim model, though. It boasts extremely cost-reduced and flimsy construction, especially the tray mechanism, but so far, all discs play perfectly.

Originally Posted by Anthony5362 

Speaking of the Oppo, I was just reading this review on it yesterday.

http://www.electronichouse.com/article/hands_on_oppo_bdp-105_blu-ray_player?utm_source=EHWeeklyNewsletter&utm_medium=email

Originally Posted by rocketman9 

Is it ok to post factual information here or is it a requirement that all posts come with an opinion of hatred attached?

While I was at CES I talked to one of the guys at the Samsung booth and he said they are considering releasing an Evo Kit that doesn't bring all the bells and whistles but is centered only on the "technical" aspects of the TV. He qualified that to mean improvements to picture quality such as updating Micro Dimming and dealing with the oft maligned Cinema Black issue.

Originally Posted by rocketman9 

Is it ok to post factual information here or is it a requirement that all posts come with an opinion of hatred attached?

While I was at CES I talked to one of the guys at the Samsung booth and he said they are considering releasing an Evo Kit that doesn't bring all the bells and whistles but is centered only on the "technical" aspects of the TV. He qualified that to mean improvements to picture quality such as updating Micro Dimming and dealing with the oft maligned Cinema Black issue.

Originally Posted by Anthony5362 

So your saying that Samsung is releasing 2 different Evo kit? One for all the bells and whistles and the other for picture quality improvements?

Originally Posted by dad0118 

Hopefully it wasnt the same guy that at last years CES said that it would come with improvements to both they would never do that BTW. Samsung is in the business of making money, and there just would not be enough of a market for two different types of an EVO kit. Heck, they arent even giving LEDs / Plasmas different versions.

Originally Posted by Anthony5362 

Or the guy in one of the YouTube videos from this year that mentions "it will even make the picture better" as the camera was moving away. I would think that they would be bragging all over the net if this Evo kit was to give us better picture quality. I would also think that when Tim Baxter and Joe Stinziano were up on stage announcing this kit that they would have mentioned improved picture quality also. All these things is what makes me believe that were not going to get that, so This is why Im not getting my hopes up. I would love it if it does, and I hope when it comes out that it does, but I'm not going to get excited about it until its out.

Originally Posted by EndeaverouX 

I high doubt the new smart hub would require a quad processor... like I said the PS3 is going strong after 7 years all with firmware updates....

Smasung software programmers probably know that the current dual core processsor in the 2012 tv is good enough....

but its all bout the money...just another way sammy can make more money each year...and to put the salt on the wound, a new evo kit every year? come on....

imagine if sony came out with a playstation every year? we would be on the PS10 by now.... samsungs logic on this one will hurt them....why not put an evo kit expansion kit on ALL sammy HDTVs then...why only the 7500 and above? Ill get one just for the heck of it and test it out.....

hope things change from now till it is actually on sale....