Samsung Takes HDTVs Full Tilt

A new wall mount system for selected Samsung plasma TVs enables viewers to control the angle of their TV with their remote control.

Among Samsung’s numerous announcements at the CES Expo this week was one which may turn many coach-potato’s heads—and high-def displays&mdash. Samsung has announced a new automatic wall mounting system for its new line of plasma displays which enables users to control the viewing angle of their televisions via button on their remote control.

The mount enables users to change the tilt of the display from 15 to 20 degrees in multiple directions, and incorporates a safety sensor to prevent the display from grinding into a wall or coming into contact with other objects which could interfere with the display while it’s in motion.

The tilt-enabled wall mount display is intended to be used with Samsumg’s new HPT5064 and HPT4264 plasma television displays, measuring 50 and 42 inches, respectively. The new models sport an impressive 10,000:1 contrast ratio for deep blacks, and feature 16-bit color processing which, combined with the high contrast ratio, provide a wide range of color reproduction. Samsung has also incorporated its Ultra FilterBright technology and Silhouette Editor into the systems, to minimize glare and reduce false contours and dither-induced noise in motion-filled scenes. The displays also feature Samsung’s Anynet+ (HDMI-CEC and three HDMI inputs, plus WiseLink USB 2.0 input to support camcorders, digital cameras, portable media players, and other devices. The 42-inch HPT4264 offers 1,024 by 768 resolution and 1,500 cd/mm² brightness, while the 50inch HPT5064 sports 1,365 by 768 resolution and 1,300 cd/m² brightness.

But back to what you really want to know about: Samsung says the remote-control wall mount system will be available in March for about $999; until then, you’ll just have to keep moving the couch to get a better angle.