Scott Wilkinson

Samsung is keeping most of its announcements under wraps until its press conference on Monday, but it did release some info about a couple of new home-theater-in-a-box (HTIB) systems and a soundbar. The HT-E6730W (seen above) is a 7.1 system with wireless surround speakers, Blu-ray player, and built-in WiFi as well as a full Web browser. Even more interesting, it's the first HTIB to feature Samsung's Crystal Amp Plus hybrid technology that combines vacuum tubes and a digital power amp.

Samsung's press conference echoed the themes heard throughout the day—green tech, Internet TV, LED-backlit LCD, 240Hz. To address those last two points, the company announced a new line of LED LCDs, dubbed Luxia. Three models were shown, the LED 6000, 7000, and 8000 (pictured). The 55-inch LED 8000 offers oodles of connectivity and content-access options as well as true 240Hz operation—none of this 120Hz with backlight flashing. It's also just over 1 inch thick. Can't wait to get my hands on one!

Samsung has come a long way since the days when it was considered a second-tier bargain-basement brand. Thanks to steadily improving quality, the Korean megacorp is now one of the world's pre-eminent consumer-electronics manufacturers. I've reviewed several Samsung TVs over the years, and each one has been better than the one before.

At this year's CeBIT (Europe's answer to CES) in Hannover, Germany, Samsung is introducing the world's largest LCD flat panel display. Measuring 82 inches diagonally, the 1920x1080 panel was developed at Samsung's new seventh-generation production facility in Tangjeong, South Korea; amazingly, this facility can produce two 82-inch panels from a single substrate, which has been impossible up to now.