Samsung InfoLink
Contents |
InfoLink RSS
Samsung InfoLink RSS is a service provided by USA TODAY that gives updated weather, news, sports and financial information with the touch of a button.
USA TODAY is a multimedia brand with print, digital, video and mobile platforms that reach millions of readers each month. USA TODAY will provide national and world news as well as keep viewers in touch with the latest in money, sports, life, weather and politics news for the InfoLink RSS service. The Weather section will allow viewers to personalize current temperatures and seven-day forecasts by zip code and will also feature weather alerts. Markets data will offer market summaries and individual stock quotes.
Consumers need only to press the special RSS button on the Samsung HDTV remote control to bring up a semi-transparent menu overlay featuring selectable newsfeeds covering a variety of customizable topics. Consumers can then either browse through headlines to catch a quick glimpse, or select a specific story to view full story. Content already playing on the HDTV will remain on-screen, ensuring that moments from a favorite show or a fantastic play during the big game will never be missed, all the while having the most up-to-date news, weather and more just a click away.
User Guide: Please visit Samsung InfoLink
History
LAS VEGAS, January 6, 2008 – Samsung Electronics, the market leader in HDTV design and innovation, has partnered with USA TODAY, the nation’s newspaper, to offer consumers up-to-the-minute access to weather, news, sports and stock information with the touch of a button on their HDTV. Featured in Samsung’s new Series 6 and Series 7 LCD and Plasma HDTVs, the new InfoLink RSS service provides content directly from USA TODAY when users connect their Samsung Series 6 or Series 7 LCD and Plasma HDTV to the Internet via the integrated Ethernet port. Samsung’s HDTV lineup will be on display at Booth #11033 during the International Consumer Electronics Show, which will be held at the Las Vegas Convention Center, January 7 through 10.
“Samsung is always looking for new ways to integrate convenience and interactivity into its lineup of HDTVs,” said John Revie, senior vice president of Visual Display Marketing at Samsung Electronics America. “For 2008, the next evolution of an integrated and connected home theater experience exists with Samsung’s InfoLink RSS service, which creates an easy way for consumers to remain connected to the latest news from around the world, even while watching a favorite, show, movie or sporting event.”
“USA TODAY is excited about this innovative and groundbreaking partnership with Samsung,” said Jeff Webber, senior vice president of advertising for USA TODAY and publisher of USATODAY.com. “The ability to deliver up-to-date news content to Samsung’s customers is just one more way USA TODAY is working to expand how people get news and information.”
Samsung is also redefining the role HDTVs play in the home by integrating a variety of advanced networking and IPTV features into more models than ever. Many of Samsung’s 2008 entry-level and premium models include side-mounted HDMI and USB 2.0 ports, enabling consumers to use their digital peripherals through their sets with a simple connection.
Select 2008 Samsung HDTVs can also access online and stored PC multimedia content and bring it into the living room with Samsung’s new Home Digital Media Adapter to transform HDTVs from what traditionally has been a “viewing-only” device into a truly interactive connection to the rest of the world. Additionally, Samsung is building on the success it had debuting the world’s first 3-D enabled DLP HDTVs last year by expanding the same capability to its plasma HDTVS.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q = Question, A = Answer
Q. What is InfoLink ?
A. By connecting Samsung TV to the Internet, InfoLink allows users to easily access real-time updated information and media services such as News, Weather, Finance. It is possible to connect to the InfoLink service while watching TV programs by simply using your remote control.
Q. What are the services available through InfoLink?
A. InfoLink currently offers Weather, Finance and News contents. More contents will be available in the future as we continue improving the service.
Q. On which TV sets is the InfoLink service available?'
A. InfoLink is available on Korean and North American Series 6 and above model as well as CIS, Singaporean, Australian and most Western and Northern European (UK, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland) Series 7 and above models.
Q. Can I use InfoLink while watching TV programs?
A.It is possible to use InfoLink while watching TV. You can also choose to view InfoLink in full screen mode.
Q. How much does the InfoLink service cost ?
A. Access to InfoLink is provided free of charge.
Q. How do I connect my TV to the Internet in order to use the InfoLink service?
A. It is possible to connect your TV to the Internet via a LAN cable, whether using direct connection or through a network switch. To connect to the Internet via a wireless connection or through wireless switch, a wireless LAN (WLAN) adapter is required.
Q. I want to use InfoLink through wireless LAN, what kind of wireless adapter do I need?
A. Wireless LinkStick (WIS-08BG) adapters are compatible with Samsung TVs.
Q. Where can I buy a wireless adapter compatible with InfoLink?
A. Wireless LAN adapter for InfoLink is sold separately. Please contact a Samsung Electronics agent or Service Centre for purchasing.
Q. How do I connect my TV to the Internet using a wireless connection?
A. Plug your wireless adapter to the WiseLInk connector on the side of your TV set and configure your wireless network settings from "wireless network" from the TV's SETUP menu.
Q. I cannot connect to the service (the message "Fail to connect to service" appears)
A. It is impossible to connect to the service if your Internet connection is not properly configured. Please run the Network Test available from the Setup menu, and check your Internet settings.
Q. How can I select my local weather?
A. In the InfoLink menu, select the weather icon (
) and press the Select button of the remote control, then press the yellow button and select your desired location from the city list. You can choose between today's weather and five-day forecast by pressing the red button of the remote control.
Q. How can I select my stock portfolio?
A. In the InfoLink menu, select the stocks icon (
) and press the Select button of the remote control, then press the yellow button and select the desired exchange place. After selection, use the arrow keys to enter the name of the stock you are interested in, the press Select to validate your choice. You can repeat the operation to see information for up to five different stocks at a time, and delete a stock from the list by selecting it and pressing the green button. Your favorite stocks list is automatically stored in the TV's memory for more convenience.
Q. How can I see full news articles?
A. In the InfoLink menu, select the news icon (
) and press the Select button of the remote control, then press the red button and select the desired news topic (business, sport, politics...etc) from the menu. Use the up/down arrows to navigate through the headlines, and press the Select button to display the full article. To return to the headlines, press the Back button of the remote control.
Q. I want to change the setting of the information. How do I do that?
A. In the InfoLink menu, select the settings icon (
) and press the Select button of the remote control. This opens the Settings menu where you can change Auto Launch and Display Timing settings as well as font size, background colour and menus positions.
Q. Does InfoLink support my local language?
A. InfoLink offers contents in English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Russian and Korean, depending on your location. Please note that local language contents are not available for some regions:
- Northern Europe contents are available in English (UK contents) only.
- Mexico contents are available in English (US contents) only.
- For CIS countries other than Russia, contents are available in Russian only.
However we are planning to expand the available regions and languages in the near future.
Q. Are InfoLink contents provided by Samsung or another company?
A. Samsung does not provide any content. Content provider depends on your location :
- Canada, Europe (except CIS), Singapore and Australia contents are provided by Yahoo! Inc.
- USA and Mexico contents are provided by USA TODAY.
- Russia/CIS contents are provided by RBC - RosBusinessConsulting.
References
- Samsung InfoLink
- Samsung InfoLink Tutorial
- Samsung InfoLink Announcement
- Samsung InfoLink FAQs
- Samsung InfoLink User Guide
