Samsung and Thomas Kinkade Collaborate on LCD Prototype That Integrates Fine Art...

Tue Jun 3, 2008 11:01pm EDT

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Samsung and Thomas Kinkade Collaborate on LCD Prototype That Integrates Fine Art and HD Programming

SAN FRANCISCO--(Business Wire)--
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., the world's largest provider of
liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) panels, announced today that it has
collaborated with The Thomas Kinkade Company to develop a prototype of
the first TV to be combined with a digital art display system - a
potential hybrid LCD TV and mini-exhibit that would be able to shift
between artwork and TV programming at a moment's notice.

The combined art display and TV, when later manufactured, would
integrate the refined subtlety of art with the vivid realism of HDTV
in a way that is likely to change the future of room decor. The
Digital Masterworks Art-TV, a prototype of which was displayed to news
media today, is housed in a Thomas Kinkade frame designed to
accentuate the fine art theme.

"Imagine having a piece of museum-quality fine art right above
your mantle and then as you sink into the couch instantly switch to
American Idol, the latest sports playoffs, or a Blu-ray action movie
at the touch of a button," said Scott Birnbaum, Vice President,
Samsung LCD Business. "The Thomas Kinkade Company is planning to
produce a trend-setting combination of two of the most unlikely
partners in visual entertainment - fine art and electronic
programming."

As conceived, the 46-inch diagonal Art-TV would allow viewers to
switch between any number of digitally re-mastered pre-loaded Thomas
Kinkade paintings or original 16x9 art digitally created by Thomas
Kinkade specifically for the new medium.

"From the outset, we're going to deliver a truly superior digital
viewing experience, that's a quantum leap beyond the staid world of
screen savers, an easy-to-enhance electronic gallery befitting the
tradition of artistic excellence that has been a hallmark of Thomas
Kinkade art," said Todd Stewardson, Vice President, Thomas Kinkade
Company. "We will later modify our planned system to permit consumers
to be able to see the brush strokes, shading and texture of the canvas
in a rendering comparable to the finest artistic reproductions," he
added.

Samsung and the Thomas Kinkade Company indicated that by the time
the Digital Masterworks Art-TV goes into mass production, the system,
as conceived, would feature a customizable integrated touch screen to
allow the purchaser to modify overall image lighting or subtly enhance
specific colors within the Thomas Kinkade Company's guidelines to take
maximum advantage of the lighting in the home or office where it has
been installed. Hidden touch controls then also would permit viewers
to electronically flip through their favorite Thomas Kinkade
selections, showing one, two, four or all of the selected paintings at
once. Users would also be able to zoom in and out of portions of any
painting.

As planned, additional paintings would be uploaded from the Thomas
Kinkade Company's electronic art network either through a wired or
wireless (802.11g) connection. Consumers would also be able to play
audio about each painting that, for example, might describe the
artist's thoughts or provide an overview of the art style.

The Digital Masterworks system prototype, developed to prove out
the market viability of the concept, features a 1080p resolution, 40
gigabyte (GB) hard drive, 500-nit brightness level and 3000:1 contrast
ratio, with an eight millisecond response time.

Plans are for the new system to be first available late this year,
through any Thomas Kinkade Signature Gallery worldwide. Sometime in
the second half of 2009, the Thomas Kinkade Company may also make it
available through a select group of leading retailers.

About Samsung Electronics

For more information, visit www.samsung.com

About The Thomas Kinkade Company

The Thomas Kinkade Company publishes the work of Thomas Kinkade
and distributes his art and related collectibles through independently
owned galleries worldwide, an extensive network of branded and
licensed dealers, and strategic marketing relationships with more than
70 licensees. The company's primary products are canvas and paper
reproductions that feature Mr. Kinkade's artistic unique use of light
and his peaceful and inspiring themes. Mr. Kinkade, known as the
"Painter of Light(TM)," is the most successful and most collected
living artist in U.S. history. For more information, please visit the
Company's web site at www.thomaskinkade.com.

Samsung Semiconductor, Inc.
John E. Lucas, APR, 408-544-4363
Cell: 408-712-7856
j.lucas@ssi.samsung.com