Samsung's smart TV Evolution Kit will soon allow you to upgrade the processor and software of certain 2012 Samsung tellyboxes, bringing them kicking and screaming into cutting-edge 2013.
Originally announced at least year's CES, the Evolution Kit is simply a small box that slots into the back of your TV. It might not sound like much, but like Danger Mouse, it's packing some very helpful kit. It upgrades your TV's existing dual-core processor to a quad-core variant, apparently tripling the speed as well as drastically improving the graphics processing.
That should make Web browsing and using apps -- particularly those that require picture-in-picture -- much speedier to use. We'll find out exactly how much faster it really is in everyday use when we go hands-on.
It's not just the processor that gets an upgrade though -- your TV will be given the latest version of Samsung's smart software too. It lets you access various on-demand services and has updated voice control for when you just can't be bothered to lift the remote.
In theory, the Evolution Kit keeps your expensive gogglebox bang up-to-date, meaning you don't have to shell out two and a half grand every time you want the processor to be a bit faster. Not all models will get the update though. Supported TVs include 2012's 7000, 8000 and 9000 series models. Whether or not Samsung continues to upgrade the same range year on year remains to be seen.
There's no official word on a UK price as yet, but Samsung told our chums in the States that it will sell for between $200 to $300. You'd be safe to assume that it will be at the upper end of that estimate -- over £200 -- by the time it reaches our shops.
Keep your eyes peeled on CNET's CES site to see all the TV news from glittering Las Vegas and make sure to let us know your thoughts in the comments below, or over on our constantly upgraded Facebook page.
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Zulqarnain Aidil 4 January, 2013 15:51
Seems like a good idea, since TVs aren't really those items people replace every year. But, even if the person is bothered by number of cores and clock speed in the processor, they would just have plugged their pc to the TV
Noble Lox 4 January, 2013 21:37
I really do not get this concept.... I mean you would really need to have more money than sense to be using a TV's smart features in the first place. That is what you have a PS3 for, and when you look at spending over £200 on a little box that does nothing more than make it a tad faster??? They must really see you coming at Samsung! The only thing you should use on a modern TV is the HDMI port, anything else is just so wrong.
Howard10000 5 January, 2013 22:44
Shame the picture looks crap compared to a Panasonic plasma though.....
anonymous 18 March, 2013 16:23
When they start selling the evolution kit at uk