Samsung Electronics Develops `Home Set-Top Box

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. announced on the 15th that it succeeded in developing `home network` set-top box (picture) that can control all digital devices in a household by one remote control.

The new home network set-top box is equipped with Fire Wire (IEEE 1394), which can connect with another device like digital camcorder at ease. Also, high-quality images are ensured, as signals between the set-top box and display are operated digitally.

Samsung Electronics has decided to cooperate with Japanese electronics enterprise JVC, connecting the new set-top box with JVC’s digital devices. Also, the two companies are to pursue joint marketing in the biggest market of set-top box, U.S.A.

In the recent exhibition of National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) in the U.S., Samsung Electronics introduced the set-top box with JVC for the first time.

“This product will be in the U.S. market by the second half of the year, and is planned to be connected with Plasma Display Panel (PDP) and Digital TV,” said Image-Display management director Kim Young-Yoon of Samsung Electronics.

Im-Sook Ha artemes@donga.com