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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Philips and Roku announce a new TV with built-in LED backlights.
- Ambilight syncs your TV’s LEDs with action on screen.
- The new line of TVs is available exclusively at Sam’s Club.
Roku wants to make your living room a part of the show, and it’s partnering with Philips to help make that happen. In an announcement today, Roku says it’s rolling out its first TV with Philips Ambilight technology in the US.
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The company said Ambilight uses “intelligent LED lighting” built into the back of the set to project colors onto your wall in real time, matching the colors to the action on screen.
“Imagine your living room glowing green during a big game-winning play,” Roku said, “pulsing to the beat of your favorite concert, or casting a warm sunset glow during a movie.”
From that description, Ambilight sounds like several existing products that sync LED lights to your TV, namely ones from Govee and Philips. The advantage here is that you’re not paying for any additional devices, and you’re not installing anything extra on your set.
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There are some TVs with built-in LED backlights (like the 55-inch Telly you can still get for free), and you can add your own LED strip lights for ambience. However, neither of those options sync to what’s happening on screen.
Also: Is your Roku TV spying on you? It’s possible, but here’s how you can easily stop it
Philips said all of its Ambilight TVs feature 4K UHD resolution with HDR10, Apple AirPlay compatibility, and wireless compatibility that connects with any of Roku’s wireless speakers, soundbars, and subwoofers.
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Where to get a Philips Ambilight TV
It was only about six months ago that Roku and Philips first partnered, debuting with the Philips OLED Roku TV<!–>.
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This technically won’t be the first Philips TV with Ambilight, as the technology has been available in other countries for several years. However, this TV will be the first time the technology is available in the US.
Also: How to disable ACR on your TV – and why you should ASAP
Philips TVs with Ambilight are available exclusively online and in-store today at Sam’s Club in 43″, 50″, 55″, and 65″ models. Pricing starts at $229 for the 43″–> model and reaches $389 for the 65″<!–>.
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Source: Robotics - zdnet.com
