Often it's customer service that wins consumers' hearts and dollar decisions -- and
Sharp yesterday announced a program that (though it hints a bit of Big Brother) could change the way people operate and maintain their TVs.
The program is called Aquos Net, and it's essentially content and customer support provided with two of Sharp's new Aquos LCD TVs, which were also announced yesterday at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The SE94 and D74 series Aquos LCD-TVs come with Ethernet ports, which allow for direct connection to the Internet. Web-based content from Weatherbug, NASDAQ, uclick, and Aquos Gallery (basically pretty pictures) can be shown in split- or full-screen, and other content providers will be added soon.
The real prize of this online connection, though, is direct access to Aquos Advantage Advisors, who can remotely diagnose problems with a TV.
To connect to Aquos Advantage Live, a customer uses the Aquos Net Portal Web site to generate a unique identifier for the television. Using this identifier, an Aquos Advantage Advisor then has access to advanced settings and diagnostics. The adviser can support complex setup issues such as remotely checking to see if a Blu-ray Disc player is properly connected.
But not everyone has their Internet connection in the same room as their TV. For these folks, Sharp is marketing a Powerline Communications, or PLC, Adapter (which, if you care, is compatible with the
HomePlug Powerline Alliance standard). This product almost deserves its own write up. PLC adapters allow you to establish your Internet connection -- and, for that matter, many other types of content – over the existing electrical lines in the home. This means no Ethernet wire has to be run from one room to another. There's something very appealing about no new wires. Sharp isn't the first company to introduce PLC adapters (look to Panasonic's competing
HD-PLC adapters), but it is the first we've noticed that has put these adaptors to such good and practical use.
Sharp PLC adapters will available as single port (HN-VA100U for $149.99) and 4-port adapters (HN-VA400U for $179.99). The company will also sell a starter pack that bundles a single port and 4-port adapter into one package (HN-VA401SU $279.99). The adapters can connect not only to TVs, but also to set-top boxes, gaming consoles, PCs, and routers. The connection is also inherently more secure than a wireless connection. All three PLC adaptors will be available in March.
The SE94 series includes three models: The 65-inch LC-65SE94U, available this month for an MSRP of $10,999.99; the 52-inch LC-52SE94U, available this month for an MSRP of $4,199.99; and the 46-inch LC-46SE94U, available in February for an MSRP of $3,199.99. The D74 series consists of one model, the LC-52D74U which is coming in April for an MSRP of $3,599.99.
Don't worry, we'll get in to more detail on these new high definition LCD panels for you in another post.
For now, just savor the advanced capability promised by Aquos Net. We'd be tempted to purposely mess up our TV's settings just so we could see the remote diagnosis in action.
From
Sharp Electronics.
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