The Smart TV Buying Guide Essentials

When Television Married The Internet

There was a time when televisions were merely televisions. Unfortunately, chaos has reigned since then. Apart from traditional CCFL backlights, relatively newcomers such as the LED alternative has added a degree of confusion in the realm of LCD displays. And let's not forget about the upcoming OLED species as well. Major TV makers were also bitten by the 3D 'bug' in the wake of Hollywood's attempt at reviving mass interest in 3D films. To complicate things further, even the stereoscopic HDTV faction is divided into passive and active camps of late. In a nutshell, consumers such as you and I have to stomach acronyms such as Full-HD, LED, and 3D in line with modern TV specifications. As if that wasn't enough, we now have the term "Smart TV" to contend with. But what exactly is a Smart TV? Is it the same as an Internet TV? Is it a TV with brains? The definition is fuzzy, but that's where we come in to give you a better understanding on this cliché and often ambiguous term. 

Defining A Smart TV

A Smart TV is essentially an Internet-enabled television. It enables users to surf the web, view free or pay-per-view video streams, share networked content, as well as engage in interactive media such as social networking applications on a single platform - and that's on the TV itself.  Sometimes known as 'Connected TV', these displays are often accompanied by widgets, apps, games, and a web browser, although not all Smart TV models are equipped with the latter. These features are often extended to other AV devices too, such as Blu-ray players for instance. Much like smartphone apps, Smart TV applications are also dependent on the region's availability. Typical Smart TV archetypes include the current HDTV fleet from major brands such as Samsung, LG, Sony, Panasonic, and Philips. However, do not confuse display technologies like LCD or Plasma panels with Smart TV characteristics. They are independent of one another although Smart TV attributes can be integrated with both display types. Examples of typical Smart TV software platforms include Google TV (unavailable here), and open-source applications such as Linux and Google's Android. Some brands also carry an EPG (Electronic Program Guide) which displays a digital channel's schedule and listings. 

Now that you have a basic understanding of what a Smart TV is, let's see what is required to get your Smart TV up and running.

Common Questions On Connectivity And Usage

There is still a fair amount of uncertainty among consumers when faced with Smart TV purchases. Queries such as "how do I hook it up to the Internet" are not uncommon with the less savvy crowd, while others are worried that Smart TVs require obligatory accessories which no one mentioned before. Now that we've given you an inkling to what a Smart TV is (on the previous page), here are answers to various scenarios to give you a better understanding on what's required to get that Smart TV up to speed. For what it's worth, we'd rather you hear it from us rather than a disreputable salesman after a quick buck, yes?

 

1. How Do I Connect My Smart TV To The Internet?

There are two ways to connect a Smart TV to your home broadband (or fiber) network. You may use the television's Ethernet port, or go wireless with Wi-Fi. Alternatively, you may also purchase a wireless adapter from the TV maker if the display does not carry any integrated options. Some TV makers actually bundle these adapters with the more premium models, so be sure to check the specs list before you purchase one. The Wi-Fi solution is often preferred since a wired Ethernet connection also suggests that your router has to be situated in close proximity to the TV. On that note, ensure that your router's DHCP is enabled in order to "add" the Smart TV to your network. Speed wise, a basic 6Mbps broadband plan should suffice to tackle simple tasks such as web surfing and standard video streams.

2. Is The Standard Remote Enough?

Quite honestly, the answer is no. If we could use a metaphor, attempting to navigate a web browser on a Smart TV is quite akin to writing with your non-master hand. Fortunately, most of the new Smart TV remotes are now fitted with gesture recognition or touch controls. One example is LG's Magic remote, which made its entrance two years ago with its point-and-click features. Samsung and Panasonic have also augmented their remotes with a touch pad recently, much like the one you use on a notebook. On top of that, how the TV handles text-entry is another component you shouldn't neglect, especially if you love to dabble in social media apps. Although a remote with a QWERTY keyboard is rarely seen on consumer models, it is infinitely easier to point and click at the onscreen keypad or use a remote app (see Question No.3 below) compared to a standard remote's alphanumeric keys. Most of the newer Smart TVs also support a USB keyboard and mouse.

3. What About Those Remote Apps?

Excellent question, dear Watson. Most Smart TVs also support remote apps on mobile operating systems like Apple's iOS and Google's Android. Essentially, you may use your smartphone or tablet as a makeshift remote with added features to boot. Let's use the Sony Media Remote app as an example. While Sony's application offers perks such as a virtual game pad and catch-and-throw features (to replicate content between TV and mobile device), we find the QWERTY touch-screen keyboard and Free Cursor functions to be the most helpful. The former is self-explanatory, while the latter enables you to use the phone or tablet as a touchpad to manage the onscreen cursor. There is a catch, however. In order to use these apps, the Smart TV needs to recognize and interact with your mobile device, and the only way to do so is to 'add' the mobile gadget to your existing network. On the other hand, this usually requires a one-time setup, so everything should be ready to go the next time you fire up your phone's or tablet's Wi-Fi.  

4. How Can I Connect My PC or Notebook To The TV?

The majority of Smart TVs support DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) - an industry standard established by Sony for sharing digital data within the same network. You may connect a DLNA-certified server (like a PC or notebook) to share and stream data over to the Smart TV which acts as a DLNA client. Like the remote app, you'll have to ensure that both the TV and computer are both on the same network. If your system is running on Windows 7, you may use the embedded Windows Media Player 11 to stand in as a DLNA media server. Some brands have created their own spin on the DLNA standard, like 'AllShare' (recently re-badged as 'AllShare Play') by Samsung for instance. If you're unsure if a particular device supports DLNA, do check with the vendor for confirmation, or look out for the DLNA logo (shown below) in the marketing collateral.  

5. Are there any other wireless alternatives?

Yes, there is. Intel has forged an alliance with LG to bring their Wireless Display (WiDi) technology to LG's range of 2012 Cinema 3D Smart televisions. This is made possible with an integrated WiDi chip within the TV itself. In a nutshell, WiDi enables users to stream HD video content wirelessly from a computer or a mobile device to a larger display, such as a TV or a projector. LG is one of the first in the market to integrate WiDi with their new fleet of Smart TVs, and notebook users wielding the latest Ivy Bridge mobile processors with an updated Centrino wireless adapter should have no issues streaming HD clips (1080p video at 60fps) to the TV via the latest WiDi 3.0 version. Unlike DLNA, Intel's WiDi has been hailed as a form of "wireless HDMI" standard since it doesn't require devices to be on the Wi-Fi network. On paper, WiDi has rates of up to 25Gbit/s although real-world results are probably closer to 4Gbit/s. 

Brains Behind The Smarts

Smart TVs are powered by each brand's own proprietary software. In other words, no two Smart TV platforms are alike, very much like the OS fragmentation on smartphones with diverse operating systems like iOS, Android, and Windows Phone 7, among others. Simply put, the web interface you see on a Sony TV won't be the same as the one on a Philips. Interestingly, however, Smart TVs actually share a lot in common with their smaller smartphone siblings. Not only do Smart TVs enable you to access web content and social media services (like smartphones do), but they also provide access to an online app store where you may download apps from. For that matter, each Smart TV model will undoubtedly differ in terms of their interface design and manageability. Here are some primers to give you a clue on what to expect from the more prominent brands. Here's our early guide to various Smart TV platforms in video format, but we've got the latest iterations covered below:-

 

Panasonic: Viera Connect

Panasonic's Smart TV interface has gone through various updates over the years. Once known as Viera Cast (2008), it has since been upgraded to Viera Connect after several software tune-ups. Panasonic will also be using the "Smart Viera" branding with their upcoming Viera HDTV line-up. Although their Smart TV namesake has changed over the years, the Viera Connect interface remains largely unchanged. The main splash page features eight "windows"; with one "window" for each installed app, while the rectangular box in the middle is an active screen which displays current playback content from broadcast or auxiliary sources. The Viera Remote app is also available for download on iOS and Android devices.    

Philips: Net TV

Philips launched their Internet-based TV service, Net TV, in the UK three years ago. However, their Smart TV platform only trickled down to Asian releases at a much later date. Net TV has since accumulated a fair number of online services to date, including news feeds, video-on-demand, social media, photo-sharing, and weather forecast applications. Some of the more notable apps include YouTube, Vimeo, Picasa, Facebook, and Twitter. Although all of Philips' 2011 range of Smart LED TVs carry the Net TV platform, do note that only the 9000 and 8000 series are equipped with integrated Wi-Fi. A web browser is available on Net TV if you're wondering.

LG: Home Dashboard

LG's revamped Home Dashboard (their Smart TV interface) offers a sexier and more organized blueprint compared to their earlier efforts. A new My Apps 'docking bar' below now houses commonly accessed functions like the TV's input selection, a web browser, and a TV Guide for digital channels. The main holding area on top has also been given a sweet makeover. The Home Dashboard now features a "card" layout with categories catered for Premium Apps, 3D World, LG Smart World, Smart Share and so forth. According to LG, 3D World will provide user with access to various 3D video-on-demand content. However, whether these services will be made available here in the local regions remains to be seen.

Samsung: Smart Hub

Although the layout for Samsung's Smart Hub appears similar to last year's line-up, one key upgrade from the South Koreans is that the new interface now sports a Full-HD resolution to complement their slew of 1080p TVs. Other notable updates include family-oriented online services (categorized as Family Story, Fitness, and Kids) and a tabbed web browser. Samsung's new fleet of Smart TVs will also feature face recognition (via its built-in camera), motion control, and voice control features. They'll be available with Samsung's premium range such as the ES8000 and ES7500 LED TVs and the E8000 plasma series. Content wise, Samsung has forged a working partnership with SingTel resulting in apps like SingTel Video Search and SingTel Video Store. The former enables users to search for online movies and TV programmes via SingTel's exCite TV service, while the latter gives users access to a mix of Hollywood TV series and films. Three-dimensional clips are also available with Samsung's Explore 3D app.

Sony: Sony Entertainment Network

For the record, Sony would like it better if you refer to their Smart TVs as Internet TVs instead. Now that we've gotten that out of the way, Sony has made noticeable upgrades to their Bravia Internet Video platform as well. Known as Sony Entertainment Network, the Japanese CE giant has finally unified their online video, music, and gaming services (PlayStation Network) under one common umbrella. On top of that, Sony is also emphasizing on connectivity and interoperability among their devices with the arrival of their content portal. For instance, purchased or rented online media may be downloaded or streamed to compatible Sony products, such as Bravia TVs, PlayStation consoles, Xperia phones, and tablets. We understand that Sony is working on a Network Media Player (powered by Google TV), but don't count on it to reach our sunny shores as yet.

What Else Do I Need To Know About Smart TVs?

We've almost come to the end of our Smart TV guide. Before we go, we'd like to leave you with some pointers to supplement what we've shared so far. Also keep in mind that you don't have to upgrade your old TV set in order to enjoy these so-called "smart" bonuses. As mentioned earlier, the current crop of Blu-ray decks in the market are also equipped with Smart TV features, such as LG's BD670 or Sony's BDP-S780 for example. If you'd like to know more about HDTVs or 3D TVs in general, you may also refer to our buying guides by clicking on the links below. On that note, we hope you'll be able to find a Smart TV which suits your needs. Happy shopping, and remember to shop smart!

Buying Tips
 

• To reiterate - a 3D TV isn't necessarily a Smart TV, though most of the time 3D sets do come equipped with Smart TV features.
  
   
• Don't assume that apps found on UK or US Smart TV models are available on app stores here as well. This applies to video-on-demand services in particular. If you're keen on a specific service, do check with the manufacturer if it's available locally.  
  
   
• If you foresee yourself spending more time on the web browser rather than multimedia apps, be sure to try out the Smart TV's browser when you're at the store. Some models have less responsive web browsers, while others do not support certain plug-ins like Java or Flash for instance.
  
   
• Not everyone has a thing for Wi-Fi. If you prefer a more stable wired LAN connection with a router that's out of reach, you might want to consider getting a pair of Powerline Adapters to extend your LAN network to the Smart TV.
  
   
• To stream high-definition content, it's best to have a broadband speed of 10Mbps and above to avoid video stutters or intermittent buffering.
  
   
• For optimal network performance, we'd recommend using a wireless N-router at the very least.
  
   
• Remember to update the set's firmware periodically to receive new enhancements and to iron out any possible software kinks.
  
   
• And lastly, do not purchase a Smart TV simply because you feel compelled by consumer trends. Most TV vendors offer a cheaper "non-Smart" alternative under their HDTV line-up if you prefer a more traditional display set. 
  
   

Useful Links:
 

• HardwareZone's Complete HDTV Buying Guide
  
   
• HardwareZone's 3D TV Buying Guide Essentials

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