How Smart do you want your TV to be?
The popular trend for merging entertainment systems and accessing everything online means that the next big thing is to upgrade your TV to a Smart TV so that you can access the internet and applications all in one place, and on a large screen, too. Find out how Smart TVs work.
A Smart TV offers a number of ‘internet connected services’ that normal televisions cannot offer. A smart TV is very similar to a computer, but it gives you a greater number of services.
Smart TV Services
Smart TVs offer apps, media streaming, web browsing, games and above all Internet Protocol Television (IPTV), which is a specific internet video standard that is used as a shortcut for video streaming online – effectively accessing the internet straight onto your TV monitor.
Smart TVs use a system called DLNA- digital living network alliance – this lets you stream media from computers or phones to your TV monitor. If you currently download a lot of video or music from the web, then the right Smart TV can access that content directly without you having to copy it onto a disk or USB key stick.
Are Smart TVs Hard to Install?
You don’t need to be that smart to install your Smart TV. You can connect to the internet in two ways – either via an Ethernet cable at the back of the TV set, or through a wireless connection. If you don’t want an unsightly Ethernet cable spoiling the look of your room – a wireless connection is the best option, but Smart TV manufacturers do recommend a wired Ethernet connection for a less interrupted service.
So you will need to set up a home network – just like you would when connecting your laptop or home computer to the internet. Once you are set up you will be able to surf the internet as you would on any other internet connected device.
One of the most exciting capabilities of a Smart TV is its ability to access video-on-demand (VOD) services. There are dozens of special channels you can watch on a Smart TV.
Skype via Your TV
Skype is another useful application, which, with the addition of a Webcam, lets you talk to friends, and family on your TV monitor. This app would be useful if you are living abroad and are not comfortable using your laptop to talk to your loved ones, a Smart TV is the best alternative for using Skype and is slowly revolutionising the way we communicate.
Conclusion
Smart TV will revolutionise the way many of us watch TV, use the internet and communicate with friends and family. The ability access apps, watch on Demand TV and more, Smart TVs are likely to be a popular choice that offer exciting options to consumers, whatever their interests.
About the Author: Barry Knightly is a tech expert and fan of Smart TV technology.
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