Smart TV Guide – Get Inside Your TV
Ever wondered exactly how your Smart TV works? How the internet is connected to your TV, how applications (apps) can be accessed and videos streamed? Read on to find out more.
The latest must-have TV on the market today is one that enables the consumer to be connected to content on the internet. In other words, built-in web browsers, on-demand video streaming and Smartphone-style applications.
Plug in Upgrade Box
If you have already purchased the latest HDTV Monitor but your TV monitor does not have the latest widgets a Smart TV offers, the simple solution is to plug in an upgrade box, for example the LG ST600.
The box is a tiny gadget that plugs into any digital TV. It only requires a few connections to the back of the TV monitor and your normal TV is transformed into a Smart TV. The box comes with a remote that does the basics but if you have an Android phone or an iPhone, the TV remote application allows you to zip around the menu screen with greater speed and precision.
What’s in the box?
If you already have a HD TV monitor, but are looking to further customise your TV, well why not get a Smart box? It not only transforms your TV monitor into a Smart TV, the box allows you to browse the web, although note that it does have a reduced set of features compared to what you may get on your computer. But once you get over the excitement of seeing Google on your wide screen TV, it would be the natural progression to get into the on-demand video features. The system that operates the box is TV-friendly and connects to most digital TVs that have compatible functions.
Like 3D TV technology, Smart TV technology is also fairly new, therefore the box has its limitations, while at the same time upgrading your TV into a Smart TV.
Just as you would use your laptop to catch up on your favourite programs, you can do so on your Smart TV as you can log onto the internet and use the limited on-demand service to the BBC’s iPlayer site and other mainstream channels such as ITV, Channel 4 and Five, who are soon looking to release Smart TV compatible programming soon. Like a regular computer when accessing the web, the system will tend to buffer, and buffering before viewing takes a little while but once you’re logged off, iPlayer picture quality is excellent and the simplified interface is easy to use.
In terms of movi’e options, unlike a regular digital set top box, the Smart TV top box offers far more movi’es to watch.
Applications
There is a search option on most Smart TV that allows you to scour the web for video clips of whatever tickles your fancy. Depending on the type of Smart TV system and your internet connection, there are widgets online, too, on compatible sites where you can download applications to use on your Smart TV.
Conclusion
Hopefully these hints and tips on how you can transform your ordinary TV monitor into your ideal Smart TV, helping you meet your home entertainment needs has helped you make your ‘smart’ decision. Smart TV is the future. Seamlessly promising to merge the TV and online experience in one place, it is the Holy Grail for many big media companies and owners: convergence. The age of interactive TV, live Twitter updates and watch-what-you-want-when-you-want-it TV is here.
About the Author: Barry Knightly is a tech expert and Smart TV fan.
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