What is Smart TV on a TV - review of Smart TVs from different brands

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This article will help you understand what Smart TV is on a TV and what opportunities are available to the user if this function is available. The text outlines all the nuances of this technology, its advantages and disadvantages, as well as instructions for use. In addition, the article contains reviews of popular brands that produce smart TVs, tips on choosing modern equipment and setting up the Smart function.

Smart TV is a television with built-in Internet access or a television receiver that increases the capabilities of a modern television

What is Smart technology?

The wording itself appeared due to the similarity with modern smartphones - universal gadgets that have not only communication functions, but also a huge number of unique capabilities - Internet access, working with programs, games. All this has become the functionality of Smart TVs, which can now show movies, as well as connect to the network to watch online videos, weather, communicate via Skype and much more. The most advanced models can easily replace even a PC. Let's take a closer look at the additional options.

Voice search

For the most part, smart TV interfaces are designed to be simple and easy enough for anyone to use without training. However, sometimes you just don't feel like manually typing a search - and that's where voice search comes in.

A fairly common feature in new smart TV remote controls, voice search makes it a simple one-click task, no matter what you're looking for. But keep in mind that some platforms—like Roku—offer more robust search tools than others, and remote microphones don't always pick up your voice well, so you'll need to be patient.

But what commands can they handle? Here's a quick overview:

• "Open video"

• "Switch to HDMI 3"

• "Mute volume."

Some high-end models come with built-in Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, which offer access to a much larger knowledge base. Using one of them, you can not only tell the TV what to do, but also search the Internet for answers to questions and view contextual information through connected accounts, for example, an event calendar.

If your TV doesn't come with a remote control, you can also access voice search using a smartphone app or by connecting an Amazon Echo or Google Home.

Option 1 – Internet connection

There are several options for accessing the network on a modern device with this technology:

• Wi-Fi connection;
• connection to a wired network via cable via a LAN port.

On older models, a special attachment was usually used. Nowadays, built-in modules for wireless communication are already included as standard. But there is one condition - you must already have a wi-fi router. Many TVs are equipped with browsers that are activated by the remote control. Often the device has widgets, for example, YouTube, VKontakte, Facebook for direct access to these popular sites.

Flaws

Despite the huge number of advantages, the Smart TV function also has disadvantages. They are primarily related to the features of the program and equipment.

• outdated games;
• inconvenient remote control;
• non-standard video playback format;
• limited ability to view content and movies in the browser;
• inconvenient Internet access;
• high sensitivity to signal quality;
• not all models with Skype are equipped with web cameras;
• high cost of Smart TVs.

Gamers complain that controlling the game from the remote control is inconvenient. In addition, the games that are loaded onto the gadget by the manufacturer are all old, more than 5 years old.

Samsung models have the Netflix app with a lot of videos installed. Many users do not like the films that the American company distributes via streaming. In addition, subscribers have to pay an additional $8 every month for the application. There are often audio problems because the video is played in MKV format. While browsing, many different messages pop up.

More often than others, notifications appear about the lack of codec support. How to use the Smart function in such cases. The fix is ​​simple: download the desired video to your computer or smartphone and watch it via a connection to a TV on a large monitor. Or use an Android box to store information and play videos from it on the screen. Internet access is only possible through the television remote control. You have to type letters on a virtual keyboard, which is inconvenient.

When the Internet signal is weak, phones, computers and other gadgets work. In this case, the Smart TV will not connect to the network, especially older models connected by cable.

Models with Skype often do not have a built-in video camera. Purchasing and setting up video equipment represents an additional investment of money and time.

Option 4 – controllable without remote control

After synchronizing the TV with your tablet or phone via a wireless network, you can use them as a remote control. There is also the ability to display images from a smartphone directly to a good large monitor. To control Smart TV, you will need to install specialized utilities for Android or iOS OS.

In addition, some models have voice control, for example, some Samsung representatives easily cope with commands - “next channel” or “third channel”. In budget devices, before setting the desired volume, you will have to say “Louder” or “Quiet” a couple of times. So new management methods will not necessarily be cooler than usual. In top-end devices, in addition to a camera for communicating via Skype, you can find in the package:

• Gesture recognition function - you can move the pointer across the monitor by moving your hand, and clenching your fist brings up the menu;
• an additional remote control with a gyroscope and the ability to move the cursor with a hand movement is a more convenient control option.

Option 5 – records the desired content

If you have a Smart TV, you can at any time activate the recording of an interesting TV show or movie on any external storage device, for example, it could be a USB memory card. If the channel does not have write protection, you will find a sequence of actions in the instructions for your model that will help you save the video for re-watching. It is worth noting that you can only view what has been saved on the same TV; a PC or other device will not be suitable for this.

Ears on top of head

Packaging is the second face of the product. And it’s not just about the design: if it’s noticeable that the packaging has already been opened and the protective films have been removed, it’s time to refuse the purchase. Most likely this is a used TV or a display unit. Special attention should be paid to TVs with polished metal panels or chrome elements - they should not have scratches or other damage.

When receiving the package with the TV, you need to check:

• condition of the packaging (especially traces of moisture);
• complete set of accessories (remotes, cables, documentation);
• the presence of original protective films on the TV body and stand;
• no traces of dust (a clear sign that the product has been used).

Often the list of standard accessories is not limited to the remote control: for example, Samsung UE43M5513AUXRU is equipped with a corner adapter for the antenna, which allows you to hang the TV close to the wall. To avoid unnecessary costs and loss of time, it is better to immediately check whether everything is in place. If at this stage everything turns out to be in perfect order, and the case is shiny from protective films and seals, you can proceed to the main part - testing for functionality.

How to set up Smart TV

Before you begin setting up the device, you must ensure an uninterrupted connection to the network; the speed must be at least twenty Mbit/sec. As noted above, connection is possible via cable, via wi-fi, and also thanks to special technologies WPS, One Foot Connection. You can select a pairing option in the menu sub-item with network settings. The highest quality is considered to be the use of the wire method. To do this, you need to insert the cable into the connector located on the back of the television panel, and then enter the router settings in the specified menu. After successfully connecting to the Internet, you can configure channels.

Almost every well-known brand that produces this type of equipment has a Smart TV line, which helps increase opportunities for users. Today, large companies can offer not only products with unique functionality, but also specialized services that are available exclusively from products of a particular brand.

“SS IPTV” - application for setting up free channels

Another popular option for working with IPVT on Smart TV is to use the “SS IPTV” application.

To work with it you will need to do the following:

1. Open the app store on your TV;
2. Find the “SS IPTV” application in the list and install it;

As we wrote above, you will need to add playlists yourself in the settings. To do this, you will need to either manually enter the playlist address, or use Wi-Fi to synchronize your TV with your laptop and work with playlists via your PC.

To load an external playlist, go to the “Content” submenu, where select the “External” option, then click on “Add”. All that remains is to enter the name of the channel list and the link to it.

If you want to add an internal playlist, then open the “General” section of the program and select “Get code”.

The received code must be entered on the SS IPTV website in the playlist editor section, then click on “Add device”.

Smart TV LG

One of the leading positions in this segment is occupied by LG Corporation. Back in 2009, devices appeared that could connect to the network thanks to the existing NetCast system. This brand offers really serious opportunities such as:

• watching TV online;
• access to popular social networks;
• standard Internet surfing.

From an LV TV with this system it is easy to immediately use YouTube and Picas services without using a browser, watch the weather on AccuWeather, access Yandex, Twitter, Facebook. At the same time, on social networks you can quickly read the message, and also, if necessary, send SMS. Owners of TVs with 3D can activate 3D World, it can easily replace the lack of such a service from Russian TV service providers.

It is possible to go to a specialized software store from the manufacturer, which has more than 200 utilities for learning, games and entertainment. You can log into the network using the installed web resource. The equipment is controlled by a traditional remote control, as well as by the company’s exclusive option – Magic Motion, which uses joystick technology for games and duplicates the movement of your hands.

Additional TV features

4K is a must have. Nowadays there is more and more content in this format

If you have already decided on the previous parameters, then pay attention to additional nice features.

• HDR on TV . High Dynamic Range is responsible for transmitting information about brightness and color. If you don't like to peer at the screen in a dark or bright scene, then you need this technology.
• Voice control on TV . Entering the title of a YouTube video using the remote is a real pain. Take a closer look at a TV with a voice assistant: you can use it even without a remote control to search for content.
• Dolby Atmos on TV . Many people immediately buy a soundbar along with their TV to ensure good sound. Take your time: Dolby Atmos is enough for the sound to be excellent.
• TV with 4K . This is a TV with a resolution of 3840*2160 pixels. Now even inexpensive devices come with this resolution, and there is more and more content in this format.

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Smart TV Samsung

The Samsung brand from Korea is one of the main suppliers of Smart TV. In his catalog you will find products whose cost starts from four hundred to five hundred dollars and reaches several thousand. Smart TV technologies are available in all devices in the 6500 series, although the inexpensive versions do not have very many capabilities. Top offers have increased functionality. TVs have a Smart Hub main menu, which allows you to use the device’s functions and download new applications from the official store. Pre-installed software usually includes YouTube, social networks, and Skype. But even in an expensive model, the size of which is from forty inches, there will not be a camera for communication; it will need to be purchased additionally.

You should know that devices with this technology require special cameras; simple web cameras used on PCs are not suitable. In addition, products from other brands will not work on Samsung equipment, so it is better to take this into account when choosing individual modules. The operating system of this manufacturer’s equipment differs from others in that it has a built-in extensive search. How to use it? It is not necessary to go online, you simply enter your request into the search bar, and the equipment itself will connect to the Internet, find the requested information and display everything on the monitor.

In addition, a link to multimedia content will appear not only for the resource, but also for devices connected to the TV that have this file. Samsung resources have support for Flash playback, so you can work with several tabs at the same time. The products of this brand have another service - Social TV, which is responsible for maintaining communication on social networks and at the same time watching videos.

How to find out: digital TV or not? Choosing the right model

To be able to use digital broadcasting, you need a tuner. It can be built-in or has the form of a set-top box that can be purchased separately and connected.

There are several ways to determine which TV is needed for digital television:

1. Inspect the packaging. Models whose packaging is marked DVB-T2 have a built-in tuner. If, in addition to this, there is a mark S2, it means that the TV is also designed to receive satellite channels.
2. Check the year of manufacture. TVs released before 1998 do not have built-in tuners. The same applies to most wide screen projection models manufactured before 2004.
3. The necessary information can be found in the product catalogs of popular manufacturers of household appliances. The official websites contain technical information about all models.
4. If there is no data in the catalogs, you can get advice from the manufacturer’s technical support service.

Smart TV allows the viewer to control the TV using gestures or voice

Manufacturers such as LG, Philips and Samsung include this in the model name, so it's easy to determine whether a TV is suitable for digital broadcasting. Sony and Panasonic do not provide this information. Before purchasing such a TV in a store, you need to carefully study the documentation and characteristics of the device.

Smart TV Sony

Sony models with smart controls are still quite rare. It is more problematic to install software in them, because this manufacturer does not have many applications. To interface with the network, Internet Video is used, which works with a large number of channels at once, for example, YouTube, EuroSport and others. Domestic users may be attracted by the fact that they can watch RuTube, and therefore programs from TNT. A distinctive feature of Internet TV from Sony is customizing the location of the required widget on the display.

Selecting the backlight

Modern TV panels are equipped with LED backlighting. Models with backlighting are becoming increasingly rare - this significantly thickens the panel, which is no longer fashionable these days. But side lighting makes the plasma minimally thin and more and more models are equipped with LEDs on the sides of the screen matrix.

When choosing this technique, make sure that the edges are not overexposed when displaying the image, although if this does not bother you, feel free to purchase such a panel. Both the backlight and side lighting can be equipped with local dimming.

In the first case, the dark parts of the picture are not highlighted by the LEDs, but the bright parts are highlighted with an enhancing effect. The result is an image with excellent contrast levels and deep blacks. This scheme is more productive than with side illumination with local dimming, although in the second case we are also talking about a high-quality picture.

Smart TV Philips

In recent years, the manufacturer has carved out a decent niche for itself in the market. This led to the development of an operating system for such equipment, which is completely on par with the software of other brands. The simplest options, including wi-fi, are available even in budget 32-inch models. The pre-installed applications include standard services and video hosting sites Dailymotion and Vimeo. Users respond positively to the functionality of Philips TV, which offers:

• built-in access to the Megogo resource;
• domestic video services;
• news content;
• viewing HTML5 Video.

Top-end devices have a “Pointer” function, which involves navigating through the monitor using the movements of the control panel. To make it convenient to enter something, there is a traditional QWERTY keyboard on the back side.

Smart TV Toshiba

Toshiba was almost one of the last to release its Smart TV. They don't have any special options, but they still have a standard set. At the same time, on some models you will find built-in cameras and the ability to create several accounts at once, for example, you can create a profile for each family member.

I hope I was able to answer the question of what Smart TV is on a TV and its main advantages. This technology is truly unique, expanding the boundaries of conventional television. Do you think it’s possible to do without Smart TV, or is it still not worth saving and is it worth purchasing such a device?

Setting up and operating principle of digital television

If you have digital television, channels for watching programs can be found manually or automatically. If you are connecting for the first time, you just need to select the signal source and activate the automatic search function. If the TV already has working channels, you will have to configure it yourself.

The DVB-T2 digital television format is configured manually - by entering the broadcast frequency required for the multiplex, which can be found on the official website, and the modulation value (256 QAM). The same resource contains information about all physical channels. To configure, you will need two of them, and they must be free.

If other broadcast formats will be used, then you need to use auto search to configure. In this case, the frequency range will be too large, so doing it manually is impractical.

To connect Smart TV you just need to select the signal source and activate the automatic search function

Setting up the set-top box and TV is almost the same. The only difference is that the analog channels are placed differently. On the TV they are assigned to the basic TVCs, so they will be overwritten during the setup process.

Note! When using automatic search, previously found channels will be deleted. After completing this procedure, they will be restored, but you will need to sort them again.