The abbreviation " VPN " has slowly become established among average Internet users, which is certainly good, but the problem is that people have started to see VPN as the ultimate solution to all problems.
Smart TVs are slowly becoming the standard in our country as well. More and more customers are deciding to buy a TV like this because, simply, a smart TV complements the enjoyment while using it with various useful functions and applications.
In this article, I briefly write the basics of smart TVs in addition to the previous article - Tips for buying a TV (2017).
1) What is Smart TV?
The original name was "connected TVs", but later they got the name "Smart TVs" from companies that started producing them, such as Samsung and LG. Smart TV now means any TV that can connect to the Internet to access various media services, and/or run applications. To be able to do this, the TV must have the familiar components we encounter in computers, such as the processor, memory, graphics processor, and thus the operating system (OS) that will "connect" it all.
2) Which companies produce smart TVs?
Today, almost all manufacturers make their own models of smart TVs stay competitive in the market. So we have Chinese companies that make the simplest smart TVs, and more famous ones that make very advanced, but also expensive, such as LG, Samsung, Sony, Philips… Each of these famous companies has either its own or a version of the already available more advanced operating system for smart TVs.
3) Operating systems
For the TV to provide as many options and the best possible user experience, the companies that produce them install operating systems that can provide that. Here are some of the more well-known companies and system names they use:
- LG TVs: Web OS
- Samsung TVs: Tizen OS
- Panasonic TVs: Firefox OS
- Sony TVs: Android OS
- Apple TVs: tvOS
Each OS has its advantages and disadvantages, but leading companies strive to make their OS the best, so the result is really high-quality operating systems in TVs.
4) How does the TV connect to the internet?
As I mentioned, one of the features of smart TVs is the ability to connect to the Internet. They can be connected either directly with an Ethernet cable or via a WiFi network.
On the market with us, you will mostly find it with the WiFi option, but here too you have two options: built-in and with possible extension. If there is a built-in then you are ready to connect, and if there is a possibility of installation then you have to buy a special WiFi USB port from the manufacturer which can cost 50 and more euros.
However, you also have an alternative, which is Access Point. Just buy some cheaper (about 10 euros) and just set it to Client mode and connect via Ethernet cable for TV. Then the TV will "think" that you have connected the network cable and you are actually capturing home WiFi.
Whatever WiFi option you have, first ensure a good WiFi signal in the area where the TV will be located. If the signal is weak, buy a WiFi Repeater.
5) Possibilities
Ok, you have decided to buy a smart TV but you do not know what it offers, how to use its potential? I can't tell you exactly what your TV can and can't do, since it depends on the manufacturer, model, and operating system (and even the version of the operating system). Basically, they all offer apps.
Applications can be built-in offered by the manufacturer (mostly cheaper), or you will have a large selection of applications with a store (more expensive). If that OS has good support and an app store, then you can find a lot of apps that will greatly expand the capabilities of the TV.
In addition to applications, manufacturers additionally install some interesting and useful options. For example, LG webOS 3.0 offers the option of splitting the screen into two parts, the ability to listen to music without turning on the TV, Magic Zoom to enlarge part of the screen without losing quality, and Channel Advisor that will suggest what to watch based on your viewing history. These are just some of the possibilities, and one such TV can be found in our country for around 36,000 dinars.
6) Smart TV VS set-top box
You may be wondering why buy an entire TV if you can get all those options by buying a set-top box and attaching it to an existing TV?
These devices are indeed cheaper, but a smart TV has a better video processor that is directly built into it, so the picture is better. The TV also has multiple inputs for various media, such as HDMI, USB, etc. When all this is taken into account, smart TV offers more for less money.
7) Problems
Yes, these TVs are also prone to failures, but also at the system level. Because they are actually like computers and can malfunction just like a computer. The solution is to build a new system and everything goes back to the old. If you have a guarantee, the service can do it, and if you don't, then you or someone who understands that can.
However, cases are rare and even rarer with more popular manufacturers. So my suggestion is to buy a slightly more expensive TV from a well-known manufacturer because you will be cheaper in the long run. And the TV is bought to last, not for a year or two.
8) Recommendations for the end
Smart TVs have become popular and affordable in our country and their price will be lower and lower. My suggestion is that if you are buying, you should buy a little better quality so that it lasts as long as possible. And I don't just think it lasts in the sense of not breaking parts, but it also has good support for the operating system.
I also recommend buying one that has built-in WiFi so you don't have to think about connecting (of course if you have WiFi in the house). Also, see if it has some well-known OS, such as Tizen, WebOS 3.0, Android, etc. because you will have good support, regular updates, and a larger selection of applications.
Example of a solid smart TV: LG 32LH6047 SMART LED
As for the specification of the TV itself, I wrote the suggestions in the previous article, so look there - the link.
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