smart tvs

Can your game console act as a TV replacement? Very nearly, now that more and more video apps are hitting consoles at a record rate. HBO Go, which has become a symbol of sorts for the potential of app-based on-demand entertainment as a cable accessory, has hit the Xbox, joining Roku, Android phones, the iPhone, and the iPad -- and, of course, smart TVs and laptops, too.

Unlike IP-based cable provider apps like Time Warner and Xfinity, HBO Go works anywhere in the U.S. just like Netflix, provided you have a subscriber log-in that comes from signing in via your cable provider. Oh, there's one more thing: not all cable providers allow HBO Go to work on the Xbox. Depending on who your provider is, you'll either (a) not be able to use HBO Go, or (b) be able to use it on certain devices, but not others.… Read more

Most users are stuck with obsolete functions on their older TVs, but Panasonic is bucking the trend by upgrading its 2010 panels with its latest Viera Connect smart-TV platform. The only caveat is you'll have to own a model supporting Viera Cast, which is the predecessor of Viera Connect. Some new features include a Viera Connect Market app store to download online services and games, as well as an iOS remote app for easier text input and navigation utilizing smartphones and tablets. Click here for more information.

To upgrade, activate your TV's online function by pressing the Viera Cast key on the remote and follow the onscreen instructions for installation. The whole process should take only a few minutes before you can access around 30 video-streaming, social-networking and news apps, depending on where you live.

(Source: Crave Asia)… Read more

Televisions that can connect to the Web and offer built-in applications are set to see strong sales growth in the coming years, a new study from research firm In-Stat has found.

According to the company, shipments of smart TVs will be up by an average of 36 percent over the next five years.

Built-in applications are becoming an increasingly common feature in HDTVs. A host of HDTV makers, including Samsung, Vizio, and Panasonic, among others, currently offer users the ability to access apps from their televisions. Several companies offer apps on televisions, including Netflix, Vudu, and YouTube.

In-Stat's study … Read more

TV makers are expected to ship more than 500 million sets with Internet connectivity by the end of 2015, according to a report from research firm DisplaySearch. This year alone, around 25 percent of all flat-panel sets will come with some form of Internet capability and this trend is expected to grow to 47 percent by 2015.

"The adoption of connected TV is not just taking place in developed regions," Paul Gray, DisplaySearch director of TV electronics research, in a statement. "Emerging markets often have good broadband services, and there is a thirst from consumers to get the best content available."

Propelling the market share of these Web-enabled TVs is the convenience of wireless networking through Wi-Fi and smart-TV functions. The latter is a generic description of panels with the following features, according to DisplaySearch: … Read more

Text entry using a regular TV remote is, more often than not, an agonizing experience. And with Internet use on televisions becoming increasingly popular, this is a teething issue most HDTV makers will have to resolve. An alternative is to provide a free app with QWERTY keyboard support, though this is currently available primarily for iOS and Android devices. Samsung is working around this bottleneck by following in Vizio's footsteps and launching a QWERTY flip remote endowed with a complete set of number and character keys for its new Smart TVs.

Other notable features for the remote include a directional pad, teletext keys, and a monochrome LCD display on an angled brushed-metal shell. The opposite side of this clicker also provides familiar conventional controls such as volume and channel rockers, as well as video playback and recording buttons. The QWERTY TV Remote is included with every premium model, including the LED D8000 and D7000 Series and Plasma D8000 Series. It is compatible with LED series D6300 and up (sold separately for a hefty $99.99 starting next month).

(Source: Crave Asia) … Read more