TV has long been a necessary piece of equipment in the household. However, the modern buyer is spoiled, he needs not only a huge screen, clarity and saturation of the image, but also a lot of other functions. Therefore, smart TVs appeared on the market. What is it, which models are the best, how to connect and configure them? In this article you will find detailed answers to all these questions.
Smart TVs - what is it?
Translated from English, smart is "smart", "smart." But, of course, such a device cannot learn to think on its own, the technique has not yet reached this point. Smart TV is a TV with built-in Internet. This allows you to access a number of Internet services, including video on demand, radio stations, online broadcasting of games, social networks and instant messaging. Many models have a full-featured web browser that provides access to websites. Smart TVs also work successfully with 3D format. They replaced the 3D TV technology, which did not take root, because at the time of its release there was little relevant content.
Which model to choose?
The best smart TVs are released by well-known electronics giants. Which manufacturers were the most popular in 2014?
- LG has released a number of models that users love because of their sleek design and simple interface. They easily allow you to simultaneously display multiple video sources on one screen. And SmartShare program opens any photos, audio, video files that are stored on a computer connected to the network (both with Windows and Mac OS), on a hard drive or flash drive. In addition, the manufacturer offers a number of useful applications, both paid and free. Among them, 3D World deserves special attention for accessing 3D content of various categories.
- Panasonic launches a line of TVs called Smart Viera. The company uses an ultramodern interface in its models, which is characterized by a very high level of personal settings. Experts note that for the average user their number is even excessive. But in any case, the flexibility of Smart Viera does not take. Also, models easily exchange files with smartphones, which for many users is a big plus.
- Samsung presents models with the Smart Hub menu, which has five different screens for each type of task: watching TV shows, video on demand, social networks, applications, or reading files from connected devices. And between the Samsung devices a wireless connection works. In addition, based on your browsing history, S Recommendation will offer you relevant content. Remote controls from this manufacturer are considered the best. In addition to standard features, they include a microphone and even a gesture recognition system in order to control the menu using voice or movement.
What models will be popular in 2015?
Many experts agree that the curved 55-inch LG 55EC9300 OLED, which preserves color quality and contrast from different viewing angles, will be a hit of the season. Although this model does not support the ultra-high-definition television standard, a lush picture and a reasonable price for this category of products (about $ 3,000) make it the best choice of 2015 at the moment.
But if it is fundamentally important for you to comply with the 4K / Ultra HD TV standard, then pay attention to the Samsung UN65HU8550F. At a cost of about $ 2,800 and a diagonal of 65 inches, he offers to fully enjoy the benefits of HD-television. The menu is rich in a variety of functions.
Well, in the middle price category, the 50-inch Sony KDL-50W800B deserves attention. Excellent picture clarity even in dark areas (LCD TVs do not always cope with this task), sleek design, 3D support, the ability to play cloud-based versions of PS3 games, all for about $ 900. Of course, such a model is a good choice, but the Sony interface is considered somewhat complicated and confusing.
Access to the network
Obviously, in order to use all the features of Smart TV, you will need the Internet. There are two ways to connect a smart TV:
- Ethernet wired connection.
- Through the built-in Wi-Fi adapter to connect to your home network for Internet access. Most modern models have a built-in Wi-Fi module, but make sure you have one before making a purchase. Otherwise, you will have to purchase it separately.
If you cannot connect the Internet to a smart TV because the wireless signal is not strong enough, you have several options to fix this problem:
- You can try moving your Wi-Fi router closer to the new technology.
- If the router is more than 4 years old, then buying a new one can fix the problem. Recent models have a wider signal range.
- If none of these solutions fit, then you just have to buy a Wi-Fi repeater - a device for signal amplification.
How to set up a smart TV?
First of all, the answer to this question depends on the manufacturer of your model. Generalized process can be represented in three steps:
- Cable connection.
- User preferences.
- Internet connection.
Also, for comfortable use, you must install widgets on all smart TVs. What it is? Applications that allow you to receive video on demand, interactive television, gaming services and perform many other functions. As a rule, they are downloaded from official stores of the manufacturer.
Let us dwell on these steps for the most popular manufacturers.
How to start using models from LG
Setting up a smart TV primarily involves connecting the power cables and the receiver (for the location of the connectors, see the instructions). Then you need to insert the batteries into the remote control and turn on the TV with its help or the button on the device itself. Next is a fairly simple step-by-step setup where you choose the language, type of work (at home / in the store), location and time zone.
Then follows the screen for selecting an Internet connection. If it is wired, insert an Ethernet cable into its connector and select “Start Connection”. You may need to enter a subscriber password. If you need a wireless connection, then select "Find New" and search and select a network.
Now plug in the antenna cable and auto-search for channels by clicking “Start”. Next, agree or refuse the function of energy saving and 3D viewing (in order to make it comfortable, you will need special glasses). Click Finish to save the settings.
How to set up LG smart TV for the most productive work? Install the widgets you need. This can be done either from the official store of LG Apps TV, or using a USB drive. Why do I need to download the archive with the application to the root directory and then insert the flash memory into the TV. Information on connecting the device appears on the screen, by clicking on it, you can select and install the widget.
Getting started with Samsung
How to set up a smart TV with Smart Hub technology? This is also quite simple due to the fact that the manufacturer made a series of video tutorials, and also created a separate button on the control panel that calls up detailed electronic user instructions.
When you first turn on you will need to enter your username and password using the numbers on the remote. This is not very convenient, but do not be alarmed, the system remembers the data, and each time they will not need to be dialed again.
By going to the Settings menu in the upper left corner, you can change the language, location and time zone. If you install it incorrectly, the program guide will not be displayed correctly.
Internet connection is carried out in the “Network Settings” menu, where you need to select its type - “cable” or “wireless”. If your router automatically assigns an IP address, you only need to enter a password. If it does not have such a function, then you will have to manually fill in the IP address, gateway, subnet mask and DNS server.
Security
In this article, we examined many aspects related to the topic “Smart TVs”: what it is, who produces them, how to connect and install them. But if you plan to become the proud owner of this type of technology, then do not forget: where there is an Internet connection, there are also hackers and viruses. So far, smart TVs are not widespread, and there were no real cases of hacking or infection. However, cybersecurity experts have shown that this is entirely possible. Therefore, do not go to your bank accounts from the TV and do not make electronic payments. So far, a computer is safer for these purposes.