What can I do with a Smart Tv ? – the short guide

How can we define a Smart TV ?
It is a TV (plasma, LED, LCD) which besides the main function of TV viewing has other functions included such as being a mediaplayer, having internet connection or running various programs.
Basically the TV takes over some of the functions that belong to a video player, a computer or a tablet.

A smart TV is connected to the Internet via cable or by Wireless (using a router) and you can access your favorite applications like Facebook, Mail, Twitter,-also you can can surf the web using a integrated browser, or you can download applications and games.
In many of the recent Smart TVs you can use a wireless keyboard and mouse, as a regular computer would , so you can interact with various applications very simple and easy, as we do on a computer.
You can also use the remote control for this.

 

On some TVs there have been developed application centers (for example Samsung’s SmartHub) where we can download (just like on a tablet or a smartphone) various games and applications af any kind: educational games, software news, trailers, online movie players (like SeeNow, FilmBox,CBS and more).
Smart TVs also have an internal memory (of 1GB or more on premium models) where we can store those applications.
Most have integrated the Mediaplayer function, and and USB Live recording , so they :

-Can play media from USB memory stick or external HDD (movies, photos, music)

-Can record programs on an external hard drive.
Recently some of the Smart TVs allow live playback of TV channels through their own application.
For example, Panasonic can play via Internet some live channels, etc. .. in the future there will be possible to give up watching TV using the classic antenna cable.
Some of the premium Smart TVs benefit from special features , as :
-Dual-Core processor or a Quad-Core one , that allow running multiple applications simultaneously.
-integrated camera and microphone
-Skype communication, facial recognition, etc..

 

 

What can be done with a Smart TV ?
-We can connect to mail accounts, Facebook, Twitter, we can communicate with friends, we can have a videocall via Skype (plenty TVs support a special webcam for video calls).

-Surf the internet just like on a computer using the keyboard and mouse , we can surf any website, the browser is integrated into the Smart TV.

-We can connect using a smartphone or a tablet to a Smart TV and use it as a remote control, or to render content directly into Smart TV by wireless (a wireless router is required for this).

Like this you can play a YouTube video on your smartphone and then with one click send it to the Smart TV’s screen at HD resolution.
Or you can download a smartphone app as MyRemote and the smartphone becomes a fully functional remote control for the TV.
We can watch TV channels online without a cable TV provider.

Also we can play online games, or we can install educational programs for children, fitness programs, etc.

There can be installed various programs designed specifically for Smart TV ( news programs ,online channels , rent a movie, fitness programs)
.

What Smart Tv to buy ?
Currently there are a few things to note:

–Samsung and Philips support wireless keyboard and mouse (as Microsoft, Logitech, Genius, etc) so communication with the SmartTV is much easier

-Samsung has a great media player,that can play various videos or music.

-Lg Smart Tv ‘s have a media player wich has problem detecting correct audio codec on videos using DTS sound.

-Sony and LG don’t have support for keyboard (series 2012) , only using a special application for Smartphone (whether on Android or iOS as the operating system).

-Philips has for 2013 Smart Tv series a special remote control using point-and-click just like Wii remote .Good job Philips !
All these things being said , good luck in choosing a Smart TV!