What’s Smart TV?
Smart TV is actually a television set device with intergrated internet service. It offers more advanced computing ability and connectivity than a contemporary basic television set. With a Smart TV device, you can enjoy apps, surf the web under WIFI network, and stream most internet channels from the comfort of your sofa.
To better enjoy your Smart TV, you will need more conditions than using traditional TV Set.
Firstly, you’ll need an internet connection to get your smart TV online, ideally broadband.
Secondly, you need decent broadband speed. It’s very neccessary if you want to stream videos.
Finally, a TV licence is needed if you plan to stream live TV on services such as iPlayer or ITV Player.
Top Smart TV Choices: Samsung VS Sony VS Panasonic VS LG
Samsung Smart TV
Samsung Smart TV may be the most popular Smart TV device on the market. It erters into this industry much ealier than other companies. Almost all Samsung’s newer televisions are ‘smart’. To my opinion, Samsung Smart TV is the easiest Smart tv device to use. For some premium models, Samsung offers a ‘smart touch control’ remote with a laptop-style track pad for your thumb.
List of Samsung Smart TV Built-in Apps.
Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, Skype;
Online Media Channels: YouTube, BBC News, BBC Sport, Amazon Instand Video, Netflix, Knowhow Movies, Now TV, BBC iPlayer, iTV player, 4oD, Demand 5.
- See also: How to watch iTunes purchased and rental movies on Samsung Smart TV
LG Smart TV
LG now offers two flavours of smart TV – its legacy ‘Netcast’ platform and its new generation of smart TVs powered by webOS technology. With the LG smart TV, you can also easily access the your favorite movies, TV shows online, surf the web, do all smart TV can do. Featuring a customizable dashboard for quick access to your favorite sites and apps, plus a stunning HD 1080p LED screen and our simple-to-use Magic Remote, LG Smart TV offers a fast, streamlined approach to the technology you use the most.
LG Smart TV also supports most apps as Samsung:
Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, Skype;
Online Channels: YouTube, BBC News, BBC Sport, Amazon Instand Video, Netflix, Knowhow Movies, Now TV, BBC iPlayer, Demand 5.
Compare to Samsung Smart TV, LG smart TV doesn’t support ITV Player and 4oD.
- See also: How to stream iTunes movies and TV shows to LG smart TV
Sony Smart TV
Sony Smart TV is also liked by many consumers. However, to me, I think Sony Smart TV is a little hard to use. It also offers a good range of apps, like Netflix, Amazon Video, BBC iPlayer and Demand 5.
What apps do you get on Sony smart TV?
Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, Skype;
Online Channels: YouTube, BBC News, BBC Sport, Amazon Instand Video, Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Demand 5.
Sony Smart TV doesn’t support Knowhow Movies, NOW TV, ITV Player and 4oD.
- See also: How to watch iTunes purchased and rental movies on Sony Bravia TV
Panasonic smart TV
Panasonic’s smart-TV service was a bit of a late developer compared to LG and Samsung. But it’s competitive now. With Panasonic smart TV, you can personalize your favorite App, Channels now. Further more, it offers a free-to-download ‘Swipe & Share’ app allowing you to share content such as videos and photos from a mobile device with your TV. All Panasonic’s smart-TV service is also easy to use.
What apps does Panasonic smart TV support?
Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, Skype;
Online Channels: YouTube, BBC News, BBC Sport, Netflix, BBC iPlayer, ITV Player, 4oD, Demand 5.
The only disadvantages of Panasonic smart TV to me is that it can’t support Amazon Instant Video, which is a very popular movie and TV shows subscription store.
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Nick Orin is a review writer, software geek and Mac OS enthusiast. He spends all his free time in searching useful software and gadgets to share with others.