If it’s been a few years since you purchased a new Flat Screen: TV, well, a lot has changed. No longer is it enough to go into a store and simply look for the best picture and sound. The advent of smart TVs has turned the typical display device into an all-in-one media center for […]
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Streaming Media Stick vs. Streaming Media Box: Understanding the Differences
Not everyone wants to buy a new TV just to get access to all the latest smart TV streaming media features. And you don’t have to. A streaming media player, like Roku 3, Amazon Fire TV, Nexus Player or Apple TV can provide nearly all (or sometimes more) of the streaming media services and games […]
Get the GuideTop 10 Must Have Features in a Smart TV
Speed, streaming, and universal search reign supreme.
A whopping number of new TVs claim to be Smart TVs in some way or another, no matter how stupid the built-in “smart” features really are. In fact, Smart TV is such a vague term that just about any TV with built-in Internet connectivity and a couple of incredibly lame apps can boldly claim the […]
Get the GuideHow to Buy a New Smart TV
Learn about the most important features in a smart TV in time for your next electronics shopping trip.
Shopping for new TV can be a frustrating experience, especially if you only buy a TV once every five to seven years or more and haven’t kept up-to-date on new TV technology. Today’s smart TVs are amazing, and sometimes complicated devices, so there are a lot of factors to weigh when selecting your next TV. […]
Get the GuideSony Prices Entry-Level XBR-X850B 4K TV Series Under $1,500
The affordable 4K TV option includes the 4K X-Reality PRO picture engine, WiFi and Smart TV features.
The affordable 4K TV option includes the 4K X-Reality PRO picture engine, WiFi and Smart TV features.
Get the GuideLG 60LB7100 is One of the Best Smart TV Options Out There
It doesn't have 4K, but this 1080p set is still one of the best Smart TV solutions for the money.
It doesn’t have 4K, but this 1080p set is still one of the best Smart TV solutions for the money.
Get the GuideSmart TVs: Streaming & 4K Expand the User Experience
Content streaming is now a standard part of household entertainment. Parks Associates, a consumer electronics research firm in Dallas, finds that more than two-thirds of U.S. broadband households connect an entertainment device—a smart TV, gaming console, streaming media player, or smart Blu-ray player—to the Internet, and connection rates have been steadily increasing. Between 2013 and 2014, the percentage of U.S. broadband households with a smart TV connected to the Internet increased by 50%, while the percentage of households with a streaming media device increased by 100%. In general, the smart TV is the most common connected device, with the exception of the connected game console.
Get the GuideTips for Shopping the Showroom Floor
It’s never a good idea to buy a Smart TV based solely on specs, cosmetics, or some well-written ad copy. A Smart TV’s on-screen user interface (UI) may be simple or complex, beautiful or ugly, heavenly or hellish, but there’s really no way to tell without giving it a thorough test drive. Some important things to take note of are: how long it takes for the Smart TV to turn on; how much time it takes for apps to load; and how quickly the Smart TV is able to switch between apps. If any of these steps seem to take a long time in the middle of a busy showroom, it’s going to feel like you’re living in slow-motion when you’re using the Smart TV in a quiet family room.
Get the GuideMust Have Smart TV Features
Tear down a Smart TV conceptually (don’t worry—no TVs of any kind were harmed for this article), and you’ll find that three key aspects form its foundation. At a bare minimum, your Smart TV should have all of the three listed below to ensure that you get your money’s worth. Even if TV A and TV B both possess these three important elements, it’s rare that they’ll look and perform exactly the same (unless they’re from the same manufacturer and product line). In addition to these common features, you’ll want to understand the key differences between them, too, in order to make a wise purchasing decision.
Get the GuideWhy Buy a Smart TV?
Generally speaking, a Smart TV is a display device with built-in Internet connectivity for access to streaming media and other online services. Smart TVs also include integrated applications (apps) that give the TV extra, often non-traditional functionality. Several years ago, when TVs with limited Internet connectivity were first released, they were called Connected TVsÂ:—but connected doesn’t sound nearly as appropriate as smart when it comes to televisions. [Attempting to provide “clarity for consumers and retailers alike,” the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) released voluntary guidelines for Ultra High-Definition (UHD) TVs that defined the minimum requirements for a TV to be labeled a Connected UHD TV. In addition to specifying video and audio codecs, the voluntary requirements are similar to those outlined in this Buying Guide for what defines a Smart TV. Voluntary means most companies are going to ignore the guidelines and call it a Smart UHD TV or something more compelling than Connected Ultra HDTV. So much for clarity…]. Frankly, considering that the capabilities of the latest Smart TVs go way beyond simple browsing of websites and basic movie streaming, the smart nomenclature isn’t all that far off the mark.
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