Smart TV portals in the test
More freedom for users
The Internet does not only meet us in the working world, but for years we have also sneaked into other everyday situations and accompanied us on journeys, done shopping and made free calls. Also the living room is more and more fulfilled by the Internet. Apps control the screen, with the tablet you can comfortably surf from the sofa, and TVs are able to connect to the net via LAN, Powerline or WLAN.
Movies as desired and at any time
The term "Smart TV" is no longer new. But currently, every TV manufacturer understands something different under the slogan. Basically, Smart TV should make the TV more intelligent. More intelligent means that he adapts to the user's television behavior and does not reverse.
Music without advertising and moderation
Previously, the Primetime was still strictly regulated: If you did not place on time at 20:15 clock in front of the TV device, missed the latest blockbusters - unless the timer had previously been started in the timer. In addition, the television broadcasters themselves determined which program was to be broadcast and which did not.
New interpretation of social networks
Intelligent television now changes this dependency and creates a whole new dimension of freedom. From the sofa, the viewer can determine what he wants to see via video on demand or media library. Watch the Tagesschau at 11 pm or a documentary from last week on the rainy Sunday - Smart TV is no longer a problem.
Also the retrieval of video clips via YouTube, the telephone conversation on a full 55 inches via Skype or the integrated browser to read the current football results are on the topic of Smart TV: a full set-up, in which one loses the overview of performance and own benefit . Although every TV manufacturer advertises with the "Smart TV" equipment, not all apps and applications are included on all televisions.
Interview: Frank Eschholz about the Smart TV Alliance
The Smart TV Alliance is intended to provide a remedy here. Various TV makers have agreed to create a common infrastructure for their Smart TVs to provide the same content as possible. This is, however, still a future music. Therefore, before deciding to buy, it is important to know how to use intelligent television itself and which manufacturer is best suited to it.
On top of that there are different models of a manufacturer that are still different: It is difficult to keep an overview here. The most important criterion for independence from the TV program are the video-on-demand offers.
Video on Demand is the film on demand. Over the well-known portals such as Maxdome, Acetrax, Video Unlimited or Videociety you can order the newest feature films at the touch of a button and enjoy from the sofa. This gives the video store ultimate competition. If you want to see a new blockbuster in the evening, you do not have to go to a video store to get it on DVD or Blu-ray, but simply browse through the mentioned manufacturers' apps to select the movie there
Test: compare video-on-demand portals
One of the most famous providers is Maxdome. With a selection of more than 45,000 series, films and documentaries, the VoD service has already overtaken many others. Paid here as with many other offerers also by direct debit or prepaid credit. On average, the price per movie is around € 4.
VoD also has disadvantages, such as the picture quality. Not all VoD services offer an HD resolution. The 25 MBit / s usual with Blu-ray is hunted only with 2.5 to a maximum of 8 MBit / s through the net. So the perfect picture quality must be compromised.
Restrict age-restricted content simply
A further possibility to design the TV program by yourself are mediatheques. The public service broadcasters ARD and ZDF are now standard on most TV sets. Users can retrieve and view the Tagesschau or already run documentations in a few steps at will. Even stations like SAT.1 or ProSieben are pushing more and more onto the TV screen. With the MySpass app, for example, comedy programs such as TV total, Ladykracher or Stromberg can be displayed on the screen at any time.
In addition to film wishes, Smart TV also fulfills the desire for individual music. The apps from QTom or AUPEO! Offer internet radio according to individual taste. AUPEO! Responds, for example, to the preferences and listening habits of the user and searches for the next songs. While VIVA and MTV are still disturbing their music, the user can easily listen to music through these apps without interruption.
Conclusion
Review: Panasonic TX-L55WT50E
But thanks to Internet connection, Smart TV can play more than music and videos. Both chatting and telephoning are possible here. After the first manufacturers such as Panasonic and Philips introduced the online telephony service Skype on their TVs, Skype is also enjoying increasing popularity here: registering free of charge and calling worldwide on the Internet. Samsung, Philips, Panasonic, Sony and LG are already offering the service in their current models.
A highlight at Philips: The manufacturer delivers in its 8000er series already an otherwise paid camera with. At Samsung, a camera is already integrated within the framework of the UE55ES7090 tested here. Panasonic, on the other hand, offers cameras for retrofitting. This is not cheap: depending on the model, about 100 euros and more. This is due to the fact that the cameras not only offer HD resolution, but are also equipped with several microphones to enable viewers to make calls from the sofa.
Position
The quality of Skype was consistently acceptable in our tests. Who is dealing with the software on the PC or laptop, knows that the connection is not always smooth. This was also the case with the applications on the TV, but this was not dramatic. With Skype, TV manufacturers are increasingly opening up the social world of the TV set. In addition to personal conversations or chat via Skype, applications such as Facebook or Twitter are not new.
Philips and Sony interpret the social TV differently than before. With the Philips social TV app and the Twitter app from Sony, you can now track what other viewers post on parallel to the TV program. You can discuss current scenes or possible sequels, and do not miss the series itself.
Philips optimizes this function due to its new remote control. Although other manufacturers also offer generous input fields for letters and special characters, they must be selected individually. Philips, on the other hand, has integrated a complete computer keyboard from its 8000 series into its remote controls. This makes the use of Facebook, Twitter & Co. really fun.
Fun also promises fun for families. More and more portals are now available for children. Kinderkino.de and ABC for Kids offer entertainment and fun. When setting up the Smart TV portal on your TV, you can also enable a PIN lock for applications that are only released for 18 years.
In addition, there are more games for the whole family. The intelligent remote controls from the various manufacturers help to enjoy them. The smart remote from LG reminds about the game console Wii, Samsung trumps in the newest TV generations with gesture and voice control and the game Angry Birds
And not only in games, the manufacturers place more and more emphasis on the easy usability of the TVs. With the aforementioned rotatable remote control from Philips, the input of web addresses into the browser and certain search requests are considerably simplified. Also the Internet connection is not as difficult as before. If the user selects the connection via WLAN, he must also enter his password.
Test: Loewe Connect ID 46
Instead of having to do this by scanning the individual digits, the remote can be used simply as a keyboard - intelligent television with intelligent operation. Other manufacturers such as Loewe offer a simple control over tablets or smartphones. With the Assist Media app, the iPad becomes a free remote control for the Loewe TV.
It is important in the whole network that the software update of the TVs is carried out from time to time. This also brings the latest apps quickly to the TV. For all those who do not yet have Internet-enabled TV, there are special boxes for retrofitting. VideoWeb and Eminent, for example, offer these boxes with a large repertoire of apps. In this case, the box has only to be connected to the TV set and the Internet so that the smart TV can also be placed on older TVs.
The variety of smart TV offers is very large and unclear. Who wants a lot, is well served with Samsung and LG. If you are also satisfied with the most important apps and a great interface, you can peacefully take the Philips offer. The highlights of the Dutch manufacturer are the supplied camera for video telephony and the intelligent remote control
The range of smart TV portals is already somewhat confusing: many apps, many names and a lot of room. With the Smart TV Alliance, this is fortunately better. Until then one can recommend especially large manufacturers such as Philips and Samsung. VoD services, social networks and Skype are available on their portals.
Download: Table
LG NetCast, Loewe MediaNet, Panasonic Smart Viera, Philips Net TV, Samsung Smart Hub, Sony Entertainment Network
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