Smart TV for Dummies
Not too long ago, televisions were these ugly, bulky monstrosities that required a dozen men to move, took up the entire table, had barely enough channels, and produced picture quality that would be on par with cell phones from the early 2000s. Today though, those boxes have been replaced with sleek, light, and beautiful machines with screens reaching and exceeding the 100" mark, with quality that can almost be called real. The revolution simply didn't stop with a diet and improved quality either, because, as with all things these days, TVs have also joined the "Smart" club.
WHAT IS 'SMART'?
Smart seems to be the new trend for the last 2-3 years and it's smartphones that are responsible for it. Due to the dependency on smartphones and all their amazing functions, consumers started demanding more and more interconnectivity between their devices and their other various electronics. As a result, the "Smart" revolution was born; the rise of devices that could do a bit more than they were designed for and even communicate with users through their smartphones. Smart TVs share this same philosophy as well. Instead of a regular TV that one just hooks up to cable, what smart TVs do is open up the world. With built-in features like Skype, YouTube and Netflix, as well as direct interactivity with smartphones, users end up with a more complete package than a normal "dumb" TV.
PROS AND CONS
Because it can go above and beyond the duties of a normal TV, Smart TVs have become a must-have in the living room. Who wouldn't want a TV that they could control with a touch of their smartphones? Also, because it has built-in connectivity options like Skype, it negates the need for a bulky computer in the living room as well.
The primary concern regarding a smart TV is cost. Pound for pound, a normal FullHD panel with the same screen size will cost at least Tk 20,000 to Tk 30,000 less than a similarly spec'd Smart TV. Also, most people usually end up using YouTube more than anything else on a Smart TV. As for communication via Skype, most people would generally care to do that with their smartphone as no one wants their personal communication on a giant screen. Also, because of the sub-par internet performance in some areas, most of the benefits of a Smart TV get thrown out the window.
TIPS BEFORE THE PLUNGE
Resolution and screen size: NEVER buy a TV with a resolution lesser than 1080p (FullHD); that's rule number one. As for screen size, bigger isn't necessarily better either. Make sure to choose based on the size of the room, because the bigger the screen, the further away one has to sit.
Refresh rates and contrast ratios: The quotes for contrast ratios are mostly just manufacturers putting on numbers for marketing purposes. A good eye will help in finding TVs with good contrast ratios. Refresh rates determine the sharpness of a panel during fast moving scenes. Slower refresh rates equal to jittery or blurry images whereas higher rates equate to sharper, more responsive images.
More ports: Look for TVs with many outputs and connections as this will allow customers to connect more devices to the TV.
Curved or flat: Don't fall into the fad of curved panels as they don't really add anything to the image quality other than maybe minimising the reflection of light in the room.
Speakers: Invest in a proper pair of speakers because the built-in ones would be as loud as the speaker on your smartphone.
TOP PICKS
LG LF590T 43" Smart TV (Tk 46,000): One of the most affordable entries into the world of Smart TV, LG's expertise with television panels is long and successful one.
Sony Bravia W800C 43" 3D Smart TV (Tk 60,000): Rest assured that the only thing it shares with the LG above is the size of the panel. The reason for the price hike is because the Sony brings with a double attack. First off, this TV is powered by Android, the very OS running on almost 80% of the world's smartphones. Second, this is a 3D panel, making this Sony an easy one to recommend.
Samsung H6400 48" 3D Smart TV (Tk 70,000): Samsung are the undisputed leaders when it comes to TVs, so much so, that they make most of other company's panels for them. The reason for that dominance is easily visible with this. Immersive 3D experience, a very vibrant panel and of course Samsung's own Smart TV OS runs things underneath.
DIY SMART TV
Pound for pound, Smart TVs cost considerably more than their normal HDTV counterparts. So for those who are caught a bit short on the budget and can't afford a full-fledged Smart TV, there are other cost effective methods to achieve the same, if not better, results.
Newer generation consoles: If there happens to be an Xbox One or Playstation 4 lying around, then there is no need for a Smart TV at all as they have fantastic built-in capabilities for entertainment and communication. However, it is not recommended to go out and buy them solely for Smart TV conversions as they are quite costly.
Google Chromecast: One of the cheapest and easiest methods to turning a normal TV into a full-fledged entertainment machine that can stream from a smartphone or PC.
Intel Compute Stick: Imagine a proper Windows 10 PC designed and built into the frame of a slightly large USB pen drive. That is what the Compute Stick is and when connected to a TV, it can become a full-on Windows 10 PC, better than any Smart TV.
By Intisab Shahriyar
Photo: Collected
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