First came the smartphone. And with it Internet services and a huge selection of apps. These portable communication devices have truly become THE must-have in today’s connected world. So it was only a matter of time before someone came out with a “smart TV.” Well they did and of course Sound Advice has them. If you are new to this still-developing technology and want to know more, stick with us. In this tutorial we’ll show you what it’s all about so you can figure out if it’s something you should be looking for in your new TV.

 

Not-So Smart TV 

Since the beginning of TV broadcasting, the programming choices of what you can watch have been growing dramatically. When this writer was growing up in Miami, we only had four over-the-air TV stations: Public TV (channel 2), CBS (channel 4), NBC (channel 7), and ABC (channel 10). That was it. As the years went by, the options expanded further as UHS stations began broadcasting. 

 

 

Then came cable TV! An amazing 33 channels to watch, including MTV, HBO, and ESPN. Wow! From that start, the choices expanded…and expanded…and expanded. Cable TV today has more channels than anyone than we ever though possible. And if that wasn’t enough, satellite TV providers such as DIrecTV began beaming signals into our homes with even more stuff to watch.

 

But even with all these choices, TV still wasn’t very smart. The broadcasters determined when their shows were played on the air, making us slaves to their schedule. The first VCRs were an early attempt to free ourselves from this broadcast tyranny. With a VCR we could finally record a show and watch it when we wanted to. But the fact was, VCRs had severe limitations, including hard to understand timers. Most people couldn’t even set the clocks, much less program the darned thing to record a show. Things got better with the advent of the digital DVR. Suddenly recording shows became much easier. But we were still limited to the programming that cable or satellite TV provided us with.

 

The Internet Comes to TV 

In the meantime, the Internet was bombarding computer users with fantastic new choices in entertainment, news, and information. The trip to the record store became a fond memory. Now, you simply downloaded all your favorite music to your computer. Easy-Breezy! Movies and videos came next. Instead of buying or renting DVDs, you could simply stream a movie from a number of video content providers. But all this great stuff was only available on a small screen computer, usually tucked away in a home office. Why not the big screen TV in the living room? Why not, indeed!

 

Enter smart TV. Now all that great content is available on any TV. A smart TV has the equivalent of a computer built right into it, enabling viewer to enjoy apps, media streaming, Web browsing, games, and perhaps most importantly, streaming video content. Broadcast tyranny is officially over. The TV user now has absolute control over what they watch, and when they watch it.

 

 

Do I Need a Smart TV? 

Let’s look at a few smart TV capabilities to see if any of them appeal to you. How about video streaming? YouTube has become the world’s stomping ground for everything video. Why limit yourself to your computer screen? Full length movies from Netflix and Blockbuster can be streamed directly to your TV – anytime you want, without the trip to the video store. Facebook and Twitter bring the latest social networking to your smart TV. Keep in touch with friends and the world from the comfort of you living room couch. Some smart TVs even offer Skype. Video chat with friends! Games are also a big part of smart TV, plus Internet radio, weather forecasts, and a whole lot more. And this is only thebeginning. App developers are hard at work coming up with cool new way to make smart TVs even more enjoyable to own. The future looks exciting.

 

Ok, How Does It Hook-Up? 

Of course Sound Advice can take care of all the installation stuff. But keep in mind that a smart TV connects just like a computer. Many smart TVs boast wireless connectivity, so it’s simply a matter of adding another device to your home network. You can also use a wired ethernet connection. Some people prefer the enhanced security and more consistent signal that a hard-wired connect provides. So when shopping for a smart TV make sure the one you like has the Internet connection that you prefer.

 

Now What? 

Sounds like it’s time to take a trip to Sound Advice and see for yourself. Our experts will guide you through all the different features to help you understand everything you need to know about this emerging technology. If it makes sense to you, why not add a smart TV to your home entertainment system.