Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Smart TVs like Samsung's may be the norm now, but are they necessary? AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon

So what's the deal with Smart TVs?

Almost every TV now comes with some kind of smart capability, but do they add anything to the experience?

NO MATTER WHAT TV you go for, it’s going to have some kind of smart capabilities built into it. It’s unavoidable really, devices are given more capabilities, the ability to surf the web, voice controls and access to apps like Netflix and YouTube.

But if you can’t avoid them, what should you keep in mind when buying one, and is it better to get a set top box like Apple TV instead?

Why would you want a smart TV?

Considering that the vast majority of TVs released now have some kind of smart capabilities, it’s probably not something that you would have a choice in anyway. Yet the features that are included are useful under the right circumstances.

Smart TVs already incorporate certain aspects of features you would find in the likes of Apple TV and Chromecast or consoles like the Xbox One or PS4. the main difference is it allows you to access these services directly instead of using a third-party service like the ones mentioned above.

If you have one of those already, then there’s less reason to get one, but as mentioned earlier, the vast majority of new TVs come with some kind of ‘smart’ capabilities so you may as well factor in the

Since they connect via WiFi, it means that it can download its own TV optimised apps used to watch shows on Netflix, access your social media accounts or browse the web. Really, you will be using them for things like video, audio and slideshows instead of using it as a replacement for your computer.

What’s the specs should you look at?

The physical specs of a TV have value for a few reasons although they’re not as important as you might initially think. The main ones are:

Screen Type: either LED or OLED, the latter delivers brighter and more fully saturated colours.
Resolution: the higher the numbers, the sharper the resolution.
Video definition: Normally advertised as Ultra HD or 4K. TV makers tend to use both interchangeably even though they’re not the same thing (4K is associated with film, and refers to both the resolution and how its content is encoded).
Motion clarity/refresh rate: Expressed in Hertz (Hz), this describes how many times per second a picture is refreshed on the screen.
Port and connections: Not as important, but if you wanted to connect your laptop up to your TV, you would need an HDMI, VGA, S-Video, or DVI port for this to work. The type of port available will depend on your TV.

Tech Test-Streaming Video Gift Guide Set top boxes and streaming devices like Roku 3, Apple TV and Chromecast offer similar functionality to a Smart TV. AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

What OS is running?

There’s no real consistency when it comes to smart TVs so the interface and options differ from manufacturer to manufacturer. There’s no standard, meaning the quality of OS will vary massively.

The main ones you want to be aware of is customisation and interface, the former for getting the right settings, apps and services while the latter needs to be as easy as possible.

Another thing would be mirroring, which is the process of displaying a laptop or smartphone screen on the TV. This very much depends on device compatibility (an iPhone won’t be able to be mirrored on a Samsung device, for example) and it’s worth checking to see what laptop or smartphone you have first if you’re seriously thinking of using it.

What about tracking?

Something that had been brought up recently, thanks to the controversy surrounding Samsung, was the fact that Smart TVs track data. While the concerns surrounding this particular example were overblown, there is a serious concern over what data is collected when you’re using it.

The benefits of allowing this is for ease of access and personalisation suggesting things to watch and services to download. The downside is this can be used to send targeted ads to your TV, and where they appear really depends on what service you’re using.

While there isn’t much consistency across the board, be aware that the T&C you agree to when setting it up normally gives these services permission to do this. You can disable these features, but you end up losing some ‘smart’ functionality as a result.

So what’s the verdict?

If you already own a device that allows multimedia capabilities like a games console or set-top box, then the usefulness of a Smart TV is limited.

However, if you don’t and you want to watch the likes of Netflix and YouTube on it, then there’s a good argument for it. Just don’t expect it to change your world as the concept is still very young.

Read: Forget iPhones, Apple wants to start selling electric cars in five years >

Read: If you bought a Lenovo laptop recently, you may want to check it soon >

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
48 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Daniel Morrissey
    Favourite Daniel Morrissey
    Report
    Nov 12th 2021, 10:10 PM

    Can someone put sanctions on Brazil for this?

    Our government want to cut our national herd to support this massacre of forestation

    305
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Black
    Favourite John Black
    Report
    Nov 12th 2021, 10:15 PM

    @Daniel Morrissey: we’re one of the least forested countries worldwide so we’re not ones to be pointing fingers

    77
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Gorry
    Favourite Paul Gorry
    Report
    Nov 12th 2021, 10:31 PM

    @Daniel Morrissey: just texted eamonn Daniel still hasn’t got back to me. Good chance him asleep.

    51
    See 10 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute john smith iv
    Favourite john smith iv
    Report
    Nov 12th 2021, 10:35 PM

    @John Black: that’s going back hundreds of years.

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Diarmuid O'Braonáin
    Favourite Diarmuid O'Braonáin
    Report
    Nov 12th 2021, 10:37 PM

    @John Black: You do realise that it wasn’t the Irish that destroyed our own forests. There were huge areas of forestry in Ireland about the time Oliver Cromwell invaded Ireland. As a reward many of his soldiers where given large amounts of lands and created large estates. Native timber was harvested for massive profits.

    If you ever passed Lismore Castle in Waterford you will of stopped and admired its beauty. What’s not known is that Lismore is in the Blackwater Valley and it used to be one of Irelands largest forests. It was cut down and sold for profit. Destroyed by an English landlord so he could build himself a great house. We are lucky we live in a republic as most of rivers and forests and owned by the people of Ireland. For example in the North Lough Neagh is owned by the Earl of Shaftesbury. The largest freshwater lake in the UK and Ireland is owned by a British Earl. Many of the forests in the UK are privately owned.

    78
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Black
    Favourite John Black
    Report
    Nov 12th 2021, 11:12 PM

    @john smith iv: and we should be replanting them

    34
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Black
    Favourite John Black
    Report
    Nov 12th 2021, 11:14 PM

    @Diarmuid O’Braonáin: I do realise this, and it’s not an excuse to be pointing fingers at other countries when we are not actively trying to increase our forested area (and those damaging coniferous forests are as bad as having no forest)

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Diarmuid O'Braonáin
    Favourite Diarmuid O'Braonáin
    Report
    Nov 12th 2021, 11:41 PM

    @John Black: Its not an excuse! The govt have never promoted native forestry in Ireland. Don’t blame the people blame those in power. Have you seen the current licensing system. There are 4000 in the backlog and farmers have to wait years to get permission to plant trees including native tress.

    42
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute JMcB
    Favourite JMcB
    Report
    Nov 12th 2021, 11:52 PM

    @John Black: the English had a hand in that. Rule britania needed wood for their ships and ours was handy for them

    29
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute P Mc G
    Favourite P Mc G
    Report
    Nov 13th 2021, 7:30 AM

    @Diarmuid O’Braonáin: *will have. ‘will of’ is nonsensical grammar.

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute wormtubes
    Favourite wormtubes
    Report
    Nov 13th 2021, 9:19 AM

    @Diarmuid O’Braonáin: coillte are actively growing native forests.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute TrollsRrealpeople2
    Favourite TrollsRrealpeople2
    Report
    Nov 13th 2021, 10:22 AM

    @P Mc G: Thanks for point that out. Helps everyone understand his point better. Ffs

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute EillieEs
    Favourite EillieEs
    Report
    Nov 13th 2021, 10:56 AM

    @Daniel Morrissey: why are animals owned by individual farmers referred to as the ‘national herd’? Farming is the only industry where this kind of language is used, making it sound like we all somehow benefit from the destruction of the rainforest to feed animals reared in Ireland to be exported abroad. ‘National’ suggests public ownership as in the national broadcaster, the national grid, Aer Lingus was known as the national airline before it was sold off so why do you use the term national when the cattle aren’t owned by the public?

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Billy Davies
    Favourite Billy Davies
    Report
    Nov 12th 2021, 11:08 PM

    And EU considering signing the mercusor deal with Brazil and South America. That deal needs to be thrown in the recycling bin.

    125
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute To Mt
    Favourite To Mt
    Report
    Nov 12th 2021, 9:44 PM

    And yet a length of 2×1 is still 3 times the price it was a year ago

    117
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Murphy
    Favourite John Murphy
    Report
    Nov 12th 2021, 9:52 PM

    @To Mt: it looks like they aren’t even harvesting the wood. They are just letting it burn so it can be farmed for a few years before it goes barren.

    99
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute To Mt
    Favourite To Mt
    Report
    Nov 12th 2021, 9:58 PM

    @John Murphy: I just say its hyper inflation. Not a lot of people see the bubble and its gonna be bigger this time. I really hope I’m wrong though.

    34
    See 2 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Vonvonic
    Favourite Vonvonic
    Report
    Nov 12th 2021, 10:03 PM

    @John Murphy: It’s the hipsters and their avocados.

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute
    Favourite
    Report
    Nov 12th 2021, 10:28 PM

    @John Murphy: in some parts of the Amazon they use tractors with massive chains and drag the ground clean into a heap then use the sterile land to grow oil palm which is found in lots of products from butter to Nutella. They also grow sorghum which is shipped around the world to feed animals and for human consumption.

    24
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sean Higgins
    Favourite Sean Higgins
    Report
    Nov 12th 2021, 9:57 PM

    I just can’t comprehend the size of that rainforest, I remember in school 30 years ago they were talking about the destruction in the Amazon.

    78
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joe Moynihan
    Favourite Joe Moynihan
    Report
    Nov 12th 2021, 10:08 PM

    Should we tell the big noises in Glasgow

    67
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Damo
    Favourite Damo
    Report
    Nov 12th 2021, 10:32 PM

    Not to worry.
    All those deflated tyres on SUV’s in Glasgow will make up for this in jig time…

    40
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mick Tobin
    Favourite Mick Tobin
    Report
    Nov 13th 2021, 3:20 AM

    Bolsonaro’s argument’s basically been like this: you lot in Europe & the US can’t tell us what to do since you deforested your own lands for development and we have that right too.

    That’s always fascinated me since superficially he does have a point. It’s just that we’ve all done so much of that, that their bit is now one of the last bits on the planet.

    Thankfully he’s facing an election next year and his polling numbers aren’t very good atm.

    34
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Dowling
    Favourite Michael Dowling
    Report
    Nov 13th 2021, 8:29 AM

    Simple solution tax the Irish. Seems to be the way forward. Greens policy.

    34
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Mc Donagh
    Favourite John Mc Donagh
    Report
    Nov 12th 2021, 11:22 PM

    Will yez all just belt up. Do yez not know that the whole problem is caused by Irish cows farting?

    45
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Creagh
    Favourite Michael Creagh
    Report
    Nov 13th 2021, 9:41 AM

    It’s ok,cop26 is all over it.

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute patrick malone
    Favourite patrick malone
    Report
    Nov 13th 2021, 2:36 PM

    I think it’s plain and simple cop on

    2
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
Duration 0:00
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 0:00
 
1x
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions off, selected
      News in 60 seconds