Smart Tv: All You Need To Know

Do Smart TVs watch you as you watch them?

Not exactly. A smart TV can connect to the internet, so you can watch YouTube, BBC iPlayer, 40D, ITV Player and other online services. Smart TVs offer fantastic new ways to watch your favourite programmes. You can even stream new films from LOVEFiLM.

So it's just like having a Windows PC on a TV then?

Not really. Smart TVs have a pared-down interface - more like Windows Media Center - which makes it easier to use on a TV with a remote. It's an attractive and easy to use interface, but it isn't suitable for more advanced tasks, like word processing.

So can I just hook my TV up to my network?

No. Your TV needs to be a smart TV to work straight out of the box. It needs to have an Ethernet network port at the back to be able to connect to your router, though some smart TVs have wireless adapters sold separately.

But I just got a new TV that isn't a smart TV...

If you want to get most of the benefits of a smart TV without having to buy one, you can get a set-top box like the OlPlay Mini Plus Smart TV Set-Top Box, which can connect to the internet. It's not as compact as a smart TV, but means you don't have to upgrade.

What's so good about smart TVs anyway?

It means you get to watch streamed programmes and films on the big screen. With your TV able to access the internet, a world of entertainment is open up to you. Almost every genre is covered from all over the world. Smart TVs are a fantastic example of new technology mixing with old.