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Monday 27 February 2012
Tuesday 21 February 2012
What Smart TV services are available? Company comparisons?
Sony
Sony offer a GoogleTV package that is supported by the android operating system. On the Smart TV section of their website they enlist the features available. They offer 'entertainment at your fingertips' with unlimited music and video streaming for a fee, as well as BBC and channel 5 on-demand services. A YouTube app is also available as well as daily motion and social interaction via the likes of Facebook & Twitter. The social networking integration they offer has recently been updated with the ability to watch TV and Tweet or use Facebook at the same time as viewing your favorite TV show. One final selling point for Sony is its connectivity; the available Skype app allows users to call relatives/friends directly from the sofa (at a small extra cost for a hardware extension).
Price range
£799-£1399
Pros
- Reliable software, regular updates.
- Good integration, ability to stream TV & use apps e.g. Facebook
- Ability to video call
Cons
- Poor web browser- very incompatible and slow according to customer reviews.
- Lack of choice when it comes to apps- restricted to small selection from Sony app store.
- Compatibility with non-Sony devices poor- e.g. keyboard compatibility.
- On-demand choice very poor, only BBC and channel 5 on-demand services. No ITV or Channel 4 apps.
LG
LG offer a smart TV package run on their own operating system. It is a simple platform with many features including a point-and-click style remote, app Store, Internet browser, BBCi player and social networking integration. The interface is quite simialar to what is available on Nintendo's Wii console, they have taken on board the concept and adpated it. Click here for a demonstration of how the system works. As you can see from the link, it is very user friendly and easy to use. Much simpler than other smart TV platforms available, this is a good selling point for LG, they are particularly concentrated on the family market.
Price range
£439-£699
Pros
- User friendly interface- family appeal.
- Extensive app store- lots of choice.
- Competitive prices.
Cons
- Poor web browser- incompatable with flash 9/10 and many websites (Click here for customer reviews)
- Basic apps- even paid apps fall short of many customers expectations.
Panasonic
Panasonic, like LG, run their own operating system for their smart TVs. They offer on demand services such as; BBCi player, Viewster and Acetrax. They also have social networking integration with the likes of Facebook and Twitter. As well as video/photo clients like YouTube and Flicker. Unlike many other smart TVs on the market, doesn't offer a web browser at all. As a user you are limited to the apps that are available on the app store. Price range
£1198-£4988
Pros
- Good picture quality (see reviews here)
- Good sound quality
- Easy set up
- Attractive, well built OS interface
Cons
- No internet browser
- Limited app store
- Pricey
Image sources used
-Sony 'Stay in touch with family and friends' image- http://www.sony.co.uk/res/images/image/53/1237482324353.jpg
-Sony 'entertainment at your fingertips images' - http://www.sony.co.uk/res/images/image/38/1237482324338.jpg
Monday 13 February 2012
History of Smart TV? Why has it not taken off?
Smart TV has been around for a while, the idea of it has been talked about by many media experts for years. The real question therefore is why hasnt it taken off? In this blog I am going to look into a brief bit of history, concentrating on a PopSi article from the 90s and then come to a conclusion about why it has taken so long to come to the consumer market.
November 1990's issue of Popular Science has an article relating to 'smart TV' (see fig. 1 ) it talks about how complicated TV has become, the huge choice that is made available via cable and the possibility of TV's becoming smart. The article talks about how TV's will learn the users tastes, recommending listings and 'do some of the watching for you' (Antonoff p62). Another area it discusses is the devleopment of user friendly TV guides that are less like 'an office spread sheet' (Antonoff p62). The most relevent topic of discussion is the convergence of TV & Computing, it talks about the develpment of microprossors in TV's and talks about the possibility of programme management.
Fig. 1
Conclusions
Looking into the history of Smart TV is very interesting, it is a technology that has been talked about for nearly 25 years. Some of the things that have been discussed in the articles are common in TVs today; a good example is idea that TV would 'learn' our preferences and recommend programs. This is something which modern TVs do, it is interesting to think how accurate some of the predictions where. Having said this the convergence of TV and computer technologies hasn't really become available to in the popular consumer market; it is perhaps because of a lack of demand? as consumers have we cried out for computers to converge as one with our TV? Until recently we didn't have the technologies available to be useful in convergence with TV. On Demand Services have only become available in the past 6 years BBCi player (2007) and Channel 4's 4OD (2006). You have to ask weather prior to some of these technologies, was TV ready to converge with computer technologies? What would be the point in having a Smart TV prior to On-Demand TV, stable mobile apps and the explosion of social networking? Everything that holds Smart TV together as an attractive product has come about in recent times. Perhaps this is the reason that it has only just started to take off. Yes the idea has been there for a long time but there wasn't really a platform for it to grow and develop until now.
Sources of images
http://www.popsci.com/archive-viewer?id=tgEAAAAAMBAJ&pg=62&query=stay+tuned+for+smart+TV - Popular Science article front cover and inside article (Nov 1990)
November 1990's issue of Popular Science has an article relating to 'smart TV' (see fig. 1 ) it talks about how complicated TV has become, the huge choice that is made available via cable and the possibility of TV's becoming smart. The article talks about how TV's will learn the users tastes, recommending listings and 'do some of the watching for you' (Antonoff p62). Another area it discusses is the devleopment of user friendly TV guides that are less like 'an office spread sheet' (Antonoff p62). The most relevent topic of discussion is the convergence of TV & Computing, it talks about the develpment of microprossors in TV's and talks about the possibility of programme management.
Fig. 1
Conclusions
Looking into the history of Smart TV is very interesting, it is a technology that has been talked about for nearly 25 years. Some of the things that have been discussed in the articles are common in TVs today; a good example is idea that TV would 'learn' our preferences and recommend programs. This is something which modern TVs do, it is interesting to think how accurate some of the predictions where. Having said this the convergence of TV and computer technologies hasn't really become available to in the popular consumer market; it is perhaps because of a lack of demand? as consumers have we cried out for computers to converge as one with our TV? Until recently we didn't have the technologies available to be useful in convergence with TV. On Demand Services have only become available in the past 6 years BBCi player (2007) and Channel 4's 4OD (2006). You have to ask weather prior to some of these technologies, was TV ready to converge with computer technologies? What would be the point in having a Smart TV prior to On-Demand TV, stable mobile apps and the explosion of social networking? Everything that holds Smart TV together as an attractive product has come about in recent times. Perhaps this is the reason that it has only just started to take off. Yes the idea has been there for a long time but there wasn't really a platform for it to grow and develop until now.
Sources of images
http://www.popsci.com/archive-viewer?id=tgEAAAAAMBAJ&pg=62&query=stay+tuned+for+smart+TV - Popular Science article front cover and inside article (Nov 1990)
Thursday 2 February 2012
YouView- What is it? What will it provide?
YouView is a service that is under construction at the moment in the UK, it is set out to change the way that we consume TV and will make TV much more interactive. As well as making our on-demand service much more integrated. One of YouView's main aims is to "combine the simplicity and value of Freeview with the choice and convenience of catch-up and on-demand services". Our current catch up service is largely available online via laptops/games consoles, YouView believes that this service doesn't really live up to our expectations and they believe that its "never quite the same on a computer" this is something which their new all-in-one box will change. It is their aim to bring together our entire TV experience into one simple box (see fig. 1), as well as incorporating a personal video recorder which will allow users to pause, rewind, fast forward and record TV.
 |
| Fig 1 |
The YouView service has been backed by a number of TV production and broadband companies as well as Arqiva- a multi-national media service provider that provides TV, radio, satellite and wireless network services all over the world. Arqiva have been known to and will continue to support the development of new media delivery platforms. This shows the amount of potential that it has and the possibility of it being breaking into the consumer market very high.
The service they provide is essentially free (although you must have a valid TV license) so all that you pay for is the box. One of the most interesting features to YouView is that it will provide the opportunity of on-demand pay TV with options like sport, films and international TV. This breaks into a new consumer market , some people want to be able to just subscribe to a sports channel for example without all the extra channels that come with pay per month services like Sky or Virgin.
Conclusions from research
The whole idea behind YouView is moving it closer towards the concept of connected/smart TV, they are providing an interactive box that allows users to search through content, watch on-demand shows, record their TV experiences and revisit old favourites. On their website, and in fact in the embedded video (see fig. 2), YouView explains the scope for development. YouView could become something far more interactive and has given developers a platform to work with, they are offering help/support to app developers to create apps. With this development It is easy to see how the convergence of TV and computer technologies is becoming more prevalent. The idea will bring together some of our favorite aspects of computer technology like Facebook and Twitter for example and integrate them into our TV experience.
Fig. 2- Video explanation of YouView
 |
| Sports channels are currently only available via subscription services like Sky or Virgin Media. |
Conclusions from research
The whole idea behind YouView is moving it closer towards the concept of connected/smart TV, they are providing an interactive box that allows users to search through content, watch on-demand shows, record their TV experiences and revisit old favourites. On their website, and in fact in the embedded video (see fig. 2), YouView explains the scope for development. YouView could become something far more interactive and has given developers a platform to work with, they are offering help/support to app developers to create apps. With this development It is easy to see how the convergence of TV and computer technologies is becoming more prevalent. The idea will bring together some of our favorite aspects of computer technology like Facebook and Twitter for example and integrate them into our TV experience.
Fig. 2- Video explanation of YouView
Sources of images & video
YouView (2012) YouView title image & interactive TV box [Online Images] Both available from: http://www.youview.com (accessed 02/02/12)
WhereToBet.com (2010) Dirk Kuyt & Frank Lampard fighting for possession [Online image] Available from: http://sports.wheretobet.com/images/photos/4cd55b6ca3d78.jpg (accessed 02/02/12)
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