Smart TV: Changing the way we watch television.
Technology has come a long way since Moss of Bath began selling televisions in 1962.
Back then there were only two channels to choose between (BBC & ITV) and you had to leave the sofa to switch on, switch over and switch off. We had little choice of what to watch too with the most exciting new programmes that year being 'Z.Cars' on the BBC and 'The Saint' on ITV.
Compare that with the 480 or so channels being broadcast today (not including on- demand content) and approximately 27,000 hours of content per year and it's surprising that we find the time for anything else!
Recently the way we are watching television is changing, driven mainly by the introduction of Smart TV.
Smart TV refers to any television that is capable of connecting to the internet, either by connecting to your router and broadband via an ethernet cable or wirelessly with wi-fi. Some Smart televisions will have wi-fi built in and others will be termed as 'wi-fi ready' which means that a separate dongle has to be purchased and plugged in to the television in order for it to connect with your wi-fi home network. (You will need a broadband connection to get online.)
Once connected, the Smart TV enables you to use the television as a portal for all manner of online services, effectively bringing the internet into the living room on a high quality screen. Not only will you be able to watch broadcasted content but you will also have access to many of the features currently available on your computer or mobile phone; you can browse the web, share email and even make free video calls via Skype.* A Smart TV will allow you to surf the net in real time, just as you would with your home computer, and you can access your stored photos and music too.
Social networking using Facebook, Twitter and YouTube is set to become more popular with Smart TV owners as people chat, share and comment on media content whilst watching television.You won't have to wait until you are in the office the next day to discuss the previous night's football match or latest episode of The Apprentice as it will all have been shared as it happened on the big screen.
Smart TV's allow you to download apps to them in the same way that you do with smartphones and tablets. Individual manufacturers offer a variety of their own apps but the most common ones at the moment are BBCi Player, YouTube, LoveFilm, NetFlix and Skype*. It has been estimated that currently 39% of the UK population watch BBCi Player at least once a week.
Smart TV is also connectable to most other peripheral equipment such as games consoles, set top boxes, DVD's, Blu-Ray players and surround sound systems.
'Smart' owners can watch what they want, when they want, whenever they want and owning a Smart TV means that you have a single integrated multimedia device that meets all your home entertainment needs.
Moss of Bath stock a wide range of Smart TV?s and will be happy to give you an in-store demonstration.
*Performance may be determined by broadband connection speed*