I define a smart TV as an Internet connected device. Newer TVs come with this capability embedded or integrated and usually includes added features and services. Compare a basic cell phone with a smart phone and you get the idea. I avoided buying a TV with integrated DVD or CD player because I felt it was one more thing to go wrong. Quality of current electronics devices is much higher so that may not be a problem today. In any case we may have no choice. Integrated smart TV may be all the near future holds. In the mean time what do we do with high dollar dumb TVs already in our homes? With the basic premise that a smart TV is connected to the Internet, here are some options.
About a month before I learned broadcast signals would switch from analog to digital I bought a beautiful 200 pound 37″ analog TV. I had to add cable, a set top converter, or satellite TV. I went with satellite TV.
Six months ago I bought a really nice 45″ flat screen HDTV. Last week I drooled over 4-mm thick OLED HDTV and crystal LED “smart” TVs at the 2012 CES. When I bought the 45 inch HDTV I moved the 200 pound analog behemoth into the guest bedroom for the grandson to play games. I swapped a perfectly good 25 inch TV from the guest bedroom and two more stored in the garage for ten dollar gift certificates at Best Buy through the recycle program. I swapped the gift certificates for games my grandson could play. That worked out well, but it’s not an option for my newer flat screen TVs. I’ll have to add smarts to the dumb old flat screen HDTV.
Satellite TV
TV with 311 channels. I watch three, my wife watches her six or seven. You can hook a phone line and Internet via cable or wireless to most satellite TV boxes.
Connect the computer to the TV
TV networks are slowly waking up to the power of digital media and the Internet. This is my favorite option. An HDMI cable from the computer to the HDTV, a wireless keyboard with integral mouse, and I can vegetate on the couch for days. The computer is still available for work.
What more can I say than:
Netflix Hulu YouTube Network broadcasts and streaming Family albums Home videos
A few examples of HTPC software you can add to a home computer:
XBMC Media Center for Mac, Windows, and linux Windows Media Center Plex Media Center for Mac Enna Linux Media Center
Home theater PC (HTPC)
I add this because some people don’t realize an HTPC is simply a quiet, generally underpowered computer with front end software for easy digital media management. Much media center software is proprietary, but could include variations of those used on a normal home computer. Dedicated media center computers are falling out of favor as smart TVs and other options become available.
Set-top boxes
With varying features and capabilities set-top boxes are a good option.
Roku Western Digital TV Live Plus Apple TV Sony Wireless Network Media Player
Gaming devices
Internet connected plus you can play games!
Nintendo Wi–I have one! The wife and grandson play it. Microsoft Xbox 360 Sony Playstation III
Just a few options to help smarten up that dumb old TV. The list is endless and ever changing. Have fun.