Samsung 46" 7000 Series Smart TV Dissapointing

LucianH

Just thought I'd post my experience with this TV which I bought about 6 weeks ago.

When I say it's disappointing, I do exaggerate. The overall package itself is brilliant – Picture fantastic; looks/style stunning; 3D watchable; connectivity great; and even the sound is acceptable. What is disappointing is the “Smart TV” aspects. The Samsung’s own DNLA server/application (Allshare) is bug ridden on my Windows XP – have found that Twonky is far better. Where the TV really falls down is playing video files over DLNA. It does not provide fast-forward/rewind functions! Also, the iPlayer application is very clunky – fast forward skips only 30secs at a time (taking about 5 secs for each press) – takes ages if you want to resume watching something half way through.

Now, this is where my new Panasonic DMP-BDT110 BlueRay player (which also has DLNA functionality) comes to the rescue. The video file player has full functionality (fast forward, rewind etc) and it plays some video files that the Samsung TV has problems with. The iPlayer application is also a lot better. And so is the music player.

vyle

I quite like using ps3 media server as a virtual media server for DLNA. That should at least sort out file compatability because it transcodes on the fly.

robmar0se

LucianH wrote: »

Just thought I'd post my experience with this TV which I bought about 6 weeks ago.

When I say it's disappointing, I do exaggerate. The overall package itself is brilliant – Picture fantastic; looks/style stunning; 3D watchable; connectivity great; and even the sound is acceptable. What is disappointing is the “Smart TV” aspects. The Samsung’s own DNLA server/application (Allshare) is bug ridden on my Windows XP – have found that Twonky is far better. Where the TV really falls down is playing video files over DLNA. It does not provide fast-forward/rewind functions! Also, the iPlayer application is very clunky – fast forward skips only 30secs at a time (taking about 5 secs for each press) – takes ages if you want to resume watching something half way through.

Now, this is where my new Panasonic DMP-BDT110 BlueRay player (which also has DLNA functionality) comes to the rescue. The video file player has full functionality (fast forward, rewind etc) and it plays some video files that the Samsung TV has problems with. The iPlayer application is also a lot better. And so is the music player.

Not wishing to be rude, but is it possible that yr PC/router may have something to do with this? Assuming you are using wireless connectivity, what signal strength do you get, what channel, is there any interference/conflict?

I expect yr blueray is connected via cable?

Just a few thoughts..........

LucianH

robmar0se wrote: »

Not wishing to be rude, but is it possible that yr PC/router may have something to do with this? Assuming you are using wireless connectivity, what signal strength do you get, what channel, is there any interference/conflict?

I expect yr blueray is connected via cable?

Just a few thoughts..........

Both are connected by ye olde fashioned cable to my Netgear Broadband router.

debitcardmayhem

LucianH wrote: »

Both are connected by ye olde fashioned cable to my Netgear Broadband router.

No comment (cos I don't have experience of any of your kit) but it ain't down to speed then, sorry not able to help more.:o

debitcardmayhem

Addendum , the new kit on the market has got "Smart TV" stuck on the front, but it is really very "New" and interconnection is not always as it seems, eg Twonky or the other DNLA apps, Samba sharing , some work others have a long way to go, still not much use to you though LucianH. Hopefully someone will come along with more knowledge of your kit, failing that try AVForums (mind you I don't like suggesting that forum , because they don't like anyone posting to "competing forums" even if you find an answer elewhere)

peteb23

I've found serviio to work better than twonky for dnla on my Samsung.

Niowrtt

This is also my experience of the D8000. The hardware is quite nice and I've no complaints about the screen, but the software (all of it) is buggy, laggy, poorly designed, poorly thought out and where it works it's difficult to use.

And when I say 'all of it' I really do mean starting from the ability to key in numbers to select a channel right through to the online movie streaming apps. And yes, the iPlayer app was one of my greatest disappointments too.

I find it odd because I did read reviews. Over the year the unit was available before I bought it not one raised any of these issues and even now the only source for confirmation is user forums. My fault for not playing with it more in the store, I guess.

LucianH

Niowrtt wrote: »

This is also my experience of the D8000. The hardware is quite nice and I've no complaints about the screen, but the software (all of it) is buggy, laggy, poorly designed, poorly thought out and where it works it's difficult to use.

And when I say 'all of it' I really do mean starting from the ability to key in numbers to select a channel right through to the online movie streaming apps. And yes, the iPlayer app was one of my greatest disappointments too.

I find it odd because I did read reviews. Over the year the unit was available before I bought it not one raised any of these issues and even now the only source for confirmation is user forums. My fault for not playing with it more in the store, I guess.

I do tend to agree. The only "App" that I think works well is the LoveFilm one. And, as I said in my original post, I rely on the Panasonic BDT110 to do other "Smart" functions.

The other gripe is the unreliability of the PVR function when a Hard Disk Drive is attached - have tried this and got it to work?

Lakeuk

Maybe the 2012 series will be better, I'm after a new tv this year

Do the tv companies update the firmware regularly and for how long when the new tv's come out do they give up updating firmware on the tv's old than a year

I've got WDTV 1st gen media player and I was disappointed when they stopped supporting it a year later when the 2nd came out - on that the IP/App tech of the tech I have less interest in as I don't want to get into the constant upgrading game