We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.

This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.

📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

The Forum now has a brand new text editor, adding a bunch of handy features to use when creating posts. Read more in our how-to guide

Want to become a Forum Ambassador? Visit the Community Noticeboard for details on how to apply

How to convert to Smart Television?

terrierlady Posts: 1,742 Forumite

1 October 2013 at 7:34PM in Techie Stuff

Is it possible to convert a television to a smart telly? if so what would I need?

my bark is worse than my bite!!!!!!!!

Comments

Johnmcl7 Posts: 2,851 Forumite

1 October 2013 at 7:41PM

In a way, yes by purchasing a separate device which plugs into the TV many of which work better than the inbuilt features of smart TV's. What features are you looking for in particular?

John

0
longwalks1 Posts: 3,837 Forumite

1 October 2013 at 8:24PM

Interested also in this thread, same question as the OP mrsterrier

I'm after internet access on my Samsumg LCD TV, how do you operate searches/mouse scrolling etc with a standard TV remote?

0
henm2 Posts: 723 Forumite

1 October 2013 at 8:59PM edited 1 October 2013 at 9:04PM

How about using a Raspberry Pi to convert your tv into a smart tv?

http://www.raspberrypi.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=47084

http://mymediaexperience.com/raspberry-pi-xbmc-with-raspbmc/

0
boatman Posts: 4,702 Forumite

2 October 2013 at 7:08AM edited 2 October 2013 at 7:09AM

Now TV box for £10 will give iplayer access plus a few others.

0
WTFH Posts: 2,266 Forumite

2 October 2013 at 7:28AM

britishboy wrote: »

Interested also in this thread, same question as the OP mrsterrier

I'm after internet access on my Samsumg LCD TV, how do you operate searches/mouse scrolling etc with a standard TV remote?

I wouldn't use a smart tv as your main point for surfing the internet, because typing is slow if you're just using the remote - i.e. you have to use the left/right/up/down on your remote to get to letters displayed on the screen.

Some smart tvs have software you can download to an iPad which means you can type on screen using the iPad keyboard. (I know the LG we have has that feature)

1. Have you tried to Google the answer?
2. If you were in the other person's shoes, how would you react?
3. Do you want a quick answer or better understanding?
0
tyllwyd Posts: 5,496 Forumite

2 October 2013 at 8:32AM

I was considering buying one of these Android tv boxes
http://www.amazon.co.uk/JUSTOP-Streamer-Internet-Play-Great-Watching/dp/B006O8O2ME

or a google tv box
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-NSZ-GS7-Internet-Player-Google/dp/B0087Y7E5K/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1380702573&sr=1-1&keywords=google+tv

but in the end (yesterday) we bought a Samsung smart bluray player which gives internet access via the Samsung smart hub. It's a bit slow & clunky to set up, but seems to work quite well when it gets going.

Oh, and if you have a games machine (xbox/playstation/wii), you should be able to access the internet through that. Or hook a laptop up to the tv using an hdmi cable.

0
almillar Posts: 8,621 Forumite

2 October 2013 at 12:18PM

I think you should ignore the 'smart'ness of most TVs, and just add a PS3. This gets you a stack of the functionality of Smart TVs, will be kept up to date better and will also, you know, play games! You can get the Slim one for around £100 I'm sure second hand, or even the fat one. I wouldn't want the new super slim one if it only has 4GB TBH. You can also buy a 'proper' remote control for under £20.
You get:
Blu-Ray player
iPlayer
ITVPlayer
Channel 4/Channel 5 too?
YouTube
Netflix (and other film services I'm sure)
Internet browser (no Flash though)
Stacks of other stuff I'm sure!
WiFi (no dongles required!)

Try getting all that built into your Smart TV!

0
LouLou Posts: 2,135 Forumite

2 October 2013 at 12:55PM edited 2 October 2013 at 12:58PM

Different TV manufacturers offer slightly different Smart TV functions: if I remember right, only Samsung does 5 on demand and 4oD (correct me if I'm wrong!).

Here's what I get on my LG telly: http://cdn.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/lg-netcast-interface.jpg

My Humax Fox T2 PVR is a bit more limited (you can connect via Ethernet or a dongle with either option): http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EjW1AHj6fTQ/TVpJglq0mJI/AAAAAAAAARU/Fe_f13dPJIg/s1600/Humax%2BTV%2BPortal%2B2.JPG I use the Humax's TV Portal (Smart TV function) on the "non-Smart" TV in the living room.

Many Bluray players have in-built Smart TV, too. To be honest I usually use iplayer or youtube but having the other "TV catchup" services would be excellent!

0
S0litaire Posts: 3,535 Forumite

2 October 2013 at 12:59PM

almillar wrote: »

You get:
Blu-Ray player
iPlayer
ITVPlayer
Channel 4/Channel 5 too?
YouTube
Netflix (and other film services I'm sure)
Internet browser (no Flash though)
Stacks of other stuff I'm sure!
WiFi (no dongles required!)

Try getting all that built into your Smart TV!

My LG 3D Smart TV has that (well except for the Blu-Ray player, But I've a LG 3D Blu-Ray player for that bit.)
I'm not much of a console gamer, that's what my PC is for ^_~

I got a "Magic-Pointer" remote with it to use as a mouse. ^_^

Laters

Sol

"Have you found the secrets of the universe? Asked Zebade "I'm sure I left them here somewhere"
0
wiogs Posts: 2,744 Forumite

2 October 2013 at 1:02PM

I went down the Raspberry Pi route some months ago.

Excellent and cheap.

0