Do I need a smart TV?

JJ_Egan

Biggest problem i find with many Smart TVs is no updates for apps and no way to add an app .
The Channel 5 catchup . no longer works and no updates on two of my Smart TVs .
Though does work and updated on my Tablets Phone and BT TV box .
Smart not really .

Takmon

JJ_Egan wrote: »

Biggest problem i find with many Smart TVs is no updates for apps and no way to add an app .
The Channel 5 catchup . no longer works and no updates on two of my Smart TVs .
Though does work and updated on my Tablets Phone and BT TV box .
Smart not really .

That's the problem with cheaper/older smart TV's, but if you get a decent modern one they do have updates and have app stores to choose which apps you want on it.

dipsomaniac

Been said many times

Dumb TV + smart box = very smart tv

Morbier

Thank you all for the replies. (Dig for Victory - we're retired so no work connections to worry about).

I perhaps didn't make it clear - when we bought the current TV, smart TVs were not so common and cost more. I just thought that might be the same now. However, it would seem that smart TVs are the norm. I have read some varying reports on the ability (or not) to update apps on a smart TV, but as I've no need to use them (as confirmed by your replies) then I will concentrate on the other features - sound and picture.

You have all confirmed what I already suspected.

Nasqueron

Our downstairs TV is smart (it's an LG). Hooked up to the net we can watch iplayer and just recently got a NOW TV sub to watch GoT final season and look at other box sets. They issue software updates fairly regularly but they're about a CD worth of data (500-600mb) which is a bit of a drag. One pain I had was that the wifi password I use is really long (about 40 characters) and it didn't like that so I had to wire it in with ethernet

mobileron

Look for Android based smart tvs,Sony Philips Hisence and others, they will have goggle play store installed.
Lots of free apps on there and updated regulary.

Ensure you purchase from Richer sounds and get the free 6 year warranty.

Frozen_up_north

As others have mentioned, visit Richer Sounds and ask about various features, they are very good to deal with and much better than most high street shops.

We have a Samsung 4K TV that is very easy to use for basic stuff, but hopeless in terms of being useable with a Bluetooth keyboard to search YouTube... Friends have a more expensive Samsung that’s about a year older and it’s completely different... Buyer beware, not all TVs are very smart.

Also beware of smart TVs “phoning home” to report on what you watch and when, that voice control is listening to your conversations too. When you read the T&Cs associated with a smart TV you will leave it disconnected from the internet.

Morbier

dipsomaniac wrote: »

Been said many times

Dumb TV + smart box = very smart tv

Thanks, Dipsomaniac, I think you've summed it up very succinctly.

Once again, thank you all for your help.