Smart TV set-top box: customer reviews, user manual

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

With the development of modern technologies, such a concept as Smart TV has entered our lives. At its core, Smart TV (translated into Russian - "smart television") is a computer in the form factor of a TV that supports its capabilities. Or, to put it differently, a TV with an installed operating system, a symbiosis of a TV and a computer. What is it and what are the benefits of using this technology?

Smart TV

What opportunities does Smart TV technology offer us?

The main advantage of this technology is that it completely replaces terrestrial television, enriching viewing with new possibilities. Now you can watch movies, programs and shows without ads, you can create your own TV program, follow the latest in the world of cinema, record a program or movie that interests you so that you can watch it later at any time convenient for you. Most smart TV models are equipped with a web browser. Therefore, web surfing is available to you, you can follow the news, exchange rates, check mail, order goods and services. Anotheran important plus: by connecting the keyboard and installing the appropriate applications, you will get full access to your social networks. Well, the camera, either built-in or connected external, will allow you to communicate with friends and arrange video conferences.

Gambling fans will also be pleased with the possibilities of Smart TV. Almost all smart TVs have several gaming applications installed. And owners of Android devices have the opportunity to download and install games that are no different in quality from computer games.

Another nice feature of smart TVs is the ability to view videos and photos from external drives (discs, smartphones and flash drives) on the big screen.

Main conveniences and disadvantages of Smart TV

Let's take a look at the main benefits of smart TV.

An important convenience of smart TVs is a simple connection to the Internet using Wi-Fi or a network cable. Significantly simplifies the management of such TVs, the ability to create an account for easier and faster interaction with applications. A variety of control methods also can not but rejoice. Smart TVs can be controlled using a variety of remotes, including touch and laser pointer effects, virtual or real keyboards, using gestures and voice controls. An important convenience is the ability to upload photos, videos and audio directly from a PC to the big screen (Smart Share function).

What is noted by userssmart TVs how disadvantages?

Many users note that most smart TV models do not support.avi and.mkv video formats, which is inconvenient due to the widespread use of these formats. Another disadvantage that users quite often note is outdated built-in gaming applications. Too many buyers of such TVs are annoyed by the active tracking of the user to collect information about his preferences and generate targeted advertising. And, of course, the cost of such TVs (and they are much more expensive than usual) cannot be a plus.

Smart-TV set-top boxes

Does the advent of smart TVs mean that now, in order to experience all the delights of Smart-TV, you will have to throw away your old TV? No, almost simultaneously with smart TVs, a large number of models of Smart-TV set-top boxes appeared on the market, which allow you to turn your old TV into a full-fledged smart TV. These consoles are also called TV-box or "Android-prefix". The range of such devices on the market is huge, although the components, as a rule, do not differ in variety. Often the difference in price depends only on the design. By design, these consoles are divided into two groups: TV sticks and TV boxes. A distinctive feature of the first is their small size, comparable to the size of a large flash drive. Their main advantages are compactness and mobility. TV boxes are already stationary devices with full functionality, a full-fledged smart TV set-top box. The reviews say that mostlycustomers are interested in TV boxes.

Smart TV operating systems

Smart-TV technology uses multiple operating systems. If we take smart TVs, we find that Samsung TVs have the Tizen OS operating system installed. Its feature is a convenient Smart Interaction control system, which allows you to control the TV using gestures or a touch remote control. In addition, the remote control is equipped with a gyroscope, which allows you to use it as a digital pointer. This OS also features a global search system, in which you can enter a query without being connected to the network, and the Social TV service, thanks to which you can, for example, chat with friends without interrupting the movie. The Tizen OS system can also offer the user a webcam face recognition function. This feature helps maintain the privacy of correspondence, personal data and web surfing history.

In LG TVs, the Web OS operating system is responsible for smart functionality. At its core, this is an application that allows you to use many services without a browser, such as YouTube, VoD, Picasa, Zoomby. This operating system has a nice interface, is equipped with a convenient user assistant that allows you to quickly and easily get acquainted with the capabilities of the TV, has a multi-window mode, and the Smart Share function makes it very easy to display video, photo and audio files from external sources on the TV screen. Voice control is also implemented.

Sony smart TVs run on Android OS. This platform is familiar to a large number of users and is distinguished by excellent functionality, wide possibilities and excellent compatibility with peripheral devices. A large number of widgets and applications adapted for TV, access to a huge number of games on the Play Market, the ability to connect a keyboard and mouse, voice search - all this is appreciated by users. In addition to Sony, TV manufacturers such as Philips, Kiwi, Skyworth and others have given preference to Android OS.

As for the Smart-TV set-top boxes, the situation here is practically no different from the smartphone market. The market is divided between two players, Android and Windows, and the lion's share of the market belongs to the former. Recently, the hit of sales is an 8-core set-top box on the Android OS. In many ways, this OS is so popular due to the fact that it is less demanding on resources than Windows. In addition, users are attracted by a huge amount of content created for this platform.

Smart TV box: reviews

We bring to your attention an analysis of user reviews of Smart-TV set-top boxes.

Smart TV box x96: reviews

X96 is one of the most optimal models to date. She has a standard package, a 4-core Amlogic processor, 2 GB of RAM, 16 GB of internal memory (expandable using Micro SD memory cards). However, there is a zest in this model, which the user liked and to which many paid attention. It is the ability to connect an external IRreceiver. In this case, the set-top box can be hidden in some secluded place, for example, on the back of the TV. In this regard, users also note the very modest dimensions of the set-top box (92 mm × 92 mm × 19 mm). Of the minuses, most users note the lack of Bluetooth support, which excludes the ability to use many wireless devices.

Android smart TV set-top box: reviews

Users who have chosen Android-based set-top boxes note convenience, functionality and a very user-friendly device interface. The latter is not surprising, given that Android OS was originally created for smart TVs. Game lovers note the almost limitless content for download on the Play Market. The only negative that was found in the reviews of some users is non-Russian software. We recommend that you pay attention to this issue before you purchase a smart TV box. The reviews indicate that most often such users purchased devices on AliExpress.

Smart TV set-top box Inwin: reviews

Almost all those who left feedback on the device under the Inwin brand note the high quality and reliability of these set-top boxes. The company offers a fairly wide range of models, so everyone can find a device to their liking. All models run Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Users often comment on 4K support in the latest models, as well as the presence of an AV output in some models, thanks to which it became possible to connect the set-top box to older TVs.

Which is betteraccording to reviews, a smart TV set-top box?

After a comparative analysis of reviews on set-top boxes purchased in 2017-2018, we found that the majority of users who are more interested in the quality and filling of set-top boxes than their cost preferred the x92 and x96 models. Moreover, many users noted the x96 mini prefix for its dimensions (85 × 85 × 25 mm) and excellent functionality. Users who are forced to pay attention to the cost of set-top boxes made their choice based on value for money. This is where the TX2 was honored for its high performance, support for modern standards and access to a large number of free applications and content.

How to connect a Smart-TV set-top box?

The main way to connect the set-top box is to connect via HDMI input. However, some models have an AV output, which allows you to connect older TVs. At the same time, the signal quality suffers, on some TVs the text even becomes unreadable. In this case, setting the maximum font size in the console settings can help.

For the rare case when there is no AV output on the set-top box, and an HDMI input on the TV, there are special adapters or, as they are also called, HDMI-RCA converters. Such converters are powered by USB, so one USB connector on the set-top box will be constantly occupied. Some set-top boxes are equipped with a basic set of programs, which suits those users who do not want to search for and install something. Another option: preinstalled in the consoleonly the operating system, everything else the user will have to install using the Google Play service, and this is quite simple.

We wish you success in choosing your set-top box.