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How to make a smart TV from a PC. We connect the Defender Smart Android HD2 set-top box to our TV. Internet services with an application store

Today I will talk about how to make a regular LCD TV a full-fledged Smart TV. Yes, there is nothing special about trendy Smart TVs, and there won’t be until a full-fledged OS appears there. Even monitors with integrated Android OS have more features. You can throw rotten tomatoes at me, but all Smart TV buyers have almost wasted their money. What does Smart TV give you? Online services, nothing more... All of them are available on a PC. No one is stopping you from buying inexpensive nettop with support for hardware decoding of HD video and enjoy your favorite movies downloaded from torrents without brakes, use any online services in a familiar browser, as well as having a full-fledged PC that is suitable for simple 3D games and arcades, not to mention playing HD movies over 10 GB without delays.

Smart TV is just the integration of the Internet into television. In this article I will tell you, how to turn old TV in Smart TV. If you ran to the balcony or to the closet for your “Rainbows”, “Tempos”, etc., then I’m not talking about this old stuff :)

I will not argue that modern televisions are full-fledged multimedia centers. There is also the possibility of accessing the Internet and support for network services. But! Firstly, the higher the functionality, the higher the price. Why do you need such a combine? From 50,000 rub. I can organize a much cooler multimedia system at home. Secondly, content management on Smart TV is disgusting. Even take an additional remote control for navigation. Third, you can get Smart TV features on your old TV:

  • using a compact and inexpensive network media player,
  • by connecting a smartphone or tablet to the TV
  • using a Blu-ray player as a universal playback device
  • Don't forget about the game console (set-top box).

We will consider the listed options for upgrading your TV, focusing on the features, advantages and disadvantages of each solution. It would be more accurate to say that we will consider alternatives for implementing Smart TV functionality. So let's get started..

Yes, I know, I didn’t discover America. Now let the owners of Smart TVs go over the characteristics of any decent model of network media player and recognize it as their long-suffering Smart TV. Previously, network media players were only hardware players with a USB port, but now they are quite a promising class of equipment. Smart TV is an attempt to use just one device to store and play home multimedia content, but it is limited, especially when it comes to usability. What cannot be said about a network media player, because in conjunction with a TV and speaker system it will be a full-fledged hardware media center. The media player is capable of playing movies in HD quality, music and images from a computer, displaying content on the screen of a TV device, and access to the Internet and application stores will turn your old TV into the same Smart TV. The network multimedia player is also capable of connecting to external media and displaying full-fledged web pages.

Advantages of network media player:

  • compact dimensions
  • low cost
  • support for all modern formats and codecs
  • built-in WLAN module
  • possibility of connecting external hard drive and peripheral devices

Flaws

  • Some media player models do not work correctly with Blu-ray disc images

SMART features of network media players

No matter what anyone says, network media players are the embodiment of the Smart TV functions of the most modern televisions. Let me be clear, not everyone. But there are many worthy competitors that can easily surpass the top Smart TV model.

Basic criteria for choosing a network media player

  • format support,
  • comfortable control
  • working with Internet services

Do you wish network media player with rich equipment, I advise you to take a closer look at the Western Digital TV Live model, which fully meets the criteria listed above. Users who often enter information on the TV screen and communicate with friends on social networks will like the model with a QWERTY keyboard - the Iomega ScreenPlay TV Link DX.

It is especially important for convenience that most modern media players support connecting a mouse or keyboard to a USB port. Users who are attracted to Russian-language network services should take a closer look at the LG ST600 model, as you will get access to the proprietary LG Apps application store.

When choosing a media player, do not forget about supported interfaces and connectors. HDMI is a required port, and it wouldn’t hurt to digital audio S/PDIF connector, and also built-in card reader. It is worth noting that media players with built-in hard drive becomes smaller, but the USB connector for connecting an external HDD and flash drives is standard. Some users will need to connect the player to the TV Composite and component video outputs for TVs that do not have HDMI port. An important factor is number of supported formats media player, especially for those who store and play various media files, neglecting Internet services. And for users who need full support Blu-ray and DVD image devices, we advise you to take a closer look at the Philips HMP7001 model.

Internet services with an application store

The LG ST600 model has by far the richest set of Russian-language Internet applications from the LG Apps branded online store. Also good option In terms of quantity and quality of software and widgets, the Philips HMP7001 model will be the same.

Flash drives and set-top boxes with the Android operating system

Thanks to compact set-top boxes, the TV acquires Smart functions, but access to media content and the Internet can also be obtained using Flash drives with Android OS.

We have long accepted by default that any PC or tablet supports playback of YouTube videos, network media libraries, Internet radio, and also plays MP3 and video files. As for TVs, not every model can display all media formats and has network access. A fundamentally new category of equipment, media flash drives and set-top boxes on the Android platform, offers a flexible and cost-effective solution to the problem. These devices are almost no different from smartphones and tablets in their “filling”: ARM processor, graphics chip Mali, 1 GB of RAM and up to 8 GB of flash memory. In addition, there is an HDMI port for outputting sound and image to a TV, several USB connectors for power supply and connection wireless keyboard or USB flash drive, as well as a WLAN adapter for connecting to the network. Such devices can be made in the form of a flash drive, others are a mini-set-top box that connects to the TV and is installed below or on the side of it. As an alternative to ready-made options, we will consider, which can be turned into a media center of your own assembly.

Media console or flash drive - which is better?

From a practical point of view, set-top boxes are more convenient than flash drives. They have more connectors and USB ports, they come with a remote control and, most importantly, they have a separate audio output and autonomous power supply, that is, they do not depend on the TV.

The main advantage of flash drives is their compactness. They are so small that in theory they can be easily connected to the back of the TV, where they will be completely invisible. However, in practice, not everything turns out so smoothly: the flash drive sticking out behind the TV most often gets in the way, and if you consider that in most cases a USB cable is also connected to it for power supply, then you can forget about invisibility. Connecting to the HDMI port on the side of the TV is also not always convenient, since the HDMI connectors are often located very close to each other and there is simply not enough space for a wide flash drive, and it has to be connected not directly, but via an HDMI cable. Another disadvantage of such solutions is that for most models you will have to additionally purchase a wireless keyboard with a touchpad.

The power of a flash drive is quite enough to play Full HD video from USB drives, but attempts to stream movies from a home network are doomed to failure in most cases. The antenna located on a mini-flash drive is usually too small to provide high-quality wireless communication, so the video begins to “slow down,” and the “unfavorable” position of the drive behind the TV worsens the reception quality even more.

Also, HDMI carriers usually offer too few USB connectors, one of which is also constantly occupied by a wireless keyboard. Models such as Pearl TVPeCee and Motioncoding Nova are equipped with only one USB port. Pay attention to poor quality wireless connection With these mini-PCs, you have to use the microSDHC slot to watch video, and this is quite inconvenient. Another serious disadvantage of media flash drives is that they do not have their own audio output and send sound signal via HDMI port to TV. Therefore, their operation is completely dependent on the TV device. Often these media are connected with a USB cable to the TV to provide power. In this case, the flash drive and TV device turn on and off at the same time. Additionally, some TVs automatically switch to the HDMI input whenever the USB flash drive is booted. This is often very inconvenient.

Touch control without touch display

Many models of media flash drives have two serious problems. First, Android apps are designed to touchscreen, so controlling them using the touchpad is unusual. Secondly, all test participants, including players equipped with dual-core processors, are unconditionally inferior to modern smartphones in terms of response speed. At the same time, they are noticeably faster than first-generation Smart TVs (two years and older).

For example, the remote control of the iconBIT and Hama models are equipped with motion sensors and resemble a remote control in their operating principle game console Wii: Use the remote control as a pointer to move the arrow on the screen.

Both manufacturers managed to replace the mouse quite successfully, but the remote control from IconBIT seemed less convenient: the pointer arrow constantly “flies” off the display. To be fair, it is worth noting that the Hama’s controls are also not so easy to adapt to, because the selection confirmation button is not under the thumb, as we are used to, but under the cross. The other models I've used do an even worse job. The problem can be partly solved by purchasing an additional wireless keyboard with a touchpad. However, it will be most convenient to combine the keyboard and the remote control supplied with the player, for example, to control Android applications and the Internet browser using the touchpad, and use the remote control to start and stop playback and select songs in playlists.

Most manufacturers prefer standard Android interface. The exceptions are IconBIT, TizzBird and Pearl TVPeCee, who bet on their own launcher. All players except Xoro, TizzBird and TVPeCee have a file manager or media center application installed to help you find required file on a USB storage device connected to the device or on your home network. As for the media player, most manufacturers have opted for the built-in player from Android, and this is quite reasonable, because it supports a wide range of formats, excluding only the most exotic (for example, MKV in VC-1 encoding). Combination of hardware and software In most mini-PCs it's quite decent. This type devices seamlessly broadcasts video in Full-HD quality from a USB drive. Even the Raspberry Pi, equipped with a frankly weak processor, plays FullHD perfectly thanks to the built-in decoder.

Installing applications and Play Market

Despite the fact that developers have not yet been able to fully adapt the Android interface to the requirements of a TV screen, the inconvenience in control is compensated by the flexibility of the Android OS. The user can install almost any application that is presented in the online store Play Market. Installed by default on all media players Android browser. I recommend downloading also Google Chrome. You don’t have to wait for timely software updates, so I advise you to purchase devices with the latest version of the OS at the time of purchase, which also supports the technology wireless transmission data. In practice, this means that the system will receive updates via the Internet, and you will not have to install them manually each time from a USB drive.

A rather interesting device is the Raspberry Pi mini-PC, which I talked about in detail in. The media shell from XBMC can be easily supplemented with various plugins, and provided there is a constant connection to the Internet, the update occurs automatically. The mini PC from Hama and IconBIT has a serious flaw: if you choose to restore the original settings in the Android settings menu, you will lose all the applications installed by default.

  • Xoro HST200
  • TizzBird F20
  • Rikomagic MK802 IIIS

Smartphones and tablets

Probably no one will argue that in modern tablets and smartphones are all integrated necessary internet services complemented by applications, not to mention playing video and other multimedia. Of course, not all, but many smartphones and tablets can be connected to a TV. To connect mobile devices You will need additional adapters, which are often not included and must be purchased separately. Smartphones and tablets have one significant drawback: the memory capacity of mobile devices is limited and you cannot carry your entire media collection with you, but despite this, smartphones give the TV the functionality of a computer. Specialized software will especially help your smartphone succeed. For example, . I'll tell you more about its capabilities soon.

The big advantage of a mobile device can be its compact dimensions and the ability to take your multimedia content with you, but to play it on a big screen you will always have to have cables and adapters on hand.

Productivity modern smartphones and there are enough tablets to play videos high resolution and launching 3D games. Their memory capacity is certainly not large, but it allows you to store new multimedia items. The disadvantage of this solution is that playing high-resolution video that is physically located on network drive or NAS by wireless network will not work.

Displaying images from a tablet or smartphone to a TV

Some smartphone models are equipped mini-HDMI output. In some cases, the devices are already equipped with the cable necessary for connecting to the TV, which is suitable for different models of smartphones. In more modern gadgets it is actively implemented universal MHL connector, designed for transferring multimedia content, charging the device and synchronizing with a PC. Smartphones and tablets from various manufacturers require their own adapters or cables to output video via HDMI, and they are not always compatible. To connect Apple tablets and smartphones to a TV with HDMI support, you will need an AV adapter (≈ 2000 rubles). It serves as an adapter between the iPad/iPhone connector and an HDMI cable. While playing a video, it is better to connect the power cable to the adapter, as the device will quickly discharge. Samsung was one of the first to use MHL in its Galaxy S line. Note that the HDMI adapter for the Galaxy SII is not compatible with the S III (about 1,200 rubles). On Android devices you can set the resolution of the output via HDMI images(480p, 576p, 720p, 1080p), and in some devices select the audio format. iPad and iPhone do not have these settings. Due to the aspect ratio of the screen, the image during games will have black bars on the sides, but when playing YouTube videos in full screen, they stretch to the full width.

Blu-ray players

Yes, many modern models Blu-ray players are quite expensive, but at the moment they offer a very rich set of options: support for numerous video formats and codecs, a built-in WLAN module, the ability to connect external devices and expand functions by installing additional Smart applications. The most interesting thing is that they appeared Smart TV features, Wi-Fi modules and LAN interfaces for providing access to network multimedia content. Playing YouTube videos is commonplace. Support for the DLNA standard will allow you to display movies on your TV screen directly from home computer(like Allshare - another name for DLNA, if anyone is unclear). Blu-ray players also come with various integrated applications for accessing services with extensive movie collections. In addition, selected player models allow you to further expand functionality by installing additional programs from branded online stores.

Connecting a Blu-ray player to a TV

All modern Blu-ray players are equipped with an HDM1 interface (version 1.3 or 1.4). If the player did not come with a cable, you will need to purchase one from your nearest electronics store. If your old TV does not have such an interface, you can use adapters for the corresponding SCART or RCA (“tulip”) connectors. It happens that these adapters come bundled with players, then you won’t have to make any extra purchases. Naturally, when connecting the player via a SCART or RCA interface, the image will be worse than via HDMI, but for older TVs this is not critical. To connect your Blu-ray player to a TV with a SCART connector, you may need an RCA-SCART or HDMI-SCART adapter. If your TV is equipped with RCA ports, the player can be connected using a “tulip”, which, as a rule, comes with the device.

Attention! When connecting to RCA, you will have to set the TV to AV mode yourself, since this connection does not provide automatic switching to the decoder, as is the case with SCART. The choice of adapter should also be approached with caution: cables that are too cheap can cause interference when playing media content.

When purchasing a Blu-ray player, make sure it supports a large number of multimedia formats, as well as the ability to expand functionality (connecting peripherals, installing applications). Blu-ray players access YouTube and other video portals through special application, at the same time, the Philips BDP7700 and Samsung BD-D5300 models also allow you to install additional programs to expand functionality.

Game consoles (video consoles)

Compared to full-fledged media players, game consoles provide much less functionality, and some applications are paid. For example, to get the most out of the Microsoft Xbox 360 console, users will have to register with Xbox Live and pay for a Gold account. Otherwise, they will not be able to access applications and online video services. A huge disadvantage is that the video set-top box from Microsoft does not allow you to record on your HDD content other than games.

Sony PlayStation 3 provides users with two free video services, and also allows you to store media content on your internal HDD, which can be easily replaced with a more capacious one (read about this in the PS3 section). Set-top boxes from both manufacturers do not play files larger than 4 GB due to file system limitations.

SONY PLAYSTATION 3

PlayStation 3 is capable of playing video from Blu-ray discs, DVDs, CDs or flash drives pre-formatted in file system FAT32 (video size should not exceed 4 GB). The device supports MP4, AVI, AVCHD, DivX, WMV formats and resolutions up to 1080p. The Sony console allows you to download multimedia content directly to your HDD. With this set-top box, you can listen to music, watch photos on your TV screen, and also get access to free online video services: AXN Sci-Fi and Sony Entertainment Television.

MICROSOFT XBOX 360

The Xbox 360 does not allow you to copy movies to your HDD, but plays them from DVDs, CDs and flash drives (Blu-discs are not supported, but it is possible to connect an external HD-DVD drive). Like the PS3, the Xbox 360 accepts flash drives formatted in FAT32. H.264, MPEG-4, WMV and AVI formats are supported. To get maximum functionality, you must always keep your PC turned on with media content configured as DLNA server(). The PS3 analogue of this program is called . Users who have purchased Gold status on XBOX 360 will have access to Netflix service, Facebook application, Twitter and YouTube. In addition, owners of a “golden” account who live in Moscow and use the Beeline provider get access to the IPTV service and can use the console as an IPTV set-top box.

Key points when choosing multimedia devices as an alternative to Smart TV

VIDEO/AUDIO. Before purchasing a media player or Blu-ray player, make sure your TV has RCA or HDMI connectors. If your model is not equipped with such ports, the device can be connected to it via DVI input using a special adapter. Required condition: This connector must support HDCP copy protection. If there is only a SCART interface on the back panel of your TV, take care of purchasing a special SCART-RCA or SCART-HDMI adapter. Also, if you are using a separate audio system, make sure it can also be connected to your media player.

NETWORK OPPORTUNITIES. Make sure your devices have a LAN port (Ethernet connector) to connect to your home network and watch HD video on your TV screen from a desktop computer, laptop, or NAS drive. However, as for the built-in WLAN module, in this case it will be relevant only for surfing the Internet from a TV screen or watching videos from YouTube service and other video hosting sites, and in quality not exceeding 480p resolution.

CONTROL. If you plan to use your TV for Internet surfing and frequent communication with friends on social networks, choose a media player with a convenient remote control. Ideally, it should be equipped with a QWERTY keyboard for speed dial text. In addition, it can be used as universal remote control Remote control smartphone or tablet if your TV is connected to a wireless home network.

CONNECTING EXTERNAL DEVICES. The vast majority of media players and Blu-ray players are equipped with USB connectors for connecting external HDDs and flash drives. As a rule, before connecting such media, you need to format it in the FAT32 file system.

Quite often, owners of standard TVs ask the question of how to turn a regular TV into a modern Smart TV, because they do not want to purchase expensive equipment that can be connected to the Internet. In fact, such a system can turn out to be much cheaper, especially if you use special devices, for example, a tablet, as well as special adapters. There are other methods, and each of them is worth learning more about.

As the popularity of smart TV increases every year, many users want to find out whether it is possible to make standard TV Smart TV. Despite the extensive list of advantages of modern TVs, which are real multimedia centers and offer a huge list of options; not everyone is satisfied with their high cost. In fact, you can use such options using the standard television device, can help with this:

  • not too expensive media player network type compact sizes;
  • connecting a smartphone or tablet;
  • work with a Blu-ray player;
  • presence of a game console.

Each of these methods has its own characteristics, and you should choose the appropriate option only taking into account individual capabilities and needs. They have their pros and cons, which are also worth paying attention to in order to finally make your choice.

Features of connection via media players

Many manufacturers produce a large number of modern media players, equipped with all the necessary options, which are now quite high-class equipment. If there is a quality speaker system And good TV such a player can become a full-fledged and complete media center. With it, you can play HD movies from your PC, as well as any music and images, as well as access the Web and the widget store. When connected to external media information it will help display web pages. The main advantages of such a device are worth noting:

  • small sizes;
  • low cost;
  • ability to support the most common codecs and formats;
  • presence of WLAN module;
  • connecting an external hard drive and other devices.

This option has practically no drawbacks, except that some models are absolutely incompatible with Blu-ray disc images.

Connect using a tablet or smartphone

When it comes to how to make a Smart TV from a regular and standard TV, it would not be superfluous to remember the availability of Internet services in tablets and smartphones, but it should be borne in mind that not all models of such devices are suitable for this purpose. Full connection is made using special adapters, which must be purchased separately. Unfortunately, most mobile devices do not have a large amount of memory, which does not allow them to store required quantity data. At the same time, they are quite capable of complementing the TV with the options of a standard PC, especially if you take advantage of special software.

Connecting the device will not be so difficult, especially if it is equipped with an HDMI or MHL connector, which will require separate cables and adapters to connect a smartphone or other device to the TV. Additional parts will have to be carried with you, especially if the user needs to constantly play multimedia files on a large screen.

Blu-ray players

Modern Blu-ray players have very rich functionality, but at the same time they are quite expensive. Now manufacturers are complementing them Smart TV function and opportunity DLNA support, which allows you to watch movies from your PC in any format on your TV screen. Using players, you can get unlimited access to a variety of movie services and install applications downloaded from online stores. Usually, when purchased, the player comes with special cable HDM1, if you don’t have it, you can purchase it at any hardware store. To choose the right Blu-ray player, you should pay attention to the number of supported formats and the availability of advanced functionality.

Gaming consoles

When we make smart TV using a standard TV and choose suitable equipment, then we want to find out information about all the options; another way to connect Smart is game console. It is worth remembering that it has limited functionality, and some applications are paid. Known Xbox devices can be used to convert a regular TV system into a smart TV, and users will need to register with Microsoft's console system and receive paid account to access everyone necessary applications and services. You can consider the option of a Sony PlayStation; its advantages are usually noted as the presence of two free services and the ability to store content on your own HDD.

Smart TVs with Smart TV functionality are gradually conquering the TV market. Smart models have such wide possibilities that many users are starting to think about replacing their old TV to a modern, high-performance model. Internet access, abundance interesting applications and services, unlimited Internet content - all this can now be available on your TV.

The advantages of Smart TVs are undeniable. Of course, all of the above features can be used using a computer or laptop. But can a small monitor convey the sensations and atmosphere that a relatively big screen and TV? Surely not. But what to do if you are completely satisfied with your old TV, except for the lack of Smart functionality. Is it really necessary to buy new model?

Many users have already faced not only these questions, but also the question of how to make a Smart TV from a regular TV. In this article we will describe all the possibilities for improving your TV and bringing it closer to advanced “smart” models.

It should be noted that you can make a Smart TV from a regular TV using a special set-top box that connects to the TV. Today there are several types of such consoles. Each of them has its own features and characteristics. That is why we will also remind you what consoles exist and what to look for when choosing them.

SmartTVcwith helpSmartconsoles

Nowadays there are a large number of Smart set-top boxes on sale that allow you to turn a regular TV into a Smart TV model. This set-top box connects to your TV and takes over all computing operations. Modern consoles Available in the form of flash drives or small boxes. Smart set-top box has its own processor, own memory And RAM. At their core, such consoles are similar to modern computers. Let us remind you that we have already considered. Let's not repeat ourselves, but let's pay attention to FAQ that ordinary users encounter.

The first thing I would like to draw your attention to is the fact that the set-top box does not emulate Smart platforms from various TV manufacturers. As you know, every major TV manufacturer has its own proprietary Smart platform with its own unique features, pre-installed applications and services. The vast majority of set-top boxes run on the Android platform. The Android platform is very flexible; a large number of applications have already been written for it, which are designed specifically for TVs. Thus, with the help of such a set-top box you can turn it into a regular TV. You will be able to use all natively built-in applications, as well as install at will additional programs.

Many people are interested in what specific additional programs can be installed and what benefits they provide. The Megogo app allows you to get organized access to huge database films, TV series, cartoons and various show programs. The MX Player application allows you to use one of the most advanced players for the Android platform. This player capable of working with almost all known file formats. Skype application Allows you to make video calls (requires additional purchase of a webcam). VideoMix is ​​another application that is designed for comfortable viewing movies, TV series and other videos. This is not a complete list of applications available for installation. By her own Android platform is very popular and in short supply interesting programs definitely not observed.

Very interesting is the ability to connect digital television. You can connect an IPTV package. With IPTV, you can enjoy video quality up to Full HD 1920x1080 pixels. Smart set-top boxes have a built-in IPTV client that will allow you to watch high-quality video on your TV. I would like to note that this is not cable. digital television. All information is transmitted via Internet cable. Smart set-top boxes also boast a built-in social media client, and some models support 3D movie playback. It becomes obvious that making a Smart TV from a regular TV is quite possible and it will cost much less than buying new Smart TV.

Some users ask the question of what is the “smartness” of a set-top box if it does not support well-known Smart platforms from major manufacturers. Strictly speaking, the “smartness” of set-top boxes lies in the fact that they actually provide capabilities similar to Smart TVs. The Android platform puts some buyers off. People don't understand how a set-top box with the Android platform can have the same capabilities as Smart from LG or Samsung. There is no need to look for a catch where there is none. It is quite possible to turn a regular TV into a Smart TV model. Use the Smart box on Android and enjoy rich functionality.

BrandedSmartconsoles

Set-top boxes on the Android platform are available in large quantities, the demand for them is constantly growing. They are equipped with their own set of applications, which are often not connected in any way with branded services (Viera Connect from Panasonic, Smart Hub from Samsung and others). However, most often such set-top boxes are produced by a company that does not specialize in the production of televisions. Branded consoles from major manufacturers stand out. Such set-top boxes support branded services and have rich functionality. For example, we can take the LG SP820 set-top box. this prefix gives full access to branded LG Smart TV applications. With it you can turn an ordinary TV into a real Smart TV.

According to its capabilities, the console LG SP820 is similar to regular Android set-top boxes. You have access to the Internet, applications, built-in Wi-Fi, and branded service from LG. One of the disadvantages is the insufficient filling of Smart TV with the necessary content. Many applications on foreign language. But these are all nuances. Thanks to such set-top boxes, you can turn a regular TV into a Smart TV (on a proprietary platform).

conclusions

In this article we told you how to make a Smart TV from a regular TV. As it turned out, to do this you need to connect a set-top box to the Smart TV, which will take over all the computing responsibilities. As you can see, such a set-top box greatly expands the capabilities of a regular TV. If you want to enjoy Smart capabilities on your TV, but there is no desire or opportunity to buy a new model, then a set-top box is an excellent solution. Anyone can turn a regular TV into a Smart TV.

We considered the possibility of making maximum use of the AllShare function built into some TV models, which allowed us to implement some semblance of Smart TV (on TVs that do not have Smart TV), namely, watch videos and watch TV shows from the Internet. It is not possible to integrate a browser into a TV for viewing websites and surfing the Internet in this way. Meanwhile, today I will tell you how to make a Smart TV (no longer a semblance, but a full integration of the Internet into a TV) on a TV that does not support these features! Technology is developing so quickly that you don’t have time to keep up with all the innovations!

The article I mentioned generated a large flow of mail to me and good search traffic, a lot of people were interested in questions like " how to make smart tv on tv?", "how to make from simple TV smart", "how to make your own smart tv", "how to turn a simple TV into a smart TV"...and some people even looked for it" programs for smart TV for computer".

Similar queries on the Internet are asked by buyers of televisions purchased until the end of the first decade of the 21st century. The Smart TV function began to be widely implemented on TVs only in 2009. In fact, owners of many large black screens feel deprived to some extent, since they cannot access the Internet on their TV (given the widespread Wi-Fi distribution Internet and popularity of interactive Internet television). However, most of this majority, who regret that they rushed to buy the coveted flat and thin TV that does not have a Smart TV, do not even suspect that You can implement Smart TV on almost any TV! Moreover, TVs with built-in Smart TV are noticeably more expensive - the money is actually taken for Smart TV, but often the built-in Smart TV can be limited in some way ( functionality) and the buyer who pays money for the largest screen and implements Smart TV functions separately often wins.

If your TV does not have Smart TV

If it's not on your TV, don't worry. This is a fixable issue. This can be solved by purchasing an external device that connects to your TV. The crucial moment is to choose exactly the functional device that will satisfy all your needs. But more on that later. First, let's give a little theory that will help us understand the essence Smart work TV.

Essentially, Smart TV is a TV with built-in Internet access. Internet access is provided by software, and it, in turn, must be executed in some operating system. Thus, it can be said that Smart TV is a symbiosis of a computer and a TV, or more simply put - computer system integrated into TV. If your TV does not have a Smart TV, this means that it simply does not have a computer system that can be connected externally. And as already mentioned, the purchase external Smart TV is sometimes even more profitable than buying a built-in Smart TV.

And since a computer system is integrated into the TV, the TV serves only as a monitor, and this opens up great opportunities for applications and services, the ability to update software, install current programs, opens up great opportunities for application developers and for the development of the Smart TV concept itself.

How to implement Smart TV where there is none

Few people know, but Smart TV technology is not tied specifically to televisions, hence the thoughts of some owners to change their TV to a more modern one just because it lacks Smart TV. Don't rush to change your TV! This technology is being implemented in the most various devices, such as for example

  • digital television receivers
  • Blu-ray players
  • game consoles
  • media players...

These and other external devices that can be connected to the TV give users the ability to search for video content and other media content on the Internet, local cable TV channels, satellite TV channels etc. These devices support Internet surfing, run operating systems (Linux and Android are very common), support software updates, etc. Those. initially fulfill all the goals that were originally included in the definition of Smart TV.

Let's look at possible implementations of Smart TV:

An example of a Smart TV built into a TV
Smart TV on Android (external device)

In the screenshots shown, the difference between the built-in and external Smart TV is significant not only in the interface, but also in the ability to update Smart TV, supplement its functionality, etc. Often, a built-in Smart TV (despite its advertising view) does not provide for a complete upgrade or expansion of the required functionality (which sooner or later has to be done). Therefore, the implementation of an external Smart TV, say on Android, is perhaps the most successful solution.

Smart TV based on Android

Users of tablets and smartphones know this well. operating system, its main asset is the Play Market - a library of many free and paid applications. In just a couple of minutes, a device based on this OS can be turned into the required tool: watch movies, read books, listen to music, play games, chat with friends... And there is nothing easier than to implement all this on your... TV!

Yes, there is nothing easier than implementing Smart TV on a TV with using Android! This is done using a special mini computer; these gadgets are already sold in our stores - on average, a Smart TV for your TV will cost $100.

These gadgets are similar in size to a regular flash drive, connecting it to back side TV, appearance you won't spoil it.

Smart TV example using iconBIT Toucan Stick 3D PRO

I have already mentioned that Smart TV is being implemented in various devices today; listing them and reviewing their characteristics would take too much time. Therefore, let's consider the implementation of Smart TV based on such an interesting device as.

This gadget is one of the HD media players, but is essentially a network micro-computer. The entire media center fits into one case the size of a regular flash drive, connects to the TV via HDMI and is powered by USB from the same TV (if there is no USB, then from additional source nutrition). Talking about technical specifications, you can highlight details such as: Android 4.2 platform, built-in Wi-Fi, dual-core processor (1 GHz), 4 GB NAND Flash, 1 GB DDR3, expandable up to 32 GB microSDHC.


Implementation of Smart TV based on IconBit Toucan Stick 3D PRO

By connecting this device to your TV, you turn it into a full-fledged media center, capable of playing any files from the Internet, over the network or via USB (including Full HD, Blu-ray 3D ISO, MKV), there is support for numerous IPTV services and downloading applications from the Play Market. You can connect Skype to your TV, surf the Internet, chat on social networks, play games, etc. The role of the mouse is played by the remote control - the so-called " air mouse"(It also works via Wi-Fi (there is a device for connection in the package). Frankly, this mouse worked well for the default built-in applications, but for third-party cinemas installed through the Play Market, it was clearly not suitable - tabs were not switched everywhere on the screen (for some reason I couldn’t start the movie, for example in “Megogo”, despite all sorts of combinations of clicks on the remote control. I had to get a standard mouse to the computer and connect it to a free one). USB connector on the device. Only in this way was I able to implement full control of Android applications installed on top using only a third-party mouse. Gourmets will be able to connect a keyboard, but you need to be prepared for the fact that the device may not recognize all connected gadgets. You should also take into account the fact that the bulk of applications in the Play Market are designed for touch devices, which your TV is not, so you need to be prepared for all sorts of incompatibility between applications and your TV. And yet, you can get from your TV much of what your smartphone or tablet is capable of, on which you could see and experience Android 4.2 OS in action. The main advantage of Smart TV is, of course, watching movies, and with this, everything is fine.

At the time of writing this article, such a gadget cost an average of $75-80 in online stores. A model is about to take his place Toucan Stick G4- with more advanced functionality. Very quickly, some microcomputers replace others, so prices and availability of models in online stores can vary significantly.

A small personal photo report from the place of implementation of Smart TV with the help of (the used Samsung UE32D5000 TV - until recently considered an elegant execution of television equipment, very quickly discontinued and sunk into oblivion).




Megogo Cinema on Android (directly on TV)


Actually Android settings (almost like in a phone)
It has become possible to use an Internet browser on your TV
Or read the news feed in a separate news aggregator

Summary

Smart TV can be implemented on almost any TV! In the example I described of implementing Smart TV using a TV with minimum requirement - HDMI input. If you don’t have that either, but only have so-called tulips (well, if the TV is already very old, and you really want the Internet), then stationary media players with tulip outputs (they are designed in the form of a television tuner) are suitable for you. But this is another topic for another author!