Samsung Smart TV's!

[kennysarmy]

Looking at upgrading my normal TV to something "smart"

 

I saw in Curry's yesterday that the Samsung models don't have "Freeview Play" but instead something called "TV Plus"

 

Does anyone know the difference between these two descriptions?

[bald_pig]

Looking at upgrading my normal TV to something "smart"

 

I saw in Curry's yesterday that the Samsung models don't have "Freeview Play" but instead something called "TV Plus"

 

Does anyone know the difference between these two descriptions?

 

Looks like a netflix type thing:

https://news.samsung.com/global/uhd-and-hdr-content-with-samsung-tv-plus-now-available-in-europe

[ColinP]

love my samsung smart tv... its getting on a bit now but is still excellent. the smartiptv app is a must

[TechMonkey]

I'd recommend getting a dumb TV and a box, Roku/NOW TV/etc. I love my Samsung TV but the number of things that they have removed or no longer work on it is a bit annoying. It's only 2 or 3 years old.

[DCUK6]

I have what TechMonkey suggests. All smart tv's i tried have been slow and clunky.

 

Have a old 32" in the bedroom from the days when they used to cost alot, brought a Roku stream stick and its amazing!

Had a look round at others like now tv, apple tv, firestick etc but they all lack something, usually pushing their own product and limited support of others (Understadingly)

 

Would use it in the living room but have a xbox for that.

 

 

Roku has TvPlayer instead of Freeview TV. Worked ok the other night for me, only had the Roku for about a week.

[caffrey]

Can you still get dumb TV's ? I like Samsung but all the phoning home scares me, got it all blocked now with pihole

[kennysarmy]

I'd recommend getting a dumb TV and a box, Roku/NOW TV/etc. I love my Samsung TV but the number of things that they have removed or no longer work on it is a bit annoying. It's only 2 or 3 years old.

 

Thanks.

 

I'm fed up with the laggy Virgin Tivo Box - so one reason to upgrade the current TV was to have the "smart" features so I can launch iPlayer, Youtube, Netflix quicker!

 

Can I do all of that with a box thingy?

 

Current TV also only has 2 HDMI ports - one taken up by the TIVO box and the other by a PS3.

 

I guess I could leave the ROKU plugged in and swap to the PS3 when required.

 

Thoughts anyone?

[3s-gtech]

I'd just use the PS3 for smart features - they're still good boxes for it (especially with the remote).

[Joanne]

Yeah use the PS3 for youtube, iplayer, 4OD and netflix. I have an LG smart TV and the apps might work, or they might not... it's like rolling a die!

 

So buy the TV for shiny screen / size / added ports.... don't rely too much on the 'smart' features.

Edited November 14, 2017 by Joanne

[caffrey]

I use a amazon fire tv 4k, does the job

[kennysarmy]

I'd just use the PS3 for smart features - they're still good boxes for it (especially with the remote).

 

I added the NOWTV app to the PS3 and the picture quality was awful

[Arthur]

Can you still get dumb TV's?

www.nec-display-solutions.com/p/uk/en/products/choice.xhtml?cat=PublicDisplays

 

Probably easier/cheaper just to buy a smart TV, a separate box and then not use the smart TV features.

[TechMonkey]

From what I've seen go with a Roku box, that way you won't get any conflicts. NOW TV don't let you have Amazon Video, I think Fire stick doesn't let you have NOW TV and Roku seems a mature ecosystem. The only thing you can't do with it is set a Smart DNS or run a VPN on it. My XBox had a poor quality NOW TV app, the NOW TV box was immeasurably better. Also the You View NOW TV app wouldn't allow programs to be watched, only movies, which was annoying.

With a combo of YouView and NOW TV box I barely use the Smart TV. The only app is Amazon video, which I'm annoyed teh others don't allow.

[Andycat]

I just have a NUC plugged into mine

[jmak]

I have a Chromecast which plays iPlayer, Now TV, Amazon Prime, 4OD, Netflix, and all the major players.

 

They're £30, but regularly reduced - I paid £15 for mine in Currys. Looking to pick up another one as soon as they're on offer again. Much better than the "Smart" functions on either the LG or Sony I've got.

[XiJ]

Love the convenience of plex and amazon built in on my 2014 Samsung. We do use chromecast for NowTV tho. Father in law just brought a newer Samsung. I’d have gone LG but it’s very nice and with a newer plex client. It seems to have loads built in too

[LincolnE]

I've got three Samsung smart TV's dotted around the house now. I've never encountered an issue and I personally wouldn't hesitate to buy another one when my other TV's go caput.

[JJonas]

Been looking at smart TV's recently as part of my plans to upgrade to the Xbox One X this site is quite handy if you want technical specs.

Samsung TV's have some of the better input lags which apparently is important if you plan to use it for gaming.

 

https://www.displayspecifications.com/en

[GuyJD]

I added the NOWTV app to the PS3 and the picture quality was awful

If you want the NOW TV app on the Smart TV you are limited to LG and Some Sony TVs

 

Now TV seem to be under some sort of agreement with them as they won't release the App for other vendors, I have a Philips Android smart TV and I love it apart from having to have the Now TV box and remote hanging about. I did try side loading the normal Android Now TV app but its clunky and the usability isn't really there, it's a shame because the Android OS works so well with smart TVs.

Edited November 15, 2017 by GuyJD

[TwistedHelixis]

can you still get dumb TV's

 

Yes and they are much cheaper but not advertised. We were on PC / Curries looking at a Sony with all the apps, sales person who really could not give a XXXX told up we could save 200 simply by getting the same model minus the smart extras.

 

Also the next gen tvs that are not out yet will be combining Samsungs Q tech with the OLED tech so dont spend too much on one of those as they are merging both types.

[caffrey]

Yes and they are much cheaper but not advertised. We were on PC / Curries looking at a Sony with all the apps, sales person who really could not give a XXXX told up we could save 200 simply by getting the same model minus the smart extras.

 

Also the next gen tvs that are not out yet will be combining Samsungs Q tech with the OLED tech so dont spend too much on one of those as they are merging both types.

 

Interesting, I'll have to remember that when I get a new AV receiver

[kennysarmy]

If you want the NOW TV app on the Smart TV you are limited to LG and Some Sony TVs

 

Now TV seem to be under some sort of agreement with them as they won't release the App for other vendors, I have a Philips Android smart TV and I love it apart from having to have the Now TV box and remote hanging about. I did try side loading the normal Android Now TV app but its clunky and the usability isn't really there, it's a shame because the Android OS works so well with smart TVs.

 

Not sure your post is entirely accurate...

 

The NOW TV app is currently available on 2015, 2016 and 2017 Samsung TVs, except for Samsung Serif models, which don't support NOW TV.

 

How do I know if I have a compatible TV?

Just look at the model number – if there’s a J, K, L, M or Q in the middle, then you have a compatible TV.

 

https://help.nowtv.com/article/get-now-tv-on-my-device

[GuyJD]

Not sure your post is entirely accurate...

 

The NOW TV app is currently available on 2015, 2016 and 2017 Samsung TVs, except for Samsung Serif models, which don't support NOW TV.

 

How do I know if I have a compatible TV?

Just look at the model number – if there’s a J, K, L, M or Q in the middle, then you have a compatible TV.

 

https://help.nowtv.com/article/get-now-tv-on-my-device

ah ok my bad, I've just been checking the NOW TV support side every once in a while and all the threads I've seen say LG and Sony, never saw anything about Samsung