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Lenovo's smart TV system grants more processing power and memory through swappable modules (hands-on)
Lenovo is best known for its ThinkPad laptops and newly acquired phone business, but the Chinese firm started making TVs a couple years ago, too. And now, it's the first one to build a set utilizing NVIDIA's new Tegra K1 chip. It's that super-powered silicon that explains the TV's presence at GTC 2014, so naturally, we had to spend some time with it while we were at the show. Called the Terminator S9, it's a 50-inch 4K smart TV that runs a Lenovo-skinned version of Android 4.2 natively, but the real magic happens courtesy of a small plug-in module round the back called a Smart Card.
Toshiba sticks to what it knows with new LED HDTV range
Toshiba's already spilled the beans on its 4K TV line-up for this year, and right on cue, it's just revealed the new range of 2014 LED sets that might interest us folk still clinging on to the regular HD era. The entry-level 3 series gains a number of new recruits, all with some smart TV features, baked-in WiFi and Freeview HD, in the UK at least. The L3 range is full HD, with 40- and 48-inch options, while the lone W3 model is a 32-inch, 1,366 x 768 affair. With the same resolution and screen sizes from 24 to 40 inches, the D3 series also have DVD players on board, and all of the above are slated for launch in the US and UK later this month.
BBC rolls out enhanced 'Red Button' features to major Smart TVs
The BBC's Connected Red Button service promised a new level of interactivity when it launched in the UK a year ago, including news and weather overlays, recommended viewing (curated by actual, real-life humans) and alternative streams during live sports events. The downside was that it was originally only available to Virgin TiVo customers, but the Corporation promised to extend it to more platforms and, finally, this seems to be happening. As of today, owners of Samsung and Sony Smart TVs should both have access to a beta version of the service when they press the red button on their remotes (although a few Sony-heads may have already noticed this going live just before Christmas), while LG smart TVs are on track to gain access early this year. A long list of compatible devices can be found at the source link below, but there's still no sign of any standalone Freesat, Freeview or YouView set-top boxes, which were supposed to get improved Red Button access in 2013. Update: The BBC just let us know that it's still planning to bring the Connected Red Button service to "many more" platforms in 2014, including YouView.
Hands-on with LG's smart TV running webOS (video)
Since LG informed the world that webOS is coming to 70 percent of its smart TVs this year, naturally we were keen to take it for a spin. So, when they offered to let us take it for a spin, and have Director of Product Management Colin Zhao and Head of Product Management and Design Itai Vonshak walk us through the new UI, we jumped at the chance. And, not only did we get to see it in action, we also learned a bit about the philosophy behind LG's move to webOS on the big screen. For folks thinking LG's version of webOS might favor its prior mobile implementation, think again. While the underpinnings are the same, the card-based UI has been ditched -- according to Vonshak "content is king on the television, and we didn't want to pull the user out of the viewing experience" by dumping them into an all-card view. When you hit the home button on the remote, you're greeted by a rail of parallelogram-shaped colorful icons at the bottom of the screen overlaid on top of whatever you're watching. Those icons include a Today recommendation engine (provided by an unnamed third party) that shows content popular with the viewing public, plus any and all content sources available to the TV, be it online video, localized media, live TV, gaming console or media streamer. Naturally, Netflix is red, Hulu is green, Roku is purple and so on. As you'll see in our video below, navigate the menu to the left and you're greeted by panes that show your viewing history. Slide to the right within the menu and you'll see the rest of your video sources that couldn't fit on the home screen. Speaking of, that home screen comes with a preselected set of apps, but it's completely customizable by the user.
Panasonic will bring Firefox OS to your smart TV this year
Firefox OS won't be confined to small devices for much longer. Panasonic has announced a partnership with Mozilla that will see it launch Firefox OS-powered smart TVs and other "smart screens." The deal potentially opens up the frequently proprietary world of TV software -- since the program guide and other interface elements will be web pages, they won't be limited to any one company's hardware. It should also be easier to write remote control apps, personalize the interface and integrate TVs with home automation systems. Panasonic isn't going into more detail about the hardware at this stage, but it tells us that the first Firefox OS TVs should arrive in the "latter part" of this year.
Panasonic ups its smart TV game with the VIERA Life+ Screen, complete with voice and facial recognition
Panasonic's taken to the stage at CES and has just revealed the VIERA Life+ Screen in an effort to "redefine what a 21st Century TV should be." Televisions under this banner are kitted out with Xbox One-like facial recognition that will display information relevant to users on an "Info Bar" relegated to the lower part of the screen. Voice recognition has also been baked into the set along with a feature called "myStream" that helps you keep favorite channels organized. And of course, it wouldn't be 2014 without social integration, particularly content sharing and Facebook notifications. When it comes to picture quality, the line of sets shown off today boasts a 4K LED display (which is said to look just as good as the company's old plasma tech) and will come in 58 to 65 inches when it arrives this year, with an 85-inch -- the firm's first LED TV of that size -- joining it later in 2014. Even if you aren't in the market for a UHD TV, every one of the outfit's 4K and 1080p sets fresh out this year will have the VIERA Life+ Screen moniker attached.
InAir Smart HDMI adapter overlays the web atop television content with a custom user interface
Televisions are no longer simply screens for viewing video content: Folks want to have the internet on them, too. SeeSpace is a startup building a device called the InAir Smart HDMI adapter that plugs in-line between your set-top box and TV to deliver web content to your big screen. The system then overlays an intelligent layer atop your video feed that analyzes what you're watching and supplies relevant web and social content as well. InAir's UI is controlled by a companion app (for iOS and Android) that turns your phone or tablet into a trackpad that lets you navigate by swiping and scrolling on the screen. Additionally, interested developers can use an API to build new features for the platform. As is the case with so much of what we see at CES, the InAir adapter won't be available until the second half of the year and when it does land, it'll cost $99. Wanna see what your dollars will buy? A demo video awaits after the break.
Samsung's latest developer kit lets you control appliances from your TV
Ever wish you could turn on the air conditioning without leaving the couch? Samsung's new Smart TV SDK 5.0 will give you the luxury of being that lazy. The programming kit gives the TV control over home appliances, including network-savvy lighting and refrigerators. Developers should also have an easier time building apps thanks to a new web framework that both supports HTML5 and uses Native Client to run software across a wide range of TVs. Apps can run on mobile devices, too. Samsung has already posted a beta SDK, but aspiring big-screen app builders will have to wait until January 6th to get the finished tool.
LG teases CES home theater lineup including a multi-room music streamer
Nothing says "holiday cheer" like a fresh coat of snow, hot toddies and scads of CES pre-announcements from LG. After dishing on some of its 2014 smart TV plans, the Korean company has now moved on to audio, detailing several new components starting with the NP8740 wireless audio system. It'll let you play music through your house in a similar fashion to to Sonos' Play:1 speaker, thanks to a dual-band 2.4/5Ghz WiFi system using so-called mesh network technology. That means each speaker can repeat the signal throughout the house, letting you play the same song everywhere or choose music on a room-by-room-basis. It can even connect to other audio systems and let you control the whole shebang with a smartphone app. The company also revealed its LAB540W SoundPlate, a slim home theater receiver for 32-to-55-inch TVs with a 4.1-channel, 320-watt amp and external wireless subwoofer. It packs a built-in 3D Blu-ray player and smart TV functions, letting you stream audio from a portable device via WiFi or Bluetooth. For those who just need audio, LG also flaunted the 320W NB5540 soundbar that can either work via a Bluetooth connection or over a single HDMI cable from your TV, thanks to an audio return channel. As usual, there's no sign of pricing or availability for any of these products yet, but we'll be boots on the ground next month at CES 2014 in Vegas to fill in all the details. Meanwhile, check after the break for a few more pics.
Samsung's 2014 smart TVs will let you control videos by pointing your finger
Samsung's 2014 smart TV lineup may revolve around impressive-looking hardware, but the Korean tech giant has revealed that interface improvements will also play an important role. Its new TVs will support finger gestures that should be more intuitive than the whole-hand commands of this year's models; you can stop a movie with a spinning motion, for instance. Voice control will also be more powerful. It's at last possible to change channels or launch apps with a single step, and search results appear in one place. While the gesture and voice upgrades may not be revolutions, they'll likely be welcome to viewers frustrated with unwieldy TV software.
HiSense unveils Android-powered H6 Smart TVs and Pulse PRO set-top box
HiSense continues its dedication to Google as an operating system with a slew of new hardware powered by Android 4.2.2 that features Google services for TV (the product formerly known as Google TV). The first is its new line of H6 Smart TVs powered by Marvell's latest ARMADA 1500 PLUS HD Media processor, an upgraded over last year's chip that powered many of the first ARM Google TV devices. Available in 40-inch, 50-inch and 55-inch sizes, the televisions come equipped with the company's Social TV and Cloud Services app, a 120Hz refresh rate, Energy Star 6.0 qualifications, 1GB RAM and 8GB ROM. The remote has 30 keys, a built-in air mouse with IQQI Smart Input and voice search functionality. For those who already have a TV but want the same services, HiSense also revealed the Pulse PRO set-top box, which has many of the same features as the H6 but, like the first generation Pulse, can be hooked up to any television set. Other features of the Pulse PRO include Netflix, Vudu HD movies, Amazon Instant Video, YouTube, Google Play, HDMI, IR, DLNA, WiFi, Bluetooth, USB and Ethernet. We're not sure of pricing and availability just yet, and there are no pictures of the new hardware either.
LG's AllJoyn support will let you control Smart TVs from any device
Many Smart TVs don't really talk to other devices as well as we'd like; integration tends to be basic, proprietary or both. LG may soon have a more elegant solution, as it's promising AllJoyn support in its TV line. The Qualcomm-built framework should let you control on-screen activity from any AllJoyn-capable device, whatever platform it runs -- Android, iOS and Windows users could theoretically play the same TV game. LG hasn't said when AllJoyn will reach its sets, but we wouldn't be surprised if the company has more to say at CES next month.
Raspberry Pi hack creates a smart TV from a not-so-bright set
Many of us only wish we could upgrade our less-than-smart TVs. Carnivore at DroidBuild, however, has taken matters into his own hands -- he recently finished installing a Raspberry Pi-based media center into his own 40-inch Hisense screen. The hack replaces the TV's built-in speaker with a Raspbmc system that has a 3D-printed faceplate for Ethernet and USB ports, an infrared adapter and external speaker output. While the modification is risky (and certainly voids the warranty), it's much more elegant than hanging the Raspberry Pi off the back of the set. Check Carnivore's photo guide at the source link if you'd like to know how he achieved the feat.
LG Smart TVs could be collecting personal data, even if you tell them not to
Think you're safe from prying eyes when you turn off your computer or smartphone and flip on the TV? That might not be the case if you have a recent LG Smart TV, according to a UK blogger called DoctorBeet. He noticed that his new HD set was sending private data, regardless of whether a (rather hidden) toggle called "Collection of watching info" was turned on or off. In scanning through his router logs, DoctorBeet noticed that TV station metadata was transmitted (albeit to a server that appears inactive) each time he changed the channel. More insidiously, even the names of files on USB keys he inserted were being sent -- including one he changed to "Midget_Porn_2013.avi" to prove a point. That appears to go beyond what we saw with its Cognitive Networks hookup, which was supposed to supply more features to users, not advertisers. We contacted LG, who made the following statement: We're looking into this now. We take these claims very seriously and are currently investigating the situation at numerous local levels since our Smart TVs differ in features and functions from one market to another. We work hard to get privacy right and have made this our top priority. They said it could take another 48 hours to actually confirm or deny what's going on -- so, naturally, as soon as we know, you'll know. [Image Credit: DoctorBeet's Blog]
LG Google TV update drops Flash but delivers more Play Store apps
Owners of LG Google TVs having been waiting on this Android 4.2.2 update for a good while. Not only does it bring relief from the sickly sweetness of Honeycomb, with no ROM hackery required, but it also adds NDK support, allowing more apps and games to run on the big screen and to be controlled by the Magic Remote (see the video below for more). One downside is that update switches out the original desktop-style Chrome browser with the Android version instead, which won't do much good for Flash-based content, but the browser does gain better HTML5 support and a new Vudu app as compensation. According to Android Police, the refresh has reached some GS6400 users already and is expected to roll out to other models over the coming days.
Vevo outfits Samsung Smart TVs with native app, HD music videos and more in tow
Perusing music selections in video form with Vevo is about to get easier for owners of Samsung Smart TVs. The streaming content provider has announced an app that brings HD music videos, live performances and other original programming to those displays and the outfit's Blu-ray players. Access to Vevo TV, search, genre stations, playlist functions and category browsing can now be done from the comforts of a sofa with remote in hand. Countries with Vevo content availability tallies a baker's dozen, so you'll want to make sure you reside in one of those locales before getting too excited about streaming "Wrecking Ball."
Deezer music service expands as it launches on Philips and Panasonic Smart TVs
Deezer's currently competing with the likes of Spotify and Rdio to win over the streaming souls of the world, so it knows how important it is to be available in as many countries and on as many platforms as possible. Taking that into account, the music service announced it has inked a deal with Panasonic and Philips which will bring its web-based tunes to Smart TVs made by those companies, similarly to what it did with other manufacturers earlier this year. What's more, Deezer also (quietly) updated its app on LG and Samsung television sets with improvements to search, an easier way to manage the music library and an option to access your friends' playlists. Of course, this all only applies to places where Deezer is present -- in other words, folks here in the US of A need not to power on their Smart TV and look for the app. One day, perhaps.
Philips Cloud TV will stream 'hundreds' of internet channels to its latest Smart TVs
Philips has just launched Cloud TV at IFA 2013, a service that'll work on its latest Smart TVs including the hot-off-the-press Philips 9000 4K series. It'll bring streaming of "hundreds of local, national, international and special interest channels" to 2012 or newer Philips Smart TV models. An app will also be available for those sets to scan all that content, most of which will be free. The company also announced Cloud Explorer, which will let you store your personal photos, video and audio by signing in to Dropbox or creating a new account through Philips. Both are now available in most of Europe and Russia, so if you're pining for yet another cloud streaming or storage service, check the PR after the break. Follow all of our IFA 2013 coverage by heading to our event hub!
Smart TV Alliance now lets developers submit apps once for use on all supported TVs
The Smart TV Alliance wants apps that work across multiple platforms, but developers have so far had to submit those apps to each TV maker -- a process that can take ages. Things should speed up now that the Alliance has launched a Developer Support Program. From now on, software teams can send apps through a single approval system that qualifies a given release for use with every Alliance-compatible set. Developers can do more with those apps, too. The Alliance has posted a version 2.5 SDK that allows multi-screen integration with mobile apps, and it's promising a future 3.0 spec that includes support for both Ultra HD TVs and home automation. While there's no launch date for 3.0 at this stage, TV app creators will find both the Developer Support Program and SDK 2.5 at the source link. Follow all of our IFA 2013 coverage by heading to our event hub!
China's Baidu teams up with TCL to launch their own Smart TV
Imagine a world where Twitter and Westinghouse hooked up to make Smart TVs powered by Netflix, and that's kinda what's happening in China right now. Baidu has hooked up with TCL to let the former's iQIYI video platform drive the latter's newest TV. The TCL-iQIYI TV+ (as it'll be known) is 29mm thick with a "top end" dual-core CPU running Android 4.2.2, and users will have free and permanent access to a library of around 200,000 high-definition video titles. Locals looking to snag the gear will have to save up RMB 4,567 ($746) when it launches at the end of today.
