Internet Enabled TV… Awesomeness Is Upon Us.
Allowing the internet to interact with the television is no longer just a pipe dream of tech savvy nerds. Companies such as Samsung and Panasonic now offer televisions with integrated online functions. Samsung call it Internet@TV. Panasonic have dubbed their version VIErA Cast, whilst Sony and LG also have their respective offerings. Doing this unleashes a whole new range of lounge entertainment, so a warning, you may never leave your couch again!
That said, these internet enabled TVs do not interact with the internet the same way that a computer does (yet). For now, think more along the lines of a smartphone, just without a web browser. The TVs cannot access every page on the internet, but they certainly can access many different preset locations via mini programs, called “Widgets”. Widgets are pre-designed programs that will access certain information on the World Wide Web. For example, the news widget will give you the latest news and sporting information from around the world. And you can probably guess what a weather widget might do. If you have ever used a mobile phone with applications, such as the iPhone, the concept of widgets is very easy to adapt to. Widgets are essentially applications (apps) for your TV. They allow you to do a range of fun and productive things, from checking the weather without having to look out the window, to checking how your stocks are going, and whether you can afford to get that pizza delivered instead of having to get off the couch and get it yourself. When all is said and done though, the main attraction of internet capable TV is the ability to download and stream content directly from the web. The YouTube widget allows you to watch your favourite video clips from around the world on your television. This can include music videos, sporting highlights or famous moments throughout history, and with over 2 BILLION videos on file, it offers a lifetime’s supply of entertainment on it’s own. But wait, there’s more. Because you always have options galore on your Internet TV, you will never have to be stuck watching infomercials – meaning you will save money on exercise machines that fold up conveniently in your garage never to be seen again.
