Smart TV: turn your tv, buying guide of set-top boxes - "TechnoTron"
Despite these attempts, it is more usual to make it more advanced to a tv and have, for example, full playback of local content or streaming services using the applications, you still connect an external device and to multiply the options of the tv regardless of the model or brand of tv that we have.
SMART TV, TECHNOLOGY, TV, TRENDS
Today the options on the market are very numerous, powerful, and different enough for there to be enough doubt at the time of choosing the model that best fit what we seek. We must analyze the main products and set-top boxes on the market and offer our buying guide of set-top boxes to get a Smart TV to our liking.
 |
| SMART TV BOX |
Chromecast
Simple, powerful and quite affordable. This could be a perfect definition of the Chromecast, one of the most successful product in the market to convert our TV into a Smart TV.It is manufactured by Google and is already on its second generation. It is basically a stick that we connect to one of the HDMI ports of the tv (we also need to feed it via its microUSB port) and we get a direct link, simple, and pretty full between our smartphone (or the Chrome browser of our computer) and the tv. Simply select the application and content and cast it to the tv with a single click.
 |
| CHROMECAST |
Strengths: very cheap, does not occupy space, we can take you comfortably from one side to the other and is very simple to set up and use.
Weaknesses: what you can do with it happens exclusively by the smartphone or the Chrome browser of your computer. And you'll only be able to send content from supported apps. Its fluidity depends on the quality of your WiFi connection from home.
Price: 39 euros at Fnac.
Apple TV
After years of waiting, the streamer of content Apple has improved in its last version to be much more powerful thanks to the arrival of native applications to Apple TV. Its users have the advantage of a huge ecosystem and quality of many of the main applications that you want to use into a Smart TV.
The new Apple TV, as of fourth generation, remains closed to the playback of local content directly from an external memory, but it is perfectly integrated between the world of products of the company (we can duplicate the screen of smartphones or tablets) and the voice assistant Siri becomes even more powerful, intuitive interface.
Its strong points are: ecosystem of applications, integration with Apple products, interface, game play controls, bluetooth and Siri.
Weaknesses: Without expansion ports, can't play content from external storage, directly, without content support UHD.
Price: 179 euros in the Cort English.
Nexus Player
One of the candidates to conquer the living room tv is Android with a version for Smart TV. With the Nexus Player we can bring that experience to any tv with an HDMI input for only 99 euros. As it happens with the Apple TV, here the users of services and Google apps will be in your field.
Despite the fact that we can install applications from Google Play, not all, of the dependence of multimedia with respect to streaming services is almost total, so that in this section by now is nothing more than a Chromecast more full but without excessive advantages (one of them is the wizard of voice) that justify the price increase. We are not facing a player of content that we can connect an external hard drive and move forward, but in streaming.
Strengths: design, integration with Google services such as Youtube or your app store, remote control included.
Weaknesses: internal memory fair, native apps limited, port microUSB OTG not easy to use.
Price: 99 euros
Roku 4
More than 2500 channels of on-demand content is what it promises to put in your tv model Roku more full, 4. It's compact, powerful, with integration with the smartphone, and a direct interface. In addition allows by means of a channel own the playback of content from USB drives directly, as well as via DLNA.
The good details of a specialist in reproduction of content are noticed in things like the remote, with buttons for direct access to services, the output of the headphones or the button on the Roku 4 to locate the control when we lost him.
Its strong points: there are different models to choose from (prices and features very spacious), the remote controls are complete and very practical, are almost all services and streaming channels and VOD that matter.
Weaknesses: their main markets are the US and Uk, the interface may appear to be less attractive than that of rivals.
Price: $ 130
Fire TV
Amazon, which has its service of on-demand content, also has a streamer of content that makes it more advanced to your tv. Is one of the most powerful in the market, compatible with content 4K.
Its strong points: integration of streaming services, power, there is a version in stick more affordable (but more limited), and quality of applications and games compatible.
Weaknesses: limited market USE (especially if you're a Premium user of Amazon), expensive for what it offers.
Price: $ 100
Sticks HDMI with Android
One of the devices most sought after these recent times are the sticks HDMI with Android. With them it is possible to convert a tv set either on a Smart TV based on Android, but with applications, interface and operation is identical to that we have in an Android smartphone or tablet.
Here it is important to look at the connectivity, and see what protocol support sending content are supported. Some of the most outstanding models are the Rikomagic MK902 for 100 euros or the Floureon MK808B for about 50 euros.
Its strong points: variety of applications for multimedia playback, connectivity, games Android.
Weaknesses: interface and applications that are not adapted for use in a television in their vast majority, need to control for a better interaction.
Price: from 40 euros.
Consoles
If you are a gamer will surely have the console always connected to the tv. The next-generation models focus part of their appeal in the entertainment, and the Xbox One, tuned TDT included, is the student advanced. Netflix, TED, Skype, Twitch, Youtube, Xbox Video, or RTVE a la carte are some of the services and applications that complement the playback of local content.
You can also use your PS4 for Sony to make more advanced your tv. Going a step behind the model of Microsoft, but includes some of the main protagonists of the video-on-demand (Wuaki.tv, Youtube, TotalChannel, Clan ...) and applications such as Plex.
Its strong points are: interface, powerful wizards and voice.
Weaknesses: dependence of the short-ecosystem of applications, use of the remote console.
Price: 329 €
Qnap TAS-268
The combination of different solutions playback connected via DLNA with a NAS is one of the most common to have the contents of the letter directly into our tv. What if the same NAS can serve as a player and even use Android apps?
The latest NAS from Qnap, the TAS-268, does precisely that. This server combines the operating systems QTS and Android, so we can use it as a NAS classic and powerful, but also as a media player with support for content 4k, and above all as an element where to execute Android applications that you can install directly from our Google Play account.
Its strong points: a device for several uses powerful, capacity up to 2 TB, connectivity, good design.
Its weak points: the functions of Smart TV are dependent on Android apps that are not optimized for use on a tv, it requires remote control or keyboard.
Price: 250 euros
Raspberri Pi
In the case that your idea of Smart TV mainly include access to local content and a media player using streaming services but from your computer, there are different solutions that can be useful to you.
The most affordable, compact, and interesting for its possibilities it is a Raspberri Pi. With Kodi you can have not only a media player, very complete but a Smart TV with the help of additives, including mirroring of our smartphone (PiCast).
Strengths: potential to convert the device into what you want, size, scaling options and a price.
Weaknesses: requires expertise to install add-ons and focuses too much on the multimedia playback.
Price: 66 euros (full pack with case and card)
The best options face-to-face
Focusing on the players/streamers of the content more complete, and that approach way faithful to what we understand by Smart TV, I leave you with a table summary:
| WIFI | ETHERNET | INTEGRATION WITH SMARTPHONE | MEMORY INTERNAL | DEVICE EXTERNAL | APLICATIONS NATIVE | VOICE | UHD | COMMAND | PRICE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHROMECAST | Wifi ac | No | Sí | No | No | No | No | No | No | 39 euros |
| APPLE TV | Wifi ac | Sí | Sí | 32/64 GB | No | Sí | Sí | No | Sí | 179/222 euros |
| NEXUS PLAYER | Wifi ac | no | Sí | 8 GB | No | Sí | Sí | No | Sí | 99 euros |
| ROKU 4 | Wifi ac | Sí | Sí | No* | USB | Sí* | Sí | Sí | Sí | 130 dólares |
| FIRE TV | Wifi ac | Sí | No | 8 GB | microSD | Sí* | Sí | Sí | Sí | 100 dólares |
| STICK ANDROID | Wifi n | No | Sí | 8 GB | USB | Sí | No | No | No | 50 euros |
Comments
Post a Comment