For many years, chaos reigned in the smart TV market: interfaces were very fragmented, and the functionality of smart TV platforms left much to be desired. But recently, Smart TV devices have been experiencing a renaissance. And although all the necessary technologies have existed for several years, it has not been possible to fully reveal their potential for the end user.
However, the numbers suggest the opposite: according to sales statistics, the number of smart TVs sold has grown from 52 million in 2011 to 141 million in 2015 – and this number will approach 173 million in 2016. So, if you don't have Smart TV yet, then you , most likely, you are thinking about purchasing something like that in the near future. But it must be remembered that when buying a Smart TV, you need to focus not so much on the banal diagonal of the screen, as on the choice of the most suitable operating system for you. So which platform should you choose? What are their differences? Hopefully, after reading this article, you will know how to choose a smart TV that will serve you faithfully and without becoming obsolete for at least several years.
Android TV
What is it?
The platform, unexpectedly announced at Google I / O 2014, was supposed to rapidly break into the Smart TV market, but in reality its release was not something supernatural, and the adaptation for end devices was proceeding according to the principle 'slowly but surely'. Google's idea was that Android TV was supposed to offer all users a more or less identical experience regardless of device manufacturer – just as it did with the smartphone revolution.
Perhaps the biggest advantage of this platform was the very rapidly expanding application library.
Considering that Android TV is based on the same code as Android on our phones, porting applications for TV needs shouldn't take long. Another trump up the sleeve Android TV is tight integration of the platform with the rest of Google services. This means that the recommendations of the proposed films and programs will become much smarter: do not be surprised if, when you are out of the house, you google information for the request “Jeff Goldblum,” and when you get home, you see “Jurassic Park” in your TV recommendations and 'Independence Day'.
Among other curious features Android TV, one cannot fail to mention the fact that any device with this OS (be it a TV or a separate set-top box) already has Chromecast built-in. In other words, if, while watching a video on a smartphone or tablet, you want to share it with other people in the room, then it will be enough to press one button and the necessary content will be displayed on the TV.
What's new?
It is likely that in the future we will see even more devices with support for Android TV, which will significantly increase the attractiveness of this platform for third-party developers. It is also possible that Google will release regular updates to the system, keeping it in shape along with the mobile version. As evidence of this fact, we can consider the identity of some functions Android Marshmallow and Nougat with those in the television platform: for example, by analogy with the mobile version, SD cards can be converted for use in secure storage mode, and it is also supported setting resolution and dynamic range in 4K matrices. In addition, the interface has been updated, and the Play Market has been optimized for more convenient use on the TV screen. If you have a smartphone under control Android M or N, you can type text from your mobile gadget. To do this, simply establish a connection with the neighboring device in the corresponding menu of the 'Google Settings' application on your phone.
WebOS
What is it?
WebOS began life in 2009 and was originally used as the operating system on the Palm Pre smartphone until it was bought by the giant LG, which in turn chose to rework WebOS for further use on TVs, deciding that smartphones have enough functionality of the rapidly developing then Android. As a result, Smart TVs from LG are being released on webOS to this day.
What's new?
The latest iteration of this platform, webOS 3.0, was shown at CES 2016 and boasted several intriguing new features. For example, 'Magic Zoom' allows you to enlarge any part of the image so that you can easily see the details you need in the background. Thus, during video playback, you can 'slide' around the screen using the gesture-controlled remote control. Version 3.0 also supports direct connection Android – smartphones, which makes it possible to quickly switch to watching the Google Maps you need or an interesting video from YouTube on a large TV screen.
But what if you want to listen to music through a large home speaker, but do not want to be distracted by the glow of the TV screen? WebOS 3.0 can play music while leaving the TV screen off. However, the main novelty is support for the GameFly streaming gaming service, which allows you to run high-tech games like Batman: Arkham Origins or Tomb Raider on your TV without the need to purchase a console or a powerful PC. This service works similarly to PlayStation Now, processing all data on a server on the Internet and showing the user only the final image in real time.
Although webOS has had a controversial past and faced many obstacles in its path, it has many interesting features worthy of a potential buyer’s attention. For example, unlike Android TV, you can create multiple user accounts here, which means a separate account for each family member with their own personal recommendations and applications.
Tizen
What is it?
In recent years, Samsung has been doing everything it can to find a truly usable use for its Tizen OS. While the platform has been used for a variety of Samsung products – from Gear S2 smartwatches to cameras – it has never gained acceptance in the smartphone market due to its unquestioning dominance Android in this segment. Luckily for Samsung, the company figured out how to transfer Tizen to TVs.
Smart TV interface on Tizen has a quick reaction to user actions, looks neat and, like competitors, sets its main task to combine various sources of content in a convenient form on the TV screen. The system has many unusual features – take at least the support of the aforementioned PS Now service, thanks to which you can play games from the PlayStation 3, even if you do not have the console itself. Also worth mentioning is the 'Extra' function, which downloads real-time statistics of sports events and detailed information about the movie being watched.
What's new?
As stated during Samsung's official CES 2016 event, “The company wants to make switching between traditional TV and Netflix as easy as switching from channel 1 to channel 2”. To do this, the Korean manufacturer will have to make a titanic effort to negotiate with cable TV providers in Western Europe and the United States, where competition in the TV service market has reached incredible proportions and is almost regulated at the state level.
In addition, it was announced the ability to automatically detect and configure devices connected via HDMI for their subsequent control with a standard Samsung remote control. The company markets its TVs on Tizen OS as the center of the Internet of Things in your home, allowing you to control other smart devices (for example, light bulbs, washing machines, kitchen appliances, and so on). Samsung is the leader in the smart TV segment, so unlike smartphones, where Android reigns supreme, Tizen will not disappear anywhere, and will certainly be able to achieve widespread and high popularity in the smart TV market.
Firefox OS
What is it?
Yes, Mozilla, responsible for the development of the Firefox browser, has also created the operating system that powers Panasonic's Smart TVs. The system has been designed with an eye on the greatest possible ease of use and maximum reduction in the amount of data processed by the TV's CPU. Indeed, Firefox OS has a light and minimalistic interface that outperforms all competitors in this parameter – this argument can well be seen as an advantage in the era of overloaded TV controls.
The home screen prompts you to choose what you want to do now: watch TV, launch an application, or switch to a connected device if you have one (for example, an Xbox). Also, you have the opportunity to bring your favorite application or channel to the start page.
What's new?
The latest version of Firefox OS, numbered 2.5, has already been provided to electronics manufacturers, which means that vendors who have not yet updated their devices will do so in the near future. Perhaps the most notable innovation is the out-of-the-box apps for popular services such as Vimeo, iHeartRadio, AOL, Giphy, Atari and Hubii. In addition, its analogue of the Chromecast system was presented, which allows users to synchronize content between web browsers on different platforms with the click of a button. Concluding the conversation about Firefox OS, I must say that although at the moment it is used only by Panasonic, later the operating system, as in the case of Android, may appear on devices from other manufacturers.
Roku OS
What is it?
Roku is best known for small set-top boxes that make your TV smarter, but their embedded platform – Roku OS – is increasing its reach directly into the smart TV market. In 2016, Roku OS models were released by manufacturers such as Sharp, TCL, Haier, Hisense and Insignia. On the main screen of the system, you can choose one of 1700 so-called Roku channels that aggregate content from a variety of sources. In general, the platform interface is very similar to Tizen OS. However, not only the appearance makes these two OS similar. For example, Roku, like Tizen, supports downloading metadata about the movie or TV show you are watching.
What's new?
At the moment, the current version is Roku OS 7. Through software updates, the developers promise to add support for 4K and HDR content, which can be useful for those who use set-top boxes on Roku OS. In general, despite the ongoing improvements and improvements in the quality of work, the prospects for Roku in the Smart TV market are rather hazy due to the insufficiently extensive application library and huge competition from other IT giants.