Internet TV Smart TV from Samsung
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This article, Internet TV, was last updated on 07 May 2011 and is now out of date and held in our online archive for reference. Explore our latest Technology articles.
Smart TV impressed us. But forget full web surfing
Smart TV delivers apps, network connectivity and web browsing in one package
Pros: Easy-to-navigate apps and network folders, great interface, access to app store, good selection of pre-loaded apps
Cons: Fiddly and sluggish web browser
Pick of the apps: YouTube, Lovefilm, Acetrax, Facebook, Twitter, Picasa, Google maps, Skype
More on Samsung TVs
Smart TV is a easy to use
Samsung’s slick internet@TV interface and app store impressed our Test Lab experts in 2010. Has Samsung managed to repeat its success? Well, almost, but not quite.
Samsung’s new Smart TV interface is a cinch to navigate, apps are responsive and it’s easy to download more from its app store. The sets we tested came with 11 apps each, including YouTube, Lovefilm, Picasa and Facebook.
The integration of apps, home network files and web browser works well and we loved the handy picture-in-picture feature. But it’s fiddly to enter text. Letters corresponding to keys are displayed on screen, but aren’t on the remote. A lot of head tennis is required between remote and screen, which isn’t ideal.
Not so smart web surfing
We could live with that, but the whole Smart TV experience is letdown by the awkward and sluggish web browser, a far cry from hassle-free PC web surfing. You can access the BBC’s iPlayer via the web browser (not a featured app on the Smart TV line-up) but annoyingly the volume setting continually and inexplicably reverts to 75.
Set-up is straightforward (we liked the handy installation wizard) and the dedicated e-manual button on the remote is a nice touch. On the downside, the printed instruction manual lacks detail or even a basic introduction for the novice and though the alternative e-manual delivers on the detail, it is confusingly disjointed.
Model(s) tested: UE55D8000 and UE46D7000
Internet TV rating: 4 out of 5
Internet TV is just a fraction of what the Samsung TVs have to offer. For the lowdown on picture and audio performance, check out our full Samsung TV reviews.
