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10-13-2013, 06:28 AM
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#41
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 484
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I know my Sony is smart, because when I turn it on just in time to catch Big Bang Theory a popup window advises that an important software upgrade is available... and it tells me it will only take a moment! 
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10-13-2013, 01:06 PM
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#42
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: West of the Mississippi
Posts: 17,263
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Can you upgrade a smart tv as easily and cheaply as one can upgrade a Roku or Apple TV device - either through a software update or by simply buying a new device?? I suspect not, so I would go with a regular TV and the little Roku box.
__________________
Comparison is the thief of joy
The worst decisions are usually made in times of anger and impatience.
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10-16-2013, 02:16 AM
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#43
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Georgia
Posts: 2,240
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Theoretically there are ways to apply upgrades, but in practice, my Samsung came out the year before Samsung came out with their truly excellent smart TV software platform, and there are no upgrades for the software that came with my smart TV.
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10-16-2013, 07:33 AM
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#44
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Northern IL
Posts: 26,891
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 Quote:
Originally Posted by Chuckanut
Can you upgrade a smart tv as easily and cheaply as one can upgrade a Roku or Apple TV device - either through a software update or by simply buying a new device?? I suspect not, so I would go with a regular TV and the little Roku box.
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My 1 YO Vizio upgrades through the network, automatically. No difference that I can see from my ROKU.
-ERD50
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10-16-2013, 07:46 AM
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#45
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: The Beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains
Posts: 2,791
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My 2013 Samsung updates firmware via the internet, and they now offer an "evolution kit" that is a bit of hardware that connects to the rear of the unit to upgrade its brains. For example, there is a kit that will upgrade the 2012 models to the 2013 version. It will be interesting to see how this is used in the future.
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10-16-2013, 07:52 AM
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#46
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Seattle
Posts: 6,023
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Before you get one of the new smart TVs which respond to hand gestures, you should watch Black Mirror: 15 Million Merits.
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10-16-2013, 06:00 PM
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#47
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 2,929
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GalaxyBoy
My 2013 Samsung updates firmware via the internet, and they now offer an "evolution kit" that is a bit of hardware that connects to the rear of the unit to upgrade its brains. For example, there is a kit that will upgrade the 2012 models to the 2013 version. It will be interesting to see how this is used in the future.
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Hmmm. Where can I get one of these evolution kits? After the two days I've just had at work, I'd like to try connecting it to the rears of several of my co-workers who could use a brain upgrade.
__________________
"Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for." - Epicurus
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10-16-2013, 07:52 PM
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#48
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: The Beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains
Posts: 2,791
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I think that's where several of my coworkers already have their brains, too! LOL!
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10-16-2013, 08:05 PM
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#49
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 2,929
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GalaxyBoy
I think that's where several of my coworkers already have their brains, too! LOL!
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It's definitely where my co-workers pull their ideas from.
__________________
"Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for." - Epicurus
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10-17-2013, 07:12 AM
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#50
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 8,418
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I love my Chromecast! Only $35, easy to install and easy to use.
Limited right now to Netflix, Hulu, YouTube and some of the Google family applications, but my expectation is that they'll branch out quickly to other areas. It's sweet!
__________________
Living well is the best revenge!
Retired @ 52 in 2005
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10-17-2013, 08:01 AM
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#51
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 2,929
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Quote:
Originally Posted by marko
I love my Chromecast! Only $35, easy to install and easy to use.
Limited right now to Netflix, Hulu, YouTube and some of the Google family applications, but my expectation is that they'll branch out quickly to other areas. It's sweet!
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Does Chromecast not have Amazon Prime yet?
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10-17-2013, 08:01 AM
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#52
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Gone but not forgotten
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Peru
Posts: 6,335
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Interesting thread.
I believe we're in a transition period, with another year or two for shake out. I can only speak from experience with a non-smart TV.
Some thoughts:that may be the best combination for alternate uses, an N200 Sony and a Roku HD.
First, the connections. This is important to me, as It allows streaming from different sources.
The Sony has the best combination.
Inputs:
Wireless
USB from any source
Internet RS232
Outputs:
HDMI
RCA Coax
RCA RGB
USB
Roku HD
Inputs:
Internet RS232
Wireless
Outputs:
RCA Coax only
I like the Sony, because I can use it to stream anything from my 3Terrabyte drive, anywhere... direct... no computer needed. Works great at camp where there is no internet access. Also, the Sony has UTube built in, and has a very intuitive search option... one or two words in title gets the program.
The Roku (HD) doesn't have UTube built in, though you can add it, using the developer mode. Roku has added many, many specialty channels, though not much that interests me. Usually filled with ads, or short clips that are a nuisance to get to.
A little off topic, but some stuff that's available to supplement streaming video.
http://pegleg.it/ A search program for YouTube movies, of which there are many hundreds available. (takes a while to load, but worth the wait.)
http://instantwatcher.com/ A search tool for Netflix that is interactive for types of videos, by genre, years, and many subject categories, along with reviews from Rotten Tomatoes, NYT etc.
By the way... Using the USB input on the Sony media player, allows you to use a wireless keyboard and to surf the internet on the TV or monitor.
Since I don't have a Smart TV, I don't know how much of this is available, but I DO like the portabilty of the media player, which allows me to use any kind of input on any kind of output device... anywhere.
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10-17-2013, 10:59 AM
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#53
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,681
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fermion
Before you get one of the new smart TVs which respond to hand gestures, you should watch Black Mirror: 15 Million Merits.
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Ha! Very good episode. My son downloads British TV shows and brought over the whole Black Mirror series. Very good stuff. After that one I couldn't look at people at the gym on their equipment the same anymore.
__________________
Married, both 69. DH retired June, 2010. I have a pleasant little part time job.
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10-17-2013, 12:24 PM
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#54
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 273
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Quote:
Originally Posted by imoldernu
Some thoughts:that may be the best combination for alternate uses, an N200 Sony
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I have that box, got it off ebay on some daily deal for $40. Wish I bought two.
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