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What is Internet TV?What is Smart TV?
Many of the latest TVs digital TV recorders and PVRs can connect
to your broadband Internet service via your home network.
Although general internet access (surfing) is offered by some manufacturers
this is not the main feature. In fact, given that you generally sit a few
meters away from your TV and typically do not have a full keyboard, web
browsing is not to be particularly convenient on a TV.
Instead the TV manufacturers provide a selection of applications. Some manufacturers
offer only a fixed, limited range of pre-installed applications while others
allow a wide selection which you can download. These are sometimes referred
to as “APPS” or “Widgets”. Example applications are: BBC iPlayer (also ITV
and Channel 4 players), You Tube (Internet video clips), Picasa or Flickr
(photos sharing), Google maps, Love Film (or similar film on demand download
application), Skype with videophone, Facebook and Twitter.
Can I get BBC i player on my TV?
BBC i player is the service that lets you catch up with BBC radio and television programmes from the past week. You will need a fast broadband internet connection and home network. The TV or box will download or stream programmes then listen or watch again. The picture quality is not as good as live broadcast but you can catch up on programmes you’ve missed. Most people use a computer with a broadband internet connection to access the service. However, you can also access it on your TV via the subscription Fetch TV and Virgin Media TV services and most recently through the non-subscription freesat services. In fact all new Freesat TVs and boxes can access BBC iPlayer and some older ones can be updated. Note however, some of these ONLY offer BBC iPlayer and no other Internet services.
How do I get digital TV via my computer?
It is possible to buy digital TV receivers for a PC or laptop. These come
either as a simple plug-in USB device or as a card which is fitted inside
a destop PC. Software supplied with the device allows you to tune in and
view the channels, view the on-screen TV guide and text services. They also
allow you to record programmes on to the computer hard drive, so effectively
act just like a hard drive digital TV recorder. You will need experience
in installing computer software – it does not always work first time.
Where can I get instructions for my STB – I’ve lost
them?
Some manufacturers have copies of their instruction manuals available
on their websites. Note down the exact name and model number of your
product and see Links for details
of all manufacturer’s websites and customer helplines for products
we have tested.
How do I connect my Hi-Fi to improve the sound from my TV?
See our Hi-Fi connection
diagram.
How do I get teletext on a digital TV?
The single, old style analogue teletext service has been replaced by a variety
of new text services on digital TV. Different channels now broadcast different
text services, including the BBC's red button text services, ITV's teletext
and Teletext holidays.
To access the BBC's red button interactive and text services, press the
red button on your remote. To get ITV’s teletext service press the
'text' button on your remote, or on some models a button showing horizontal
lines.
Which models have digital audio output?
Details of the audio specification of all the iDTVs, set top boxes and digital
TV recorders is given in the ‘AV connections’ section of each
product’s detailed test report (linked from the summary test report).