BUYERS' GUIDE SMART TV I
BUYERS' GUIDE SMART TV I FA international Official Daily News Source f or International Visitors at IFA STATE OF PLAY Televisions continue to get smarter, but what does that actually mean? What makes a ‘good’ smart TV? While the technology has been around for a little while, smart TV is still taking baby steps — and like a toddler, occasionally takes a tumble. Here are some key points to bear in mind. MARKET CONNECTED TV PENETRATION FORECAST SMART TV FORECAST Shipment, Thousands KEY SELLING POINTS TECHNOLOGY User interface While voice and gesture control are being promoted heavily by some manufacturers, the adoption of these features by consumers is still limited. Smart TVs that use the familiar device of a remote control to enable smart functions (trackpad, point-and-click navigation, integrated microphone for voice commands, etc) make it easier for consumers to interact with their sets. Computing power User interfaces and apps are becoming more and more sophisticated, as is the integration of smart features into everyday TV use. As a result, the latest generation of smart TVs need fast and powerful processors. Streaming video Video streaming (YouTube; Video On Demand) is increasingly driving the use of smart functions. The customer’s broadband connections must therefore not only be fast enough — 6 Mbit/s at least — but the TV should also be able to make a pixelised YouTube video look good. FEATURES INNOVATING @ IFA Choice of apps The smart TV should come with a large number of pre-installed apps. These vary greatly from country to country, depending on the availability and popularity of the local VOD and video-streaming services. Unifying home screen The trend towards integrating content from various sources — broadcast, streaming, the internet, local (network) storage — into one unifying home screen is intensifying. A fast, flexible and intelligent search function is necessary to handle this abundance of content. The rule is invariably the simpler, the better. Remote/smartphone/tablet A user will often need to type in — not just say — a search term when looking for films or other videos on streaming sites. For this, they will need an adequate remote keyboard and/or easy coupling with their smart mobile device via a dedicated (but simple) app. DESIGN Hidden camera Most smart TVs now feature integrated cameras — a development that has triggered privacy concerns among some customers. As a result, smart TVs with cameras that can by physically blocked or hidden away are preferable. Clean design Sleek, clean lines work best for the design-conscious consumers who currently constitute the main consumer group for smart TVs. Modern user interface Remember that the design and functionality of the user interface is arguably as important as the design of the TV itself. CONNECTED TV FORECAST Shipment Share, Percent VESTEL SMART TV Vestel’s 3D smart TV allows customers to watch stereoscopic pictures with 3D glasses. The ultraslim model can be connected to the internet via tablet or smartphone. Vestel is Turkey’s leading TV producer — and the Turkish are the world’s leading smart-TV early-adopters. » HALL 8.2 / STAND 101 THE FUTURE Shipment Share, Percent Smart functions are already commonplace in TVs of a certain price class and will increasingly become an expected feature in all TV sets. The seamless integration of smart functions into everyday TV experience is also set to increase. Meanwhile, video streaming, VOD and social-media services will continue to attract consumer interest in smart TVs. » HALL 6.2 / STAND 201 » HALL 22 / STAND 101 PHILIPS DESIGNLINE With no frame or stand, the Philips DesignLine is a smart TV line with revolutionary "floating glass" design. It is powered by a Perfect Pixel engine for incredibly sharp moving images, and Active 3D. The DesignLine can either be connected to or propped against the wall. » HALL 22 / STAND 101 Our thanks to EISA for their help in compiling this buyers' guide, and to Loewe, Haier and TCL for their contributions. www.ifa-international.org IFA International • Friday 6 th September 2013 35
