Modern televisions have gone far from the ancient CRT. Large screen diagonals are adjacent to many additional functions, the leading place among them is occupied by Smart TV. The widely advertised option significantly increases the price tag of the desired TV. Having crushed greed, buyers lay out more money. Still, it's Smart TV, smart TV! Having connected the TV to the power supply, customers turn it on with the hope of comfortably watching online video over a network or Wi-Fi. Suddenly, reality turns out to be far from the picture drawn by the seller in the store. The Smart interface turns out to be inconvenient even with a miracle remote control included, the video is not played all, but selectively - the TV suddenly skips the rest of the videos with a plaintive message about the lack of codecs. In a short and limited "for convenience" menu Smart easy way add codecs just not there. The second disappointment comes when reviewing the "wealth" of the choice of available applications. First, not all "smart TVs" have an operating Android system. Sometimes the manufacturer's inventive itch finds a way out in the extreme originality of the idea - to put the inscription Smart, but to provide the TV with something of its own, closed. It is clear that software developers are in no hurry to port their applications to a system with a vague future. Most TVs proudly carry Android, but what! If, out of old habit, you want to go to Google Play and put on your favorite programs, then quickly make sure that instead of a general market, there is a store from the TV manufacturer, with an impressive absence of everything and everything. The brevity of the list and the limited offer nullify all the advantages.
The trouble does not come alone - let's try to access the Internet from a browser and flip through the pages. It's amazingly comfortable! Some sites do not determine that you are not logged in from a computer and open standard versions of the page. Navigation from the remote control is an indescribable joy. Small buttons, inconvenient navigation through the fields shows that, apart from marketing in its purest form and adding zeros to the price, the benefits of such surfing are slightly less than none. There is still hope for games. And here a surprise awaits the buyer - a great choice of Google Play in smart TVs is completely absent. No, you can throw birds at pigs, but everything else greatly narrows the possibilities. Good ones are not just few, there are a few of them!
What conclusion suggests itself? Ignore TVs where the Smart name is present, focusing on a larger diagonal and picture quality. And to make any modern TV smart, Chinese manufacturers producing mini-PCs in the form of flash drives will help us. Inside a small device - a powerful processor, latest versions Android 4.1 and a full app store. There are no artificial restrictions - the system fully reveals its potential. By connecting a mini PC to a TV via HDMI, you get a real Smart. Moreover, the price of pleasure does not exceed one hundred dollars. Much less than the surcharge for Smart built into the TV.
Thanks to the courtesy of the Uawest online store, we're sharing an Android-based mini set-top box called the MK808. The device looks like a slightly fat flash drive:
As you can see, there is a USB port, mini-USB - OTG, mini_HDMI. Cables for all three ports are included. The processor of the device is Rockship RK3066, two cores of 1.6 GHz. The 4-core video accelerator Mali400 also adds performance. Built-in memory is quite enough - 8 GB, you can expand it with memory cards up to 32 GB.
It's nice that the manufacturer of the set-top box does not force us to power the device exclusively via USB. A power supply was also included in the kit.
The operating system is Android 4.1, in the future they promise updates to 4.2. To control the device, you need to connect a mouse. To complete the transformation of your TV into a mini-computer, any active (powered) USB hub will help - then it's easy to add a keyboard. Moreover, as it turned out in practical tests, wireless kits are also picked up, and the function keys work (in any case, disable and enable).
Wi-Fi is used to connect with the outside world. The connection is stable, does not break. Turning on the console, you will see the standard Android desktop, without customization. The first time you connect the device to the TV, go to the settings, you need to adjust the screen resolution.
All video codecs are already installed, hardware decoding of "heavy" FullHD movies, including mkv files, is supported. Unlike ordinary Smart, where troubles with transcoding a file into a readable format are not uncommon. Remembering that the firmware has Google Play, let's install a couple of players into it (for example, Mobo or MKvideo). The video is read perfectly, the videos are rewound with the mouse or keyboard, with almost no delays. The prefix is correctly defined in the market, but there are no restrictions on installing any software. In any case, during testing, out of hundreds of applications, not one refused to be installed, citing incompatibility with the device.
The prefix defines flash drives, removable drives. The only condition for hard drives is to connect them through an active hub, as they are dependent on power. The capacity can be any, the file system too. Both NTFS, and fat32, and EXT4 were read successfully. There are doubts about the specific file system inherent in MAC computers - for lack of one nearby.
The device perfectly digests online video, Youtube, video from ex.ua, Vkontakte passed without delay. In order not to suffer with flash drives, put any application that transmits information via DLNA, then similar to a desktop computer - and the contents of your video archive can be easily viewed via Wi-Fi. Obviously, the prefix completely replaces the player, reading any films from all media with grace. Since the entire range of software in the market is open, instant messengers, various readers, text editors are installed. Working on the big screen with them is a pleasure. This text is typed in the editor and sent to work mail.
But what about games? Both simple and resource-intensive games do not slow down, they run in full screen mode. True, multi-touch, for obvious reasons, no. Therefore, it is not always convenient to play. The ubiquitous birds fly on a 32-inch TV, so to speak, with special cynicism. Highly unusual sensations from playing on the big screen, be sure to try it! By the way, the Chinese offer a compact keyboard with a multi-touch touchpad for the device. A clearly useful invention will allow you to play other toys where multiple touches are required. But all simple toys and three-dimensional races, various simulators can be managed with a mouse. So there is no particular discomfort in games. And after the brake and inconvenient browser in smart TV, all doubts about the need to buy a regular TV along with such a set-top box have finally disappeared. All pages open quickly, there are both Firefox and Chrome, Opera is available. Fortunately, there is no IE for Android.
To the question of how to make "Smart TV" from a regular TV, there is an answer that is quite accessible and understandable to most users. The bottom line is that buyers of fancy devices that transmit television broadcasts and have a connection to the Web often do not realize that such a system can be made much cheaper. This will require some devices (game console or tablet), a little skill and suitable adapters. As a result, you will be able to enjoy your favorite movies or games online without delay.
How to make "Smart TV" from a regular TV?
Many houses have not the most modern, but working TV. Often there is a dilemma: to change the TV to new pattern or upgrade an existing device. In the latter option, there are many preferences using mobile or gaming gadgets.
You can do this simply through the HMDI port of the TV, as a result you will get a kind of monitor, the image quality on which leaves much to be desired, and it is not very convenient to control the functionality (especially with a mouse). This procedure is much more effective if there is an interface adapted for the TV screen. Do not forget that a standard computer is quite noisy and is not always appropriate next to the TV.
As an alternative - various mini-devices and game consoles. With their help, it is possible to reorganize the usual "telly" into the "Smart" format. One of the best options is Android whistle, the release of which is well established in China. There are several series of them, but the principle of operation of each is approximately the same.
Options
Modern television repeaters are real multimedia centers with Internet access and support for various services. However, with a maximum of functions, such a little thing will be very expensive. It is much easier and cheaper to build a "Smart" with your own hands from improvised devices and wires.
You can do this in one of the following ways:
- Using a compact and inexpensive media player.
- Through a smartphone or tablet computer.
- By applying the universal playing system Blue-Ray.
- With help
What can a media network player do?
If you own a network media player, you can read the specifications of the device in the user manual to see if it has much in common with the Smart function. If earlier such devices were a player with a USB port, now it is an effective and multifunctional class of equipment. In fact, the use of a media player greatly expands the capabilities of the TV both in terms of functionality and in terms of sound quality.
The player has the ability to play movies from a PC in HD format. This opens up access to music, entertainment and other files, not to mention online stores. An old TV is used as the main carrier, displaying full-fledged websites and additional files.
Pros and cons of media players
To figure out how to make "Smart TV" from a regular TV with your own hands using a network media player, you need to take into account all the advantages and disadvantages of this method. With the right approach, the prefix used will make it possible to make a real competitor to modern “fancy” devices at minimal cost. The advantages of using a media player include:
- compact overall dimensions;
- acceptable price;
- interaction with all common modules and formats;
- built-in WLAN option;
- accessibility for connecting external devices, including HDD.
In addition, the modification in question has comfortable control, works with most interactive services, including online stores and social networks. The disadvantages of this method include the fact that some media players do not interact with Blue-Ray disk images.
Criteria for selecting a media player for the "Smart" option
Most of the latest series of media players are equipped with connectors for connecting a keyboard or mouse through the USB ports of the TV. In a variety of models, you can choose an option with a Russified interface and access to proprietary applications.
You should also be aware of supported connections. In any case, it should be mandatory. Not superfluous will be a digital audio input S/PDIF and built-in card reader. Modern media players are increasingly produced without a built-in hard drive, but with the ability to connect external media or a memory card.
If your TV is so old that it does not support an HDMI connection, then you will need to select analog composite connectors with the appropriate inputs and outputs. Those who are not accustomed to storing information on interactive services will need to make sure that the player is functionally able to play files in the desired format. Fortunately, the choice in this area is very wide.
"Android set-top box": smartphones and tablets
Modern tablet computers and smartphones are equipped with all kinds of interactive services and applications that allow you to perform a lot of operations, including watching movies in high quality and listening to music files. Most of these gadgets are quite possible to connect to the TV. To do this, you will need to select the appropriate adapters that are not included in the device.
The disadvantages of such a conversion include the limited memory of mobile devices, which does not allow storing the entire media set, but gives a regular TV the functions of a computer. To get the maximum benefit, it is recommended to use special software. "Android set-top box" in the form of a tablet or smartphone has a significant advantage: compactness and the ability to download the necessary content. The negative points include a limited amount of memory, the need to use various adapters and the problem of watching high-definition video.
How to display an image using mobile devices on a TV screen?
Smartphones or tablets are often equipped with a mini HDMI or MHL connector. This makes it possible to connect the device to TVs of various modifications. Otherwise, you will need to use adapters that are selected individually, since they are not unified with each other.
For example, to connect Apple, you need a special adapter. In order to avoid rapid discharge of the device, it is advisable to additionally connect the power cable. On the Android platform, you can select several types of resolutions (from 480 to 1080 pixels). Unfortunately, the iPad and iPhone gadgets do not have such functions. In this regard, the image in interactive games may be slightly distorted and have black stripes on the side. In this case, videos from YouTube will be formatted across the entire width of the screen.
Gaming consoles
One option for making a Smart TV out of a regular TV is to use a video console. Compared to full-fledged media players, game consoles are less functional, and some applications are paid. For maximum exposure, users of the Microsoft Xbox 360 console must sign up for Xbox Live with a Gold account.
The Microsoft Xbox-360 service does not allow you to copy movies to your HDD, but it plays them from DVD, CD and flash cards. In addition, an external drive connection is available. All popular video and audio formats are also supported. To get the full option, you should constantly be in touch with the updated Windows media center (DLNA format).
Sony PS-3
Next, let's look at how to make "Smart TV" from a regular TV using. In this case, the user is provided with two free resources focused on video playback, as well as the ability to store media information on an internal HDD format drive.
The console does not allow you to play files that weigh more than four gigabytes due to the limited capabilities of the device. "Play Station - 3" runs video from DVD, CD, Blue-Ray discs, as well as from memory cards and external media of various formats within the allowable volume. With the PS-3 console, you can listen to music, watch videos up to 1080 pixels, view photos, and enjoy some free online services.
Blue Ray Players
One option on how to make a "Smart TV" out of a regular USB TV is to use a Blue-Ray player. Such devices have a rather high price, but also have great functionality. When using them, the user gets the following features:
- support for almost all video formats and codecs, as well as audio;
- built-in WLAN module;
- connection of external drives and DLNA options;
- full set of "Smart" and WI-Fi functions;
- additional applications and access to all kinds of interactive resources.
You can easily watch movies in good quality, not to mention the videos from YouTube. Some models are equipped with additional functionality that makes it possible to download branded programs from online stores.
How to connect blue-ray?
All Blue-Ray players have an HDMI interface. If a suitable cable was not included with the player, you can easily buy it at any electronics store. You can also use adapters for SCART or RCA connectors ("tulip").
Often such connectors are provided in the standard set. It should be borne in mind that when the player is connected via the SCART or RCA interface, the image will not be as high quality as via HDMI. But if we make "Smart TV" from an ordinary TV, this moment is not critical. You may need an RCA-SCART or HDMI-SCART adapter to connect your Blue-Ray player to. When interacting with RCA, you will have to independently transfer the television receiver to AV mode, since this connection does not provide an autonomous transition to decoder, as opposed to SCART mode. You should also choose an adapter carefully: too cheap copies can cause interference when playing files.
What to pay attention to?
Before buying a Blue-Ray player, you should make sure that your TV has the correct connectors. If you are using an optional speaker system, you need to check that it is compatible with the device you are purchasing.
To make the most of networking opportunities, you need to make sure that you have the ports and connectors that the modes will not function without (LAN, HD, HDMI, and others). If the use of the TV involves frequent communication in social networks or interactive surfing, it is advisable to choose a media player with a convenient remote control. As the last one, you can use Tablet PC or smartphone.
I will talk about how to make an ordinary LCD TV a full-fledged Smart TV. Yes, there is nothing special in trendy Smart TVs, and there won’t be until a full-fledged OS appears there. Even monitors with integrated Android OS have more options. You can throw rotten tomatoes at me, but all Smart TV buyers have almost wasted their money. What gives you Smart TV? Online services, no more… All of them are available on PC. Nobody bothers you to buy an inexpensive nettop with support for HD-video hardware decoding and enjoy your favorite movies downloaded from torrents without brakes, use any online services in a familiar browser, and also have a full-fledged PC that is suitable for simple 3D games and arcades, not to mention already about playing HD movies over 10 GB without delay.
Smart TV is just the integration of the Internet into television. In this article I will show you how to turn old tv in Smart TV. If you ran to the balcony or to the pantry for your "Rainbows", "Temps", etc., then I'm not talking about this junk
I will not argue that modern TVs are full-fledged multimedia centers. There is also the possibility of access to the Internet, and support for network services. But! Firstly, the higher the functionality, the higher the price. Why do you need such a combine? From 50000 rub. I can organize a multimedia system at home much cooler. Secondly, content management on Smart TV is disgusting. Take even an additional remote control for navigation. Third, you can get Smart TV features on your old TV:
with a compact and inexpensive network media player,
by connecting a smartphone or tablet to the TV
using as universal device Blu-ray player playback
do not forget about the game console (prefix).
We will consider the listed options for upgrading your TV, focusing on the features, advantages and disadvantages of each of the solutions. Rather, it will be said, we will consider alternatives for implementing the functionality of Smart TV. So let's get started..
Network media players
Yes, I know, I did not discover America. And now let the owners of Smart TVs go over the characteristics of any decent model of a network media player and recognize their long-suffering Smart TV in it. Previously, network media players were just a hardware player with a USB port, but now it is quite a promising class of equipment. Smart TV is an attempt to use only one device to store and play home multimedia content, but it is limited, especially when it comes to usability. What can not be said about the network media player, because in conjunction with a TV and speaker system, it will be a full-fledged hardware media center. The media player is able to play movies in HD quality, music and images from a computer, displaying content on the screen of a TV device, and access to the Internet and application stores will turn your old TV into the same Smart TV. The network media player is also capable of connecting to external media and displaying full web pages.
Benefits of network media player:
- the ability to connect an external hard drive and peripherals
compact dimensions
low cost
support for all modern formats and codecs
built-in WLAN module
disadvantages
- some media player models do not work correctly with Blu-ray disc images
SMART features of network media players
No matter what anyone says, network media players are the embodiment of the Smart TV features of the most modern TVs. Let me tell you, not everyone. But there are many worthy competitors who can easily surpass the top model of Smart TV.
Main Criteria for Choosing a Network Media Player
- work with Internet services
format support,
comfortable control
If you want a network media player with rich equipment, then I advise you to take a closer look at the Western Digital TV Live model, which fully meets the criteria listed above. Users who frequently enter information on the TV screen and chat with friends on social networks, you will like the model with a QWERTY keyboard - Iomega ScreenPlay TV Link DX.
It is especially important for convenience that most modern media players support connecting a mouse or keyboard to a USB port. Users who are attracted to Russian-language network services should take a closer look at the LG ST600 model, as you will get access to the proprietary LG Apps store.
When choosing a media player, do not forget about the supported interfaces and connectors. HDMI is an obligatory port, as well as an S/PDIF digital audio jack, as well as a built-in card reader. It is worth noting that there are fewer media players with a built-in hard drive, but a USB connector for connecting an external HDD and flash drives is a standard. Some users will need composite and component video outputs for TVs that do not have an HDMI port to connect the player to a TV. An important factor is the number of formats supported by the media player, especially for those who store and play various media files, neglecting Internet services. And for users who need full support for Blu-ray and DVD imaging devices, we advise you to take a closer look at the Philips HMP7001 model.
Internet services with app store
Model LG ST600 has by far the richest set of Russian-language Internet applications from the branded online store LG Apps. Same good option in terms of quantity and quality of software and widgets will be the Philips HMP7001 model.
Smartphones and tablets
Probably, no one will argue that modern tablets and smartphones have integrated all the necessary Internet services, supplemented by applications, not to mention playing video and other multimedia. Of course, not all, but many smartphones and tablets can be connected to a TV. To connect mobile devices, you will need additional adapters, which are often not included in the package and are purchased separately. Smartphones and tablets have one significant drawback: the memory capacity of mobile devices is limited and you can not carry the entire media collection with you, but despite this, smartphones give the TV the functionality of a computer. Especially help to succeed in this smartphone specialized software. For example, HVMS. Soon I will tell you more about its capabilities.
Big advantage mobile device may be its compact size and the ability to take your multimedia content with you, but to play it on a big screen, you will always have to have cables and adapters on hand.
The performance of modern smartphones and tablets is enough to play high-definition video and run 3D games. The amount of their memory is certainly not large, but it allows you to store multimedia news. The disadvantage of this solution is that it will not work to play high-definition video that is physically located on a network drive or NAS over a wireless network.
Outputting an image from a tablet or smartphone to a TV
Some smartphone models are equipped with a mini-HDMI output. In some cases, the devices are already equipped with the cable necessary to connect to the TV, which is suitable for different smartphone models. In more modern gadgets, a universal MHL connector is being actively introduced, designed to transfer multimedia content, charge the device and synchronize with a PC. Smartphones and tablets various manufacturers require their own adapters or cables to output video via HDMI, and they are not always compatible. To connect Apple tablets and smartphones to an HDMI-enabled TV, you will need an AV adapter (≈ 2,000 rubles). It serves as an adapter between the iPad / iPhone connector and HDMI cable. While playing a video, it is better to connect the power cable to the adapter, as the device will be quickly discharged. Samsung was one of the first to use MHL in the Galaxy S line. Note that the HDMI adapter for the Galaxy SII is not compatible with the S III (about 1200 rubles). On Android devices, you can set the resolution of the image output via HDMI (480p, 576p, 720p, 1080p), and on some devices, select the audio format. iPad and iPhone do not have these settings. Due to the aspect ratio of the screen, the image during games will have black bars on the sides, but when playing YouTube videos in full screen, they stretch to full width.
Blu-ray players
Yes, many modern models Blu-ray players are quite expensive, but on this moment offer a very rich set of options: support for numerous video formats and codecs, built-in WLAN module, the ability to connect external devices and expand functions by installing additional Smart applications. The most interesting thing is that they have Smart TV functions, WiFi modules and LAN interfaces for providing access to network multimedia content. Playing YouTube videos is commonplace. Support for the DLNA standard will allow you to display movies on your TV screen directly from your home computer (like Allshare - another name for DLNA, if someone does not understand). Also, Blu-ray players are equipped with various integrated applications for accessing services with extensive movie collections. In addition, selected player models allow you to further expand the functionality by installing additional programs from branded online stores.
Connecting a Blu-ray player to a TV
All modern Blu-ray players are equipped with an HDM1 interface (version 1.3 or 1.4). If the cable was not included with the player, you need to purchase it at the nearest electronics store. If your old TV does not have such an interface, you can use adapters for the appropriate SCART or RCA (“tulip”) connectors. It happens that these adapters are bundled with the players, then you do not have to make extra purchases. Naturally, when the player is connected via the SCART or RCA interface, the image will be worse than via HDMI, but this is not critical for older TVs. An RCA-to-SCART or HDMI-to-SCART adapter may be required to connect your Blu-ray player to a TV with a SCART connector. If your TV is equipped with RCA ports, the player can be connected using the "tulip", which, as a rule, comes with the device.
Attention! When connected to RCA, you will have to set the TV to AV mode yourself, since this connection does not automatically switch to a decoder, as is the case with SCART. The choice of an adapter should also be approached with caution: cables that are too cheap can cause interference when playing media content.
When buying a Blu-ray player, make sure it's supported a large number multimedia formats, as well as the possibility of expanding functionality (connecting peripherals, installing applications). Blu-ray players get access to YouTube and other video portals through a special application, while the Philips BDP7700 and Samsung BD-D5300 models also allow you to install additional programs to expand functionality.
Game consoles (video consoles)
- Compared to full-fledged media players, game consoles provide much less functionality, and some applications are paid. For example, to get the most out of the Microsoft Xbox 360 console, users need to sign up for Xbox Live and pay for a Gold account. Otherwise, they will not be able to access applications and online video services. A huge minus is that the video console from Microsoft does not allow you to record content other than games on your hard drive.
- Sony PlayStation 3 provides users with two free video services, and also allows you to store media content on your internal HDD, which can be easily replaced with a more capacious one (read about this in the PS3 section). Set-top boxes from both manufacturers do not play files larger than 4 GB due to file system limitations. SONY PLAYSTATION 3 The PlayStation 3 can play videos from both Blu-ray discs and DVDs, CDs or flash drives pre-formatted in the FAT32 file system (the size of the video must not exceed 4 GB). The device supports MP4, AVI, AVCHD, DivX, WMV formats and resolutions up to 1080p. The console from Sony allows you to download multimedia content directly to your HDD. With this set-top box, you can listen to music, watch photos on a TV screen, and also get access to free online video services: AXN Sci-Fi and Sony Entertainment Television. MICROSOFT XBOX 360 Xbox 360 does not allow you to copy movies to your HDD, but plays them from DVDs, CDs and flash drives (Blu-Gau discs are not supported, but it is possible to connect an external HD-DVD drive). Like the PS3, the Xbox 360 accepts flash drives formatted in FAT32. H.264, MPEG-4, WMV and AVI formats are supported. To get maximum functionality, you should always keep your media PC configured as a DLNA (Windows Media Center) server turned on. The PS3 analogue of this program is called PS3 Media Server. Users who purchase Gold on XBOX 360 will have access to Netflix, the Facebook app, Twitter and YouTube. In addition, the owners of the "gold" account, who live in Moscow and use the Beeline provider, get access to the IPTV service and can use the console as an IPTV set-top box.
Highlights when choosing multimedia devices as an alternative to Smart TV
VIDEO/AUDIO. Before buying a media player or Blu-ray player, make sure your TV has RCA or HDMI connectors. If your model is not equipped with such ports, the device can be connected to it via the DVI input using a special adapter. Prerequisite: This connector must support HDCP copy protection. If there is only a SCART interface on the back of your TV, take care to purchase a special SCART to RCA or SCART to HDMI adapter. Also, if you are using a separate audio system, make sure that it can also be connected to the media player.
NETWORKING CAPABILITIES. Make sure the devices are equipped with a LAN port (Ethernet connector) to connect to home network and watch HD video on your TV from your desktop, laptop or NAS. However, as for the built-in WLAN module, in this case it will only be relevant for surfing the Internet from a TV screen or watching videos from YouTube and other video hosting services, while not exceeding 480p resolution.
CONTROL. If you plan to use your TV for Internet surfing and frequent social networking with friends, choose a media player with a convenient remote control. Ideally, it should be equipped with a QWERTY keyboard for fast typing. You can also use your smartphone or tablet as a universal remote control if your TV is connected to a wireless home network.
CONNECTING EXTERNAL DEVICES. The vast majority of media players and Blu-ray players are equipped with USB connectors for connecting external HDDs and flash drives. As a rule, before connecting such media, it is necessary to format it in the FAT32 file system.