Smart TV | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net KitGuru.net - Tech News | Hardware News | Hardware Reviews | IOS | Mobile | Gaming | Graphics Cards Thu, 09 Jun 2022 13:28:44 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://www.kitguru.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/cropped-KITGURU-Light-Background-SQUARE2-32x32.png Smart TV | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net 32 32 Xbox Cloud Gaming is heading to Samsung TVs this month https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/xbox-cloud-gaming-is-heading-to-samsung-tvs-this-month/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/xbox-cloud-gaming-is-heading-to-samsung-tvs-this-month/#respond Thu, 09 Jun 2022 13:27:04 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=563834 Microsoft has been talking about bringing Xbox Cloud Gaming to TVs for quite some time, and this year, the company will finally begin the rollout. To start off with, Microsoft is partnering with Samsung to allow Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers to stream games directly to Samsung's 2022 Smart TVs and future TVs. However, more …

The post Xbox Cloud Gaming is heading to Samsung TVs this month first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Microsoft has been talking about bringing Xbox Cloud Gaming to TVs for quite some time, and this year, the company will finally begin the rollout. To start off with, Microsoft is partnering with Samsung to allow Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers to stream games directly to Samsung's 2022 Smart TVs and future TVs. However, more excitingly, Microsoft has also confirmed plans to allow Xbox users to stream the digital games they already own over the cloud too, even if they aren't included in Xbox Game Pass. 

The Xbox TV app will launch for Samsung's 2022 Smart TVs at the end of this month through the Samsung Gaming Hub, starting on the 30th of June. The app will support streaming in 27 countries, all you'll need to do is log in with your Microsoft account and if you are an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscriber, you'll have instant access to over 100 games to stream, including major first-party games and back catalogue hits from Bethesda.

As reported by The Verge, Microsoft and Samsung will support a large number of controllers for the Xbox app. This list naturally includes all modern Xbox controllers with Bluetooth, but it also includes Sony's DualSense controller and others. In theory, most Bluetooth gamepads should work.

The only real downside is that despite Xbox Cloud Gaming being powered by Xbox Series X hardware, capable of running games at 4K, Microsoft is keeping streaming resolution limited to 1080p and up to 60 frames per second. This is likely to keep network requirements down and to ensure stable streams for the millions of Game Pass subscribers that could log in at any one time.

Aside from the TV streaming app, Xbox also confirmed plans to allow Game Pass Ultimate subscribers to access their owned digital games through xCloud. The feature will go into testing soon for Xbox Insiders with a handful of supported titles, before a wider rollout in the months to come.

We can expect more major Xbox Game Pass announcements later this week, as part of the Xbox and Bethesda showcase, which goes live at 6PM BST on Sunday, 12th of June.

KitGuru Says: Unfortunately, the new Xbox streaming app will be limited to those who purchased a brand-new Samsung TV within the last few months, which is a pretty small sample size to start off with. Hopefully the app will make its way to more TVs, including Smart TVs produced prior to 2022, later down the line.

The post Xbox Cloud Gaming is heading to Samsung TVs this month first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/xbox-cloud-gaming-is-heading-to-samsung-tvs-this-month/feed/ 0
OnePlus announces plans to break into the television market next year https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/damien-cox/oneplus-announces-plans-to-break-into-the-television-market-next-year/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/damien-cox/oneplus-announces-plans-to-break-into-the-television-market-next-year/#respond Mon, 17 Sep 2018 14:25:14 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=387117 Chinese manufacturer OnePlus has enjoyed a lot of success in recent years, making a name for itself in the premium smartphone market for its value. In a surprising turn of events, the firm has now turned its attention to consumer based televisions in order to further challenge its rival, Samsung. OnePlus has dedicated much of …

The post OnePlus announces plans to break into the television market next year first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Chinese manufacturer OnePlus has enjoyed a lot of success in recent years, making a name for itself in the premium smartphone market for its value. In a surprising turn of events, the firm has now turned its attention to consumer based televisions in order to further challenge its rival, Samsung.

OnePlus has dedicated much of its time and resources towards developing 5G technology and Artificial Intelligence, both of which will undoubtedly feature prominently in the company’s next line of flagship handsets. The “benefits of intelligent connectivity” are not limited to smartphones, however, prompting the firm to explore experiences within the user’s home.

The company will be putting all of its “software, hardware, design and product development” knowledge to the test by introducing what it calls the OnePlus TV. Although details surrounding the tentative device are scarce, this is intended to bring “OnePlus’ premium flagship design, image quality and audio experience to more seamlessly connect the home.”

Smart televisions have already come leaps and bounds from the days of analogue television, allowing users to access the internet, record and pause live shows, however OnePlus believes that the technology can go a step further, connecting to other smart technology in order to bolster its functionality.

Of course, OnePlus knows its limits, with CEO Pete Lau telling Business Insider that the product will take time to develop. “It won't be something that's perfect and absolutely complete and revolutionary from the start. So we can't get everyone's hopes up too soon.”

Controversially, Lau wants the OnePlus TV to openly house a camera, despite public issues surrounding companies like Vizio caught spying on users. When grilled about how it plans to quell the obvious privacy concerns, Lau states that the company does have it in mind and “will have a solution” by the time the product reaches shelves, although it remains to be seen what OnePlus has in store.

OnePlus is still ironing out its plans for the impending display, in the meantime leaving its fans to name the device. New to the fray, TV Product Manager Stephen L. is holding a contest allowing the top 10 submissions to win OnePlus Bullets Wireless headphones, while the top spot will be one of the first to own the OnePlus TV when it releases and a round-trip to the launch event. The company has its own terms and conditions, which you can find out here.

“We want to be clear and make it well known that this decision has been made and we are going to make this product,” concludes Lau in an attempt to prove the company isn’t all talk. ““We have just gotten started.”

KitGuru Says: I am intrigued to see if OnePlus can bring the same quality designs with the tantalising price point its smartphones manage to carry. What do you hope to see from the OnePlus TV?  

The post OnePlus announces plans to break into the television market next year first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/damien-cox/oneplus-announces-plans-to-break-into-the-television-market-next-year/feed/ 0
Valve’s Steam Link app for Samsung Smart TVs has left beta https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/valves-steam-link-app-for-samsung-smart-tvs-has-left-beta/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/valves-steam-link-app-for-samsung-smart-tvs-has-left-beta/#comments Fri, 11 Aug 2017 14:30:43 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=340299 Update: Today, Valve announced that it's Steam Link app for Samsung Smart TVs is no longer in beta. This means anyone with a 2016 or 2017 Samsung Smart TV should be able to download the app and start streaming PC games directly to their TV. Supported controllers include: Steam Controller. Xbox 360 wired and wireless. …

The post Valve’s Steam Link app for Samsung Smart TVs has left beta first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Update: Today, Valve announced that it's Steam Link app for Samsung Smart TVs is no longer in beta. This means anyone with a 2016 or 2017 Samsung Smart TV should be able to download the app and start streaming PC games directly to their TV.

Supported controllers include:

  • Steam Controller.
  • Xbox 360 wired and wireless.
  • Xbox One wired.
  • Logitech F510/F710.

You should be able to find the app within the Samsung Hub, though regional availability may differ.

Original Story: While Sony may have dropped PlayStation Now support for Samsung's smart TVs earlier this year, it looks like the folks at Valve are willing to step in to fill the void. This week, a Steam Link app began rolling out for Samsung 4K Smart TVs, allowing them to stream Steam games directly without the need to buy the Steam Link.

The app is in beta and currently only available in select markets. At the moment, it is compatible with the Steam Controller but more support is coming. As for quality, the app is currently capable of 1080p and 60 frames per second, though 4K streaming support is coming later down the line.

The app isn't available just yet here in the UK but if you do happen to live in an area with access (like the US), then you should be able to find the Steam Link app via Samsung's TV app store. Those looking to stream PC games will need a strong network, while Ethernet is always encouraged in these cases, a 5GHz WiFi connection could also do the trick.

Valve announced its plans to join up with Samsung at the Steam Dev Days conference last year. Now this year, the app has quietly begun rolling out in beta form, with a proper global release expected before the end of the Summer.

KitGuru Says: I have a Samsung TV in a separate room of the house to my PC, so the Steam Link is something I have been considering. Fortunately with this app coming out, it looks like I'll be able to save the money. Have any of you tried the Steam Link before? Does it work well?

The post Valve’s Steam Link app for Samsung Smart TVs has left beta first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/valves-steam-link-app-for-samsung-smart-tvs-has-left-beta/feed/ 4
Google rumoured to build Chromecast into TVs https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/google-rumoured-to-build-chromecast-into-tvs/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/google-rumoured-to-build-chromecast-into-tvs/#respond Thu, 25 Feb 2016 19:53:58 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=285382 Google impressed quite a lot of people a couple of years back when it launched the Chromecast, a cheap $30 HDMI dongle that could turn any TV into a smart TV with access to apps and streaming features. The Chromecast has been updated over time but now it looks like Google might be looking to …

The post Google rumoured to build Chromecast into TVs first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Google impressed quite a lot of people a couple of years back when it launched the Chromecast, a cheap $30 HDMI dongle that could turn any TV into a smart TV with access to apps and streaming features. The Chromecast has been updated over time but now it looks like Google might be looking to take the next step by partnering with TV makers to build the Chromecast directly into TVs.

According to reports this week, Google is in talks with Vizio to incorporate Chromecast technology with future TVs. Sources speaking with Variety seem to confirm that a new series of TVs from Vizio does feature Chromecast technology built in.

chromecast-600x455

Google has already been developing relationships with TV makers thanks to Android TV, so Chromecast could turn out to be a lower-cost alternative to higher-end Android TV models. According to the report, Vizio's Chromecast TVs won't come with any pre-installed apps, instead users will need to beam content from their Android phone or tablet.

KitGuru Says: The Chromecast could turn out to be a good solution for cheaper TVs, leaving Android TV for higher-end hardware. Have any of you used a Chromecast? What do you think of it? 

The post Google rumoured to build Chromecast into TVs first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/google-rumoured-to-build-chromecast-into-tvs/feed/ 0
Samsung denies using software to cheat TV power efficiency tests https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/samsung-denies-using-software-to-cheat-tv-power-efficiency-tests/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/samsung-denies-using-software-to-cheat-tv-power-efficiency-tests/#comments Thu, 01 Oct 2015 15:59:37 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=270271 An independent research group recently levied some pretty hefty accusations at Samsung recently, claiming that the company was using software on its TVs to cheat energy  efficiency tests. This isn't the first time that Samsung has been accused of this, it was discovered that past Galaxy smartphones were capable of detecting benchmarks and then clocking …

The post Samsung denies using software to cheat TV power efficiency tests first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
An independent research group recently levied some pretty hefty accusations at Samsung recently, claiming that the company was using software on its TVs to cheat energy  efficiency tests. This isn't the first time that Samsung has been accused of this, it was discovered that past Galaxy smartphones were capable of detecting benchmarks and then clocking the processor to run faster than it normally would to produce higher numbers.

However, Samsung has denied that it is using TV software to detect when tests are being run and then using ‘motion lighting' to dim the backlighting on a display to produce lower than usual energy consumption numbers.

Samsung-Smart-TV-600x310

Samsung put its counter-argument in to its own blog post, which says: “Motion lighting is not a setting that only activates during compliance testing. On the contrary, it is a default setting which works both in the lab and at home; delivering energy savings and helping us to reduce our environmental impact.”

The company did note that not everyone will use its motion lighting feature, so some may see higher levels of energy being used. However, that is the customer's choice as the feature comes switched on by default.

The research group making these accusations against Samsung has yet to publish its full paper but The Guardian has had a chat with those involved.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Reports of TVs detecting energy efficiency tests and readjusting brightness levels to improve results aren't uncommon. Do any of you own a Smart TV? How important is energy efficiency to you? 

The post Samsung denies using software to cheat TV power efficiency tests first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/samsung-denies-using-software-to-cheat-tv-power-efficiency-tests/feed/ 2
Google seems to be preparing a Chromecast 2 https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/google-seems-to-be-preparing-a-chromecast-2/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/google-seems-to-be-preparing-a-chromecast-2/#comments Tue, 22 Sep 2015 13:37:23 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=268700 It looks like Google is preparing to return to the Chromecast soon, with a newly revised dongle, featuring a new design and faster components. The new rumours come from leaked documents, which talk about different colour options, improve WiFi performance and something called ‘Fast Play', which will be a new feature. There will also be …

The post Google seems to be preparing a Chromecast 2 first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
It looks like Google is preparing to return to the Chromecast soon, with a newly revised dongle, featuring a new design and faster components. The new rumours come from leaked documents, which talk about different colour options, improve WiFi performance and something called ‘Fast Play', which will be a new feature.

There will also be a new homepage and more customization options for the device. The Chromecast 2, which 9to5Google's report calls ‘the new Chromecast', will feature 802.11ac wireless, which will grant it faster speeds than the current 802.11n WiFi found on the original dongle.

chromecast-600x455

Fast Play isn't explained so it could be anything, though you could speculate that it just means faster access to apps or even Google Play services. Aside from that, the new Chromecast will have a separate audio output, so users can listen to music through a separate pair of speakers without needing the TV to be on.

There will also apparently be multi-room support, so you can have sound playing through speakers in other rooms of the house, similar to the system Sonos has, though it will be able to take advantage of existing speakers, rather than needing to buy separate ones.

There is no exact release date or price just yet, though it may be revealed along with the new Nexus devices at the end of this month.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Chromecast was very popular when it first launched in the US, though it took quite a bit longer to arrive here in the UK. Do any of you own a Chromecast? What would you like to see Google improve in the second model? 

The post Google seems to be preparing a Chromecast 2 first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/google-seems-to-be-preparing-a-chromecast-2/feed/ 2
Some Samsung Smart TVs aren’t encrypting user voices https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/some-samsung-smart-tvs-arent-encrypting-user-voices/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/some-samsung-smart-tvs-arent-encrypting-user-voices/#comments Thu, 19 Feb 2015 15:51:20 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=236592 Samsung's Smart TVs have come under fire recently thanks to a poorly worded privacy policy and an advert insertion bug affecting users in Australia. However, things just seem to keep getting worse as now it turns out that some Smart TV models are uploading user voices to the internet in an unencrypted form. The issue …

The post Some Samsung Smart TVs aren’t encrypting user voices first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Samsung's Smart TVs have come under fire recently thanks to a poorly worded privacy policy and an advert insertion bug affecting users in Australia. However, things just seem to keep getting worse as now it turns out that some Smart TV models are uploading user voices to the internet in an unencrypted form.

The issue was brought to the forefront by UK-based cyber security experts. Speaking to The BBC, a Samsung spokesperson said that it plans to fix this in an update and make it so that the affected TVs encrypt user voices properly, the way they are supposed to.

_81088913_31ea2ea6-2315-4729-9a93-f11801556fd5

The spokesperson also wanted to reassure customers that it takes privacy seriously: “Samsung takes consumer privacy very seriously and our products are designed with privacy in mind. Our latest Smart TV models are equipped with data encryption and a software update will soon be available for download on other models.”

David Lodge and Ken Munro from London based company, Pen Test Partners, initially suspected that Samsung TVs weren't always encrypting voices, so they ran some tests. The test was carried out on Samsung's UE46ES8000 model, which went on sale back in 2012, and sure enough, the TV was uploading voice commands in unencrypted form, along with other network information, such as the MAC address of the TV.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: This is a pretty bad oversight for Samsung to make, particularly with all of the recent controversy surrounding its privacy policy. Are Smart TVs just a bad idea? What do you guys make of all of this?

Source: BBC

The post Some Samsung Smart TVs aren’t encrypting user voices first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/some-samsung-smart-tvs-arent-encrypting-user-voices/feed/ 1
Samsung Smart TVs inserting ads in to third-party apps https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/samsung-smart-tvs-inserting-ads-in-to-third-party-apps/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/samsung-smart-tvs-inserting-ads-in-to-third-party-apps/#comments Thu, 12 Feb 2015 16:03:07 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=235142 It turns out that Samsung's smart TVs are inserting unwanted adverts in to TV shows and movies played on third-party apps. Several owners have begun complaining about a silent Pepsi advert interrupting playback every ten minutes or so. Obviously this isn't supposed to be happening, so Samsung has launched a full investigation. This new fault …

The post Samsung Smart TVs inserting ads in to third-party apps first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
It turns out that Samsung's smart TVs are inserting unwanted adverts in to TV shows and movies played on third-party apps. Several owners have begun complaining about a silent Pepsi advert interrupting playback every ten minutes or so. Obviously this isn't supposed to be happening, so Samsung has launched a full investigation.

This new fault comes shortly after the company received complaints over its privacy policy, which Samsung has admitted was worded poorly. A spokeswoman for Samsung has told the BBC that it is aware of the bug and is currently working on fixing it. The issue only appears to be affecting those in Australia at this time.

samsung-smart-tv

“We are aware of a situation that has caused some smart TV users in Australia to experience programme interruption in the form of an advertisement. This seems to be caused by an error, and we are currently conducting a full and thorough investigation into the cause as our top priority.”

Apps experiencing problems with ads include Plex, which streams locally stored media over your home network, and Foxtel Play, an app which comes installed by default on Samsung TVs in Australia.

Some users have managed to get the issue to stop by rejecting a Yahoo privacy policy in the TV settings. Samsung and Yahoo have been working together recently on a way to show pop-up ads on smart TVs, it is possible that the issue is tied to that.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: This isn't a widespread issue but it does raise some concerns, I doubt many would be happy with the idea of Samsung showing their own pop-up advertisements on smart TVs. Those affected by the silent Pepsi ad should receive a fix soon. If Samsung does intend to insert pop-up ads in to locally played media and third-party applications in the future, would you be okay with it?

Source: BBC

 

The post Samsung Smart TVs inserting ads in to third-party apps first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/samsung-smart-tvs-inserting-ads-in-to-third-party-apps/feed/ 2
Samsung denies that its TVs are invading your privacy https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/samsung-denies-that-its-tvs-are-invading-your-privacy/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/samsung-denies-that-its-tvs-are-invading-your-privacy/#respond Tue, 10 Feb 2015 19:11:47 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=234997 News broke recently about Samsung's new Smart TV privacy policy, which was unfortunately poorly worded and made it sound like the TVs were transmitting your conversations to a third-party via voice recognition software. This stirred up a bit of controversy but the Korean device maker is looking to clear things up. A section of text …

The post Samsung denies that its TVs are invading your privacy first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
News broke recently about Samsung's new Smart TV privacy policy, which was unfortunately poorly worded and made it sound like the TVs were transmitting your conversations to a third-party via voice recognition software. This stirred up a bit of controversy but the Korean device maker is looking to clear things up.

A section of text within the new privacy policy stated that conversations were being “transmitted to a third-party through your use of Voice Recognition”. Now, in a blog post titled ‘Samsung Smart TVs Do Not Monitor Living Room Conversations‘, the company acknowledges its poor choice of words.

462091742_640

According to Samsung, its Smart TVs only listen to you under very specific circumstances, the devices are programmed to recognize certain key phrases and commands. In this instance, a customer's voice data is not stored nor transmitted anywhere.

The other instance in which a TV may be listening to you is while using Samsung's search function, where a user can talk to their TV remote to look up a specific TV series or a movie. The TV is only listening when the feature is manually initiated, so it won't be listening to you without your knowledge.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Everyone is a bit privacy conscious these days thanks to the NSA snooping revelations. Samsung's privacy policy was not worded very well at all so it isn't surprising that the company needed to step in and clarify exactly what it meant to say.

Source: Samsung

The post Samsung denies that its TVs are invading your privacy first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/samsung-denies-that-its-tvs-are-invading-your-privacy/feed/ 0
Samsung smart TVs listen to your conversations https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/security-software/jon-martindale/samsung-smart-tvs-listen-to-your-conversations/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/security-software/jon-martindale/samsung-smart-tvs-listen-to-your-conversations/#comments Tue, 10 Feb 2015 08:39:41 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=234863 If you own a voice activated smart TV from Samsung, there's a good chance it's recorded conversations you've had with people in the same room, whether it was turned on or not. The worst part of that privacy invasion however, is that Samsung has been sending that information to third parties. Samsung itself has warned …

The post Samsung smart TVs listen to your conversations first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
If you own a voice activated smart TV from Samsung, there's a good chance it's recorded conversations you've had with people in the same room, whether it was turned on or not. The worst part of that privacy invasion however, is that Samsung has been sending that information to third parties.

Samsung itself has warned users of this, after a single line in its TV privacy policy was discovered by the Daily Beast. “Please be aware that if your spoken words include personal or other sensitive information, that information will be among the data captured and transmitted to a third party,” the policy reads. The Korean electronics maker has now warned customers not do discuss sensitive information in-front of the TV, like some sort of 1984 telescreen.

This is the sort of thing that people were worried about when Microsoft told everyone that the Kinect camera on the Xbox One would be always on and always listening, hence why third parties even produced a privacy screen for it. Apparently though we should have been worried about another company entirely.

1984

Samsung's explanation for the constant audio capture, is that it's waiting for someone to give it a command. However it is unapologetic about transmitting the information to a third party (presumably, the company that provides the voice recognition software), suggesting that people should be aware that they are being listened to when using a voice activated system.

“Voice recognition, which allows the user to control the TV using voice commands, is a Samsung Smart TV feature, which can be activated or deactivated by the user. The TV owner can also disconnect the TV from the Wi-Fi network,” it said.

It did however, stress that all conversations were encrypted, so would be hard for any unscrupulous individual to listen in on.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: While I'm hardly a big TV watcher, I think I'll be skipping over voice command features for a while yet. 

Image source: Anton Raath

 

The post Samsung smart TVs listen to your conversations first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/security-software/jon-martindale/samsung-smart-tvs-listen-to-your-conversations/feed/ 12
Samsung’s Tizen OS will be making its way to Smart TVs this year https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/samsungs-tizen-os-will-be-making-its-way-to-smart-tvs-this-year/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/samsungs-tizen-os-will-be-making-its-way-to-smart-tvs-this-year/#respond Thu, 01 Jan 2015 17:17:27 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=228435 Samsung's Tizen operating system has been in development for some time, originally for smartphones. However, now it looks like the OS will also be making its way over to smart TVs in hopes that it will make it easier for TVs to connect to other devices. Samsung announced the move earlier today, TVs using Tizen …

The post Samsung’s Tizen OS will be making its way to Smart TVs this year first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Samsung's Tizen operating system has been in development for some time, originally for smartphones. However, now it looks like the OS will also be making its way over to smart TVs in hopes that it will make it easier for TVs to connect to other devices.

Samsung announced the move earlier today, TVs using Tizen will be able to receive media and data from other devices via WiFi Direct, the TVs will also be able to use Bluetooth in order to automatically search for other nearby Samsung devices, allowing Galaxy phone users to watch live TV.

Internet-Pop-ups-Now-On-A-SmartTV-Near-You

The company has also announced that these new TVs will also have ‘out of the box' support for Sony's Playstation Now game streaming service, allowing owners to stream older PS1, PS2 and PS3 titles with a controller connected directly to the TV.

This move from Samsung follows on from LG's recent success with its TVs running WebOS, allowing the company to sell five million smart TVs within the first eight months of release. Samsung hasn't given a price for its new Tizen based TVs just yet but we will likely get our first look at CES later this month.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Samsung seems to be making a big push for Tizen at the moment. The company is likely hoping to create its own ecosystem, allowing all Samsung devices to interact with each other seamlessly. Only time will tell if this will be a success or not.

Source: Samsung

The post Samsung’s Tizen OS will be making its way to Smart TVs this year first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/samsungs-tizen-os-will-be-making-its-way-to-smart-tvs-this-year/feed/ 0
Sale bargains – check those labels carefully https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/andrzej/sale-bargains-check-those-labels-carefully/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/andrzej/sale-bargains-check-those-labels-carefully/#comments Sun, 28 Dec 2014 15:11:10 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=228160 Walking around the Boxing Day bargains, some KitGuru readers were keen to share their experience of what appears to be some quite blatant product mis-labeling. Naturally, we investigated, here are the initial results. Over the years, there have been some classic mis-labeling incidents across the tech world. Some are legitimate, based on multiple understandings of …

The post Sale bargains – check those labels carefully first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
Walking around the Boxing Day bargains, some KitGuru readers were keen to share their experience of what appears to be some quite blatant product mis-labeling. Naturally, we investigated, here are the initial results.

Over the years, there have been some classic mis-labeling incidents across the tech world. Some are legitimate, based on multiple understandings of what constitutes a gigabyte, a discrete graphics processor or a faulty TFT.

Others are more sinister, like a game claiming to be DX 9, 10 or 11 – when it's really a game from one generation back, but using a single ‘call' from the new API to claim modernity.

Another case we were sent comes from a UK-based photographer who has ordered a camera from a .co.uk web site – but now suspects that the ‘Reduced/Special Price' is too low for it to be a legitimate product.

In the Boxing Day sales around the UK, we were sent examples where products could not agree with themselves.

Here's one good example from Samsung (check the circled claim in the bottom right hand corner – compared to the large graphic).

Let us know if you see any others!

Samsung-Pricing-Problem-KitGuru

KitGuru says: In this instance, you need not worry. We put this Samsung SMART TV under the spotlight and it turns out that they are suffering from lazy graphic designers – the chip doing the driving IS a quad core processor. We'll update you if we see a lot of interesting posts on Facebook. Remember: No news is good news. 

Send us any examples of ‘strange packaging' that you know of, over on Facebook.

The post Sale bargains – check those labels carefully first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/andrzej/sale-bargains-check-those-labels-carefully/feed/ 3
Sales of LG’s webOS-based TVs hit one million of units https://www.kitguru.net/professional/htpc/anton-shilov/sales-of-lgs-webos-based-tvs-hit-one-million-of-units/ https://www.kitguru.net/professional/htpc/anton-shilov/sales-of-lgs-webos-based-tvs-hit-one-million-of-units/#respond Mon, 02 Jun 2014 23:10:48 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=196238 The webOS operating system from Palm and Hewlett-Packard has not managed to become popular on media tablets and smartphones. However, it looks like it will be rather successful on TVs. LG Electronics on Monday said that it has sold over one million of TVs featuring the webOS since the launch in March. “Reaching the one …

The post Sales of LG’s webOS-based TVs hit one million of units first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
The webOS operating system from Palm and Hewlett-Packard has not managed to become popular on media tablets and smartphones. However, it looks like it will be rather successful on TVs. LG Electronics on Monday said that it has sold over one million of TVs featuring the webOS since the launch in March.

“Reaching the one million mark in just three months is a significant achievement in the TV industry,” said In-kyu Lee, senior vice president and head of the TV division at the LG Electronics Home Entertainment Company. “Rather than continuing to add more and more functions into our smart TVs that few people will ever use, we’ve decided to focus on simplicity with our 2014 Smart+ TVs with webOS. Consumers seem to share our view that this is the right direction for the evolution of smart TVs going forward.”

The lineup of LG’s webOS-based TVs includes different models available at different price-points. Some high-end webOS-based TVs feature 3840*2160 resolution with passive 3D technology, other models feature full-HD resolution (1920*1080). LG’s webOS-powered TVs come with dual-core application processors, 1.5GB of RAM and support multi-tasking – and industry first for smart TVs.

webOS_1_1

LG expects sales of its webOS-based TVs to reach 10 million units by the first half of 2015. The company projects the new TVs to be available in over 150 markets by the end of June.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Adopting the webOS for smart TVs instead of mobile devices was clearly a wise move by LG. It is really hard to compete against Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android mobile platforms. However, when it comes to TVs, the webOS provides features and simplicity that is hard to find on smart TVs from other makers.

The post Sales of LG’s webOS-based TVs hit one million of units first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/professional/htpc/anton-shilov/sales-of-lgs-webos-based-tvs-hit-one-million-of-units/feed/ 0
Google Chromecast set to launch in the UK https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/google-chromecast-set-to-launch-in-the-uk/ https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/google-chromecast-set-to-launch-in-the-uk/#respond Mon, 17 Mar 2014 12:52:16 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=182531 In July of last year, Google revealed the Chromecast, a tiny little dongle capable of bringing streaming and screen mirroring features to any TV with an HDMI port for a measly $30. Now, three quarters of a year later, the Chromecast is due to arrive here in the UK according to some new leaks. Internal …

The post Google Chromecast set to launch in the UK first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
In July of last year, Google revealed the Chromecast, a tiny little dongle capable of bringing streaming and screen mirroring features to any TV with an HDMI port for a measly $30. Now, three quarters of a year later, the Chromecast is due to arrive here in the UK according to some new leaks.

Internal communications from retail chain, Dixons, were obtained by Android Police and say that stores have already begun receiving stock which must not be sold until 9AM on Wednesday the 19th of March.

nexusae0_wm_20140314190514_noexif-1_thumb

It isn't clear if Google will be selling the Chromecast directly through the UK Playstore but we may just find out later this week. Last month, the SDK for the inexpensive gadget was also released, which has greatly improved the device's functionality and list of compatible apps. We have seen the Chromecast sold in the UK before but due to its unofficial availability, the price was usually triple that of the converted US price.

KitGuru Says: The Chromecast is a pretty cool device, it gives any TV ‘Smart' functionality but the best part about it is that it is inexpensive. Hopefully the device will have continued success in the UK and be as cheap as it was in the US. 

The post Google Chromecast set to launch in the UK first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
https://www.kitguru.net/channel/generaltech/matthew-wilson/google-chromecast-set-to-launch-in-the-uk/feed/ 0