Sony – Sony Entertainment Network

The key features of the Sony smart TV are excellent interaction with android systems, large volumes of apps, 16GB internal storage and android apps specifically built for TV.

The functionality of the Sony smart TV combines three major elements, Youview, android TV and Sony personalised discovery channel.

The android TV offers the user with a highly efficient way of connecting the TV to their android devices. The android TV supports Google cast. If the users’ android device supports NFC functionality, the user can be logged into to the TV by simply touching the NFC sensor in the remote control.

The TV also works perfectly with the Sideview app from Sony.

Although the android TV does not come with the UKs biggest broadcasting platforms such as BBC iplayer, demand 5 and iTV player. These apps can be accessed through the Google cast functionality.

The home-grown ‘discovery’ system in the Sony smart TVs is arguably one of the best of such. It provides a great way to interact with broadcast content. For controlling, the TV uses a normal remote control.

For users on the apple technology, they can download the IOS Sideview app and use their phones as remote control. Voice control is also available on the Sony smart TV. With the voice recognition technology, a user can also use voice search to look up for any content online. The Sony android TV also offers USB playback.

For web browsing, the default browser on android TV is opera. Users can also download Google chrome depending on their preferences.

Toshiba – Toshiba Cloud TV

Key features with the Toshiba smart TV are multi-media playback through a USB device or internet, double IOS apps, interface is multi-hub. The multi hub allows you to access the home hub, screen for premium apps, screen for video and TV and a screen dedicated for other categories.

The TV offers great picture quality for the price it offers and non reflectivity thus suitable to be used in a room with a lot of light. The smart TV offers Netflix, YouTube.

The refresh rate of this smart TV is 240hz which offers a good interface for users who want to run high speed games and live sports viewing.

Philips – Philips Smart TV

The Phillips TV provides support for more than 50 apps, Netflix, BBC sport, BBC iPlayer, YouTube and Blinkbox support.

The menu design is high resolution which is captivating to the user. It comes with four 20 watt speakers which is more than any other speaker system being offered by the other smart TVs.

It comes with a TV on demand feature that extracts news from popular news websites such as fox and

The Popular Apps

Netflix

Netflix provides internet streaming media services/ video on demand to over 190 countries (as of 2016). It offers paid subscription services where users can be provided with disc rental services and get access to streaming of internet videos which are available at its online library.

The disc rental service has more movies titles while the internet library provides more Netflix original content.

BBC iPlayer

BBC iPlayer runs on the html5 platform and offers internet catch up television through live streaming. This service is only available to people in the United Kingdom. Apart from smart televisions, this service is also available on mobile phones, personal computers and tablets.

Services available on the platform have to be paid for through a subscription plan. It offers the user the privilege of watching their favourite content whenever they want.

Pandora

This is a live music streaming that provides different varieties and genres of music. The music library is arranged in a way that is friendly to the user. The user can search music using any keyword from the genre, the artist and the song title.

This music service is only available in the United States of America and New Zealand. Pandora is powered by the music genome project.

The service offers two distinct subscription plans. One is the free version which features advertisements and a $54.89 plan which does not feature advertisements.

Listeners can listen to music and then to choose to buy it from various libraries all over the world.

Amazon Instant Video

Previously known as Amazon prime videos. It offers users with full access to movies and TV shows free from ads. The service is paid for at £5.99 per month.

Facebook

This doesn’t need any introduction! You can now spend more time on updating your status, looking at newsfeed and like/dislike posts – though it comes with some limited features on the TV.

Hulu Plus

Hulu Plus offers online streaming service providing content such as recently aired TV shows, music videos and movies. Hulu provides two plans. One is free but littered with ads.

The paid version does not feature ads. Premium subscribers get a chance to watch full movie seasons and episodes.

Ebay

Buy and Sell anything on Ebay App with the comfort of your sofa. If you fancy something you liked on a TV show, get to the Ebay app straight away and look for your products.

HBO GO

Similar to other internet streaming media service but offer some exclusive movies due to its contract with big Hollywood Studios. This is only available to HBO Subscribers.

Spotify

This is a digital music streaming service that provides millions of music to listeners.

The company is based in Sweden and content is available for listeners in Americas, Australasia and Western Europe. The content provided is covered by digital rights.

The subscription plans are two tiered. One is free and offers streaming at 192kbs while the paid or premium plan offers streaming at 392kbs.

Now TV

This is internet television that offers streaming and on demand content from different sources. These sources include Sky Movies, Skysports, Skysports News, Comedy Central, Disney channel, fox, MTV, on Demand Studios, Discovery Channel and many more.

The content is provided by a subscription service since the user has to purchase the now TV box.

Accuweather

Accuweather provides up to date weather information and forecasting services. Although the online content is free, the services offered to governments and businesses are commercial and paid for.

Blinkbox

Blinkbox offers users the opportunity to watch movies and TV shows online. This is a subscription based service ranging from $1. It offers both purchase and rental of video on demand content.

TuneIn

TuneIn offers users the chance to listen to online radio music and listen to talk shows. It hosts over 100,000 radio stations and more than four million on podcasts and programs on demand. Listening to the music is free.

Users are only charged if they wish to download the music.

Skype

Skype is an online calling and messaging service that connects users in different parts of the world. Skype calls are free. The service is available on smart phones, computers and smart TVs.

Youtube

Youtube is an online service that gives users the opportunity to listen and download videos and music from different types of content. You tube is free.

Plex

Plex fetches music, videos and photos from personal libraries, organizes them and them streams them to smart TVs. The app has to be purchased to be available for use.

Amazon Prime

Amazon prime is offered by amazon.com. it offers users with full access to movies and TV shows free from ads. The service is paid for at $99 per year.

PowerPoint

PowerPoint is provided by Microsoft and comes included in the Microsoft office package. It is mainly used for presentation. It is free.