webOS to be abused some more, LG to put it on TVs
Linked by Thom Holwerda on Mon 25th Feb 2013 14:15 UTC
OSNews, Generic OSes "LG said today it was acquiring WebOS from Hewlett-Packard, with the intention to use the operating system not for its mobile phones, but in its smart televisions. With the deal, LG obtains the source code for WebOS, related documentation, engineering talent, and related WebOS Web sites. LG also gets HP licenses for use with its WebOS products, and patents HP obtained from Palm. The financial terms of the deal weren't disclosed." Completely and utterly pointless. Smart TVs are a dead end. The TV should just remain a dumb receiver for input - whether from a computer or console via cables, or wirelessly from a smartphone or tablet. Our phones and tablets are already smart so TVs don't have to be.
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Got to agree about smart TVs
by andrewclunn on Mon 25th Feb 2013 14:32 UTC
andrewclunn
Member since:
2012-11-05

Nothing is more frustrating than 'smart' devices that have one simple job, that they then can't do properly because they have too many features (aka bloatware). Printers are a good example of this. TVs are now as well. Volume, input source, on and off. That's all a new monitor / TV should need. (No, I didn't include channels because if you're using an antenna, then you're not buying new TVs anyways). Anything else is just asking for more ways for the damn thing to fail.

Reply Score: 2

Lobotomik Member since:
2006-01-03

What's with the antenna? Hundreds of millions of europeans, not to talk about the rest of the world, are not using cable or net TV. Cable and sat did have channels, last I heard, anyway.

I agree about the undesirability of smart TVs anyway. TV sets should last many, many years, and their built-in smart TV computers are obsolete the day after you buy them. I understand that TV makers love built-in obsolescence, but for users and for the environment it is much better to use an external box, which you can get nowadays for less than 50€, and which you can dispose of in two years time if you want to have a better one.

Reply Parent Score: 4

lucas_maximus Member since:
2009-08-18

Accept TV's aren't the only Smart Devices.

This is being built into things like Blu-ray players, Set-top boxes.

There is nothing stopping them updating the OS via the internet either.

Reply Parent Score: 4

Read more of this thread... >
roblearns Member since:
2010-09-13

Well - I use an antenna and I change the channel.

I think you are mistaken, if you use an antenna, you had to buy a new tv - or at least a converter box, because tv channels are no longer broadcast in analog - at least in the U.S.

So, yeah, I bought a new TV and I use antenna, and why not, in digital you get crystal clear reception in HD - and for free.

I supplement that with Netflix - because I like movies and shows on demand - but yeah - not sure why the assumption about antenna users not buying tv's.

I definately buy new tv's because my antenna usage is just to pick up the high quality free stuff - I also purchase, I admit still DVD, not blu-ray, new movies and enjoy watching paid content as well.

I may switch to blu-ray or may just do Apple tv - don't know yet, the thing about blu-ray is I'm into a lot of foreign language movies that just haven't come out on blu-ray.

Reply Parent Score: 2

Macrat Member since:
2006-03-27


So, yeah, I bought a new TV and I use antenna, and why not, in digital you get crystal clear reception in HD - and for free.


Lucky for you to be in range of a signal.

Even if you live in a large city, the broadcast towers can be too far away to get over the air TV.

Reply Parent Score: 2

RE: Got to agree about smart TVs
by Brendan on Tue 26th Feb 2013 08:40 in reply to "Got to agree about smart TVs"
Brendan Member since:
2005-11-16

Hi,

Volume, input source, on and off. That's all a new monitor / TV should need.


Half the inputs are digital now (e.g. "digital TV" where something like MPEG decompression is needed). There's also image scaling involved (e.g. making an old 4:3 source fit on a 16:9 screen by stretching or "letter boxing"). Then there's the on screen display - showing which channel the user just switched to, but also doing things like subtitles and telling the user which program they're watching. For modern systems there's also an electronic program guide. Even a simple monitor (no tuner) needs a chip to tell the computer which video modes it supports.

What this all adds up to is that you need a CPU in your TV, even if it is a "dumb" TV.

Once you've got a CPU in your TV, it's relatively easy and cheap to use it for extra features; like allowing you to play (and maybe record) videos from a USB flash stick or network connection, allowing "firmware updates" in case there's bugs (cheaper than a product recall), etc. It's only a small step from there to things like internet browsers.

- Brendan

Reply Parent Score: 4