You might be proud of your feature wall, but it’s not the best thing to
happen to your living room lately. That would be smart TV, the
catch-all term for bringing web browsing, apps, movie streaming and
catch-up TV to the big screen. But do you need a new TV? Not necessarily
– these add-ons will drag your old TV kicking and screaming into the
modern age.
Xbox SmartGlass
Sometimes all you need is an app. Okay, you’ll need an Xbox 360 and a smartphone, too. Xbox SmartGlass – which has just added iOS
to a roster of platforms that already includes Windows 8, Windows Phone
and Android – is that app. Intuitive touchscreen web browsing for the
big screen, a live reference second display for gaming, graphically
gorgeous (and informative) menus for video and music libraries, and
remote control smarts. And it’s only just getting started.
The Good Life it’s free, multi-platform
Breaking Bad Xbox and movie subs not included
Apple TV
We’ve heard it called a walled garden, a closed shop and many less
savoury things in our time, and while it’s true that Apple’s neat little
box doesn’t play nicely with much outside the iWorld, it’s still one of
the simplest ways to get TV shows and films streamed to your telly. If
you’re using a modern (Core iX) Mac with up-to-date software, you can
mirror anything on your computer’s screen to the TV via AirPlay. A neat
trick that makes it a much more valuable proposition.
The Good Life Simple, with a gorgeous interface
Breaking Bad No third-party (eg. iPlayer) support
Sony NSZ-GS7 (with Google TV)
Set-top boxes are ten-a-penny, but not all of them come with Google TV,
which lets fly a flurry of punches to the faces of its peers. The big
hitters are a Chrome browser and music, movies, apps and games via
Google Play. We’re also particularly keen on the remote, which has a
QWERTY keyboard on one side and a touchpad on the reverse.
The Good Life Great remote, Google keeps adding more stuff
Breaking Bad Google Play is still playing content catch-up
Sony PlayStation 3
Yes, it’s a games machine first and foremost, but the PS3 has always
flown its movie-loving flag, not least with a built-in Blu-ray drive,
but also with streaming apps for iView and more. Grab a BD remote and
you’ll be surprised how quickly your PS3 becomes as much a part of your
TV setup as your gaming setup. It’s a shame the browser’s still not as
good as better known rivals.
The Good Life Blu-ray, streaming and games are all top-notch
Breaking Bad Dicky browser, some nav issues with eg. 4oD
