Digital TVs competing with PCs as media hubs

Though more computers have been landing in living rooms, digital TVs are adding new features to help them hang onto their role as the family's entertainment center, says a report released Tuesday by In-Stat.

As DTVs replace old analog sets throughout the world, manufacturers are beefing them up with new network features, including Internet access, Ethernet, and Wi-Fi, noted an In-Stat report called "DTV 2009: Declining Costs, Increasing Shipments, and Network Capability." In-Stat predicts that 36 percent of digital sets sold in 2013 will be network-enabled.

(Credit: In-Stat)

Technologies for wireless high-definition, such as the competing 60GHz WirelessHD and WHDI standards, will also bring wireless HD streaming into households, forecasts the report.

"DTVs are competing with computers to be the entertainment hub of the home," said In-Stat analyst Brian O'Rourke in a statement. "Sets with Internet connectivity are already commercially available in the U.S., Europe, and Japan. Models from Hitachi, LG Electronics, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Samsung, Sharp, and Sony can connect directly to the Internet without a home computer."

With the conversion from analog to digital broadcasts in progress among major countries, DTVs are now the only TVs available in most of North America, Western Europe, and Japan, noted In-Stat. However, DTVs are still competing with cheaper analog sets in markets that have yet to make the switch.

[thelemurking]

It's interesting to note that there are TVs and BluRay players on the market today that have built in access to Netflix streaming, Pandora, YouTube apps etc... taking them well beyond traditional TVs. You add in an X Box 360 or PS3 and you have no need for a computer. I seriously considered the LG LCDTV that had built in support for Netflix etc... but opted for a Vizio instead. I have never had any luck out of LG products and I have swore them off in the past. I figured a bigger and nicer LCD coupled with an Acer AspireRevo tucked neatly behind the back would be adequately sufficient for what I would use it for... Netflix, Hulu, and YouTube over HDMI.

[markdoiron]

I just picked up the LG BD390 Blu-ray player and I must say that I'm very impressed. Built-in Netflix is convenient as all get-out (as opposed to hooking a laptop, booting it, etc). They just added VuDu, and the quality on the HD trailers (Who can afford to pay for a movie? LOL.) is stunning. YouTube is a little bit clunky--for some reason searches don't come up with the same results as they do on a computer/browser, making finding a particular video a little frustrating sometimes. But, all-in-all, THIS is the way TV is meant to work. Not the haphazard experience that still, sadly, defines all computers (Yes, I'm looking at you, too, Apple fan-boys!). --mark d.

[jpmays]

I, too, bought the LG BD390 and I am very, very satisfied with it! Not only does it provide Netflix/YouTube streaming, but it also has CinemaNow Video on Demand capabilities, plus with the Nero MediaHome software, one can stream movies and/or music from their PC. This, and my pending purchase of a media server (VidaBox) to house my vast (350+) DVD collection are going to be the best technology purchases I've ever made!

[Police_States_of_America]

my setup is one tower and two monitors, one an hdtv another a widescreen monitor. i like to be close to the screen when typing and farther when watching a movie. this way i can store all my media on my computer, including movies, but still watch them on a distant hdtv screen.

some of my friends have their own unique style of accomplishing a tv/computer combo as well, via streaming, or using a computer tower as one of many inputs. for me, i dont need a blu-ray player/ dvd player/ cd player when i have transcoded video on my hard drive and ripped CDs.

[epross]

I would personally rather see the functionality built into a separate box than into the TV itself. I just bought a widescreen TV and expect it to last at least 10 years. My TV prior lasted for 12. My average PC or console only lasts a fraction of that before being upgraded or replaced due to new technology or content. As technology changes, I don't want to have to be upgrading a 40+ inch expensive TV set every few years. Treat them as oversized LCD computer panels if you want. Their job is to delivery the picture, let specialized boxes delivery the content. Those can be easily upgraded as time and technology progress. BTW, I live in Canada so most of the benefit of these new sets is moot since cable (monopolies) scramble all digital content even basic cable, and you can't get neftlix, pandora, hulu and the likes here.

[S.K.]

I'm in Canada too, and those were exactly my thoughts as I was reading along.

[Mergatroid Mania]

Until they get fully functional browsers, a keyboard and mouse (wireless) they will not have the functionality of a computer, even for simple things like Youtube.

And they better be careful what they try to pass off as a browser. The one in the PS3 sucks so bad I've stopped using it.

Seems to me the simplest thing for the TV manufacturers to do is build in a Netbook. It wouldn't be hard to add in a netbook circuit board, a small hard drive, rout the video to the LCD TV screen, have a Bluetooth adapter plugged into one of the netbooks USB ports, and even add a DVD or Blu-ray drive. Even a netbook should be able to handle 1080p video as long as it's not trying to push game graphics.

The unit could use some version of Linux. It would be much more functional and competitive with PCs than the half hazard attempts they are coming up with now.

[webtaps]

I agree with epross that a separate box makes sense given the rate of change in technology. More and more people are connecting their PCs to their TVs to enjoy not just YouTube and Netflix, but also other information and content like Hulu, ESPN.com, DailyMotion, theOnion.com and other favorite websites that you can't get on dedicated boxes. Add on software like WebTaps (www.WebTaps.com) turns Firefox into an HDTV web browser that can be used from across the room. It can be run on a laptop connected to the TV just on the weekends or full time on an old PC that would otherwise be gathering dust.