Knowledge is power! Certainly, you already know that. The purpose of this piece is to help you learn more about the TVs we have in the market today. As buying a TV requires that you are equipped with some information about modern TVs. This is because as technology advances so do the gadgets we use.
First things first. The digital TVs are an advancement from analog TVs. You remember those that used analog signals to transmit video and audio. In other words, the video was transmitted in AM while the audio transmission was through FM. Well, that sounds like ancient history.
Here in Kenya, the migration to the digital transmission was done in December 2013, though initiated in 2009. Since then a lot of growth has been witnessed in the TV industry. Thanks to this migration we now have more TV channels to choose from. Apart from that, digital TVs offer better resolution and this means you get to watch crisp, detailed, and stable pictures. This is because digital transmission uses data bits, as in computers.
Is a Digital Tv a Smart TV?
Digital TVs use digital signals for transmission. We can also say that Smart TVs are Digital TV since they also use digital transmission. But, Digital TV is not necessarily a Smart TV. Confusing?
Consider this, a Smart TV is essentially a stand-alone product that comes with an internet connection. Smart TVs are also referred to as a hybrid television and have pre-loaded applications as well as internet-ready features.
This is to say that with Smart tv, you can stream services such as Showmax, Netflix, YouTube, and even access social media sites on the television. Additionally, it comes with a browser that allows you to browse the internet. Cool, Huh!
However, you need to note that to utilize the features of a smart tv, a reliable internet connection is a requirement.
Remember we already mentioned the Smart TVs are referred to as hybrid televisions? Yes, this is because a smart TV is a hybrid between a TV and a computer. As a fact, it comes installed with an operating system (OS). That’s why you may have heard of say Vision Plus 32 Android TV. This simply stands for the OS used by the TV which also comes in different versions such as Android Version 10.0.
As we have seen a smart TV is not a basic display gadget. Since the smart device runs different apps, connects to the web, and can even manage other smart devices (like you can connect your smartphone to the smart tv).
As such you need to take care of the smart tv the same way you do with your smartphone. That is avoid unnecessary apps, be careful what you download, etc.
Here is a quick way to differentiate the two:
| Digital TV | Smart TV | |
| Description | Basic TV that uses digital signals for transmission | A digital TV with internet connectivity |
| Internet accessibility | No internet Access | Access internet via Wi-Fi |
| Wi-Fi | Does not access Wi-Fi | Requires Wi-Fi |
| Installed Apps | No built-in apps | Built in apps and no need for additional equipment |
| Web browser | No in-built browser | Built-in |
| Operating system | No operating system | Android OS, Vidaa |
| Built in Apps | No built-in apps | Comes with installed apps |
| Streaming | You need additional equipment | Stream content |
Can a Digital TV be converted to a Smart TV?
So, you have a Digital TV and have heard all the good things about Smart TVs. Do you throw away your TV and buy the smart one? Luckily, it’s not necessary. Set-top boxes have been used to help stream movies and videos.
But don’t forget that a smart tv gives you more than apps, as you get better picture quality, better video processing, more HDMI ports, and many more features.
Check out various types of TVs on Vision Plus TV section.
