Gesture control, smart search and social sharing are in store.
January 10, 2012 | by Grant Clauser
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While 3D still will play an important role in all the major TV makers’ 2012 plans, all of them also will be focusing strongly on smart TV features that go beyond just a screen full of apps for Netflix and Pandora.
At the opening “press day” at the Consumer Electronics Show, LG spoke a lot about the company’s new line of Google TVs. The new models will include the Google TV platform built into a CINEMA3D TV that uses LG’s FPR passive glasses technology. Also included will be a Magic Remote Qwerty—a remote that combines the features of LG’s Wii-like remote and a QWERTY keyboard to make use of social media and other web features easier. The system allows for multitasking, so users can tweet or browser the web while watching TV.
LG’s Magic Remote also adds voice recognition this year to allow voice-controlled commands to access TV features.
Not all LG smart TVs will include Google TV. For the non-Google models, the company’s Netcast system will provide access to about 1,200 apps and include smart search functions to make it easier for users to search for content over a variety of apps at the same time.
Other CES news from LG included the expansion of the company’s FPR passive glasses CINEMA3D TV line, including a 4K 3D LED model, an 84-inch LED TV and a 55-inch OLED 3D TV that’s only 4mm thick.
Sony, one of the original product partners with Google TV, will also launch new products featuring that platform, including a line of TVs, a set-top-box and a connected Blu-ray player.
Sony also demonstrated a 4K Crystal LED TV that does not require any backlighting and two prototype glasses-free 3D TVs
Sharp’s biggest news was about their new largest screen size (an 80-inch LED 3D TV), but the company also has developed a new smart TV system called Smart Central. Smart Central combines the TVs content apps into a system that’s categorized into areas such as video, games, photos, social and more. Also included is Sharp’s Aquos Live feature that allows users to get help with their TVs live directly through the online connection. New feature called Beamzit lets you play content from wirelessly-connected PC—it sounds like a DLNA variation, which we’ll check on later at the show. Smart Central will be available on 60-inch and larger TVs
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