All about Samsung Smart TV

With the appearance on the market of a completely new product - Samsung Smart TV - questions about what it is, how to use "smart" technologies, arise regularly from future owners of new technology.

Today the brand offers its fans TVs with a diagonal of 32 and 24, 40 and 43 inches, supplemented by the ability to install such popular applications as HbbTV, Ottplayer. A detailed overview of all their features will help not only find the optimal model, but also tell you how to connect it to a laptop via Wi-Fi, and troubleshoot possible problems.

The simplest definition for a Samsung Smart TV is a “smart” TV with an operating system inside. It can be compared to a large tablet PC that supports touch, gesture, or remote control. The capabilities of such devices are limited only by the preferences of the user himself and the amount of memory.

Smart TV from Samsung has a module for connecting to the Internet via Wi-Fi or cable. Also, the manufacturer has provided for the presence of a branded application store and the ability to launch content from external media through Smart View.

Among the obvious advantages of such devices are:

• Diverse content. You can watch a package of regular TV channels, as well as connect any services - from video hosting and online cinemas to Amazon, Netflix, streaming services with music or podcasts. To watch and connect Pay TV from any provider, you just need to download the application and then subscribe online.
• Ease and speed of search. Samsung TVs implement this option at the highest level. The search is fast, and over time Smart TV will start offering recommended content options based on user preferences.
• Work from 1 remote control. Any devices connected via HDMI can be used with a proprietary accessory that comes with the TV. Samsung One Remote closes once and for all the problem of controlling all TV-related equipment.
• Voice control. You don't have to waste time typing. The voice assistant will do everything much faster.
• Ease of integration with smartphones. You can use this function to play media files from your phone display on a TV screen.

All Samsung Smart TVs run on the Tizen platform. This somewhat limits the choice of compatible applications, which can be considered a disadvantage. But it also has additional advantages.

The Samsung Smart TV lineup is quite diverse. In the current catalog on the official website of the brand, there are no longer compact models with a diagonal of 24 inches or 40 inches. Their place is taken by wider versions. Among the most popular options are:

• 82 ″ Crystal UHD 4K Smart TV TU 8000 Series 8. Truly large TV with Crystal display, Crystal 4K processor, interior Ambient and 3-sided bezel-less design. The screen has a resolution of 3840 × 2160 pixels, supports cinema mode and natural color reproduction. Smart TV is equipped with a universal remote control, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi modules, a built-in browser and the function of mirroring pictures from a smartphone.

• 75 ″ Q90T 4K Smart QLED TV 2020. Distinctive features of this model include full 16x direct illumination, ultra-wide viewing angle, and a picture generated by artificial intelligence based on the Quantum 4K processor. Screen touch control makes this TV ideal for Home Office, video conferencing. Game lovers will appreciate the Real Game Enchancer + feature, which provides lag-free motion transmission. The model supports Ambient + interior mode, its screen has no frames, it can simultaneously broadcast a picture from a smartphone and TV.

• 43 ″ FHD Smart TV N5370 Series 5. It is a versatile 43-inch smart TV with state-of-the-art equipment and Smart Hub interface for even smarter service. Everything for easy integration with office programs is provided here, there is support for Wi-Fi Direct, an analog and digital tuner, the necessary wired inputs and 2 HDMI connectors.

• 50 ″ UHD 4K Smart TV RU7410 Series 7. 4K certified TV with HDR 10+ support, Dynamic Crystal Color technology and a powerful processor. The resolution of 3840 × 2160 pixels provides playback of the most modern content, among the useful options are a Bluetooth module, voice control in Russian, smartphone screen mirroring and WiFi Direct. The model supports game mode and connecting external devices via USB HID.

• 32 ″ HD Smart TV T4510 Series 4. The basic model of a smart TV from Samsung with a diagonal of 32 inches and a resolution of 1366 × 768 pixels. There is support for HDR content, Motion Rate and PureColor technology for image stabilization, realistic color reproduction. The model is not equipped with unnecessary functions, but it has everything you need, enough memory to install the necessary applications.

Finding your own Samsung Smart TV will be easier with a simple guide to choosing one right from the start. There won't be too many basic criteria.

• Screen diagonal. Huge 75-82 '' panels require adequate space around them. If the TV needs to fit into the interior of an ordinary living room or bedroom, it is better to give preference to small-range models from the very beginning. For Smart Series, it is limited to 32-43 inches.
• Appointment. If you plan to integrate your TV with Home Office, video conferencing, or use your device as a game screen, the requirements will vary. It is necessary to make a list of required options from the very beginning so as not to experience disappointment after the purchase.
• Screen resolution. Samsung has TVs that support HD, FHD, 4K (UHD). The image quality on them differs dramatically. The more dots are supported, the clearer the picture will be. If you have to watch movies in online cinemas, it is better to immediately give preference to models with a 4K display.
• Panel type. Samsung's next-generation TVs offer the choice between cutting-edge Crystal UHD, QLED and LED technology. Depending on their type, the cost also changes. But Crystal UHD, which uses inorganic nanoparticles, is really worth the investment. Color rendition here is at the highest level, regardless of tone.
• Additional functions. Some buyers need voice control, others - one-touch integration with mobile devices and support for Bluetooth. Some Samsung Smart TVs have an Ambient + feature to keep them in interior mode. It is also worth paying attention to the fact that the universal remote control is not always included in the package of the device - this point needs to be clarified additionally.

When you turn on Smart TV for the first time, the user may be confused by some of the features of its setup. Depending on what source of the Internet signal is available, all manipulations will be carried out manually - using wires or by entering a password from the wireless network. Even though all the important points are detailed in the operating instructions, it is not so easy to understand how and to what the device is connected.

The easiest and most reliable way to connect Samsung Smart TV to the Internet is through the Ethernet port using a wire. The cable will provide the fastest possible data transfer rate. Accordingly, there will be no problems with the playback of 4K content both from media and online. No authorization is required on the network. Simply insert the cable plug into the corresponding socket in the TV housing.

As soon as the user turns on Smart TV, he will start scanning the available Wi-Fi range, and when a network is found, he will offer to connect to it. All that remains is to authorize the device by entering the password from the home router. The data will have to be typed on the remote control or on-screen keyboard of the TV. If the connection is successful, the corresponding message will appear on the display. Next, Smart TV will scan for updates for the installed firmware. If you find them, do not refuse to download. Better to wait for the update and installation.

After that, before the user has access to the Smart TV functions, the user will have to register their account on the manufacturer's special website. This will open access to managing, updating and installing applications in the store. Many users have questions about connecting third-party external devices. Much depends on their type. A laptop is most often connected to a Smart TV via an HDMI port. But the external antenna does not need to be connected to the set-top box - the built-in adapter in modern models allows you to receive the signal directly.

Using Samsung Smart TV is no more difficult than using a regular series phone. The basic setup consists of the following steps:

• Tune terrestrial and cable TV channels. It is enough to use auto-tuning in the device menu. Satellite TV channels are found through the operator selection menu from the list or automatically, after setting up the receiver.
• Recover your own data from online services. On some IPTV players, you can create and save playlists from the cloud. Most online cinemas also have this option.
• Reload. This action is performed from the remote control. For the D, C, B series, the exit to the service menu is carried out by long pressing the Exit button followed by selecting the "Restore settings" item. For E, F, H, J, K, M, Q, LS - through “Menu”, “Support” and “Self-diagnostics” with the choice of the “Reset” item and entering the PIN-code.
• Set the timer to turn off. You need to press TOOLS on the remote control, and then select the desired option and time period.
• Clear cache. It is easy to free the overloaded memory. You can clear the cache through the main menu, in the browser settings, by deleting history.

If you need to connect a smart TV microphone for karaoke, wireless headphones or external speakers, a smartphone for broadcasting music, you can use the Bluetooth module by simply synchronizing the device.

When using TVs of older series, where Play Market is used, installation of third-party widgets is quite possible. To do this, you need to connect the TV to the PC, having previously disabled the firewall in the antivirus. After that, you will need to synchronize the devices by creating a custom Develop account, click Internet TV, authorize the owner in the settings. Further actions depend on the type of TV.

Installation of third-party widgets here is possible from a flash drive. Additionally, you need NstreamLmod. Then:

• a directory with downloaded files is created on the drive;
• the flash card is inserted into the port, its directory opens on the screen;
• user clicks Smart Hub, launches NstreamLmod;
• select the item "USB Scanner";
• the desired file is selected in the archive, the download starts, upon completion, you need to exit Smart Hub, turn off the TV.

The program can be opened after switching on Smart TV again.

Starting with this series, it is not possible to install programs from a flash drive. You can authorize a user to load widgets through the Smart Hub and the menu under the letter A. Here you need:

• by button D create a section Developer;
• select Server IP, enter data;
• sync devices;
• log out and log back in.

Here, the authorization is similar, but after clicking on the A button, a field appears with the words "Samsung account". This is where develop is entered, and in response TV will generate a password. It is better to copy or write it down. After that, it remains to click the "Login" button and start installing applications through the synchronization of user programs in the "Service" and "PU Tools" section.

Here, access to additional settings is complicated. We'll have to go through:

• "Options";
• IP Settings;
• Start App Sync.

The TV restarts if necessary.

The user can find and download the main applications supported by Tizen OS by selecting the Smart Hub button on the remote control. It will move to the section where you can control the "smart" functions, including the APPS section. This is where access to pre-loaded applications is found - web browser, YouTube. Others can be found and downloaded via the recommendation menu or Samsung Apps.

Among the most installed applications for Smart TV on the Tizen operating system, there are some.

• Media players. Adobe Flash Player, ForkPlayer, Ottplayer (may be referred to as OTTplayer), VLC Player.
• TV applications. Hbb TV, Tricolor, Peers. TV
• Online cinemas. Netflix, Wink, HD Videobox, ivi. ru, nStream Lmod, Kinopoisk, Kinopub.
• Video communication and messengers. Here you can install the familiar Skype, Whats App, and other popular programs.
• Browser. Most often, Google Chrome or its analogue with a built-in search engine from Yandex or Opera is installed. To watch TV programs, you can use a special TV-Bro.
• File manager. X-Plore File Manager - it is required to work with files.
• Office applications. The classic products from Microsft are the easiest to integrate.
• Streaming platforms. Twitch is suggested here by default.

There are many issues that Smart TV users can face on Samsung TVs. Most of these problems can be fixed fairly easily by yourself. The most common problems, as well as their solution, should be considered in more detail.

• The TV turns itself on and off. If Samsung Smart TV starts and works without a command from the user, a possible cause of problems may be the breakdown of the control buttons - their location on the case depends on the model. You can prevent such surprises by simply unplugging the appliance from the outlet when the device is not in use. Self-switching off of Smart TV is a reason to check the sleep timer, if it is active, after a specified time the TV will interrupt its work.
• The picture freezes when watching TV. Probably the cause of the problem is in the antenna when it comes to the traditional way of receiving channels. You can eliminate the interference by repositioning or adjusting the setting. If the TV connected to the Internet freezes, it is worth checking the availability of the network, the speed. Also, the problem may be in memory overload, a full cache - removing unnecessary applications, clearing data will help.
• Slows down when watching online content. Here, the main source of problems is low data transfer rate or failure of router settings. Switching from Wi-Fi to cable will help strengthen the signal. When you reset the data, you will have to enter your home network password again in the TV settings.Also, braking can be associated with the filling of the device's memory - it works with overloads.
• Does not respond to the remote control. It is worth checking if the TV is connected to the network, then examining the health of the batteries - when the power consumption decreases, the signal from pressing the buttons is transmitted with a delay. If everything is in order, it is worth examining the IR sensor by pointing it at the turned on smartphone camera. In a working remote control, when the buttons are pressed, a flash of light will appear on the phone screen.
• The image is missing, but there is sound. Such a breakdown can be quite serious. But first, you should check the health of the HDMI or antenna cable, plugs and wires. If there is a picture on a part of the screen, the formation of multi-colored stripes, the problem may be in the matrix. A breakdown of the capacitor will be reported by a quick darkening of the screen or the loss of the image after some time of operation - such repairs are done only at the service center.

In the event of a serious software failure, the TV may not respond to user actions. Only a specialist can reflash it. In this case, it is worth contacting the service center. If the software failure occurred through no fault of the user, the device will have to be flashed free of charge, as part of the warranty repair.