Much is written about Internet television but many TV viewers still don't know what it is and how to take advantage of it. Internet TV is simply TV via the Internet. This means that TV programming can be received on a TV screen through the Internet without the need for a cable or satellite TV subscription! For example, if you have a sudden urge to see Ingrid Bergman in "Casablanca", you can start the Netflix app on your TV, search for the movie and click the Play button. If you want to watch the news, you can start the CNN or FoxNews app instead. It's that simple.
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| Internet TV enables TV viewers to watch any TV program, any-time. No cable or satellite subscription is needed. |
To replace your traditional TV provider (or in other words, to cut the cord) you only need a high-speed Internet connection and an Internet-ready TV (such as the Sony® EX621-Series). All new TVs available at Costco are Internet-ready and can be connected to the Internet either directly through a wire or via WiFi. Older, non Internet-ready TVs can connect to the Internet through an Internet-enabled Blu-ray player (such as the Sony BX18) or through a "media player". Media players come in two flavors: DLNA-based (such as the Iomega 35045 ScreenPlay TV Link DX HD) and proprietary (such as AppleTV or Roku). The Roku media player is shown in the photo above. The Iomega media player is shown below.
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| Media players such as this Iomega 35045 ScreenPlay TV Link DX HD can be used to make any TV Internet-ready. A WiFi dongle is included. |
The disadvantage of the AppleTV media player is that it only works with iTunes which is the same as having only one app available on your TV for watching movies. The advantage of having your TV connected to the Internet directly or through the Blue-ray player or through one of the non-AppleTV media players is that you have many apps available to you for watching movies. For example, Sony TVs include movie apps from Netflix, Amazon Video, Hulu, Qriocity and others.
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| AppleTV is a proprietary media player that only works with iTunes. WiFi is built-in. |
Regardless of which movie app you end up using, you will have thousands of movies available for on-demand viewing. However, there are some differences between services that may be important to you. For example, Netflix specializes in older movies such as Casablanca and Gone with the Wind. Amazon Video, Qriocity and AppleTV stock most of the new releases that are available on DVD. Amazon also has a large library of older movies through its Prime service. Hulu specializes in TV episodes such as "The Office" or "The Pretender".
The best way to connect the TV to the Internet is via WiFi since the best TV locations in the house typically are not near the Internet cable. If your TV does not have built-in WiFi, then you can use a WiFi "dongle" that pugs into the TV's USB port (Sony UWABR100). Another viable alternative is to use a "power-line" Internet connection such as the NETGEAR XAVB5001 Powerline AV Ethernet Adapter Kit.
The simplest Internet TV configuration is to hang an Internet-ready TV on a wall with an AC socket located behind the TV. With just a single wire -- the AC power cord -- your TV will be able to play on-demand movies and TV programs. This configuration uses the TVs built-in speakers for sound. If you want to significantly improve the sound quality without the complexity of installing a 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound speaker system, do the following: place a powered subwoofer under the wall-mounted TV and connect it to the audio-out connector on the TV. This uncomplicated system will sound as good as a surround sound system in a movie theater.
The TV configuration shown in the above photo uses the Sony EX621 55" TV, a Sony WiFi USB dongle (UWABR100) and a powered subwoofer (HSU Research VTF-3MK2). The stereo cable from the TV's audio out connector to the powered subwoofer runs inside the wall. An AC power connector is located behind the TV. A single basic remote belonging to the TV is used to control the entire TV system. A future article will describe how to use an iPhone or iPad as a remote control and program guide for watching on-demand movies on this TV system.
The best way to connect the TV to the Internet is via WiFi since the best TV locations in the house typically are not near the Internet cable. If your TV does not have built-in WiFi, then you can use a WiFi "dongle" that pugs into the TV's USB port (Sony UWABR100). Another viable alternative is to use a "power-line" Internet connection such as the NETGEAR XAVB5001 Powerline AV Ethernet Adapter Kit.
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| The WiFi dongle is plugged into the TV's USB connector to wirelessly connect the TV to the home's local area network (LAN). |
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| A simple Internet TV configuration with cinema sound. |
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About the Author
- Peter Redford
- is located in San Jose, California.
- Mr. Redford is a futurist and a Silicon Valley technology pioneer. He started his technology career over 33 years ago as a researcher with the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC). Since 1981, he has served continuously as CEO of venture capital funded Silicon Valley technology companies and sold his first company to Yamaha in 1982. He currently serves as Chairman and CEO of iLook Corporation (www.ilook.tv), Chairman and CEO of TV Interactive Corporation (www.tvi.com) and sits on the boards of several Silicon Valley technology companies. Redford was granted over 40 digital media technology patents including the original software patents for the graphical user interface (GUI), and for the AutoPlay technology used in Microsoft Windows and in Blu-ray disc players. Redford’s patents have been licensed to all of the major companies in the consumer electronics, video game, toy and personal computer industries (including Microsoft, Intel, IBM, Dell, HP, Sony, Panasonic, Sega, Samsung, LG, Philips, Hasbro, Mattel, and many others). Redford holds an M.S. in Engineering and Computer Science from the University of California, Berkeley. You can contact him at redford@tvi.com.
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