Make Sense Of A Smart Challenge
Thinking of purchasing an HDMI connected gizmo to turn a traditional TV into a Smart TV for this Christmas?
The challenge will be which from the bewildering choice to buy.
Is a dongle or a box better?
Do you go for Apple TV, FireTV, Google Chromecast, NowTV or a Roku?
Do you pay as little as a tenner for a NowTV or ten times that for a Roku 3?
The answer depends on what you want one for.
None of them can do everything.
Whilst they all operate via WiFi, the boxes usually have a wired Internet option as well.
Whilst most are dual band WiFi devices, others, notably the Chromecast, are single bad only.
The boxes plug into the mains traditionally, but the dongles take power via a USB port, so the TV would need one of these as well.
Your choice may also depend on what other kit and contracts you have.
AppleTV will only hit the spot if you are well embedded in the Apple world and tooled up with iPad, iPhone and iTunes.
Meanwhile, FireTV is ideal for the Amazon Prime and Fire tablet user.
If you want a good choice of games apps, then the FireTV or Roku might be for you.
For catch-up services and other free TV, the NowTV Box, Roku streaming Stick and Roku 3 have the widest choice carrying iPlayer, ITV Player, 4OD and Demand 5 where others do not.
Finally there are a couple of big limitations with the least expensive options.
The NowTV Box does not stream in HD. Chromecast depends entirely on apps running on a mobile or tablet, it runs none itself.
