One of the things that will determine the usefulness and life of a smart gadget is the compatibility to run current applications. Smart TVs in particular, have had no luck in the past because of their inability to run the streaming services. For instance, the Netflix Application will not run on older models of Samsung and Vizio TV because the application has an updated DRM software. Another example is Disney’s new streaming service, called Disney Plus, not being available for any Vizio TVs at the moment; the company does say that they are working on it to become available in the future.
Taking a closer look at these issues, we see a problem that is all too common with the smartphones or your personal computers, the components become old and obsolete. This issue was not prevalent in TVs of the past as technology had not advanced so far as to allow streaming on various devices. Moreover, this problem is worse for Smart TVs as they still have one of the best displays, which means it doesn’t make much sense to switch them over too quickly. There is also the fact that they cost a lot, so people who can’t afford them, won’t be able to get the latest model.
The biggest threat to Smart TVs right now are streaming devices like Google’s Chromecast and devices from Roku, they cost less but can provide 4K and HDR display. In addition to that, you won’t even need a streaming device if you have a games console like PlayStation 4 or Xbox One. These consoles support several popular streaming apps, and they have the capability to make any TV as worthwhile as a Smart TV. So unless the companies that manufacture Smart TVs do something and bring up an innovative idea, they will have a problem on their hands.
