During the Custom Electronics Design & Installation Association (CEDIA) event, companies showing off "connected" TVs were quick to point out that their HDTVs are TVs first, simply using the Internet as a tool to acquire additional content.
"Five years from now, I bet this will be a standard feature on every HDTV," said Bob Lawton, LG Electronics regional manager, speaking with Home Media Magazine. "What's really nice about this capability is you're not relying on your cable company to access these crumbs of content. It's fast and it's free."
I agree with what Lawton says, as there have been a number of connected HDTV announcements -- joining the handful of connected TVs already available -- but there are a number of limitations that may hurt connected TV expansion.
For example, a full Internet browser has to be upgraded because of bugs and other issues, with a lack of online content available. YouTube, Yahoo and several other sites are available through connected TVs, but finding other content that is designed specifically for TVs has been extremely difficult.
However, accessing content directly on the TV has been extremely popular, and manufacturers continue to further development into the technology. TV manufacturers will work out the software kinks with online providers, which will make integration a more seamless process.
Durnig CEDIA, Sharp, Samsung, Pioneer, and several other TV manufacturers showed off connected TVs. Expect similar announcements and launches throughout the rest of the year, and into the 2010, analysts note, saying interest in the TVs will continue to expand.
Do you like the idea of connected TVs, or do you prefer to keep TVs and the Internet separate from one another?
