You see lots of new gadgets and services at a tradeshow like IFA, which comes to a close on Wednesday, but it’s not always the shiniest ones that end up making a lasting impact on the world. Take for instance the stunning Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7, which has already been yanked off the display stands courtesy of Apple’s lawyers.
Sometimes it’s a more subdued announcement that ends up being the most significant. And the new smart TV alliance from the likes of Philips and LG is just that.
Announced last week, several of the world’s biggest TV manufacturers are banding together to make creating apps for their net-connected boobtubes easier to standardise. LG, Philips and Sharp are all involved, as is boutique German TV peddler Loewe. The companies are working on a SDK to make available to developers sometime next month.
It’s a sensible move, especially since TV on demand now encompasses even more than what YouView will make available. If this makes it even a little bit easier for more internet services to spend time developing for TVs, then it’s worthwhile.
And frankly, it’s about time. “Smart”, internet connected TVs have for years been little more than a bit of a joke, with each manufacturer trying to put together a service piecemeal through endless negotiations with individual broadcasters and TV on demand sites.
Even Sony only offers a bastardised version of the wonderful XMB on its Bravia TVs, and few of the media services available on the PlayStation 3 to go with it. And then there’s the whole issue of most smart TVs shipping without a Wi-Fi dongle, which is already half the battle lost.
I was in the audience at Philips’ press event when the initiative was announced: the room was packed with journalists and industry insiders, but it was met with little fanfare, or even interest. Give it time though: I think this could be the move that finally makes the connected TV the norm in the living room. Here’s hoping Sony, Samsung and Toshiba can get with the plan too.
