Tech Watch: Smart TVs On The Rise

(KCBS) - Many people have already traded in their cell phones for smart phones and new research shows more people are starting to upgrade their TV sets to Smart TVs.

So what can a Smart TV do? CNET Editor-at-Large Brian Cooley explained that you can put apps on smart TVs because it has an Internet connection.

Research firm In-Stat found that more than 60% of connected households use TV apps at least once per week.

"Some of the hottest [apps] have to do with media and streaming, Netflix, Hulu plus, Amazon Video app," Cooley said. "You can also get all kinds of widgets like news, weather, and games. So it's very analogous to our portable devices only on a bigger screen."

These apps are written to be a 10-foot, lean back, remote control experience not a lean forward, keyboard experience, Cooley described.

Another study indicated that people are not using the 3D features that are also common on many of the same TVs. A majority of consumers have not caught on to 3D TVs, yet.

You can hear his Tech Watch report Tuesdays and Thursdays at 1:50 P.M. on KCBS All News 740AM and 106.9FM.

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