NetCast
{{Short description|Smart TV firmware}}
{{Distinguish|SmartCast}}{{Infobox software
| title = NetCast
| developer = LG
| discontinued = yes
| operating system = Linux
| included with = Smart TVs
| replaced_by = WebOS
| website = {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210617080303/https://webostv.developer.lge.com/discover/archive/netcast/platform-specifications/|title=webostv.developer.lg.com}}
}}
NetCast (later Smart TV, then Legacy Platform) is a discontinued Smart TV platform based on Linux, built by LG Electronics that was preinstalled on their smart TVs between 2009 and 2014. LG has signed partnerships with various companies to provide services on the TV. It includes YouTube, AccuWeather, Orange Mobile, Maxdome, CinemaNow, Netflix and more apps that can be downloaded from the internet. LG has combined local and global services to provide the most relevant content. In 2011, LG added the LG Apps Store to the platform.{{Cite news |last=Chen |first=Brian X. |title=Google Who? LG Launches App Platform for TVs |url=https://www.wired.com/2011/01/lg-smart-tv/ |access-date=2024-05-29 |work=Wired |language=en-US |issn=1059-1028}} It allowed users to install applications which were not previously included on their TVs. The platform was succeeded by WebOS.
History
File:LG NetCast 2014 Home Page.jpg
File:LG Smart TV web browser.jpg
NetCast, or NetCast Entertainment Access, was announced by LG at CES 2009.{{Cite web |last=Davies |first=Chris |date=2009-01-07 |title=CES 2009: LG NetCast On LCD & Plasma HDTVs For YouTube, Netflix & Yahoo! |url=https://www.slashgear.com/ces-2009-lg-netcast-on-lcd-plasma-hdtvs-for-youtube-netflix-yahoo-0729174/ |access-date=2024-05-29 |website=SlashGear |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2009-06-16 |title=LG Launches Netflix Enabled HDTV |url=https://www.audioholics.com/news/lg-netflix-hdtv |access-date=2024-05-29 |website=Audioholics Home Theater, HDTV, Receivers, Speakers, Blu-ray Reviews and News |language=en}} At launch, it gave users access to Netflix, YouTube and Yahoo! Widgets. Later, support for Vudu has also been added.{{Cite web |title=Vudu now live on LG NetCast HDTVs |url=https://www.cnet.com/culture/vudu-now-live-on-lg-netcast-hdtvs/ |access-date=2024-05-29 |website=CNET |language=en}}
In 2010, LG introduced the LG Magic Remote, which is a TV remote designed to be used with their Smart TV system.{{Cite web |title=LG's best plasma adds Wii-like remote control |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/tech-industry/lgs-best-plasma-adds-wii-like-remote-control/ |access-date=2024-05-29 |website=CNET |language=en}} The motion-controlled remote allowed users to move it in the air to control a mouse cursor, similar to the Nintendo Wii. The technology for the remote was provided by Hillcrest Labs, and is still used today.
NetCast was rebranded to Smart TV in 2011,{{cite web|url=https://gizmodo.com/internet-connected-tv-apps-system-renamed-to-smart-tv-5627132|title=Internet-Connected TV Apps System Renamed to "Smart TV" by LG|website=Gizmodo|date=September 2010 |access-date=2021-06-07|archive-date=2021-06-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210607153728/https://gizmodo.com/internet-connected-tv-apps-system-renamed-to-smart-tv-5627132|url-status=live}} which was shown first at CES.{{Cite web|last=February 2011|first=Jamie Carter 03|title=Best internet TV platforms compared|url=https://www.techradar.com/news/television/best-internet-tv-platforms-compared-925680|url-status=live|access-date=2021-06-09|website=TechRadar|date=3 February 2011|language=en|archive-date=2021-06-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210609151036/https://www.techradar.com/news/television/best-internet-tv-platforms-compared-925680}} In 2011, the company Marmalade Technologies added NetCast support to their Marmalade SDK.{{Cite web|last=Sawers|first=Paul|date=2011-09-08|title=Marmalade creates native SDK for LG Smart TV - TNW UK|url=https://thenextweb.com/news/uk-software-developer-marmalade-creates-native-sdk-for-lg-smart-tv|access-date=2021-09-06|website=The Next Web|language=en}}
TechRadar considered it "just plain disappointing" in a 2010 review.{{cite web |title=LG 47LX6900 review |url=https://www.techradar.com/reviews/audio-visual/televisions/plasma-and-lcd-tvs/lg-47lx6900-916982/review/2 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210607153729/https://www.techradar.com/reviews/audio-visual/televisions/plasma-and-lcd-tvs/lg-47lx6900-916982/review/2 |archive-date=2021-06-07 |access-date=2021-06-07 |website=TechRadar}} In a 2011 review, they noted that NetCast was first a mere placeholder with only three services, but noted that more apps had been added via a firmware update.
The OpenLGTV project has added homebrew widgets to the NetCast platform.{{cite web |date=26 April 2011 |title=Hacking LG's Netcast |url=https://hackaday.com/2011/04/26/hacking-lgs-netcast/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210607153729/https://hackaday.com/2011/04/26/hacking-lgs-netcast/ |archive-date=2021-06-07 |access-date=2021-06-07 |website=Hackaday}}
The software logged the filenames that were accessed and uploaded them to servers of LG.{{Cite web |last=Goodin |first=Dan |date=2013-11-19 |title=Smart TV from LG phones home with user's viewing habits, USB file names |url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2013/11/smart-tv-from-lg-phones-home-with-users-viewing-habits-usb-file-names/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308124856/https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2013/11/smart-tv-from-lg-phones-home-with-users-viewing-habits-usb-file-names/ |archive-date=2021-03-08 |access-date=2021-06-07 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us}}
NetCast and Smart TV were replaced by the WebOS platform in 2014. Starting in 2015, all smart TVs by LG were based on webOS.{{cite news |title=LG's webOS Review |url=https://tweakers.net/reviews/3520/lgs-webos-smart-tv-eindelijk-slim-bekeken.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210607153730/https://tweakers.net/reviews/3520/lgs-webos-smart-tv-eindelijk-slim-bekeken.html |archive-date=2021-06-07 |access-date=2021-06-07 |website=Tweakers}}
See also
- Orsay (operating system) - the direct competitor to NetCast made by Samsung used in its Internet@TV and Smart TV lines from 2009 to 2014 before being replaced by Tizen in 2015
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210617080303/https://webostv.developer.lge.com/discover/archive/netcast/platform-specifications/|title=Official website}}
- {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190628143840/https://webostv.developer.lge.com/application/files/8614/7883/9119/netcast_spec_and_feature_list.jpg|date=June 28, 2019|title=NetCast platform specifications table}}