After tinkering around with their custom Tizen operating system for the past several months, Samsung is making it official: all of their new smart TVs in 2015 will run Tizen. Samsung showed off their first Tizen-powered TV set back in June and pushed out a Tizen TV apps SDK in July, and now CES 2015 will bring us our first real life look at the new OS in action.
Samsung's Tizen OS has until now been limited in the public domain to just their smartwatches, like the Gear 2, Gear Fit, and the big curved Gear S. Samsung was aiming earlier in 2014 to launch a Tizen-powered smartphone in Russia, but those plans were indefinitely delayed (i.e. canceled).
The TV's will be equipped with Wi-Fi Direct for seamless and automatic media sharing, so long as you're using a Samsung smartphone or tablet and with Samsung's Smart TV app installed. The sharing is meant to go both ways — you can broadcast to the TV, or you can broadcast from the TV to your mobile device, even without turning on the TV's screen. Samsung's also going big on the apps and services front, with several options available (likely pre-installed, but that's not been made clear):
- Samsung Sports Live: live sports matches with team and player stats on the same screen
- PlayStation Now: Download PlayStation 3 games and play them with a DualShock 4 controller, no console needed
- Just Dance Now: Hold onto your remote control or Samsung smartphone and… dance
- Bingo HOME: Race to Earth: A bingo game based on the upcoming DreamWorks movie HOME
- Milk Video: Samsung's curated video portal.
Samsung's move to their own modern proprietary smart TV OS mirrors that of LG, who a year ago at CES 2014 announced a reimagined webOS for televisions and has since gone on to sell millions of the sets, with plans to show off improved webOS 2.0 software (or would that be 5.0?) at CES 2015.
It's also something of a blow to Android TV, though not unexpected. So far the only Android TV device is the well-received Nexus Player set-top box; several manufacturers tried Google TV with Google (including Samsung), but most have moved on to their own platforms.
Samsung will have more info on their Tizen TVs at CES 2015, and we'll be on hand to check them out.
Source: Samsung
Reader comments
Samsung's going all-in with Tizen for their smart TV OS
All i want is a DUMB TV with a 70" 4k OLED screen....is that to much to ask?
Used to really like Samsung but the more they act like Apple the less I like them. I love Chromecast functionality but want it with overlay capabilities which Chromecast does not offer and either does the Nexus Player. I still have my fingers crossed the some else will come out with a Android TV STB with HDMI overlay but if not I'll buy the TV brand that has built in Android TV. I do believe that having Android as the core has a significsignificant advantage considering all the Android developers, knowledge, and integration. Assuming Tizen will not support Google cast (chromecast protocol) it's a shame so many pepeople will end up with these tvs without knowing any better...
I guess I'll be buying a Sony TV this year... Tizen vs Android TV? No brainer.
Posted via the Android Central App
I'm still unconvinced that a TV needs an OS of any kind. All I need is a way (or preferably 6) to get a signal to the TV! TVs don't need brains.
Looks like my 60" Samsung plasma will be going Into a different room once these come out.
Posted via the Android Central App
Samsung has got Google scared with tizen. Their shills are in full force. Google has been shit when it comes to tv, android TV is crap.
Anyone remember nexus Q? So why should we give Google a pass until they get it right but we can't give Samsung a pass.
If tizen works well on these smart TV I'll buy it. I don't give a fcuk that it's not android.
Be together, not the same.
It is amusing how a few have acted like the high school girl crushing on a football player who fumbled the ball and is getting replaced. Without ever seeing the replacement in action, the young woman complains hysterically as a way to support her man. Most of you might have used a whore/pimp analogy with either being arrested. Others maybe utilizing a type of prison relationship.
The problem with Samsung is that it's trying to have its own platform and one day be Android less, Samsung wants to be like Apple so bad for so long, Unfortunately for them Samsung is not recognized with the same status as Apple specially when they make all kinds of electronics and appliances.
Samsung really needs to focus on quality more than quantity, is ridiculous how many Galaxy phones they release every day.
Guess my next TV won't be a Samsung.
Posted via the Android Central App
I love my Note 4 and all, but the instant Samsung replaces Android with Tizen on it's phones...BYE!
Same here
Posted via the Android Central App
I just bought a new smart Panasonic TV a month ago, but the smart part is slow and cumbersome so I use my Roku 3, Chromecast, and Fire TV Stick. The Roku is my go-to device.
Posted via the Android Central App
Samsung's implementation is better than Panasonic's.
That's right!
... ( 0ppo F5) ...
Just a warning: PSN Now requires a super fast internet with high stability as it streams games rather than locally caches them. Good luck with that.
Posted via Android Central App
Plex is really the only thing I use on the Sammy "smart TV" right now... My Chromecast also does that in the other rooms... Not really sure it was worth the cost for the "smart" TV over a similar model without..
People you can get a Smart Blu-Ray and have a smart TV for a fraction of the price and do the exact same thing.
Posted via the Android Central App
All the smart TVs I have seen are super slow on the internet. I would recommend getting a Chromebox connected to a TV rather than a smart TV any day.
Posted via the Android Central App
Burn your Chromecast! Behold, the awesomeness of Tizen!
Their partnership with Sony is pretty huge in my opinion.
Posted via the Android Central App
I wish Samsung would give it up already with tizen. What a waste
Posted via the Android Central my Rogers Note 4
Of course you would say that on Android Central, but as long as they want touch whiz to succeed then they won't give up on Tizen. Gives them full creativity, and does not over bloat the software.
Posted via the Android Central App
Not a good move for Sammy... Android has pure numbers by their side... Although Samsung sells a hell of a lot of TVs they are just one manufacture. And if Google manages to secure multiple partners android TV will dominate the game. Come on CES!!!
Posted via the Android Central App
It's more about if people who will actually make use of Android TV that will propel domination. Samsung will surely promote Tizen on its TVs but will the other manufacturers do the same level of promotion for Android TV? a platform that only Google controls?
I don't think so.
Posted via the Android Central App
Android numbers arent gonna have much pull on $1k to $3K tv purchases. Were not talking about phones here. The people looking for this stuff are more concerned about picture quality then anything else. The fact that its running tizen or android is gonna be a secondary concern or even less than that, the high you go in price.
As alluded to in several posts above, how about you (samsung, et al) just don't hard plumb this @#$! into the TV at all!
I have a last-years model sammy smart tv and the smart part is completely useless even though I have a Tab S 10.5 with which to (attempt to) control it!
Heck, I'd pay them extra to leave it out as it would simplify the menu.
Don't even get me started on audio receivers that must be upgraded because they can't load a new firmware that supports spotify or whatever.
What we really need:
a monitor
an amp unit (however many channels at whatever quality you want or can afford)
a breakout box (htpc essentially) that handles all the processing, switching, connectivity, etc.
This is the only item you'd need to upgrade regularly.
Seriously, how hard is this?
Are u Zimbabwean ?
Planning on buying a 4K TV in the spring and I was considering Samsung. Not now. If Tizen lags like TouchWiz I don't want any part of it.
BTW $500 is my spending limit on a T.V.
Posted via the Android Central App
Lmao
Posted via the Android Central App
OMG! I really enjoy keeping up with smartphone tech but I'm not going to even try to play follow the leader with this stuff.
Posted via the Android Central App
Tizen is an open-source operating system based on Linux and Samsung is just one of the companies developing it. It's hosted by the Linux foundation, it was formally known as LiMo until Intel scrapped MeeGo and joined the project at which time it was renamed Tizen
"Samsung's move to their own modern proprietary smart TV OS"
The only propriety part of the OS is the SDK which is released under a Samsung license and some of the Samsung app code brought over from Bada. All of these are licensed to the platform however, so if Tizen takes off it'll be more than just Samsung releasing devices.
Posted via the Android Central App
Man, I have 2 smart tv's and at first the apps seemed cool but they just ran slow.
I rather use Roku or something else since it's a dedicated device.
"Nothing I shoot ever gets back up again."
It helps to have one of the upgraded wifi router's that run 5x faster. Especially if your cable provider provides your wifi, and cable wifi will run slower with HD programs running at same time eating the MBps you get.
Huh, no the apps themselves are sluggish
Nothing I shoot ever gets back up again
I've had a Samsung smart tv for a couple years now and I'll be the first to admit the smart part of it is a giant waste. The "smart" part of it is slow as balls, a pain in the ass to enter letters/numbers without a keyboard, and most of what's offered is garbage. I have a Chromecast that gets used far more often, and anyone with a smart tv likely has a smart phone to work the $35 dollar Chromecast. Probably paid a grand extra for the smart features. Love the tv part of it, just not the "smart" part of it. Lesson learned the hard way
Man, I just said the same thing.
"Nothing I shoot ever gets back up again."
I'm my gamer room I get by with a Sony Playstation 3D monitor and a Chromecast.
Rooted Galaxy S III
Rooted LG G2
Stock Galaxy Note 4
I have a 2013 Samsung which sports the dual-core processor and find the apps to be quite robust.
Google might as well call it wraps. With Samsung and LG using their own operating systems on their televisions, Android TV is useless
Posted via the Android Central App
Not as useless as your comment
+1
Posted via the finally lag-free LG G3 on CM12
I agree. His comment was about as effective as Kaepernick against the Seahawks.
Android TV is for content. Its universal with what's going on on your phone tablet and computer. I have a Samsung smart TV and a vizio smart TV. Chromecast hooked to both of them. Smart TV apps and cluncky slow ui with horrible controls is just a joke.
Posted via Android Central App
Agree
Haven't bought a TV in about 4 years, but just doing a quick search, can you even buy a non- smart tv these days?
Yes, easily. In fact it's probably better you do IMO
"Nothing I shoot ever gets back up again."
Except you will be excluding almost all of the high-end models
The apps on my year old bedroom Samsung smart TV look like crap compared to the same apps on my Xbox one in the living room. I can stream to the bedroom Sammy with Allcast however, which I find invaluable. If they limit to streaming from Samsung devices only with tizen smart tv's, I would definitely have to pass for something like a Chromecast with a regular TV seeing as I don't and never will own a Samsung phone or tablet.
Posted via the Android Central App
Looking forward to this set and like the mentioned apps especially PS Now and Samsung Sports. But I think there is still a need for Android TV and others for content like Google Play movies, etc.
Posted via the Android Central App
I don't think I'd want a smart tv. I would imagine after a year or so they're all probably running outdated apps. A Roku or something similar with a dumb TV seems to be a better idea.
Exactly
Posted via the Android Central App
It's the exact reason I opted out of a smart TV and both a smart Blu-Ray. It's cheaper to replace. Samsung Blu-ray with my Note 4 has been awesome.
Posted via the Android Central App
No need for a smart TV with Xbox's PS's, Chromecast, Fire TV, and Nexus players.
Going to replace my Chromecast for the nexus player, since the game controller will work with 90% of games in Google play
I'd say the smart features shouldn't be the reason you buy a particular TV but consciously avoiding this features will relegate you to low-end devices as all the higher-end models will have the apps.
Hmm. This makes me nervous for Android TV. It may fizzle out with only the Android faithful clinging to it.
Of course, all predictions will be worthless until after CES. Who knows what might change over the next week?
Posted via the AC App on my LG G3
Depends; LG and other major TV competitors for Samsung may go Android, and if they did, Samsung may loose out simply because Android has such a strong development base. Time will tell!
Posted via the Android Central App on my Nexus 6
LG is already all-in with webOS.
Posted via Android Central App
Good point.
Posted via the Android Central App on my Nexus 6
It depends on how OS agnostic it is. If they make all the smartphone features sammy exclusives then it won't do much damage.
Has anyone noticed how Samsung products tend to work best with other Samsung products, even with other open standards like WiFi Direct?
I hate that.
I need a seperate WiFi Direct app for transferring between my Samsung stuff and my LG G2. But my G2's WiFi Direct works natively with every other device I connect with.
I like Samsung, but I'm not in love with them.
Rooted Galaxy S III
Rooted LG G2
Stock Galaxy Note 4
"I like Samsung, but I'm not in love with them."
I agree with your sentiment here!
So you're buying a PS3 with a built in screen?
Posted from the bando
Honey... I want a new Samsung TV.
I accidentally hammered a nail in the one we have.
Galaxy Note 4
Galaxy S III
LG G2