6 best Smart TVs in the world 2014

Different Smart TV experience

Does your TV have one-touch access to apps for BBC iPlayer, YouTube, Netflix, Lovefilm and Blinkbox? Not all smart, connected TVs are equal - they differ greatly in looks and apps - but all can get online, most using Wi-Fi.

There is no industry standard for smart TV, so every brand of television has a different platform of apps, though expect to find everything from sport, weather and on-demand video and movies to 3D content, games and social networking.

What's the best connected TV platform? That will depend on what you're after; some smart TV systems excel with a wide range of on-demand apps from UK TV channels, others with on-demand movies.

We've ranked the UK's major connected TV platforms in descending order, putting just as much emphasis on ease of use as app selection, to help you as you buy into a whole new generation of online television.

1. LG Smart TV

LG's connected TV platform gets the nod largely because of its oh-so-simple design that puts seemingly disparate sources of video onto one home screen. Our favourite part of LG's smarty-pants user interface hasn't got anything to do with apps, but rather with networking. SmartShare software displays any video, photo or MP3 file stored on a networked PC, Mac or NAS drive, USB flash drive or HDD, on the home screen - and as a thumbnail image.

It's beautifully simple, and file support is huge, though for those wanting an even more comprehensive treatment, LG also offers the MediaLink (formerly called Plex) app that adds movie artwork and other data. Beloved of rampant downloaders and networkers it might be, but SmartShare is made complete by a thoroughly decent selection of apps - and that includes a useful 3D World.

The Premium page hosts BBC iPlayer, Lovefilm, Netflix and YouTube, with lesser-known apps comprising Absolute Radio, Red Bull TV, ITN, Autocar, YouTube, Blinkbox, CineTrailer, Cartoon Network, HiT, Picasa, iConcerts, AccuWeather and Box Office 365.

LG announced in March 2013 that its Blu-ray players and home cinemas would also carry an app for Spotify (£9.99 per month) in the Premium Apps section, though it's not been added to its smart TVs. The SmartWorld app store, however, contains little of note aside from Skype.

As well as shortcuts to apps and widgets, and full mastery of the TV, a free LG TV Remote app puts a live TV picture on a smartphone that mirrors what's playing on the TV. Searches for content across its apps and the web result in source-specific results - and it's a search that can be done on some of LG's flagship TVs (such as the LG 47LA860W and LG 55LA740V) by speaking into the Magic Remote pointer-style remote control. It works a treat.

It's not got the most extensive choice of apps, but LG's Smart TV platform succeeds on ease of use - and spectacularly so. This is connected TV at it user-friendly best.

Six LG TVs with Smart TV:

• LG 55LA740V 50-inch midrange Smart TV
• LG 42LS570T 42-inch smart TV offering excellent value
• LG 50PM670T 50-inch Active Shutter 3D plasma TV
• LG 47LM860V 47-inch Cinema 3D LED TV
• LG 47LM760T 47-inch Cinema 3D LED TV
• LG 47LM960V 47-inch Cinema 3D Nano LED TV   

Source: http://www.techradar.com/news/television/

Future Motorcycles and Motorbikes

 Future motorcycles will be more powerful, fuel efficient and clean burning than we can only now barely imagine. Some of the future motorcycles as you can see from the pictures on this page already exist as prototypes. 

Other future motorcycles are concepts that are still on the drawing board, so to speak (laptop really) and are more design concepts than functional motorbikes. I want to present both types of future motorcycle pictures on this page from the here and now prototypes to concepts that may turn into commercial vehicles one day.

As I had alluded to before future motorcycles will be more powerful that current motorbikes but they will be cleaner running as well. For instance the near future of motorcycles revolves around ones that run on hydrogen fuel cells, battery electric power and biofuels.

Future Motorcycle

Future Motorcycle

The Suzuki Crosscage fuel cell motorcycle (pictured above) is a hydrogen-powered prototype that exists now. Suzuki is putting the Crosscage through road testing with the goal of commercialization in less than 5 years.

Dodge Tomahawk

So, let’s go back to the future a bit with this Dodge Tomahawk that was unveiled in 2003. Back then this was what the concept of future motorcycles would look like to the designers with its 500 hp Dodge Viper V10 engine. Even though this is a bit old school, it’s still too cool for school today.

Electric Motorcycle

Now, for new school, electric motorcycles are starting to come of age. For instance, this is the MotoCzysz E1pc, which is the world’s fastest electric motorbike. And no wonder due to the bank of batteries in the middle of the vehicle.

Motorcycle Concept

This is the A3W Motiv concept motorcycle by Julien Rondino. Besides the obvious three wheels in a row, it is made of aluminum and steel tubing plus a 999cc LC8 v-twin engine.