Samsung Smart TV Hub Feedback Thread – £300 Love2Shop voucher for feedback! NOW CLOSED

[KathrynMumsnet]

This is the feedback thread for the Mumsnetters who are testing out the Samsung Smart TV Hub.

Here’s what Samsung has to say: “Samsung Smart TV’s give parents access to a range of family friendly content through the platform from a range of content partners, including Hopster, which offers ad-free and U-rated content for preschoolers via the Samsung Smart Hub, as well as the ability to catch up on shows from popular kid’s channels including CBEEBES, Milkshake! And CITV. Samsung Smart TV’s also help families ‘cut the cord’ on cable TV and get access to a world of extra TV and entertainment options including catch-up TV, movies, YouTube, Skype and loads more. As Samsung Smart TVs already have access to all the scheduled programmes you would expect and a range of great free of charge or pay as you go apps, there’s no need to pay for expensive contracts or bundles, it’s simply a question of choosing the right apps for you! Better yet, you don’t need a set-top box, extra remotes or cables cluttering up your living room, providing you and your kids with a seamless and safe entertainment experience.”

Once you have tested the Smart TV hub for a little while, here are some questions to get you started, but please feel free to add your own comments too

• Which of your DCs joined you in testing the family friendly content on the Samsung Smart TV hub?
  
• How easy did you find it to use the Samsung Smart TV hub?
  
• Which apps have you tried out? What did you and your DCs think of these?
  

- What did you think of the apps Hopster and Ketchup TV?

• Did your DCs have a favourite app to use?
  
• In your opinion, what are the benefits of using a Samsung Smart TV compared to a normal TV?
  
• What did you think about the range of entertainment on offer on the Samsung Smart TV Hub?
  
• With the Samsung Smart TV hub, you aren’t tied into contracts and can cancel at any time – is this appealing to you? If so,why? If not, why not?
  
• One advantage of the Samsung Smart TV hub can be that you use fewer remotes and cables – is this something which is useful or important to you?
  
• What was your overall impression of the Samsung Smart TV Hub?
  

Everyone who adds their feedback, as well as a review on the app pages on MN, will be entered into a prize draw where one winner will receive a £300 Love2Shop voucher.

Please note: your anonymous comments may be used by Samsung on their website and other marketing materials.

Thanks,

MNHQ

[NetworkGuy]

For those of us without any knowledge of this device, are there any links, please?

I have an Android HDMI dongle (makes a 42" TV appear like a giant tablet!), the Google Chromecast (so I can forward video from YouTube, etc, onto a TV), the Now TV box (again, can send video to it and control it from mobile, choosing from the many apps, and you only need to have a NowTV account when you first set it up, can then use iPlayer, and apps for ITV, Channels 4 and 5, CNET, TWiT.TV (This Week in Technology), etc. The Now TV box is only a tenner and made by Roku, so their remote control app works from my Android mobiles.

Oh, and my Sony Xperia T has an adaptor with HDMI so can be plugged into big TV too. But not seen the Samsung box, hence query.

[AngelieMumsnet]

Hi NetworkGuy - we've added a link in to the OP :)

[ThePaperBagPrincess]

Here are my first impressions...

• How easy did you find it to use the Samsung Smart TV hub?

Once I worked out how to get to it, it was nice and easy! I wanted to search for the apps to try out and spent a good few minutes looking for the search function on the screen. DH then piped up that it was probably on the TV remote...which of course it was!

• What did you think of the apps Hopster and Ketchup TV?

Prefer Hopster to Ketchup TV. I like that everything is included with Hopster and it's very child friendly. My 3 yr old will be able to use it straight away. Bit put off Ketchup as you're tempted with the TV shows only to then have to pay for them

[NetworkGuy]

Thanks for the link, Angelie.

[TaurielTest]

My Samsung Smart TV is an older model so the Smart Hub does not look the same (see pic - new version on left, old version on right). It's still possible to do the test, use the apps etc, and but the initial "how to install" documentation on the Samsumg website is confusing because it depicts only the new version.
Thought I'd post this in case others have the same issue.

[MaryannM]

Mine is yet to arrive...

[PurpleCrazyHorse]

I emailed back MNHQ to say that I can't find the two apps I need for my test on our Smart Hub. We have a Samsung D6530 (about 3 years old).

Not heard anything back via email so posting here.

A bit disappointed as while googling I discovered that Netflix isn't available on my model of TV either!

[TheOnlyOliviaMumsnet]

Hi CrazyHorse - will find the right HQ bod for you soonest

[Teladi]

Here's my first impressions: I already use the Smart TV Hub myself to access our Plex server, YouTube, various TV on-demand apps and also YogaGlo. I liked the idea of using kids apps to access safe content for my 3 year old. I like the Smart Hub and it's cool that it's included on my TV.

We have tried Hopster - the interface is really clunky - I think it's supposed to be easy for DCs but I found it slow to react to button presses. We started to watch a couple of shows but found the quality so low that it was basically unwatchable. My DD loves Ben and Holly but couldn't understand why they were so blurry!

We're currently watching Angelina Ballerina (a new show for my DD) using Ketchup. The quality is fine. I was a bit surprised when we tried to watch Ben and Holly (to compare with Hopster) to find that some of the content you have to pay extra for and it prompts you for a credit card. Not what I was expecting from an app geared at kids and it has put me off using it. We do already have Sky so have access to most popular kids programmes but I can imagine pester power would come into play pretty quickly with a two-tier system if this was all I had (along with Freeview)

We'll have a couple of further goes but overall I'm not thrilled with either of these two options.

[ThePaperBagPrincess]

Update:

So DS1 (3yrs) has been using it and can easy navigate hopster. He likes the shows that are included as many are new to him. Slight snags with it though... 1. picture quality is often a bit shaky 2. A few times the feed has cut out and a new episode starts.

Still not keen on Ketchup as there is so much you need to pay for.

General Pros - really like how the recent apps show up on the bottom of the screen when you first press the smart hub button.

Will try out some other apps this week with him.

[HippoPottyMouth]

MaryannM - there is nothing being sent out, you are supposed to have a smart TV to start with.

[HippoPottyMouth]

I find the smart hub very easy to use, as do the children. It's a very useful and effective way of getting onto the on demand player type apps too, eg iplayer, Amazon etc

They've very quickly got the hang of the hopster app and are very keen on it. I have had to ban Angelina ballerina though, that programme is awful!

The picture quality on hopster seems quite patchy, it's often very fuzzy when a programme starts but then clears up somehow. Doesn't make a good first impression. Not wild about the content either, seems quite dated and American somehow? Pingu is good though and Ben and Holly!

[purplepowers]

Which of your DCs joined you in testing the family friendly content on the Samsung Smart TV hub?
DD10 helped to test it.

How easy did you find it to use the Samsung Smart TV hub?
Surprisingly very easy. We've used it to access YouTube and iPlayer but that's it.

Which apps have you tried out? What did you and your DCs think of these?
We tried both Hopster and Ketchup TV. They were very easily accessible for DD.

What did you think of the apps Hopster and Ketchup TV?
Hospter and Ketchup both had good shows but they were a bit 'babyish' for DD10. I too was concerned about the quality of the programmes. I wasn't keen on paying extra for shows on Ketchup - that was definitely off putting.

In your opinion, what are the benefits of using a Samsung Smart TV compared to a normal TV?
No adverts and no contracts. We are thinking of stopping Sky as the cost is so high. So this means DCs can still watch the popular kids shows.

What did you think about the range of entertainment on offer on the Samsung Smart TV Hub?
I love my Samsung Smart TV - there are a huge range of options and after testing these, I will be exploring more of the apps.

With the Samsung Smart TV hub, you aren’t tied into contracts and can cancel at any time – is this appealing to you? If so,why? If not, why not?
Yes - as mentioned before, Sky is very pricey and since they have raised their prices I am looking at different options.

One advantage of the Samsung Smart TV hub can be that you use fewer remotes and cables – is this something which is useful or important to you?
The remote option is great. We're forever misplacing one of the remotes.

What was your overall impression of the Samsung Smart TV Hub?
Very good indeed. I love the fact that we can use Skype on the TV, access FB, iPlayer and all the catchup TV. I wonder if getting a keyboard would be good for this as selecting all the letters on the remote is a bit tiresome. Love it otherwise.

[MaryannM]

Which of your DCs joined you in testing the family friendly content on the Samsung Smart TV hub?
DS3, DD7 and step DD12

How easy did you find it to use the Samsung Smart TV hub?
It was really very easy. Incredibly user friendly for everybody.

Which apps have you tried out? What did you and your DCs think of these?
We used Hopster and Ketchup. DS3 and DD7 loved them, to the point of obsession! DD12 preferred watching things on you tube and iplayer and found the content on the apps a bit babyish.

What did you think of the apps Hopster and Ketchup TV?
Ketchup and Hopster entertained my younger ones but DD12 wasn't that interested. I wouldn't pay for extras on the app and didn't like the kids having access to that feature! The streaming quality wasn't always great but the kids didn't seem bothered by that.

In your opinion, what are the benefits of using a Samsung Smart TV compared to a normal TV?
Definitely a much cheaper option in comparison to sky. It has something for everybody in the family.

What did you think about the range of entertainment on offer on the Samsung Smart TV Hub?
I think the varied range is very good. Like I said before - there's something for everybody!

With the Samsung Smart TV hub, you aren’t tied into contracts and can cancel at any time – is this appealing to you? If so,why? If not, why not?
Yes, definitely. We have sky and it's very costly and it's a cost that increased steadily over the years. Money that can be better spent on other things!

One advantage of the Samsung Smart TV hub can be that you use fewer remotes and cables – is this something which is useful or important to you?
This isn't a big deal to me but it makes the place tidier!

What was your overall impression of the Samsung Smart TV Hub?
I think it's brilliant. I am now considering cancelling my sky subscription! I find it really useful that I can access social media etc on it too. A great idea. And I love that it's not a set top box - one less thing to sit gathering dust.

[loveandsmiles]

As a family we love the Samsung Smart TV and find it easy to use.

I have 5DC - 2, 5, 7, 10 and 13.

Both the apps are too babyish for 10 and 13 year olds.

2, 5 and 7 year olds were delighted to watch Hopster - I think it was just the novelty of new programmes and the fact I was asking them to watch TV. However, I thought the picture quality was poor and much prefer CBeebies.

I was disappointed with Ketchup TV especially as there is so much content you have to pay for - this would just lead to disappointed and upset children if you didn't buy it.

We would possibly use Hopster again but definitely not Ketchup.

[TaurielTest]

We already use the Smart Hub on our Samsung Smart TV (the old version pictured in my previous post) to interface with catch-up TV and Netflix and Blinkbox. I was interested to try out some new functions.

• Which of your DCs joined you in testing the family friendly content on the Samsung Smart TV hub?
  

My DSs, 6 and 4, and (briefly) my DNiece, 1.

• How easy did you find it to use the Samsung Smart TV hub?
  

The hub itself is easy enough to navigate, though there's an issue with most documentation and instructions referring to the new version only. Freezing/crashing happens from time to time, but this may be down to my internet connection/wireless dongle rather than the hub.

• Which apps have you tried out? What did you and your DCs think of these?
  

We used to like Toons TV where you could watch Angry Birds, but that seems to have disappeared. As part of the trial we made ourselves some YouTube playlists (on my phone) of favourite songs and then viewed them on the TV - that was very popular, though I have now heard Gangnam Style enough times to last me all year.

• What did you think of the apps Hopster and Ketchup TV?
  

Getting logged in to Hopster was a bit of a struggle, and the UI did not look like the one depicted on the hopster.tv help pages - not a tree but more like a simple row of leaves - which I guess is down to my older hub version.
The boys were underwhelmed by the programmes on offer on both apps - those that they did like (Pingu and Thomas) are already available to us elsewhere for free so we wouldn't be tempted to subscribe. My niece found Little Baby Bum on Ketchup very appealing.

• Did your DCs have a favourite app to use?
  

After this week, YouTube (supervised!) - otherwise, BBC iPlayer is the most popular. We're keen to give Skyping on the TV a try too, but need to tinker about with webcam first.

• In your opinion, what are the benefits of using a Samsung Smart TV compared to a normal TV?
  

No separate stb, simple delivery of programmes and services on one device.

• What did you think about the range of entertainment on offer on the Samsung Smart TV Hub?
  

I'm satisfied with it. I would like to see more radio/spoken word/music only apps though, as I tend to have to set up podcasts or internet radio on my phone/tablet and 'throw' them to the TV to hear them through the speakers.

• With the Samsung Smart TV hub, you aren’t tied into contracts and can cancel at any time – is this appealing to you? If so,why? If not, why not?
  

I have never subscribed to cable TV - too expensive, dislike Murdoch's politics, don't watch sport - so contracts haven't ever been something I have been tied into. Exception to this is Netflix, which I've recently started and intend to cancel in a month or two.

• One advantage of the Samsung Smart TV hub can be that you use fewer remotes and cables – is this something which is useful or important to you?
  

To some extent. We still have a Humax PVR which I use to record some shows so that I can skip through adverts and keep for longer than a week, but I find I'm using it less.

• What was your overall impression of the Samsung Smart TV Hub?
  

Works for me.

[jalopyjane]

Which of your DCs joined you in testing the family friendly content on the Samsung Smart TV hub?
3 daughters aged 3, 5 and 7.

How easy did you find it to use the Samsung Smart TV hub?
We use it loads and find it very easy. Use YouTube, BBC iPlayer, Skype, Netflix, Amazon videos etc. DD2 loves searching for Frozen songs on Youtube

Which apps have you tried out? What did you and your DCs think of these?
We tried both Hopster and Ketchup TV. Wasn't very impressed with either to be honest.

What did you think of the apps Hopster and Ketchup TV?
Couldn't find much the kids wanted to watch and when you did find something it often cost extra, which wasn't always clear before clicking on it (e.g. Peppa Pig).

In your opinion, what are the benefits of using a Samsung Smart TV compared to a normal TV?
It's brilliant due to all the online content - we watched the whole of Breaking Bad via Netflix.

What did you think about the range of entertainment on offer on the Samsung Smart TV Hub?
I love my Samsung Smart TV - there are a huge range of options and after testing these, I will be exploring more of the apps.

With the Samsung Smart TV hub, you aren’t tied into contracts and can cancel at any time – is this appealing to you? If so,why? If not, why not?
Hmm, it would be appealing in theory except DH has Sky Sports which we get through Virgin, so we have a contract anyway. I wish we had a Smart TV for our second TV in our loft room, as currently all we can do on that is watch Freeview.

One advantage of the Samsung Smart TV hub can be that you use fewer remotes and cables – is this something which is useful or important to you?
We found we still have to use the Virgin remote for some of the Virgin on-demand services / Tivo recorded programmes etc which is a shame. Having just one remote would be great!

What was your overall impression of the Samsung Smart TV Hub?
I love the Smart TV Hub and have used it so much more than I thought I would. The kids love it too and quickly got to grips with it.

[ThePaperBagPrincess]

Had to share...

DS (3) just put ketchup on via the smart hub and chose a show to watch.

He then turned to me and said 'I like dip'.

Dip is what he calls ketchup

[Flapdoodles]

I am late to this thread as unfortunately I did not receive the earlier email and so have been trying to find the Ketchup and Hopster apps this weekend.

We have played with the games, Youtube, Iplayer etc but I cannot find the above apps on either the home page or video page. I wondered if anyone else had not found them easily and could advise me where they might be?

[Teladi]

Hi, just to update, I am still of the same opinion about Hopster and Ketchup!

[elfycat]

• Which of your DCs joined you in testing the family friendly content on the Samsung Smart TV hub?
  

DD1 aged 6, and DD2 aged 4.5

• How easy did you find it to use the Samsung Smart TV hub?
  

I had my usual 'aaaargh' over trying to do anything new with tech and then it was quite straightforward.

• Which apps have you tried out? What did you and your DCs think of these?
  

We only tried the Hopster and Ketchup.

• What did you think of the apps Hopster and Ketchup TV?
  

The DDs quite enjoyed them, however we are a low-TV usage family and they are usually limited to a few Cbeebies and CBBC programs. I found the demands for extra TV time outweighed any benefit of additional choices.

• Did your DCs have a favourite app to use?
  

They liked Ketchup at first, but after I refused to pay for programs they were interested in watching they decided not to bother with any of them.

• In your opinion, what are the benefits of using a Samsung Smart TV compared to a normal TV?
  

Having child only programs means I could leave them a little more unsupervised than with the standard iPlayer in the internet however this is a minor concern.

• What did you think about the range of entertainment on offer on the Samsung Smart TV Hub?
  

Very good selection of apps, but again not necessary for our household usage of the internet/TV

• With the Samsung Smart TV hub, you aren’t tied into contracts and can cancel at any time – is this appealing to you? If so,why? If not, why not?
  

Not appealing for us as standard internet iPlayer, all we usually watch, is sufficient without adding more systems.

• One advantage of the Samsung Smart TV hub can be that you use fewer remotes and cables – is this something which is useful or important to you?
  

We currently only use one remote to access TV/DVD player/Internet content/external hard drive.

• What was your overall impression of the Samsung Smart TV Hub?
  

A good system for people who view TV (for more than a handful of programs) often, and who have children they want to access safe programs.

[ManyHatsOn]

SmartHub
The SmartHub itself it's pretty simple to use and get new apps for once you find your way around. We generally only use the simple controller - and the kids like the fact your can tell the TV what you want to do through voice command and it'll respond to your commands including running the SmartHub apps. The interface to get new apps is a bit different to the actual SmartHub and looks a bit cheap and it's only laid out in some basic categories leaving you to work out what the actual apps do - fine while there's only a few dozen apps but if you had more I'd want more categorisation or curating to suggest apps we might like etc.

We already use a few apps, so we're familiar with how the SmartHub worked. We use Netflix mainly but also use the main catchup services through the SmartHub as well. If you didn't have a Virgin/Sky sub then having something like Netflix or Blinkbox available directly through the TV would be good - though obviously you need a decent internet connection, so likelihood is you may have TV services supplied with that as well (we have Virgin with basic package and TiVo box).

Ketchup
Cost is low £2/month for streaming. We liked possibility to buy and download on multiple devices, but the interface is pretty rudimentary and potentially confusing if you're letting kids pick their own programmes.

Hopster
Nicer interface that Ketchup, with a similar range. More expensive than Ketchup to stream (£3.99) - didn't investigate anything other than the TV shows but I believe it has a range of educational games or something along those lines.

Our kids (9 & 5) are slightly too old for these apps and generally use Netflix (though liked seeing their old favourites - and my husband was particularly pleased to find his favourite 'Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom'), but I could definitely see the appeal if you had preschoolers - there's not much available through both apps which isn't available on Cbeebies, Milkshake etc. but the lack of adverts is a big plus. Of the two, Hopster has the much better interface, but doesn't have the ability to download the programmes to table or buy bundles of programmes for offline viewing which is handy.

That said, if you have already got a subscription to Netflix or similar, then it's likely that neither Ketchup nor Hopster will give you anything different, other than Ketchup's offline viewing which is handy.

[Belo]

Sorry, I misunderstood this test. We have a smart TV, but haven't connected it to the wifi. I thought we would get sent a 'hub' which enabled us to connect via wifi. Our TV is an older Samsung Smart TV so we need to either plug it in via a cable or get a wifi dongle. We've done neither. It is something I want to do though. Trying to get a wifi dongle is on my list of things to do this weekend. I'll then come back with my comments.

[Flapdoodles]

I have had trouble finding/downloading the Ketchup and Hopster apps and am awaiting a call but will answer the questions I am able to so far.

• Which of your DCs joined you in testing the family friendly content on the Samsung Smart TV hub?
  

DS aged 8 and DD 7

• How easy did you find it to use the Samsung Smart TV hub?
  

I found it quite easily and both children were able to find their way around it very quickly (quicker than me!).

• Which apps have you tried out? What did you and your DCs think of these?
  
• What did you think of the apps Hopster and Ketchup TV?
  

We have been unable to download these apps.

• Did your DCs have a favourite app to use?
  

Youtube

• In your opinion, what are the benefits of using a Samsung Smart TV compared to a normal TV?
  

The DC enjoyed accessing iplayer and youtube which they cannot do on our other TV and no extra cables.

• What did you think about the range of entertainment on offer on the Samsung Smart TV Hub?
  
• With the Samsung Smart TV hub, you aren’t tied into contracts and can cancel at any time – is this appealing to you? If so,why? If not, why not?
  

We already have a contract with Sky, the Samsung TV I used for this trial has freeview and the option of Sky as well and I tend to use Sky as I find it easier to use than the Freeview planner.

• One advantage of the Samsung Smart TV hub can be that you use fewer remotes and cables – is this something which is useful or important to you?
  

We only use one remote but less cables would be appealing.

• What was your overall impression of the Samsung Smart TV Hub?
  

The sections we were able to use I thought were good and until I did this test, I had not realised there were games etc to play.

[HippoPottyMouth]

Which of your DCs joined you in testing the family friendly content on the Samsung Smart TV hub?
DD 6 and DD 4

• How easy did you find it to use the Samsung Smart TV hub?
  

Fairly intuitive, took a minute to figure.out how to get new apps on the home screen

• Which apps have you tried out? What did you and your DCs think of these?
  

Hopster, ketchup, YouTube, Amazon, BBC player.
YouTube is a hit, but makes me nervous to leave them with the TV as it doesn't take.long to find something inappropriate.

• What did you think of the apps Hopster and Ketchup TV?
  

DDs love hopster, not so keen on ketchup as DD finds it doesn't play the Ben and Holly episode she has selected (and I watched, it is not user error!)

• Did your DCs have a favourite app to use?
  

Hopster probably

• In your opinion, what are the benefits of using a Samsung Smart TV compared to a normal TV?
  

The easy Internet connection for streaming content.

• What did you think about the range of entertainment on offer on the Samsung Smart TV Hub?
  

I'm not sure I have seen the full range, we have mostly used the on demand TV type things, I don't know what else there is.
I did use the Facebook app once but that was an awful experience! Very slow and clunky to type. I also don't want the whole family watching me on Facebook!

• With the Samsung Smart TV hub, you aren’t tied into contracts and can cancel at any time – is this appealing to you? If so,why? If not, why not?
  

Yes very, who wants to be tied in.

• One advantage of the Samsung Smart TV hub can be that you use fewer remotes and cables – is this something which is useful or important to you?
  

This is not a massive deal. I have an all in one remote anyway.

• What was your overall impression of the Samsung Smart TV Hub?
  

It's great, very convenient.