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Editorial: Smart TV is not a smart move

So a great deal of the buzz at CES this year has surrounded the idea of 'Smart TV,' as every company fell over themselves to try and create the competition to a product that we don't even know for sure of it's existence, the real Apple TV.

The vision behind this year's movement is that of convergence.  Some have gone the Google TV route, whereas others have gone for a proprietary interface (LG's gone for a Wii-style control system), all options implementing instances of the internet, the participatory nature of web 2.0, and technologies more computer-esque.  Of course, if Vizio's CTO Matt McRae is to be taken at his word, the prediction is that we'll see an internet TV service provide 50-100 channels in 18 months time (interviewed by The Verge), making the 'web connected' part of my argument completely pointless.

But the idea of a TV is not due for a further 'smart' revolution, because as consumers, we (well...I) don't want it to be.

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Panasonic announces MySpace TV app...why!?

Image courtesy of Engadget.

Remember that social network that you haven't used for years?  Turns out Panasonic is making an app around social viewing and interconnectivity with the service, called Myspace TV, for it's Viera Smart TV offering.

Justin Timberlake, popstar and Myspace Co-owner joined Panasonic on stage to talk about the service.  He spoke of being able to see what your Myspace friends are watching, and make comments through the device.

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