LG updates Smart TV platform with webOS 6.0 in response to consumer habits
LG has announced an update and introductions of webOS 6.0 for its 2021 OLED, QNED Mini LED and UHD smart TVs.
The update is said to be in direct response to consumers' changing habits, and specifically, how they consume content today. Those familiar with webOS will have already noticed an updated home screen that has been redesigned for enhanced usability. Providing faster access to the most frequently used apps also streamlines content discovery with recommendations based on user preferences and viewing history.
The New Home also acts as a central hub for settings and the greater webOS ecosystem. Paired with a new Magic Remote, the system now offer simpler controls when using voice recognition with the multi-AI offerings of LG ThinQ, Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. LG says its platform is “now simple to navigate, slick, easy to hold and use, the new Magic Remote offers a range of user-friendly features including faster connections between the TV and other devices and hot keys for accessing popular content providers such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+.”
Another feature LG is spruiking is Magic Tap, a one-touch NFC function on the Magic Remote that provides easy access to a host of exciting viewing possibilities. LG says, “by simply touching an NFC-enabled smartphone to the remote, viewers can share content from their phones to the TV or vice versa. Users can view content stored on their mobile phones on their LG TVs while continuing to use their favourite smartphone apps and features.”
Park Hyoung-sei, President of LG Home Entertainment Company, said:
The latest version of our user-friendly open TV platform webOS 6.0 represents the most significant update since we first introduced webOS in 2014. With the new edition of webOS, LG is demonstrating its commitment of offering services, products and technologies that respond to the needs and wants of our valued customers.
Leveraging the latest AI technology, users simply need to speak up to get the info they need. Magic Explorer, an enhanced version of the LG Magic Link, delivers informative content related to what is showing on the screen to learn more about the actors, locations, and other items of interest in the movies and shows they are watching. The content dependent feature also delivers an easy and friendly shopping experience for products appearing across select broadcast channels and LG TV services including Live TV, Gallery, Settings and TV Guide, by changing the cursor's colour whenever Magic Explorer has information to share.
Finally, the new Next Picks feature analyses viewers' preferences to discover more content suited to their tastes. Using viewing history data, Next Picks recommends two live programs from broadcast or set-top box offerings as well as one VOD title or app based on viewers' liking, saving viewers the time and hassle of finding what to watch next.
webOS 6.0 is available now for all 2021 OLED, QNED Mini LED and UHD smart TVs.
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Marc Rushton
StereoNET’s Founder and Publisher was born in England and raised on British Hi-Fi before moving to Australia. He developed an early love of music and playing bass guitar before discovering the studio and the other side of the mixing desk. After a few years writing for audio magazines, Marc saw the future in digital publishing and founded the first version of StereoNET, known at the time as Planet Audio, in 1999.
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