Jim Rossman: Do smart TV apps become outdated?

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This week’s topic comes from a 71-year-old reader and it concerns TV.

“Do TVs need replacing because their software becomes outdated?” and “We have an antenna and sometimes (one local channel) pixelates and becomes unwatchable. How would I get that same channel without an antenna? I need a remote with number buttons, and I don’t really like on-screen menus. I’d like a watching experience identical to watching antenna television (all the same shows).”

First question is specifically about smart TVs.

Yes, they can eventually age out.

Smart TVs have been around for more than a decade and it’s up to the TV companies to keep the streaming apps, like Netflix, Prime Video, etc., up to date.

That 10+ year old hardware will eventually fall behind and not be compatible with updates.

Plus, TVs have come a long way and got a lot cheaper in the last decade. Do yourself a favor and spring for a new one. I can remember spending $1,200 for a 42-inch Panasonic plasma TV and now a very nice 55-inch 4K smart TV can be had for under $300.

As for the antenna, if you’d like to lose the antenna, but still receive local channels, you’ll need a streaming service that includes locals.

There are a few options, like YouTube TV, Sling TV and DirecTV Stream.

The only one I know of that is close the same experience (like channel numbers) would be DirecTV Stream. In fact, if you have U-Verse, DirecTV Stream has all the same channel numbers.

You can watch DirecTV Stream on a smart TV or streaming box like Roku or Apple TV.

If you get one of the DirecTV streaming boxes, like the Gemini Air, you’ll get a remote with actual number buttons, and you can avoid menu navigation. You just use the remote to tune to the channel by number.

DirecTV packages include genre packs for sports or news, some of which include local channels. They also have larger bundles that start around $85 (plus taxes and fees).

One of the best features of streaming services is you don’t sign a contract. If you subscribe and find you don’t like it after a month or two, you can cancel and try something else.

I know this sounds like a paid ad for DirecTV Stream, but it’s not. If you ask me for advice, you’re going to get my honest recommendation.

The other streaming services are great, but DirecTV Stream is the most like traditional cable bundles for the viewer.