LG 55GA7900 Review
55" 1080p Google TV LED Cinema 3D HDTV
by Jack Burden, Reviewer
Smart TV + Google TV
This 55 inch model is part of LG's greatly expanded line of LED televions equipped with Google TV. This enhances the user experience of the TV in a big way. Google TV adds the full Chrome web browser, searching ease, voice recognition and more to your TV, making for a fuller online experience to your living room. The 55GA7900 even has access to the Android marketplace so many apps you use on a smartphone or tablet can be run right on your TV.
Appearance and Design
The LG 55GA7900 also receives the ultra thin 5mm (.2") panel depth and Cinema Screen design that shows very little bezel. To see it you really have to be looking for it. It is a window like effect and the most unobtrusive frame we've ever seen and we like it. The stylish design supposedly gives the viewer a more involved experience, and while we doubt that, we appreciate the minimalist and modern look. The stand on this series also got a bit of a change. Two arms come out from the bottom to hold the TV up.
Internet Applications and Connectivity
On the TV and Movies screen you can see how Google TV searches for and displays content to the user. Google TV also pulls from various sources.
Smart TVs in general made a lot of progress in 2012, and we thought LG's attempt was a pretty good one. Add the power of Google TV to the 55GA7900 and the amount of options expands greatly. The updated Home Dashboard includes apps like HBO GO, Youtube, and many other choices to get you the best content right away. LG also included a very cool feature that will make the day of any gamer. OnLive, a streaming gaming service, is installed out of the box granting access to a large library of games. The days of the dedicated gaming console just might be numbered. It's a great app and it's nice to see LG incorporating it into their TVs.
Magic Wand Remote
This is the side of the Google TV magic remote that will probably get the most use. Notice the easy to access mic button on top right of the remote. The placement makes it a breeze to activate the new voice recognition features.
Included with the GA7900 is the new version of LG's innovative Magic QWERTY Remote. It is a motion control remote and we really enjoyed trying it out during hands on tests of the previous version. Point and click operation is fast and easy and makes for the fastest browsing mechanism out there aside from a true QWERTY remote keyboard. This turns surfing the internet or searching through the menus a much more enjoyable experience. This updated third iteration of the Magic remote has features like a QWERTY keyboard and voice recognition. These additions will further the usability of the remote by initiating searches with a simple voice command. While previous examples of voice recognition remote controlling (Samsung 2012) were slow and cumbersome to use, LG is obviously hoping to improve on the feature this year. The voice features assist in making it simple to change to specific channels, look for a certain genre of movie, or find a specific show available on the Google TV platform.
The QWERTY side of the Google TV magic remote has keys that aren't too small for your fingers.
Jack Burden has been reviewing and writing reviews in the consumer electronics category for 7 years with CEAG. He considers grayscale gradation, film patterned retarders, and focus field drives to be fun topics. Read more about Jack |
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