LG Infinia 42LV5500 42-Inch 1080p 120 Hz Review
Picture quality is great. This is a matt screen and that's a big plus for me. Speakers/audio is acceptable. That's where it stops. The Smart TV and other features which were the main draw for me, are unsatisfactory and poorly executed.
The "Intelligent Sensor" to adjust pic brightness is a bit of a joke - it merely reduces it to the lowest level possible; nothing intelligent about that.
The Netflix streaming app works fine, and is pretty much the only one that works as expected; although it would be nice if LG had streamlined and standardized the menu choices for adjusting picture aspect ratio and video brightness presets (not available from within the app).
The YouTube app is complete garbage.
Hulu: I saw "Hulu" in a lot of the advertising materials but there is no app for it. You can access it via the Plex media server app, (which requires you to have the server running on your connected computer), but the menu steps you have to go thru to get to the show you want are so tedious I gave up, and continue to watch Hulu shows on my laptop. Much simpler. Which brings me to:
The BIG negative! The built in browser is useless without Flash. The LG brochure clearly indicates it does not support Flash Player 10 which is fine. That suggests it comes with an older version of Flash. It appears to come with Flash 9.x according to multiple version-check sites, but I haven't been able to get it to work, Even on LG or Adobe's site.
The menus for setting favorite channels are also tedious and not intuitive at all. There is an Add/Delete button on the Quick Menu - I haven't been able to figure out what it is supposed to do. There are LG "apps" (horoscopes was the latest addition) but their purpose seems mainly to allow LG to brag it has this and that feature without being called out for false advertising.
Overall, I think I paid a premium for nothing special. Since the bells and whistles don't work, or are so poorly designed as to be useless, the proper comparison is with a regular 42" plus the cost of a Rokio or other Netflix device. If you can get this TV for a price that is comparable to that combo, this model is worth it, but not otherwise.
LG's Answers forum (questions answered by LG) - four/five days since I asked how to fix the browser Flash issue, and my question hasn't gone live, much less answered. Which is what promoted me to post this review here on Amazon.
Update Sep 26,2011: Lot's of other issues that have made this "Smart TV" frustrating to use except as a basic TV. I will just mention the most important ones: What's so difficult to understand about QWERTY keyboard layout? It's standard, universal and even a child knows where one letter is in relation to another. Relocating letters arbitrarily and making it harder to find and use is incompetent design. The latest software update - version 04.01.30 - not sure what it fixed but now I get a "Software update available and updated" message on turning it on but the premium panel on the Home screen says "software downloading" and I have to go to the full premium screen to pick the service I want.
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On Sale Philips 46PFL7705D/F7 46-Inch 1080p 120 Hz
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On Sale Sony BRAVIA KDL32BX320 32-Inch 720p LCD
On Sale Haier L26B1120 26-Inch 720p LCD TV
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On Sale Toshiba 46SL417U 46-Inch 1080p 120 Hz
On Sale iSymphony LC24IF56PR 24-inch 1080p LCD TV
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On Sale Philips 32PFL4505D/F7 32-Inch 1080p LED LCD
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On Sale SAMSUNG LA32B450 LCD TV MULTI
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On Sale Sharp LC52LE835U Quattron 52-inch 1080p 240
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On Sale LG 26LD350 26-Inch 720p 60 Hz
On Sale Samsung LN46B630 46-Inch 1080p 120 Hz
On Sale Samsung LN37D550 37-Inch 1080p 60Hz LCD
On Sale Samsung LN32C350 32-Inch 720p 60 Hz
On Sale VIZIO M220VA-W 22-inch Class Edge Lit
On Sale Philips 55PFL7505D/F7 55-Inch 1080p 120 Hz
On Sale Sony KLV-32T550A SERIES BRAVIA 32" MULTI
On Sale Samsung PN51D8000 51-inch 1080p 3D Ready
On Sale Sylvania LC320SLX 32-Inch 720p LCD HDTV
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On Sale Magnavox 32MF301B/F7 32-Inch 720p LCD TV
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On Sale Samsung T22A350 22-Inch Class LED HDTV/Monitor
On Sale Sony BRAVIA KDL55NX720 55-inch 1080p 3D
On Sale Sony BRAVIA KDL40EX523 40-Inch 1080p LED
On Sale Sansui HDLCD2212 21.6 S-Series LCD High
On Sale Sony BRAVIA KDL-40EX500 Series 40-Inch LCD
On Sale LG 47LH30 47-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV
On Sale Vuzix Wrap 920 Video Eyewear
On Sale Service Valet Basic On-Wall TV Mounting
On Sale Panasonic VIERA TC-P65ST30 65-Inch 1080p 3D
On Sale Panasonic VIERA TC-L32DT30 32-Inch 1080p 3D
On Sale Samsung LNT2353H 23-Inch LCD HDTV
On Sale Samsung PN51D530 51-Inch 1080p 600hz Plasma
On Sale Philips 55PFL5706/F7 55-inch 1080p 120 Hz
On Sale PJ350C 42" 720p 1024 x 768
On Sale Samsung UN40C6300 40-Inch 1080p LED TV
On Sale Haier L24C1180 23.6-Inch 1080p LCD TV
On Sale Hannspree ST329MUB 32" 1080p 60Hz LCD
On Sale SHARP LC-52LE820UN AQUOS 52 Inch 1080p
On Sale Samsung UN46B8000 46-Inch 1080p 240Hz LED
On Sale TCL L40FHDF11TA 40-Inch 1080p 60 Hz
The "Intelligent Sensor" to adjust pic brightness is a bit of a joke - it merely reduces it to the lowest level possible; nothing intelligent about that.
The Netflix streaming app works fine, and is pretty much the only one that works as expected; although it would be nice if LG had streamlined and standardized the menu choices for adjusting picture aspect ratio and video brightness presets (not available from within the app).
The YouTube app is complete garbage.
Hulu: I saw "Hulu" in a lot of the advertising materials but there is no app for it. You can access it via the Plex media server app, (which requires you to have the server running on your connected computer), but the menu steps you have to go thru to get to the show you want are so tedious I gave up, and continue to watch Hulu shows on my laptop. Much simpler. Which brings me to:
The BIG negative! The built in browser is useless without Flash. The LG brochure clearly indicates it does not support Flash Player 10 which is fine. That suggests it comes with an older version of Flash. It appears to come with Flash 9.x according to multiple version-check sites, but I haven't been able to get it to work, Even on LG or Adobe's site.
The menus for setting favorite channels are also tedious and not intuitive at all. There is an Add/Delete button on the Quick Menu - I haven't been able to figure out what it is supposed to do. There are LG "apps" (horoscopes was the latest addition) but their purpose seems mainly to allow LG to brag it has this and that feature without being called out for false advertising.
Overall, I think I paid a premium for nothing special. Since the bells and whistles don't work, or are so poorly designed as to be useless, the proper comparison is with a regular 42" plus the cost of a Rokio or other Netflix device. If you can get this TV for a price that is comparable to that combo, this model is worth it, but not otherwise.
LG's Answers forum (questions answered by LG) - four/five days since I asked how to fix the browser Flash issue, and my question hasn't gone live, much less answered. Which is what promoted me to post this review here on Amazon.
Update Sep 26,2011: Lot's of other issues that have made this "Smart TV" frustrating to use except as a basic TV. I will just mention the most important ones: What's so difficult to understand about QWERTY keyboard layout? It's standard, universal and even a child knows where one letter is in relation to another. Relocating letters arbitrarily and making it harder to find and use is incompetent design. The latest software update - version 04.01.30 - not sure what it fixed but now I get a "Software update available and updated" message on turning it on but the premium panel on the Home screen says "software downloading" and I have to go to the full premium screen to pick the service I want.
More :
On Sale Samsung T23A350 23-Inch Class LED HDTV/Monitor
On Sale Panasonic VIERA TC-P46ST30 46-Inch 1080p 3D
On Sale Samsung UN40B6000 40-Inch 1080p 120 Hz
On Sale Polaroid DVF-720SC 5MP Hi-Definition Digital Camcorder
On Sale Toshiba 55UL610U Cinema Series 55-Inch 1080p
On Sale Samsung LNT4053H 40-Inch LCD HDTV
On Sale Sharp LC52LE830U Quattron 52-inch 1080p 120
On Sale VIZIO E420VT 42 Inch Class Edge
On Sale Toshiba 32C100U 32-Inch 720p LCD HDTV
On Sale Acer AT3265 32-Inch 1080p LCD TV
On Sale Samsung PN50C7000 50-Inch 1080p 3D Plasma
On Sale iSymphony LC24IF56 24-inch 1080p LCD TV
On Sale LG 50PV450 50-Inch 1080p Plasma HDTV
On Sale Philips 46PFL7705D/F7 46-Inch 1080p 120 Hz
On Sale LG 37LD450 37-Inch 1080p 60 Hz
On Sale Sony BRAVIA KDL32BX320 32-Inch 720p LCD
On Sale Haier L26B1120 26-Inch 720p LCD TV
On Sale Panasonic VIERA TC-P46S30 46-Inch 1080p Plasma
On Sale Samsung PN64D8000 64-Inch 1080p 600Hz 3D
On Sale VIZIO M320NV 32-Inch 1080p LED LCD
On Sale Toshiba 46SL417U 46-Inch 1080p 120 Hz
On Sale iSymphony LC24IF56PR 24-inch 1080p LCD TV
On Sale Panasonic VIERA TC-P42GT25 42-inch 1080p 3D
On Sale Philips 32PFL4505D/F7 32-Inch 1080p LED LCD
On Sale Samsung PN50A450 50-Inch 720p Plasma HDTV
On Sale VIZIO M220MV 22-Inch 1080p LED LCD
On Sale RCA 32LA30RQ 32-Inch 720p LCD TV
On Sale Sharp Aquos LC32D44U 32-Inch 720p LCD
On Sale SAMSUNG LA32B450 LCD TV MULTI
On Sale Toshiba 40UL605U 40-Inch 1080p 120 Hz
On Sale Westinghouse LD-2655VX 26-Inch 720p LED HDTV
On Sale Sharp LC52LE835U Quattron 52-inch 1080p 240
On Sale Sony BRAVIA XBR55HX929 55-Inch 1080p 3D
On Sale Naxa NT-1902 19" Widescreen HD LED
On Sale Samsung SyncMaster 2333HD HDTV Widescreen LCD
On Sale Westinghouse LD3260 32" LED HDTV
On Sale Samsung LN40B750 40-Inch 1080p 240 Hz
On Sale Samsung LN40C560 40-Inch 1080p 60 Hz
On Sale LG 26LD350 26-Inch 720p 60 Hz
On Sale Samsung LN46B630 46-Inch 1080p 120 Hz
On Sale Samsung LN37D550 37-Inch 1080p 60Hz LCD
On Sale Samsung LN32C350 32-Inch 720p 60 Hz
On Sale VIZIO M220VA-W 22-inch Class Edge Lit
On Sale Philips 55PFL7505D/F7 55-Inch 1080p 120 Hz
On Sale Sony KLV-32T550A SERIES BRAVIA 32" MULTI
On Sale Samsung PN51D8000 51-inch 1080p 3D Ready
On Sale Sylvania LC320SLX 32-Inch 720p LCD HDTV
On Sale Samsung UN19D4000 19-Inch 720p 60Hz LED
On Sale ViewSonic VT2730 27-Inch 1920x1080 LCD Flat-Panel
On Sale Westinghouse SK-32H240S 32-Inch LCD HDTV
On Sale LG 42LV3700 42-Inch 1080p 60 Hz
On Sale VIZIO E472VL 47-Inch Class LCD HDTV
On Sale Sony NSX-40GT1 40-Inch 1080p 60 Hz
On Sale Toshiba 55VX700U 55 Inches 1080p Front
On Sale VIZIO E260MV 26 Inch Class Edge
On Sale LG 37LK450 37-Inch 1080p 60 Hz
On Sale Toshiba 24SL410U 24-Inch 1080p 60 Hz
On Sale Pyle Home PTC177LC 17-Inch LCD HDTV
On Sale AOC L42H961 42-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV
On Sale LG 42LK450 42-Inch 1080p 60 Hz
On Sale 32" Outdoor TV Cover (Soft Non
On Sale LG 47LD520 47-Inch 1080p 120 Hz
On Sale LG Infinia 47LW5600 47-Inch Cinema 3D
On Sale Samsung UN19D4003 19-Inch 720p 60Hz LED
On Sale LG 32LV2500 32-Inch 720p 60 Hz
On Sale Samsung LCD TV Remote Control BN59-00854A
On Sale Samsung UN65D8000 65-Inch 1080p 240Hz 3D
On Sale AOC L24H898 24-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV
On Sale Samsung UN60C6300 60-Inch 1080p 120 Hz
On Sale ViewSonic VT2230 22-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV
On Sale RCA LED46A55R120Q 46-Inches1080p LCD TV #NAME?
On Sale LG INFINIA 47LE8500 47-Inch 1080p 240
On Sale LG Infinia 55LW9500 55-Inch 3D 1080p
On Sale Service Valet Premium On-Wall TV Mounting
On Sale Toshiba 46VX700 46-Inch 1080p 120 Hz
On Sale Sony BRAVIA XBR46HX929 46-Inch 1080p 3D
On Sale Panasonic TH-37PR11UK 37-Inch 720p Plasma Display
On Sale Magnavox 32MF301B/F7 32-Inch 720p LCD TV
On Sale Dynex DX-24E150A11 24-inch 1080p LED LCD
On Sale Haier HL22XSL2 Black 22-Inch Ultra Slim
On Sale Samsung T22A350 22-Inch Class LED HDTV/Monitor
On Sale Sony BRAVIA KDL55NX720 55-inch 1080p 3D
On Sale Sony BRAVIA KDL40EX523 40-Inch 1080p LED
On Sale Sansui HDLCD2212 21.6 S-Series LCD High
On Sale Sony BRAVIA KDL-40EX500 Series 40-Inch LCD
On Sale LG 47LH30 47-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV
On Sale Vuzix Wrap 920 Video Eyewear
On Sale Service Valet Basic On-Wall TV Mounting
On Sale Panasonic VIERA TC-P65ST30 65-Inch 1080p 3D
On Sale Panasonic VIERA TC-L32DT30 32-Inch 1080p 3D
On Sale Samsung LNT2353H 23-Inch LCD HDTV
On Sale Samsung PN51D530 51-Inch 1080p 600hz Plasma
On Sale Philips 55PFL5706/F7 55-inch 1080p 120 Hz
On Sale PJ350C 42" 720p 1024 x 768
On Sale Samsung UN40C6300 40-Inch 1080p LED TV
On Sale Haier L24C1180 23.6-Inch 1080p LCD TV
On Sale Hannspree ST329MUB 32" 1080p 60Hz LCD
On Sale SHARP LC-52LE820UN AQUOS 52 Inch 1080p
On Sale Samsung UN46B8000 46-Inch 1080p 240Hz LED
On Sale TCL L40FHDF11TA 40-Inch 1080p 60 Hz
Topic : Global Information
Genre : News