CES 2012 – LG Stand Tour

LG Stand Tour – LG Smart TV with Google

Possibly the most exciting of LG’s new TV sets (well, the ones we were allowed to look at, anyway) is this Smart TV with Google model.  

The G6 series looks more run-of-the-mill than other new LG designs, but the 1.25GHz dual-core processor inside accelerates a custom-skinned Android 3.2 OS to greased-weasel speeds and makes easy work of streamed HD video.

The way it borrows metadata from the web makes for one flash-looking EPG, too, and the universal search – which applies to web video, EPG and local content – appears to work seamlessly.

For that, and to aid web browsing with Chrome, LG has made a special version of its Wii-Mote-esque Magic Remote with a QWERTY round the back, but you can also use an Android phone or tablet for control.

The roster of available apps runs to around 2000, but Google is working on making more of the 400,000 available on the Market suitable for TVs. Damned shame it’ll only be available Stateside for at least the next year.

The G6 is actually physically identical to a model that will be available in the UK – the LM6200 – but that uses its dual-core power to run LG’s voice-controlled Smart TV Premium OS.

We couldn’t try out the voice bit, but the redesigned Magic Remote is nicely tactile and responsive, and there’s a thumbable scroll wheel on top for easy web page navigation.