Hi everyone,
I have recently bought a Hitachi 22" 'Smart TV' that has a boquet of apps, no web browser but it does what I need it to do.. well did..

I've been told that what I'm experiencing is a known issue by Argos Tech support, so are any of you getting a single line across the screen when trying to launch the SmartTVue application? (or a vestel smart tv login screen in turkish..?)

Apparently it is caused by a software update being rolled out and should sort itself out but just wondering if any of you have had it sort itself out (or not)

Cheers,
bf1

It does sort itself out as it happens

Just came across this post from April and had exactly the same symptoms a few days ago.

The problem has resolved itself but there are some other things that may be of interest to owners of these sets.

The TVs are clearly manufactured by Vestel and the portal they connect to seems to be run by the same.

I suspect this is why the Turkish login box appeared. If you log in you get a different set of Apps with a "Smart TV" logo in the corner.

Of greater concern is that one of the key selling features of this range of TVs, Skype, appears to have disappeared and on checking the Skype site I found reference to the support for Vestel TVs and other brands being removed.

This is clearly not a good situation when people would have chosen the TV for the Skype functionality and invested in the specific webcam for the product which Argos are still selling.

I have had mine for a month and am not happy
Last edited by Magnetron : 29-09-2014 at 19:30

Useful link here: https://support.skype.com/en/faq/FA3...m-my-tv#yellow

Thanks, that's where I looked for the answer but the problem is that there is no mention of Hitachi TVs as a brand so it's still unclear whether they will remain supported.

As of today Argos are still selling the TVs and camera and the packaging for the TV also has a Skype logo printed on it.

I think I will leave it a couple of weeks and if it doesn't come back the camera will get returned otherwise it's £50 spent for nothing and it isn't fit for purpose.

I think all Hitachi TVs are made by Vestel so per that list, they will have Skype removed from them permanently. Of course, it's not impossible that Vestel may come to a deal with Microsoft to install the new version of Skype if this is possible.
(As an aside, I know that Argos sources Bush and Alba from suppliers other than Vestel but every Hitachi TV and PVR I've seen has been made by Vestel. The fact that Argos does not currently sell Freesat satellite receivers under the Hitachi brand and that Vestel does not currently make Freesat receivers suggests that this is part of a condition to use the Hitachi brand.)

Hitachi only rarely make their own sets, they 'may' make some higher end ones themselves?, but I've not seen anything at all recent that wasn't made by Vestel.

According to some news stories I found googling Hitachi stopped making TVs themselves a couple of years ago. For example

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-16677348

That haven't ever made many

They have been mostly 'badge engineering' poorer makes since at least the 80's, living entirely off the reputation generated by the very first few sets they made and sold - even their own 'later' sets weren't much good.