Although still evolving, Smart TV technology and software has come a long way. Already available are the open source software frame works and proprietary software’s that can run applications available via an ‘app store’ digital distribution platform, personalised communications, interactive on-demand media, and may also have social networking features.

For individual purposes, different types of Smart TV platforms are available. Since the owners of these Smart TVs require the best of the platforms capable running on their device, rankings of these platforms can get very competitive and directly affect the market. The business of technology handles various platforms like Hbb TV that is provided by the Hybrid Broadcast Broadband TV Association, CE-HTML that is a part of Web4CE, OIPF that is a part of HbbTV, and Tru2way. Individual companies on the other hand manage framework platforms like Opera TV, Open TV, Frog, Google TV, Horizon TV, Firefox OS, Android TV, Media room, Boxee, Inview, Kodi Entertainment Center, httvLink, MeeGo, Plex, Roku, RDK that stands for Reference Development Kit, Ubuntu TV, Smart TV Alliance, ToFu Media Platform, and Yahoo! GoTV.

Roku TV, Sony, Panasonic, LG and Samsung have been ranked as the best smart TV platforms under the Smart TV platforms category. Philips, Samsung, Sharp, LG, Microsoft, Netgear, Hisense, Hitachi, Insignia, Amazon, Apple, Sony, TCL, TiVO, Panasonic, Haier, Western Digital, Toshiba, Google and Sling Media are some of the current Smart TV platforms used by vendors.

When it comes to social networking, some smart TV platforms have the facility of social networking technology capabilities that may come pre packaged or be optionally extended as per the requirements of the user. Adding social networking synchronisation to smart TV and HTPC platforms has helped provide a better interaction with both on-screen content and other viewers than what is currently available with most televisions. They also simultaneously provide a much more detailed cinematic experience of the content than what is presently available with most computers.

Certain smart TV platforms also support advertising in the form of addressable advertising with local advertising insertion, interactive advertising and targeted advertising peppered with advanced options like ad telescoping.