Many of us have seen the temptations of a 3D TV and turned to smart TVs instead. These come with a host of great features, but do you know what to do with a smart TV?
A sizable audience probably bought one so they could watch their favorite streaming services. However, you only use your smart TV to watch Netflix The Best Netflix-Ready Smart TVs The Best Netflix-Ready Smart TVs Looking for the best Netflix-ready smart TV? We've rounded up the best smart TVs that run Netflix flawlessly. For as little as $135 to as much as $1,100. Read More And all you need to do is visit your TV's app store.
Note: There are too many different app stores for us to link to each one, so we'll leave it to you to search your TV's app store for the apps listed below.
Many channels offer catch-up services that allow you to watch programs from the last seven days. You can install them on your smart TV. However, if you want to watch shows from years past, there's an app for that too.
It is the web browser. Alternatively, you can download the YouTube TV app How to get more from the YouTube TV app How to get more from the YouTube TV app The YouTube TV app is designed with savvy viewers in mind, but with a few tips and tricks . You can squeeze it even more. Read more.
On YouTube, you'll find countless hours of the best shows from ages past. Relive beloved cartoons like Looney Tunes, Tom &Jerry and The Jetsons. Look at the glory days of soap operas. Relax with a bunch of classic documentaries..
And you're not restricted by region either, so you can enjoy shows from all over the world. Just Be Sure to Add Subtitles How to Add Subtitles to a Movie or TV Show How to Add Subtitles to a Movie or TV Show Unfortunately, content you download from the Internet doesn't usually come with subtitles. Fortunately, it's pretty easy to add subtitles to a movie or TV series. Here's how... Read more.
It is important to marvel at the world around us. Even if you need something to put in the background while you work, because Slow TV is perfect for Netflix and Really Chill:A Quick Guide to Slow TV Netflix and Really Chill:A Quick Guide to Slow TV is a strange phenomenon You may not understand, with people watching hours of footage of really boring activities. It's weird, but is it worth it? Let's find out... Read More It's relaxing and fascinating, with a wide range of videos ready for you.
You can of course use YouTube for this. But specialized services like Ustream often have a wider selection of sources to choose from. You can also chat with other watchers, so there's a good sense of community.
We're particularly interested in animal-focused cameras, which always deliver something cute and compelling.
Do you ever go out and look at the stars? Surely everyone does. Sometimes, though, you want a different perspective (especially if the starscape is drowned out by light pollution).
When you think about what to do with a smart TV, you probably don't think about astronomy. But via a live streaming app or your web browser, you can check out the view from the International Space Station (ISS).
And needless to say, it's incredible . To see the surface of the Earth, suspended in darkness, is to appreciate the fragility of the planet and how small our place is on it.
If your interests extend beyond our own solar system, you should check out your TV's respective app store. You will surely find something amazing, like constellations, which includes details about the zodiac or AstroImage, which shows HD images of distant galaxies.
These are especially helpful if you're trying to instill more wonder into children's lives.
Launched in 2008, Spotify is the biggest streaming music service out there, so our Ultimate Guide to Spotify Spotify Music Streaming:The Unofficial Guide. Spotify Music Streaming:The Unofficial Guide. Spotify is the biggest music streaming service out there. If you're not sure how to use it, this guide will walk you through the service and offer some crucial tips. Read More
There are two versions of Spotify available:Free and Premium. The former is ad-supported, while the latter will cost $10/month. Listening to music on your smartphone is good, but listening through your smart TV is better. All you need to do is download the app.
Spotify also has hidden gems. Check out the "Word" section, which includes playlists of famous stories, radio shows and speeches. You can learn a new language, enjoy full audiobooks, and/or expand your mind with TED Talks.
A solid speaker system is a must, but these best value sound bars for great sound quality Best Audiophile Sound Bars on a Budget Best Audiophile Sound Bars on a Budget Sound bars can cost a fortune. But you can get a high-end soundbar for just over $100. Read More Try it once and you'll be hooked.
It's probably been a while since you turned on the music channels. Songs have become so easily accessible that you simply don't need to scroll through MTV and its style to find the latest songs.
But you don't always know what to listen to. You may want to find something new to enjoy. Maybe your new favorite artist is just around the corner. That's why you should tune in to the radio.
You don't need a service like Sky or a device like a Chromecast to do this. Individual stations often have their own apps ready for you to download.
If not, we recommend TuneIn. This allows you to listen to stations from over 200 territories. Filter by location, language, or genre, so if you like classical music or hip-hop, it will only show you the appropriate channels. Similarly, this makes your search for podcasts continuous How to find random new podcasts based on episode length How to find random new podcasts based on episode length If you have a little time and want to listen to a podcast randomly matching that amount. At the moment, this is the perfect way to do it. Read More
Most users are not content with just getting news from the radio. They like proper live channels, spearheaded by a number of anchors. Most of the major channels have apps, especially BBC News, CNN and Al Jazeera, and when you're looking for something to watch on your smart TV, this is a great option.
Or if you want to get your news from non-traditional sources How to get your RDA of news through social media How to get your RDA of news through social media What if we only get news from social media? What would we miss? How effective is it to rely on retweets and others to get the message out? And which fonts are best for important headlines? Read More As if having Facebook and Twitter on PCs, tablets, and smartphones weren't enough, you can now scroll through your feeds on larger screens.
The latter depends on the brand of your television. Samsung, for example, removed the Twitter app in 2016, but you can still check Facebook on Samsung Smart TVs.
Maybe you are looking for something more active to do. Let's face it, game consoles are way too expensive these days, and as fantastic as the Nintendo Switch is, $60 for a single game seems a bit exorbitant.
It should be obvious by now that you need to enter the app store; Here you will also find games that are completely free..
Granted, there is no guarantee that all games will be ready to play free of charge. But most will be. No matter your time, there is something for you. Pass the hours with classic titles like Tetris, Snake and Tic Tac Toe; or with new releases like Lunar Lander, Duck Shooter or the ever popular Angry Birds Angry Birds keep flying high! Your guide for every Angry Birds game keeps flying high! Your guide to every game The Angry Birds series contains some of the most popular mobile games of all time. But it has more games than you think! Here is a guide to every Angry Birds game that has ever been released. Read more.
You can start thinking of your smart TV similar to your smartphone. App stores really expand the capabilities of a TV beyond its traditional use. So why not explore what your smart TV can do? We think you'll be pleasantly surprised.
There's a chance you're here because you haven't invested in a smart TV yet. Rest assured, you have a lot going for you as you turn your HDTV into a smart TV. How to Get a Smart TV on the Cheap with an HDTV How to Get a Smart TV on the Cheap with an HDTV It's best to stick with a regular HDTV, and turn it into a smart TV with specialized gadgets. Here are the best options to achieve that. Read More
