7 Ideas and Tips to Get Extra out of Google TV

There’s rather a lot to love about Google TV: the sensible TV and streaming gadget working system seems good, works properly, and successfully integrates all of your totally different streaming providers right into a single, intuitive interface that’s straightforward to make use of. With the Google TV Streamer launch, the OS is prone to entice much more customers.

Despite the fact that its interface is designed to be as easy and clear as attainable, the software program nonetheless presents loads of options and choices should you dig deeper. Whether or not you’re utilizing Google TV on the brand new streaming field, a Chromecast with Google TV dongle, or a wise TV, listed below are some suggestions to pay attention to.

1) Simplify the Google TV interface

The Google TV interface is okay as it’s, however you can also make it even easier by opening All settings (the gear icon, high proper), then Accounts and Profiles: Choose your title, then allow Apps-only mode. The entire Google TV suggestions about what to observe will disappear from view, leaving solely the audio and video streaming apps you’ve put in.

2) Use your telephone as a distant

Whether or not you’ve misplaced your precise distant someplace down the again of the sofa otherwise you simply favor the comfort of utilizing your cellular gadget, you possibly can management Google TV utilizing the Google TV app for Android or iOS on a telephone or pill. For the trick to work, you simply have to be on the identical Wi-Fi community and signed into the identical Google account.

Within the app, you need to see a pop-up close to the underside toolbar that claims Join TVs or TVs close by. Faucet on this to decide on your Google TV gadget and enter the pairing code. You may then faucet the little distant icon to regulate the big-screen interface out of your gadget. You get a trackpad, quantity controls, a Google Assistant button, and energy controls as properly.

3) Flip Google TV into a photograph body

If you wish to, you need to use albums out of your Google Photographs library as a screensaver: Open All settings (the gear icon, high proper), then decide System and Ambient mode, after which Settings. You’ll see Google Photographs listed as one of many choices—select this to get directions—and you may change settings akin to slideshow pace from right here, too.

4) Change the house display screen format

One thing that’s not instantly obvious from utilizing the Google TV interface day-to-day is which you could change the order of the leisure apps on display screen. It means you possibly can entry those you utilize most frequently extra shortly whereas retaining lesser-used ones out of the way in which—and that is one thing that’s attainable on each the For you and Apps screens.

All you might want to do is choose an app, press and maintain the choose button on the distant, and select Transfer from the menu that pops up. Put it the place you’d prefer it to be, then select Carried out to substantiate. The identical pop-up menu additionally has a View particulars possibility—you possibly can observe this to seek out an Uninstall button for eradicating a selected app from the gadget.

5) Enhance your suggestions

Are the Google TV content material suggestions simply not doing it for you? Enhance the algorithm by opening All Settings (the gear icon, high proper), then choosing Accounts and profiles, your title, and Content material preferences. Google TV will then current you with a choice of motion pictures and reveals to which you’ll give a thumbs up or a thumbs down.

6) Set up apps from anyplace

You’ll need to fill your Google TV gadget with leisure apps, and it’s usually simpler to do that in your telephone or pc. So long as the identical Google account is related, you possibly can open the Play Retailer app in your cellular gadget, discover an app you need, then faucet the arrow subsequent to the Set up button and select your Google TV gadget.

It really works equally on the internet, too—head to the Play Retailer internet portal, search for an app you want, after which click on on the Set up or Set up on extra units button to see an inventory of units related to your Google account. This could embrace your Google TV gadget. If the app is appropriate with Google TV, you possibly can then choose it to start out a distant set up.

7) Add to your watchlist from anyplace

Certainly one of Google TV’s greatest options is the watchlist you possibly can entry through the Library tab, which hyperlinks to the streaming providers you’ve put in. You may add to this listing through Google from any gadget (should you’re signed into your Google account): Run a seek for the film or present you need to add to your watchlist, then click on “Wish to watch” on the outcomes web page.