7 Suggestions and Tips to Get Extra out of Google TV

There’s quite a bit to love about Google TV: the sensible TV and streaming machine working system seems to be good, works nicely, and successfully integrates all of your completely different streaming providers right into a single, intuitive interface that’s simple to make use of. With the Google TV Streamer launch, the OS is more likely to entice much more customers.

Though its interface is designed to be as simple and clear as attainable, the software program nonetheless gives loads of options and choices in case 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 here are some suggestions to concentrate on.

1) Simplify the Google TV interface

The Google TV interface is okay as it’s, however you may make it even easier by opening All settings (the gear icon, high proper), then Accounts and Profiles: Choose your identify, 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 desire the comfort of utilizing your cellular machine, 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 should be on the identical Wi-Fi community and signed into the identical Google account.

Within the app, it’s best 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 machine and enter the pairing code. You may then faucet the little distant icon to manage the big-screen interface out of your machine. You get a trackpad, quantity controls, a Google Assistant button, and energy controls as nicely.

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’ll change settings akin to slideshow velocity 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 that 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 holding lesser-used ones out of the best way—and that is one thing that’s attainable on each the For you and Apps screens.

All it’s good 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 Achieved to substantiate. The identical pop-up menu additionally has a View particulars possibility—you possibly can comply with this to seek out an Uninstall button for eradicating a selected app from the machine.

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 identify, and Content material preferences. Google TV will then current you with a number of motion pictures and reveals to which you’ll give a thumbs up or a thumbs down.

6) Set up apps from wherever

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

It really works equally on the net, 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 linked to your Google account. This could embrace your Google TV machine. If the app is suitable with Google TV, you possibly can then choose it to start out a distant set up.

7) Add to your watchlist from wherever

One in every of Google TV’s finest 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 machine (in case 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.