7 Suggestions and Methods to Get Extra out of Google TV

There’s loads to love about Google TV: the sensible TV and streaming system working system appears good, works nicely, and successfully integrates all of your totally 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 prone to entice much more customers.

Although its interface is designed to be as easy and clear as attainable, the software program nonetheless affords loads of options and choices when 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 sensible TV, listed here are some ideas to pay attention to.

1) Simplify the Google TV interface

The Google TV interface is ok as it’s, however you can also make it even easier by opening All settings (the gear icon, prime proper), then Accounts and Profiles: Choose your identify, then allow Apps-only mode. All the Google TV suggestions about what to look at 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 system, 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 must 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 system and enter the pairing code. You possibly can then faucet the little distant icon to manage the big-screen interface out of your system. 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 should utilize albums out of your Google Photographs library as a screensaver: Open All settings (the gear icon, prime proper), then choose 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 format

One thing that’s not instantly obvious from utilizing the Google TV interface day-to-day is you can change the order of the leisure apps on display. It means you possibly can entry those you utilize most frequently extra shortly whereas maintaining 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 it is advisable 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 search out an Uninstall button for eradicating a specific app from the system.

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, prime proper), then choosing Accounts and profiles, your identify, and Content material preferences. Google TV will then current you with a collection of films and exhibits to which you’ll be able to give a thumbs up or a thumbs down.

6) Set up apps from anyplace

You’ll need to fill your Google TV system with leisure apps, and it’s typically 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 system, discover an app you need, then faucet the arrow subsequent to the Set up button and select your Google TV system.

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 gadgets button to see an inventory of gadgets related to your Google account. This could embody your Google TV system. If the app is suitable with Google TV, you possibly can then choose it to begin a distant set up.

7) Add to your watchlist from anyplace

One in all Google TV’s greatest options is the watchlist you possibly can entry by way of the Library tab, which hyperlinks to the streaming providers you’ve put in. You possibly can add to this listing by way of Google from any system (when 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 “Need to watch” on the outcomes web page.