5 surprising issues I found my sensible TV can do

Regardless of proudly owning a comparatively giant 55-inch

Sony 4K smart TV
, I am hardly a frequent client of films and reveals. The one streaming service I exploit each day is

YouTube
(primarily by way of my smartphone), and I most likely watch a mean of 10 full-length movies in complete per 12 months.

That being mentioned, my residing room-situated flat display does not sit idly. I recurrently make the most of its high-resolution show and its

high dynamic range
(HDR) visible acuity in quite a lot of non-motion-picture-related methods. Listed below are the highest 5 issues I personally use my sensible TV for every day.

1

Charging up my tech peripherals

Satirically, some of the frequent issues I exploit my sensible TV for does not contain its show within the slightest. My flat panel

has three built-in USB-A ports
, that are able to delivering energy to externally linked units. I hate the muddle of getting cables sprawled round my work desk, and so I decide to plug lots of my peripherals into my TV to prime up on juice, as a substitute.

Mostly, I plug my recreation controllers and my

Apple TV
distant into my TV, however the ubiquity of USB-C ports on my devices makes it simple to recharge something from my mouse and keyboard, to my wi-fi earbuds, and every part in between.

2

Setting the temper for my residing setting

Serenity is a screensaver or soundscape away

I am an enormous fan of screensavers — a lot so, in truth, that

I wrote an entire editorial
concerning the sorry state of screensaver help on Home windows 11. Fortunately, most sensible TV working programs (in addition to exterior set-top bins) supply a spread of pictures, patterns, backdrops, and landscapes to cycle by means of throughout machine downtime.

Seeing how I infrequently use my TV to, effectively, watch TV, you’ll be able to think about how steadily my flat panel switches into screensaver mode. I like configuring

scenic nature shots and architectural landscapes
to slowly pan on display, as I discover them so as to add ambiance to my lounge aesthetic. I will typically throw on some soothing music by way of the TV Spotify app, too, which solely provides to the calm and comfortable vibes.

Associated

Every Google Chromecast: A timeline of Google’s cheapest streamer

With the Chromecast’s retirement on the horizon, this is an abbreviated historical past of Google’s undeniably common TV streaming dongle.

3

Casting my PC display

Presentation mode is useful when least anticipated

Underneath the proper circumstances, being able to solid my PC’s display straight onto my TV panel has confirmed immensely helpful. In faculty, I might apply displays on this manner, casting my slideshows onto the massive display throughout rehearsals. Extra not too long ago, I have been casting previous images and residential films onto my TV, that are linked domestically to my PC by way of an

external hard drive
.

It’d actually be attainable to attach a tough drive or stable state drive on to my TV, however I discover my mannequin’s built-in

Android TV
working system to be considerably gradual and clunky to maneuver round. As an answer, casting my Mac show and working inside a well-known desktop UI paradigm has helped streamline my entry to recordsdata and different content material.

Associated

How I made all my smart home devices HomeKit compatible with a Raspberry Pi

Run Homebridge in your Raspberry Pi to attach incompatible units.

4

Controlling my sensible dwelling home equipment

TVs make for wonderful widescreen sensible dwelling hubs

I have been reluctant to leap head-first into the world of sensible dwelling applied sciences, however I’ve gone forward and dabbled within the Apple HomeKit and

Philips Hue
ecosystems over the previous couple of years. Whereas it is simple sufficient to regulate sensible dwelling merchandise utilizing a smartphone or a devoted sensible show, I typically depend on my TV display for things like adjusting LED colours, tweaking the room temperature, and turning on my

doorbell camera
stay feed as wanted.

Is that this probably the most pragmatic method to constructing a centralized sensible dwelling hub? For most individuals, the reply might be no. For somebody like me who infrequently makes use of my TV for multimedia consumption, having it function a hilariously big sensible show (full with a far superior sound bar audio setup) has been a enjoyable and surprisingly efficient method to sensible dwelling machine administration.

Associated

Best digital photo frames: Relive your treasured moments with family and friends

We rounded up one of the best digital photograph frames with high-resolution shows and app controls to view and share your particular recollections.

5

Displaying images

There is no want to purchase a devoted digital photograph body

Along with displaying aesthetically pleasing screensavers on the common, I typically make the most of my sensible TV as a devoted digital photograph body. My Apple TV mechanically synchronizes with my

Apple Photos
library, and presents recollections and snapshots on display in a fantastically curated slideshow.

Generally, I’ve a behavior of snapping a ton of pictures, after which neglecting to return and respect them sooner or later. By having a direct photograph feed displayed on the largest display in my dwelling, I be sure that no photograph of a enjoyable social outing falls by the wayside or goes underappreciated in the long term.

Associated

5 issues smart TVs really shouldn’t have in 2025

Producers have to band collectively and repair the issues.