ARTICLE
6 Things You Didn’t Know Your Smart TV Can Do
December 14, 2023-5 min read
There are smartphones that double as cameras, smart watches that double as phones, and even smart coffee machines that can fill your cup while you sleep in. So when it comes to smart TVs, it’s no surprise there’s more than meets the eye. Behind the OLED, QLED and super-sized screen of any next-gen smart TV lies more than just entertainment, with functions for putting health, productivity and home automation at your fingertips. Want more from your smart TV? Here are some clever tricks for you to try. But first…
What Is A Smart TV?
“Think of a smart TV like a computer, minus the keyboard and mouse,” says John Milonas, The Good Guys, Buyer – Televisions and Accessories. “They’re sometimes referred to as connected televisions because they take a traditional TV and add Wi-Fi receivers, hooking them up to all the future-proofed powers of the Internet.”
Which means you can…
#1 Take Total Home Control
Make your smart TV the central control hub of your connected home by linking it to your Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant account. This will let you sync with your other smart tech and appliances, so you can check who's ringing your video doorbell, dim smart lights on command or login to your Wi-Fi connected security cameras all from your living room. And if you have a connected kitchen, why not preheat the oven or set the dishwasher to start while you are relaxing on the couch.
#2 Workout Whenever
Forget sitting idly in front of the telly, pull on your workout gear and throw down a yoga mat because a smart TV is your ticket to at-home fitness. Just switch on your TV, download your favourite fitness app (or search YouTube for your favourite workout videos) and get to it. TCL has made it even easier with a Health Hub app standard on their latest Google smart TVs, like the TCL 75" QUHD Google TV.
Working out in the living room? Wall mount your smart TV to free up floor space. Or, why not pop a smart TV on the deck for when you’re working up a sweat outside. The Samsung 85" QN90C 4K Neo QLED Smart TV 23 with Wall Mount is weatherproof.
“Think of a smart TV like a computer, minus the keyboard and mouse.” John Milonas, The Good Guys, Buyer – Televisions and Accessories.
”
#3 Boost Your Playlist
Often, your home audio setup is focused on getting the best sound performance out of your favourite movies and shows. But with a smart TV, you can also play and boost the audio on your playlist, podcast and audiobooks. Popular music streaming app Spotify comes standard on LG, TCL and Samsung smart TVs, but if yours doesn’t have an audio listening app, don’t worry. Any smart TV will let you cast – or screen mirror – from your smartphone or laptop, so everything you do there can appear on your big screen and play through your home theatre system.
#4 All-In Video Calls
Put down your phone and pick up the smart TV remote because talking to friends and loved ones is better on the big screen. Not only can you rest your arm (and find a more flattering video angle!), but a wider screen means you can also get more people in on the convo from the couch. The video calling app Google Duo comes standard in all Sony and TCL smart TVs, but you can also download Skype, or any of the other video chat platforms, to get chatting.
#5 Game With Friends
There’s a reason some clever tellies, like the Hisense 75" U8KAU 4K ULED Mini-LED Pro QLED Smart TV 23, have Game Mode in their settings… that’s because playing on the big screen is a blast! Perfect for entertaining the kids (and kids at heart), many smart TVs give you direct access to game streaming, such as Steam (Samsung and LG) or PlaystationNow (Samsung and Sony). No fancy game console needed!
If your smart TV can’t access these game streams, there are plenty of games apps you can buy and play directly through your smart TV. Game on!
#6 Super-Size Your Office
Working from home has its perks (hello, snack cupboard!) and the biggest of them all could be access to your smart TV. Using two monitors boosts productivity, but wouldn’t three be nice? Samsung smart TVs have a PC on TV mode so you can wirelessly cast your laptop or PC straight to the TV.
Sony, TCL and Hisense smart TVs are workhorses, too, thanks to their built-in Chromecast that lets you cast to your TV using Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge.
Ready to get in on the smart TV fun? Visit us in-store or online for the best range of big, smart and stylish TVs plus expert advice on how to make the most of them.
