Watching YouTube on TV
Discussion
I have a smart TV, Samsung Series 5. It has a USB socket in it.
I'm told that I can buy a plug in which will allow me to watch YT. I've looked through the offerings but they are confusing.
I don't want to pay a subscription, just watch YT.
What keywords should I look out for or has anyone a recommendation.
I have BT fibre connection.
I'm told that I can buy a plug in which will allow me to watch YT. I've looked through the offerings but they are confusing.
I don't want to pay a subscription, just watch YT.
What keywords should I look out for or has anyone a recommendation.
I have BT fibre connection.
Chromecast in to HDMI port is probably cheapest way
Or something like a Roku stick
https://www.roku.com/en-gb/products/streaming-stic...
both would probably do what you need.
We run 2x chromecast and stream via an android tablet/phone.
Or something like a Roku stick
https://www.roku.com/en-gb/products/streaming-stic...
both would probably do what you need.
We run 2x chromecast and stream via an android tablet/phone.
As has been said above, it may well have Youtube on it already. We have a 2010 Series 6, which had the Youtube app then.
Older Samsungs still don't have 4od or itvplayer etc. so isn't much use for anything other than iplayer, my NowTV box will be used when I get a new bedroom TV (Plex installed on NowTV via dev mode + SS-Plex app
you can install Plex on current Samsungs too, allowing you to use SS-Plex which is a much easier way to aquire TV without setting up Kodi with "certain" addons).
edit: as below, probably easier to get a NowTv box and be done with it unless it's a recent model Samsung, it has all you need on it
Older Samsungs still don't have 4od or itvplayer etc. so isn't much use for anything other than iplayer, my NowTV box will be used when I get a new bedroom TV (Plex installed on NowTV via dev mode + SS-Plex app
you can install Plex on current Samsungs too, allowing you to use SS-Plex which is a much easier way to aquire TV without setting up Kodi with "certain" addons). edit: as below, probably easier to get a NowTv box and be done with it unless it's a recent model Samsung, it has all you need on it
Edited by mizx on Monday 2nd May 22:49
s2kjock said:
My Samsung smart TV has a YouTube app on it but it's much easier to find stuff on YT using my phone and casting to either the TV direct or my Google chrome cast. Works surprisingly well.
Agreed.We have a high end Samsung Smart TV in the living room, and a few non smart TV's dotted around the house with chromecast. I much prefer the chromecast and will probably now buy one for the living room tv to use instead of the standard app.
Ive connected my Samsung to the Wifi and I can use various devices, ipads, iphones, android Hudl etc and send the You Tube app to the tele. Is that possible?
http://www.imore.com/youtube-ios-updated-can-now-s...
http://www.imore.com/youtube-ios-updated-can-now-s...
Sorry to resurrect this thread but I purchased a Google Chrome cast stick a couple of weeks ago in order to watch YouTube videos on the TV and amazingly I managed to make it work, however I'm finding it a little annoying to have to use my iPad as a remote control to view the YouTube videos and have noticed that the Roku streaming stick which is a more expensive alternative to Chrome Cast is getting good reviews on Amazon and even the most basic model comes with a remote control. I very nearly ordered one till I noticed that Roku also sell a more expensive version, namely the Roku 3 HD streaming player and a vastly more expensive model, the Roku 4 Streaming media player 4K.
Now I'm totally clueless with all this so does anyone have experience of using these Roku media players compared to the Chrome cast stick?
Oh, and before I forget, although my iPad connected successfully to the Chrome cast stick I can't get the iPad Mini or for that matter the iPhone to connect, they don't see the temporary wifi connection that it created and more importantly I really don't want the kids wrecking my iPad or iPhone in the process, so a dedicated remote control would be much easier to use for all concerned.
Any tips, tricks or recommendations on the above would be much appreciated
Now I'm totally clueless with all this so does anyone have experience of using these Roku media players compared to the Chrome cast stick?
Oh, and before I forget, although my iPad connected successfully to the Chrome cast stick I can't get the iPad Mini or for that matter the iPhone to connect, they don't see the temporary wifi connection that it created and more importantly I really don't want the kids wrecking my iPad or iPhone in the process, so a dedicated remote control would be much easier to use for all concerned.
Any tips, tricks or recommendations on the above would be much appreciated
A nice set top box (like the roku) would be your solution, or a cheap/hand-me-down phone or tablet to control the chromecast.
I like the chromecast because it doesn't add anything (wall mounted TV, chromecast, good to go). Most remote controlled stuff uses IR so you'd need an "eye" to see, often a complete box that needs to be visible.
As for the Roku lineup, it's quite simple:
Roku stick: Basically a more functional Chromecast, great bit of kit. Can also be controlled using a remote, but imagine looking for something on youtube with just the arrow keys... The remote is RF instead of IR, which is great as you don't need to "see" the device you're controlling. In the end though, still at least 40% more expensive than the chromecast.
The other ones are set top boxes, with several functions:
https://www.roku.com/products/compare
Most importantly, if it's just Youtube and Netflix, all of them will work.
Just for reference, I'm getting a TV for the kitchen, so my chromecast is moving there and I'm probably buying a Roku 4K for the living room.
Both the Chromecast and Rokus offer great VFM and you can't go wrong, just pick the functionality you like and pay accordingly.
We always have an old smartphone lying around (iPhone 4S, Oppo Find 5,...) that the kids/babysitter can use to control the media.
I like the chromecast because it doesn't add anything (wall mounted TV, chromecast, good to go). Most remote controlled stuff uses IR so you'd need an "eye" to see, often a complete box that needs to be visible.
As for the Roku lineup, it's quite simple:
Roku stick: Basically a more functional Chromecast, great bit of kit. Can also be controlled using a remote, but imagine looking for something on youtube with just the arrow keys... The remote is RF instead of IR, which is great as you don't need to "see" the device you're controlling. In the end though, still at least 40% more expensive than the chromecast.
The other ones are set top boxes, with several functions:
https://www.roku.com/products/compare
Most importantly, if it's just Youtube and Netflix, all of them will work.
Just for reference, I'm getting a TV for the kitchen, so my chromecast is moving there and I'm probably buying a Roku 4K for the living room.
Both the Chromecast and Rokus offer great VFM and you can't go wrong, just pick the functionality you like and pay accordingly.
We always have an old smartphone lying around (iPhone 4S, Oppo Find 5,...) that the kids/babysitter can use to control the media.
Thanks for the info, I'm leaning towards the Roku 3 because we don't have a mega 4K TV as yet (and not for the foreseeable future). The ability to watch many channels shown on Sky without the huge monthly billing looks interesting.
I note that the Roku 2 uses IR for the remote control so would need line-of-sight whilst all the other models are point anywhere. It's odd that the most expensive Roku 4K model isn't currently listed on the GB site. I wonder what the issue is because Amazon UK do list it.
For comparison of the various Roku models take at look at this link: https://www.roku.com/en-gb/products/compare
Cheers for your idea about using an older iPhone or tablet as the remote control for the Chromecast, is something to consider and it might actually be worthwhile buying a used one if the price is right, except that a brand new Roku 3 costs £79.99 from their own website, or £69.99 from Amazon UK Prime.
I note that the Roku 2 uses IR for the remote control so would need line-of-sight whilst all the other models are point anywhere. It's odd that the most expensive Roku 4K model isn't currently listed on the GB site. I wonder what the issue is because Amazon UK do list it.
For comparison of the various Roku models take at look at this link: https://www.roku.com/en-gb/products/compare
Cheers for your idea about using an older iPhone or tablet as the remote control for the Chromecast, is something to consider and it might actually be worthwhile buying a used one if the price is right, except that a brand new Roku 3 costs £79.99 from their own website, or £69.99 from Amazon UK Prime.
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