Making a non-smart tv smart.

Author
Discussion

24lemons

Original Poster:

2,629 posts

184 months

Friday 20th January 2017
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I've got our old non-smart tv set up in my office and I'd like to be able to use it to watch streamed races, specifically the WEC and IMSA events. I can watch these on my Iphone via their apps or web browser and I can watch them on the Living Room TV as it has a browser as well.

Is there a device that'll either give me a web browser, or allow me to screen share from my Iphone? I dont want to spend much on it because I'm a skinflint.

Thanks!!

8bit

4,846 posts

154 months

Friday 20th January 2017
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Amazon FireTV Stick maybe? Or a ChromeCast? Both are inexpensive and straightforward, just bung them into a free HDMI port and power via a microUSB connection. If the TV has a USB socket you can probably use a cable between that and the device just for power.

We have a FireTV stick, I'll check later if it allows casting from a smart device.

telford_mike

1,219 posts

184 months

Friday 20th January 2017
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Chromecast or Apple TV, assuming your telly has HDMI ports.

24lemons

Original Poster:

2,629 posts

184 months

Friday 20th January 2017
quotequote all
It does have HDMI ports but I dont have the budget for Apple TV at the moment

SystemParanoia

14,343 posts

197 months

Friday 20th January 2017
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chromecast = £35
if you get the red one it does 4k UHD

amazon fire stick is a similar price.. both do netflix

FunkyNige

8,859 posts

274 months

Friday 20th January 2017
quotequote all
SystemParanoia said:
chromecast = £35
if you get the red one it does 4k UHD

amazon fire stick is a similar price.. both do netflix
Just had a look and the WEC app on Amazon is NOT compatible with the Fire stick so I think the best bet is something called an 'Anrdoid TV Box', but I really don't know much about them.

SystemParanoia

14,343 posts

197 months

Friday 20th January 2017
quotequote all
FunkyNige said:
SystemParanoia said:
chromecast = £35
if you get the red one it does 4k UHD

amazon fire stick is a similar price.. both do netflix
Just had a look and the WEC app on Amazon is NOT compatible with the Fire stick so I think the best bet is something called an 'Anrdoid TV Box', but I really don't know much about them.
You can install Kodi onto an amazon stick.
Best of both worlds

techguyone

3,137 posts

141 months

Friday 20th January 2017
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Chromecast or an Android box, £25 for the former, £50-£100 for the latter.

ZesPak

24,423 posts

195 months

Friday 20th January 2017
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Small caveat tot the android tv boxes: Netflix doesn't "authorise them" to play 4K.

deckster

9,630 posts

254 months

Friday 20th January 2017
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ZesPak said:
Small caveat tot the android tv boxes: Netflix doesn't "authorise them" to play 4K.
Plus, generally speaking, they're a bit rubbish. No manufacturer support, buggy UI, dodgy streams. A Fire Stick plus Kodi is a much better solution and you get to control what goes on there.

techguyone

3,137 posts

141 months

Friday 20th January 2017
quotequote all
deckster said:
Plus, generally speaking, they're a bit rubbish. No manufacturer support, buggy UI, dodgy streams. A Fire Stick plus Kodi is a much better solution and you get to control what goes on there.
Only if you get a st one.

Android boxes are essentially tablets minus a screen but with a HDMI port. YOU control what goes in it.

gareth_r

5,712 posts

236 months

Friday 20th January 2017
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It's very easy to mirror my Android tablet (Samsung Galaxy Tab A) to a Roku.

dxg

8,124 posts

259 months

Friday 20th January 2017
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Get an ex-display chromecast from Curry's store on ebay. Will save you another few quid.

I've had tow, the box has been opened (obviously) and both boxes have been really grimy, but both chromes casts have been in perfect condition and continue to work fine.

51mes

1,498 posts

199 months

Friday 20th January 2017
quotequote all
Just had this with my parents,

Chromecast - great - but you've got to have something to cast to it... and that involves another thing.. great... more complexity.

Personally just get a roku stick - £30 quid you get all the main terrestrial catchup as well as amazon, nowtv netflix if you subscribe Half of which wont work with a chromecast- and even redbull tv for WRC ;-) all controlled with a simple remote - simple no hassle and easy for the less technology minded amongst us to use... Of course yu can get kodi, android tv things - but for most folks - this is all you need.

S.

24lemons

Original Poster:

2,629 posts

184 months

Saturday 21st January 2017
quotequote all
Some useful suggestions, thanks!

The one thing I'm not seeing is whether any devices offer a web browser so that I could watch events streamed on the WEC or IMSA websites. There doesnt seem to be much support for screen mirroring IOS devices either.

Trabi601

4,865 posts

94 months

Saturday 21st January 2017
quotequote all
Apple TV boxes can be had from the official Apple refurb. store for under 50 quid.

(The official refurb store is excellent - you will not be able to tell you've bought a refurb product, they come with full warranty, and often save you a big chunk of cash... I've just bought a refurb MacBook Air.)

24lemons

Original Poster:

2,629 posts

184 months

Saturday 21st January 2017
quotequote all
Trabi601 said:
Apple TV boxes can be had from the official Apple refurb. store for under 50 quid.

(The official refurb store is excellent - you will not be able to tell you've bought a refurb product, they come with full warranty, and often save you a big chunk of cash... I've just bought a refurb MacBook Air.)
Thanks for that, worth knowing. Unfortunately the cheapest Apple TV at the moment is £119 but I'll keep looking

MrOrange

2,031 posts

252 months

24lemons

Original Poster:

2,629 posts

184 months

Saturday 21st January 2017
quotequote all
MrOrange said:
Thanks but there are none available frown

Downward

3,492 posts

102 months

Saturday 21st January 2017
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Fire stick
Kodi
Sorted


I use apps 2 fire from my phone and as long as your on the same network it send apps from your phone to the Fire stick.