Best Devices To Convert A Normal TV to A Smart TV

With the availability of different types of devices, you can transform your ordinary TV into a smart TV. Be it a gaming console or any streaming device, you will be able to use your television like a smart TV by just connecting to the internet. These devices enable you to access videos from different apps like YouTube, Hulu, and Netflix. We shall now look at ways to transform your TV into a smart TV.

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Devices To Convert A Normal TV to A Smart TV –

1. Amazon Fire TV Stick

The first option will be by using Amazon Fire TV Stick. It works great and is available at an affordable value. You will have to plug the streaming device into the HDMI port of your TV and have a Prime subscription. It comes with a voice remote control due to Alexa compatibility. Fire TV Stick will let you have access to different apps including Prime Video, Netflix, Apple TV+, Hulu, and Disney+. One of the best things about it is that it lets you have an easy operation. There is also a Fire TV Cube which is completely operated with voice.

2. Roku

Roku has become very popular and it is also very affordable. With Roku, you can convert your normal television to a smart TV. Roku supports AirPlay so that you can mirror your iPhone or iPad with your TV. The portable device will let you watch content from Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, and much more. For wall-mounted TVs, Roku has come up with Roku Streaming Stick and Streaming Stick 4K+. If you are looking to have added features then you can opt for Roku Ultra.

3. Apple TV

Apple TV is one of the best TV streaming boxes available. You can set it effortlessly due to its simple design. Apple TV lets you stream apps from your iPhone by opting for phone mirroring. Even it offers you all major streaming channels like Prime Video, Netflix, Hulu, and Apple TV. It offers better stability and ensures there will be smooth videos. If you are looking to have HDR content, there is also Apple TV 4K.

4. Chromecast

Chromecast with Google TV has built-in Google TV. In comparison to previous Chromecasts, it offers you many options including transforming your normal TV into a smart TV. Old Chromecast models also don’t come with special interfaces or include a remote control. Similar to the other three products listed above, Chromecast with Google TV also lets you watch content from Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, and others. The other advantage of using it is that you can download apps directly from Google Play Store.

5. Gaming Consoles

You may think that a gaming console is only for games. However, it serves a double purpose as you can use it as a TV streaming device. Whether it’s PlayStation or Xbox, these gaming consoles will take your normal TV to the next level. Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3, PS4, and PS5 all have streaming capabilities. You can watch movies and TV shows on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Apple TV+, and HBO Max.

6. Set-top Boxes

Even your set-top box will provide you with streaming options. You can easily use a smart streaming device like a set-top box on your normal TV. Set-top boxes will allow you to download apps and access the internet. You can even cast movies and shows from computers and even mobile devices. Some of the popular set-top boxes are Xfinity X1, Atlantic Broadband, and Dish Network

7. Blu-ray Players

Thanks to the upgrade in Blu-ray players that it enables you to use it as a smart TV streaming device. Many popular brands like Sony, LG, Philips, and Toshiba have come up with smart Blu-ray players. These devices will not only allow you to play Blu-ray discs but also stream content from Netflix.

8. NVIDIA Shield TV

Nvidia Shield TV is a premium device that will provide you with many options. It lets you involve not only in cloud gaming but it can transform your television into a smart TV. Another great thing about Nvidia Shield is that it can stream games to your GeForce-powered computer. The Shield TV has pre-installed apps like YouTube, Netflix, Google Play Movies, Amazon Prime Video, and Plex. You will also find the Nvidia Games app. Nvidia Shield TV also comes with Chromecast support.

9. TiVo Stream

TiVo Stream is another popular device to make your TV a smart TV. It has over 5000 apps like Prime Video, Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, and Disney+. It is suitable for any TV and makes sure there will be high-quality streaming. The latest TiVo devices also come with Chromecast support so that you can cast content to your TV from your web browser. There is also TiVo Edge that lets you record live TV.

10. Portal TV

Portal TV by Facebook has different streaming apps like Netflix, Prime Video, Showtime, Sling TV, and ESPN. It features a built-in HD camera that lets you go for video calling. This makes it perfect for people who like to do video calling on their TV. The setup is easy as you will only have to plug it into the HDMI port of your normal TV. Another advantage of Portal TV is that you can use services like Zoom and Workplace for Facebook and even watch videos on Facebook Watch.

Conclusion:

We have seen different products that will let you use your normal TV as a smart TV. These devices are simple to use and provide an affordable option. Some of them come with multi-capabilities like playing games or recording live TV. You can even find the ones that can come with added features. However, before getting any of these devices, you must ensure that it works in your region.

How to Turn Your TV Into a Smart TV

Smart TVs have enhanced at-home entertainment by making it possible to watch streaming services, like Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime, without the need for extra cables or devices. But, if you don’t want to upgrade your TV, you still have options to turn your existing TV into a smart TV.

via amazon. com

Smart TVs have enhanced at-home entertainment by making it possible to watch streaming services, like Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime, without the need for extra cables or devices. But, if you don’t want to upgrade your TV, you still have options to turn your existing TV into a smart TV.

Check out this advice on high-definition TV wiring.

How to Turn Your TV Into a Smart TV: Make Sure Your TV Has an HDMI Port

The first thing you’ll want to check is that your TV has an HDMI port. You’ll need this port to hook up a smart media player. If your TV doesn’t have an HDMI port, you can buy an HDMI-to-RCA adapter that plugs into the red, yellow and white cables located on the back of your TV.

via amazon.com

Plus, here are some things you should never do to your flat screen TV.

How to Turn Your TV Into a Smart TV: Purchase a Smart Media Player

You have quite a few options for smart media players, including smart boxes like Apple TV, Amazon Fire Cube, streaming sticks like the Roku Streaming Stick or Amazon Fire Stick and ultra-portable media players like Google Chromecast, among others.

Here’s how to hang a flat screen TV.

How to Turn Your TV Into a Smart TV Option 1: Install Your Smart Box

To install the Apple TV box, connect one end of the HDMI cable to the box and the other to an HDMI port on the back of your TV. Be sure to note which HDMI slot on the TV you used (slot one, two, three, etc.) Next, plug the two-cylinder end of the cable plugs into the back of the Apple TV box, and the other end into an electrical outlet. Now turn on your TV, change the TV’s input to the HDMI number that matches the slot you selected. A setup display for the box should now appear. From there you can follow the screen’s instructions to complete the process. For the Amazon Cube, the process is relatively similar. You plug HDMI and power cables into the Fire Cube, press fast-forward on your remote, select your WiFi network, enter your password and click connect, then sign in or create an Amazon account.

Buy Apple TV now on Amazon.

How to Turn Your TV Into a Smart TV Option 2: Install Your Streaming Stick

If you choose the Amazon Fire Stick, simply plug the stick itself directly into the HDMI port on your TV. Next, assemble the power cable by plugging the USB cable into the power adapter brick, then unfolding the plug from the brick. Now, plug the end of the cable into the port on the side of the stick, and the other end of the cable into an electrical outlet. Finally, change the TVs input to the HDMI channel that matches the slot you used on the back of your TV. You’ll then be prompted to press the Play/Pause button on your remote, which pairs the remote with your Fire Stick /TV. Next, select a wireless network and enter the password. Once this is completed, you’ll be prompted to sign in to your Amazon account. You can then begin using the streaming stick to turn your TV into a smart TV.

Buy Fire Stick TV now on Amazon.

Broken TV remote? Here’s how to repair it.

How to Turn Your TV Into a Smart TV Option 3: Install a Portable Media Player

Portable media players are thumb-sized sticks that look much like USB pen drives. Google’s Chromecast is one option. To use it, you’ll want to plug the cable on the Chromecast directly into one of the HDMI ports on the back of your TV. Now attach the USB power cable, plugging one end into the Chromecast unit and the other into a USB port on your TV. Turn your TV on, select the appropriate HDMI number and wait for the Chromecast setup screen to appear. You’ll then be prompted to download the Google app on your smartphone. Once downloaded, open the app, tap on the Devices icon, wait for Chromecast to detect your phone (be mindful that for an iPhone, you will need to first tap “Use without Bluetooth” and then tap “Skip Setup” before getting to the homepage of the Google Home app). You’ll then be prompted with setup instructions to follow in order to begin using your TV like a smart TV.

Bad TV reception? Here’s one fix.

Buy Google Chromecast now on Amazon.

Alexa Erickson

Alexa is an experienced lifestyle and news writer, currently working with Reader’s Digest, Shape Magazine and various other publications. She loves writing about her travels, health, wellness, home decor, food and drink, fashion, beauty and scientific news. Follow her traveling adventures on Instagram: @living_by_lex, send her a message: [email protected] and check out her website: livingbylex.com

Video format for TV – which is better?

It seems to many that modern TVs can do almost everything: establish an Internet connection, broadcast streaming video from YouTube and other online services, play movies recorded on flash cards and removable drives, and can be synchronized with a smartphone. And the more disappointing when it turns out that the movie does not play, because the TV does not support the video format. It is useful to know what to do in such cases and how to change the video format for the TV.

What video formats does the TV support?

There is no universal answer to the question of which video format is best for the TV. Operating systems are installed on modern TVs, many manufacturers develop their own software. The set of built-in codecs depends on the device manufacturer, model, and firmware. The newer the model, the more codecs it supports.

How do I know if my TV supports a specific video format? The easiest way is to read the instructions for the TV. It always contains the base set of codecs supported by this model. But manufacturers periodically release new firmware for various models. When updating the firmware, the number of codecs supported by the device may increase.

Most modern TVs support the most popular codecs:

• MPEG1,2,3,4 – a family of common codecs used, in particular, to compress video in the YouTube service, the Skype messenger

• H.264 (MPEG-4 Part 10, or AVC) – a codec that preserves video quality at a high compression ratio

• HEVC (H.265) is a video compression format using high performance algorithms

• DivX is an MPEG4-based codec that can generate DivX, MKV, MOV, AVI files

Sony TVs, in addition to the listed formats, support WMV (9/VC1), Asf, AVC, MP codecs. Philips TVs additionally support the RealMedia format.

The instructions for the TV usually indicate not only codecs, but also restrictions. So, Samsung TVs support the HEVC codec exclusively for TS, MP4 and MKV files. The H.264 UHD codec is only supported up to version 5.1.

What to do if the video format on the TV is not supported

Even on the most modern TVs, the file may not open due to the fact that one of the codecs used to form the container is not supported. There are situations when everything is in order with the video codec, but the audio codec is not supported. Often there are problems opening old container files, such as VOB. These types of files were used to store DVD videos, which is why classic movie lovers sometimes have trouble playing their favorite movies.

If the file format is not supported by the TV, there are several ways to solve the problem:

• Upgrade firmware

• Play video on PC by connecting it to TV with HDMI cable

• Install a third-party player that supports many formats (for example, VLC)

• Recode the file to a format supported by the TV

Firmware update – a method available only to advanced users. Unfortunately, the likelihood that the required format will be supported after a firmware update is rather low.

Connecting a TV to a PC or laptop is easy, but then two devices will be involved in the video playback process instead of one. The consequences are obvious: the bulkiness of the entire system, double power consumption, depriving one of the family members of the opportunity to work or play on the computer.

Installing a third-party player (VLC) is a good option, but unrealizable on Samsung and LG TVs. You can only install a third-party player on Android TVs (Sony, Philips). Tizen OS (Samsung) and Open webOS (LG) do not provide this feature.

The easiest and safest way to view an unplayable file is to change its format using a converter.

How to change the video format for viewing on TV

To change the video format, you need a converter. There are both online services and desktop applications that can be used to transcode video from one format to another. However, the list of formats supported by online converters is often limited to only the most popular ones. In addition, the online conversion process requires a lot of patience from the user: applications do not work quickly, to put it mildly, and downloading the transcoded file from the server takes additional time. Moreover, in order for the service to be able to successfully convert video, you need a stable Internet connection.

In order not to waste time, it is better to use a desktop video converter. Such programs work much faster than online services and do not require an Internet connection. To avoid difficulties with playing any video files, you need to choose a desktop program that supports as many formats as possible.

A striking example of a universal converter is Movavi Video Converter. The application supports more than 180 formats, that is, it can recognize video created using literally any codec. This program is just a godsend for those who are faced with a “mysterious” video of an unsupported format and want to watch it as soon as possible without wasting time experimenting or searching for information. One of the main advantages of the program is the interface in Russian, which is so simple and intuitive that a user of any age who encounters a conversion problem for the first time can master it in a couple of minutes.

With all the simplicity of the interface, the functionality of the program will satisfy the most captious cinephile. With the help of the application it is easy to change the format, bitrate, resolution. Editing functions are provided, so if desired, you can cut a fragment from the video for a GIF animation or your own clip.

Instructions for using Movavi Video Converter:

1. If you don’t have Movavi Video Converter on your computer, download it from the official website and install it. Installation is fast, the user only needs to follow the instructions of the wizard. No additional applications are installed along with Movavi Video Converter. The program does not try to change the search engine.

2. Open the converter and in the upper left corner of the screen click Add files .

3. In the menu that opens, select Add video . You can add any number of files to be converted.

4. Press the Video button at the bottom of the screen.

5. At the bottom of the screen, click on the button indicating the format you want to convert the file to. For example, to convert to MPEG format, press the button MPG and select the desired profile.

6. Click on the icon in the lower left corner, indicating gear . In the tab Settings set the desired frame size, bit rate and other characteristics.

7. Press the Save to button (on the bottom panel) and select the directory where the program will save the transcoded file.

8. Push button Start . At the end of the transcoding process, a folder with a file in the new format will open.

If you have Movavi Video Converter installed on your PC or laptop, you can safely download video files of any format from the Internet: you can always recode them if necessary.

A great way to convert multimedia to the right format!

FAQ

What is the video format for Samsung TV?

The list of formats recognized by the Samsung TV depends on the model and firmware. New models recognize more formats than older ones. The basic list of formats is contained in the instructions for the TV. To increase the number of recognized formats, you need to update the firmware. Samsung TVs released after 2019year must support the following formats: MPEG1, MPEG2, MPEG4, Motion JPEG, HEVC, DivX, Xvid, MVC, WebM, WMV, H.264. Container files of AVI, MKV, ASF, VOB, 3GP, MOV, FLV, VRO, MP4 types are opened.

What video formats does the LG TV read?

The exact list of formats that a specific LG TV model natively supports is indicated in the instructions. TVs of this brand support all video formats that are received on satellite and cable TV, from Blu-Ray or DVD players. MPEG1, MPEG2, AVC (H.264), WMV, ASF formats are supported. As a rule, AVI, ASF, WMV, ASF, MP4, MKV, VOB, 3GP container files are played. To expand the list of supported formats, you should update the TV firmware.

What if the TV does not support video from a flash drive?

There are a number of reasons why the TV cannot open video recorded on a flash card:

• Not all TVs equipped with a USB port can play video from a flash card. Sometimes the USB port is dedicated exclusively to installing updates. In such cases, flashing the TV sometimes helps. But it’s much easier and safer to connect your TV to your computer with an HDMI cable.

• Some TV models cannot open a video file whose name contains Cyrillic characters. A simple rename of the file will help.

• Flash card file system is corrupted. The flash drive needs to be checked on the computer ( Properties – Service – Check disk – Check . Check the box Automatically fix system errors ).

• Sometimes manufacturers set a file size limit. Some older models will not play files larger than 10 GB, and sometimes the maximum size can be up to 4 GB. You need to try to play some small video (up to 1 GB in size) in the same format. To open a large file, you will have to connect the flash drive to the USB port of the computer, and connect the PC to the TV using an HDMI cable.

• The TV does not show the video because it basically does not support its format. And sometimes it happens that the TV does not support only the codec with which the audio track is encrypted. If your TV is running Android TV, you can try installing a third-party video player like VLC. But this will take time, and on Samsung and LG TVs, the method will not work at all. The easiest way is to transcode the file into some format that the TV is guaranteed to support. Try using Movavi Video Converter.

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Four Ways to Play MP4 Files on TV

Author: Yuliya Yurievna • 2023-03-06 15:45:50 • Proven Solutions

Why can’t I watch MP4 files on TV?

There are times, usually when using laptops, when the screen is not large enough to watch movies. Therefore, it makes sense to play MP4 on a large TV to enjoy the movie to the fullest. Since you have come to this page, you may want to stream MPEG-4 and MP4 videos from your computer to your TV (including Samsung brand). Next, we will talk about the various ways to connect a computer to a TV, and you can choose the easiest, cheapest and most convenient. You can also convert MP4 to iPhone format if you don’t want to spend time watching TV.

• Part 1: Best way to play MP4 on TV (including Samsung)
• Part 2: MP4 playback on TV via HDMI cable
• Part 3: Play MP4 video on TV over Wi-Fi
• Part 4: Transfer MP4 video to TV via USB
• Part 5 Bonus: Best MP4 to TV Converters

Part 1: Best way to play MP4 on TV (including Samsung)

Although there are several ways to watch MP4 on TV using different equipment such as Chromecast, Roku, Apple TV, PS3, Xbox, etc. ., almost every such device requires the appropriate setting of the TV. For example, if you have a Chromecast, you will have to tinker with Google Chrome.

Therefore, the best way to play MP4 on TV is to use Wondershare UniConverter (former Wondershare Video Converter Ultimate) . The program allows you to start broadcasting the screen from your PC to your TV with a few mouse clicks.

All you have to do is:

• Open Wondershare UniConverter and start Wondershare Media Server.

• Connect TV to PC and make sure both devices are on the same network.

• Load the target MP4 file into the program.

• Play MP4 video and transfer the picture to TV.

Step 1 Launch Wondershare to cast MP4 to TV

Download Wondershare UniConverter from the link above. Make sure you download the correct version for your system.

Then run the program, click “Tools” and select “Broadcast to TV” as shown in the screenshot.

Step 2 Import MP4/MKV/WMV/AVI videos

When the Wondershare Media Server window opens, click “Disk Scan” or “Import” to add the desired MP4 video to the program.

Note: If you want to stream videos from Chromecast, Xbox 360, Apple TV, PS3, Roku, or other DLNA-certified devices to your TV, you need to connect them to your PC and select the device name from the list.

Step 3 Cast MP4 video to TV

Hover your mouse over the newly imported MP4 video and click the Wi-Fi-like icon to play the MP4 video with the built-in video player.

This will start streaming the MP4 video to the TV.

Part 2: Play MP4 on TV via HDMI cable

Connecting your computer to your TV via HDMI is quite easy if both devices have the appropriate port. If so, you only need an HDMI cable for the connection.

Below we explain how to use an HDMI cable to connect your computer to your TV and explain how to set up your TV to receive data from your PC:

Step 1: Connect your TV to your PC

the other to a port on the back or side of the TV.

Step 2: Set up your TV

Take your TV remote, go to the “Input” section (or a similarly named section) and select HDMI as the input port for connecting and playing MP4.

Part 3: Play MP4 video on a TV via Wi-Fi

Let’s say you have a new TV with wireless network connectivity. In this case, you’re in luck because you can connect it to your computer via Wi-Fi and play MP4s on your TV without too much trouble. Setting up your computer and TV for media sharing is easy:

Note: The procedure is performed in two steps.

Phase 1: Set up your computer

Note: This assumes you are using a Windows 10 PC that already has a built-in or external network card and is connected to a Wi-Fi network.

Step 1: Turn on PC media sharing

Select Start > Settings and click Network and Internet in the Windows Settings window. In the next window, click “Network and Sharing Center” in the right pane, then open the “Change advanced sharing settings” section and expand the “All networks” option. Click “Select media streaming options” under “Media streaming”, click “Turn on media streaming” in the next box that opens, and click OK to allow your computer to stream media to devices connected to your local wireless network. After completing the setup, close all windows and proceed to the next step.

Locate and right-click the folder containing the MP4 files you want to play on your TV. Select Properties from the context menu, go to the Sharing tab, click Sharing, select Everyone from the dropdown, click Add, and make sure the Permission Level next to the Everyone group is set to “Read” value. Click “Share” to allow the computer to share the folder to send MP4 videos to TV.

Phase 2: Set up your TV

IMPORTANT: Depending on the manufacturer of the TV and the operating system installed, the names and locations of the settings may differ. We strongly recommend that you carefully read the instructions for your TV for detailed setup information.

Step 1: Make sure your TV is connected to a wireless network The TV is connected to the same wireless network as the computer. If this is not the case, connect the TV to the wireless network by referring to the user manual.

Step 2: Play the MP4 file on your TV

On your TV, go to Media, select your PC icon, go to Videos > Folders, and open the folder you shared on your PC and select required file to play.

Part 4: Transfer MP4 video to TV via USB

Since most modern TVs have USB ports on the back, watching MP4 on TV is much easier than before. Follow the instructions below to learn how to play MP4 on TV via USB:

Note: Samsung TV is used as an example here.

Step 1: Connect a USB drive to the TV

Locate the USB port on the back of the TV and connect the USB drive to it.

Step 2: Play MP4 on TV

On the TV remote, press the Home button, go to Source, and select USB Device, Connected Devices, or something similar. Then find and select the MP4 file and press Enter on the remote control to play the MP4 on your Samsung TV from the USB drive.

Note: Some Samsung TVs do not have a home button on the remote. In this case, select “Source”. However, some new TVs automatically display a pop-up menu when a USB device is connected and allow you to play media files from them.

Tip

Part 5 Bonus: Best MP4 to TV Video Converters

If you have a file in a format or resolution that is incompatible with your TV, an MP4 to TV converter can be an effective solution. There are several good tools that can come in handy in such cases. These include desktop and online applications:

Converter #1: Wondershare UniConverter

Supporting over 1000 formats, Wondershare UniConverter is one of the best software for Windows and Mac that can convert MP4 files to TV compatible formats. We’ll show you how to do it below:

How to convert MP4 to TV supported formats?

Step 1: Import MP4 to UniConverter

Launch Wondershare UniConverter and make sure you are in “Video Converter” tab, click “Add Files” and import the MP4 file you want to play on TV (We will take TV as an example Samsung).

Step 2: Select a preset for the output device

Click “Convert All Files To” in the top right corner, go to the “Device” tab, select “TV” in the left pane, and then “Samsung TV” on the right.

Step 3: Convert MP4 to TV Format

Returning to the main window, select the save folder at the bottom in the “Output” field, and click “Convert” to convert the file and play it on TV.

Converter #2: Online Free Video Converter

Wondershare Online UniConverter is an online counterpart to UniConverter, which is a free web-based tool that is virtually indistinguishable from its desktop counterpart. To convert MP4 files to a Samsung TV compatible format, go to https://www.