On a modern television you have many different ways to play media. For example, use a Chromecast or your game console to watch your favorite series and movies. In this article we give you twelve other tips to play media from your smartphone, computer or NAS on your TV.
01 Smart apps on your TV
Let’s start with the easiest way to play media. If you have a smart television, you can install apps to instantly conjure up all kinds of media on your screen without going through boxes or cables. Keep in mind that not every brand offers all apps. Netflix is ​​always offered, but even with popular apps such as Spotify, you are behind the net with some manufacturers. It is also possible that manufacturers stop developing apps for certain smart TVs, so don’t be guided by the available apps when purchasing a smart TV.
02 Guest Mode with Chromecast
One of the best alternatives to a smart television is the Google Chromecast. Connect the round device via the included HDMI cable and you can stream the content from your smartphone to your TV without any problems. Normally this is only possible from devices that are registered to the same Wi-Fi network, but guest mode also allows others to stream to your TV. Set the option guest mode via the Google Home app, so that the Chromecast becomes a so-called WiFi beacon. People who are near the Chromecast can now stream their media to the device.
03 Watch Apple TV+
Another alternative is the Apple TV. The device is available in two variants: the HD version for 139 euros and the 4k version from 179 euros. The 4K version received an update in early 2021. This new version has a better chip, an HDMI 2.1 connection, which makes playback up to 10K possible. The Apple TV is a different kind of device than the Chromecast, because it has internal storage space and has its own app store so you don’t have to stream via your smartphone. Of course this is possible with a iPhone or iPad. Since November 2019 you have immediate access to Apple TV+, the streaming service of the American company. Apple TV+ costs €4.99 per month.
04 Streaming via DLNA
The widely integrated but poorly understood DLNA technology makes it possible to stream media files from a hard drive or memory card to other devices on your home network without having to know a whole lot of codecs or file formats, or how your network works. What you may not have known is that many televisions also support the technology. To be able to share files from a computer, NAS or media player, you must enable them to share media with other devices on the network. In addition, install a DLNA app on your mobile device to share the content with your TV. A good option for android is the old VLC, for iOS the app UPNP/DLNA Streamer is a smart choice. If you want to know more about DLNA, you can read this article.
05 Streaming with your game console
Are you aware that you can also use your game console as a streaming stick? All major game consoles have built-in WiFi, which you can use to stream media to your TV. An interesting possibility is also the Nvidia Shield, a device that gives you access to thousands of games and apps. The Shield has Google Assistant on board. You talk to the console by pressing a button on the remote. You can purchase the Shield Controller to play games.
06 Streaming with Plex
Plex, also known as Plex Media Server, does ring a bell for many, but what exactly is it? The service is intended to be a central hub in your network. Install the program on the computer or drive where all your media files are located. Then install the corresponding free app on your tablet, smartphone or other device. If all your devices are registered on the same network, you can access your media files on all these devices. In the Plex app, you’ll also find the ability to watch web shows and news.
07 Live TV via apps
You can of course enjoy live TV most easily via a television subscription, but you can also choose to watch TV with apps. A good example is the Ziggo Go app. Handy if you want to be able to watch Dutch channels on your mobile or laptop. For Formula 1, you have the F1TV Pro app for 64.99 euros per year.
You can also install the NLZiet app for Dutch TV channels. This service also costs about 8 euros per month. Most apps have built-in Chromecast and AirPlay support.
08 Amazon Fire Stick
Amazon offers an HDMI stick that you can plug into a free port on your TV. You can watch Amazon’s own video service Amazon Prime Video on it and apps such as YouTube, Netflix and Spotify are also offered and you can start using the supplied remote control. Of course, Amazon has built in its Alexa technology, so you can start up movies or apps by talking to the remote. Unfortunately, Alexa does not speak Dutch yet. At 39 euros, the Amazon Fire Stick is a lot cheaper than, for example, the Apple TV.
09 Media via USB drive
Another nice side effect of such a large 60-inch television is that you can perfectly play your holiday photos and movies on it. Almost every smart TV has a USB port. Click the source button on your remote and select your USB drive. Your TV screen will now display the contents of your USB drive. Usually, you can use the remote’s play buttons to play, pause, and stop the media.
10 Through the cable
If your television does not have a WiFi module, you can always use an HDMI cable. Most laptops do have an HDMI port, after which you choose in the system settings whether you want to duplicate the screen or use it as an extra monitor. If you don’t have an HDMI port on your laptop, you can use an adapter cable. The really new laptops are nowadays only supplied with a USB-C port, a USB-C to HDMI adapter cable comes in handy and costs about 20 euros. Keep in mind that the cable must support 4K, as some old cables only support 1080p.
11 Cast your screen
Many apps, such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, offer support for AirPlay and Chromecast directly from the app, so you can continue to use other apps on your smartphone in the meantime. If an app doesn’t have a direct cast function, you can always cast your entire screen to your TV. The disadvantage of this is that everything you do on your smartphone can also be seen on your TV, including incoming messages. The quality is also less good than when an app offers direct cast support.
12 Play from your nas
If you use a NAS for all your media files, then you naturally want to be able to play them easily on your TV. You can then choose Plex, but most NAS manufacturers also offer their own solutions. For example, Synology offers the DS Video app. Then make sure that the Video Station option is activated on your Synology NAS and that you have organized your videos by type. How to do this is described in the manual. The app is only available for Android. Do you have a NAS from another manufacturer? Take a look at the website to see what options are offered.
13 Raspberry Pi media server
A Raspberry Pi always comes in handy, because you can also turn it into a real media server. Of course, this does require some work and fix any errors by visiting forums. There are a number of good guides to be found on the internet, some nice ideas can be found at this website. It official forum of Raspberry Pi is a good option if you need more help with your DIY project.
14 Wi-Fi Direct
Many smart TVs have an option on board to play media wirelessly without the intervention of a router, often referred to as Wifi Direct. It is an alternative to bluetooth, which is slower and has a shorter range. If you want to use this, make sure that the Wifi Direct option is set on your TV, in most cases you will find this in the network settings. If you can’t find an option, it’s usually on by default. On your iPhone, turn on WiFi and select the name of your TV. In Android go to Settings / Wifi / Wifi Preferences / Advanced / Wifi Direct and select your TV.
15 Miracast
Miracast is a somewhat old technology, similar to Wifi Direct. The image from your smartphone is duplicated to your television through a direct WiFi connection between both devices. Many manufacturers support Miracast, but the confusing thing is that each manufacturer offers its own variant of Miracast and often gives it a different name. Miracast is no longer supported by Android and iOS, but Windows 10 can stream via Miracast. If you are having trouble establishing a connection, take a look here. Cheap streaming sticks from China often support Miracast.
