When we buy a Smart TV, apart from the basic configuration tasks, which the TV itself offers us as soon as we turn it on, another of the points that we must control is related to the applications that we are going to use. And leaving aside those that each manufacturer offers already preinstalled, there are some that I consider fundamental and which I always install on the televisions that come into my hands.
As is usually the case when it comes to lists, this is a very personal evaluation, so there may be users who are not interested in an application and who nevertheless lack the presence of the others. That said, I will tell What applications cannot be missing from my TV? with Android TV or Google TV.
The apps I always install when I install an Android TV
Beyond the setup process or tuning channels, the next step I take when purchasing a TV is install the applications that I consider necessary. With the latest version of Google TV, the same device already offers me some suggestions of applications that may interest me, but it is nevertheless missing quite a few that I have to search for by hand.
In this article, I detail the 17 applications that I consider to be the most important. And there are 17 of them, because, among other things, television manufacturers are obsessed with offering a minimum of memory to install applications. In fact, on the television I have at home right now and which dates from 2022, the space I have is 8 gigabytes to share with the operating system and after installing the applications that I will detail, it remains less than half.
Streaming
In this first block of applications, I will try all those related to streamingthe interest in each of them therefore depends on the platform(s) to which you are subscribed.
Netflix
The first of these is a classic. As one of the most used video streaming platforms You cannot miss, at least if you are a subscriber, the application to access Netflix and watch series like The Squid Game or Sky Rojo.
With the possibility of viewing content in different resolutions depending on the pricing plan you subscribe to, this application cannot be missed so as not to have to depend on the current browser. Offers content in SD, Full HD or 4K with options for HDR and 5.1 sound and Dolby Atmos.
Netflix
HBO Max
Another app that I always install on my TV with Android TV or Google TV is HBO Max. With cult series such as Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon and the recent premiere of The Last Of Us, the streaming platform has made a significant leap in terms of interface quality compared to the defunct HBO. And like Netflix, allows access to 4K content with different HDR systems for image improvement.
HBO Max
Disney+
One of the youngest and fastest growing platforms on the market is Disney+. Another of the applications that I always install on my TV to take advantage of the subscription I have to the platform. It’s the best way to access some cult areas like The Mandalorian, Star Wars – La Remesa Mala le Marvel National Geographic Catalog.
Disney+
- Developer: Disney
- Download at: Google game
- Price : Free
- Category: Entertainment
Main video
Another classic. Content of series, films and documentaries also on subscription, although this is included in what we pay per year for Amazon Prime. It allows you to watch series like Jack Ryan or gems like The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. With Full HD or 4K quality, it has a wide range of content, although it is not as intuitive as it should be, at least when compared to the skill.
Main video
Apple TV+
Apple is also on this list with its own video streaming platform. As an Apple user, I always install it on the TV with Android TV that I have at home in case it is not preinstalled. One of the platforms that offers the highest image quality and allows you to watch series like Separación or Ted Lasso.
Apple TV+
- Developer: Apple
- Download at: Google game
- Price : Free
- Category: Entertainment
Tivify
Although the TDT channels have come back to life, I have to admit that the app I have installed on the TV is still Tivify. And he is the chosen one, because among other things, I like the interface it offers betterwith much more care and attention to detail and the possibility of recording certain channels even in free mode.
Tivify
Pluto TV
Pluto TV also has its place on television, although to be honest, I admit that I rarely use it. However, it is still a interesting option to access a wide variety of content on televisionespecially when I have my nephews at home.
Pluto TV
SkyShowtime
SkyShowtime is another of the applications that can send content from the mobile phone to the TV and sometimes it is much more convenient to send the information from the mobile phone to the Android TV application, so it is appreciated that it is there.
SkyShowtime
Spotify
All of these were platforms for accessing video on demand, but Android also offers the ability to install applications that turn your Smart TV into a complete music system. One of them is Spotify, so by installing it we can access all the lists of songs that we have stored in our account and use the TV to play them.
Spotify
Tide
Less known than the previous one, but with better sound quality, you can also install the Tidal application. With a huge catalog of artists and songs, it also allows us to convert our Smart TV into an audio system for enjoy our music in the living room.
Tide
- Developer: Tide
- Download at: Google game
- Price : Free
- Category: Entertainment
Youtube Music
In a list in which I do not include YouTube, because it is already preinstalled, I still include YouTube Music as an application that may be interesting. Unlike the previous ones which rely on pure and simple musical content, YouTube Music offers access to this same music but also with images, thanks to the fact that it allows access video clips from our favorite artists.
Youtube Music
Management and control
As we have seen, streaming, whether audio or video, is very well represented with different applications and actions for all tastes. But in addition to these applications, there are others that I always install on the TV and which allow me access different functions and extend usability that I give to the device.
Send files to TV
This is a basic application that makes it much easier for me to send files from TV to cell phone and vice versa. A free application that It allows me to send content in the form of audio, video or files and thus install applications that would otherwise be almost impossible to use on the TV.
Send files to TV
- Developer: Yablio
- Download at: Google game
- Price : Free
- Category: Personalization
File Browser
I always install a file explorer on the TV which completes the previous one, and in this case, the chosen ones are generally two. Well, I use X-Plore File Manager or File Commander. This is the best way I have found to access the files I have on the TV, including those I send with the application I described previously from my mobile.
File Commander
Button Mapper
This is a very personal application, but I consider it necessary to improve certain functions of my Smart TV. This application allows you to assign functions that do not come on the remote control to certain buttonsand it’s also free.
Button Mapper
- Developer: flar2
- Download at: Google game
- Price : Free
- Category: Tools
Aerial dream
Aerial is another of the apps that I always install when a new Smart TV arrives at home. And although it is not as popular as others, it is one of the most notable, since it facilitates the customization of the TV and adds new screensavers when we are not using it. In this case, those used are the Popular Apple TV screensavers and in the settings we can choose from which ones we want to use, up to the resolution, where we can choose the 4K backgrounds.
Aerial dream
Kodi
Halfway between a service platform for accessing streaming, or a multimedia center, Kodi is another of the devices present on the televisions that pass through the house. In addition to serving as an explorer to access content that I have stored locally, or on a connected hard drive, it also allows me to watch HBO Max, Disney+, DAZN, Netflix, Pluto TV and even watch TNT or record programs. You can even use it to play games by installing an emulator or use it to access Plex.
Remember that you can download Kodi from its website for any of the systems it is available on. They’re in the Store, yes, but if you want to play and always have the latest version before anywhere else, Kodi uploads all of its updates to its own website.
Kodi
VLC
VLC Media Player is available at this link. This is one of those apps that must be on any list made up of essential apps for any platform and Android TV or Google TV was not going to be an exception.
Supports most multimedia formats you can find, among which MKV, MP4, AVI, MOV, Ogg, FLAC, TS, M2TS, Wv and AAC, and codecs are included without separate downloads. It is completely free and allows you to play files saved on hard drives, devices or network transmission protocols.
VLC
Speed Test WiFi Analyzer
This application more than fulfills its promises, because it provides detailed information about connection speed that the network offers on our television, whether via Wi-Fi or cable. We can also see information about the available networks and the channels on which each operates to improve the connection we have on our device.
Speed Test WiFi Analyzer
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