Many TV devices have in their arsenal such a thing as Smart TV. This is a specialized mode that allows the user to connect to the Internet and watch different things from there, including videos and different sites.
Many models and consoles have a similar function. The Internet opens up a huge number of opportunities for the user. He can watch the latest news using Android TV and a special Smart TV, watch many recorded programs, and so on.
IPTV players
IPTV player is an application that uses m3u playlists. To watch TV you need to install one of the players, then load the channel list into it. You can get the link to the channels here -
Peers TV
One of the best and simplest players today. You can install directly from Google Play. Peers TV has a built-in weekly program guide, favorite channels function, good optimization and full remote control support.
Lazy IPTV
Another simple and very convenient IPTV player. The main advantages of Lazy IPTV are that it holds broadcasts well (without interruptions), is optimized (works quickly), and has a playlist manager. Just try it and the player will remain in your device for a long time.
OTT IPTV Navigator
So far a little-known, but very powerful player for playing streaming broadcasts. It has a nice design, convenient controls, and works quickly even on weak devices. It is very easy to set up and can be downloaded directly from Google Play.
OTT player
One of the oldest and most popular players. It is famous for reading absolutely any link and playlist from the network. Very convenient and supports an archive of programs (You can watch what happened 3 days ago). Registration on the site is required. Playlist management is located in the service’s personal account.
TVirl – Live Channels
TVirl is an IPTV player that allows you to watch Live Channels. It only works on Android TV and will not work anywhere else. This player has complete minimalism and creates the feeling that you are watching a regular TV.
Halva TV Player
A completely new player. Very stylish, well optimized, works fast. Not perfect yet, but better than many. The developers are actively working on it and constantly updating it. This will soon be the best player, without a doubt.
These are not all players through which you can watch IPTV. There are more on the site and if you want to get acquainted with them, follow this link -
Tunnel Bear VPN
The Internet is huge, which means that not every application or website is available everywhere. That's when VPNs come in handy. Additionally, in addition to geographic restrictions, most VPN services also provide security.
And few VPN services can match the quality of service TunnelBear provides.
It's fast and uses strong encryption methods to protect your data. TunnelBear is free, but you can always opt for a paid subscription. The free plan gives you access to 500MB of data, while the unlimited plan will cost you $9.99 per month.
Media centers for Android TV
Media Center is a downloader application that can fully replace your standard launcher and all installed applications (TV, IPTV, movies, games and everything, everything, everything). There are even TV set-top boxes that do not have Android or iOS installed, only one media center.
In fact, there are a lot of such applications, but I have selected only the best for you:
Kodi aka XBMC
The most popular media center, which is cross-platform and can be installed on Android TV, game consoles and a computer. There are hundreds of thousands of add-ons for Kodi with movies, IPTV, video hosting, games, etc. Google Play alone will not give you such functionality and capabilities.
Movian
It is similar to Kodi, but has a number of advantages over it: There are many built-in applications that you can simply open and start watching an interesting movie or online TV. Also, it is better suited for an inexperienced user, because there is no need to mess with the settings and installations of repositories.
Block 4: Home Media Server
your unity brings the contents of your smartphone to the big screen. Right from your music collection to your favorite movie, it's all easy to access from your TV.
The prerequisite for this application is the LocalCast Application. To set up, all you have to do is find your TV. After that, open your music collection, click on the three-dot menu and select Open in. This is it!
TV players
A TV player differs from an IPTV player in that it already has channels built in and there is no need to search for playlists or configure anything. The disadvantage of such applications is that you are limited by channels, functionality, or the applications are paid. However, I managed to find suitable TV players, which you can see below.
Fry!TV
A very cool TV player that the developers created quite recently. It contains 1700 TV channels, a built-in program guide, can switch SD to HD quality, works stably, and is conveniently controlled by a remote control. The player works through Ice Stream (Torrent TV) and if you have a weak TV Box, it will slow down.
TV+ HD
This is a hybrid application that can be used as both a TV player and an IPTV player. It already has 60 popular Russian channels built into it, and you can also upload your own list (this was discussed above). It does not have strict requirements for system characteristics and is well optimized.
Torrent TV
You can watch movies, TV and all in one application. Works the same as "Fry!TV" via Ice Stream. To install, you will need to register on the website, after which your login and password will need to be entered in the application. Has viewing restrictions, which are removed after purchasing a subscription.
OLA TV
This is the simplest TV player for Android. Immediately after installation, you can start watching TV channels. This is not the only good thing about OLA TV; the player has built-in channels from 50 countries: Ukraine, Russia, Poland, Germany, etc. It also contains broadcasts that in many players are available only by subscription (Match!, Football, TV1000 and others).
Features of Android consoles
Unfortunately, some set-top boxes do not have the ability to connect to the Internet, since their device is not equipped with Smart TV. In this case, you can connect a special set-top box that will run on the Android operating system.
These devices practically replace Smart TV and have no less high-quality functionality. It is worth noting such functions as:
- Transmitting information using pictures and Ultra HD quality;
- The user can watch movies using programs, and there is no need to first download the video to watch it. The user can adjust all settings using the video file being played;
- You can use the YouTube application officially. If there is no current version of this video hosting, then in general the viewing is not so complete. The user can use the “YouTube Kids” button to activate content that is intended for young children;
- Ability to view broadcast using user source. The set-top box processes familiar channels in the best quality. Watching familiar programs is much more enjoyable if you use a set-top box;
- The user can download and run many programs using the Google Play Market. This is a special store on the Android operating system, which will also be available to the user;
- Connect your phone or smartphone in order to use popular instant messengers. Using the TV, you can even communicate with your interlocutor in this way. It will be reflected on the big screen;
- Listening to music via a phone, storage device or the Internet also becomes possible with a set-top box.
The most interesting thing that a user might like is downloading additional programs, among which there are ones specifically designed for watching videos and clips. It is worth noting that the capabilities of the console do not end there. There are different types of consoles on the market, each of which will have its own unique capabilities.
Films and videos
Using these applications, you can watch video clips, install an online cinema, which will contain: Movies, TV series, cartoons, programs and everything else.
YouTube for TV
Large backup of different versions of YouTube apps for Android TV. Also, there is a cool analogue called “SkyTube”, which contains all the functionality of the original, makes it possible to import subscriptions and is completely without advertising (If you do not take into account the video that is embedded in the video).
Zona
Zone is an incredibly cool application that has a lot of movies, TV series, and built-in TV channels. There are not many channels, 250+ to be exact, but all the channels are good and without garbage. Optimized, fast, free - definitely worth installing!
LazyMedia Deluxe
One of the most popular cinemas for Android. You can watch movies, TV series, shows and everything else online and torrent. There are some features that no one else has. An example of such a function is “Synchronization”. It makes it possible to synchronize history and favorites between devices, and you can also start watching a movie on one device and continue on another device from the same place.
HD VideoBox
This is probably the best online cinema for Android TV. HD VideoBox does not contain its own database of films, but pulls them from all over the Internet. Those. When you write “Name of movie/series” in the search, it offers you a choice from the most popular cinemas (up to 15 sources), where you can choose in what quality and from which site to start watching. In addition, this is a very convenient application, where there is: search history, favorites, search by filters, and much more. Through this program you can also watch Torrent movies without downloading them.
Cetusplay
Cetusplay positions itself as the world's number one remote app for Android TV Box or Fire TV. And he lives up to his promise. All you need to do is make sure that your TV and your phone are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. After this, controlling your TV becomes easier than ever.
CetusPlay showcases a number of features such as a rich app center, the ability to take screenshots from your phone, and a handy Cleaner tool.
Other
In addition to the applications above, you will probably find these programs and setup instructions useful in order to upgrade your Android TV to the maximum. Everything that is in this category will ensure the stability of the device and add ease of use.
MX Player
Your device simply must have at least one video player that can read streaming videos. For most of the applications above, this is what you will need. MX Player is good because it is optimized and has hardware acceleration. Also, MX player supports almost all video formats and audio codecs.
File managers
To install applications from USB and view media files (movies, music, videos), you will definitely need a file manager. I have made for you a selection of the best applications that work perfectly with any type of file, and also greatly expand the functionality of your TV.
Browsers
Many visitors to my blog are faced with the problem of choosing a browser for Android TV. The reasons for this are different, but mainly the problem is in managing and maintaining all the necessary components. I have selected for you the three best browsers to choose from that will solve this problem.
How to turn off all advertising
A simple way to disable all advertising at once in the settings. By changing the DNS on your TV, all advertising in all applications will be cut out without purchasing PRO versions. This method works for all applications except YouTube, unfortunately.
Explorer ES.
A file manager is a must-have app on any Android device, be it an Android phone or an Android TV. With it, you can not only view your files and manage downloads, but also help you manage your storage efficiently.
In ES, File Explorer for Android TV is a good option. Unlike the phone version, the TV application is not riddled with advertising. In terms of features, ES File Explorer includes a lot of features.
My favorite feature is the Google Drive integration. Anytime I need to have a sideloaded app on my Android TV, all I do is upload the APK file to my Google Drive and access it from the TV app. Just, you know.
SPMC
SPMC is a fork of the Kodi app, which means it looks and works similarly. The developer paid special attention to Nvidia Shield TV set-top boxes and did not forget the Amazon Fire Stick. There are several fixes and additional features compared to Kodi. Nvidia Shield TV owners may prefer this app, but most will still choose Kodi. Both programs are free.
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SPMC
Developer: SemperPax
Price: Free
LocalCast
LocalCast was originally created for streaming to Chromecast. It also supports broadcasting to any DLNA devices that are connected to your network. You can cast almost any file, although functionality with Chromecast depends on support for the specific format. There is also support for SMB, you can broadcast a PDF file and some types of subtitles on the screen. The program is simpler than many other multimedia centers, but this does not mean that it is worse. There is a subscription and the ability to buy the application in one payment.
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LocalCast
Developer: Stefan Pledl
Price: Free
