Abstract
- Regardless of proudly owning a pretty big 55-inch flat display TV, I infrequently watch films or tune in to exhibits.
- Fortunately, trendy good TVs are versatile and might carry out a number of various duties.
- Listed here are 5 non-motion-picture-related issues that I exploit my TV set for frequently.
Regardless of proudly owning a comparatively giant 55-inch
Sony 4K smart TV
, I am hardly a frequent shopper of films and exhibits. The one streaming service I exploit each day is
YouTube
(primarily by way of my smartphone), and I most likely watch a median of 10 full-length movies in whole per 12 months.
That being stated, my dwelling room-situated flat display does not sit idly. I frequently benefit from its high-resolution show and its
high dynamic range
(HDR) visible acuity in a variety of non-motion-picture-related methods. Listed here are the highest 5 issues I personally use my good TV for each day.
Associated
Your smart TV’s USB port is surprisingly useful
The versatile port is commonly ignored, however listed here are 4 methods it could change how you employ your good TV.
1
Charging up my tech peripherals
Mockingly, one of the frequent issues I exploit my good TV for does not contain its show within the slightest. My flat panel
has three built-in USB-A ports
, that are able to delivering energy to externally related gadgets. I hate the muddle of getting cables sprawled round my work desk, and so I choose to plug a lot of my peripherals into my TV to prime up on juice, as a substitute.
Mostly, I plug my sport controllers and my
Apple TV
distant into my TV, however the ubiquity of USB-C ports on my devices makes it simple to recharge something from my mouse and keyboard, to my wi-fi earbuds, and every part in between.
It is price noting that the facility supply of most TV USB-A ports is proscribed — in different phrases, there is not sufficient electrical oomph to prime up the common laptop computer or different giant digital system, past a sluggish trickle cost.
2
Setting the temper for my dwelling setting
Serenity is a screensaver or soundscape away
I am a giant fan of screensavers — a lot so, in actual fact, that
I wrote an entire editorial
in regards to the sorry state of screensaver assist on Home windows 11. Fortunately, most good TV working techniques (in addition to exterior set-top containers) provide a spread of pictures, patterns, backdrops, and landscapes to cycle by throughout system downtime.
Seeing how I infrequently use my TV to, nicely, watch TV, you may think about how ceaselessly my flat panel switches into screensaver mode. I really like configuring
scenic nature shots and architectural landscapes
to slowly pan on display, as I discover them so as to add ambiance to my front room aesthetic. I will usually throw on some soothing music by way of the TV Spotify app, too, which solely provides to the calm and comfy vibes.

Associated
Every Google Chromecast: A timeline of Google’s cheapest streamer
With the Chromecast’s retirement on the horizon, this is an abbreviated historical past of Google’s undeniably common TV streaming dongle.
3
Casting my PC display
Presentation mode is useful when least anticipated
Underneath the precise circumstances, being able to forged my PC’s display instantly onto my TV panel has confirmed immensely helpful. In school, I might apply displays on this approach, casting my slideshows onto the massive display throughout rehearsals. Extra not too long ago, I have been casting previous images and residential films onto my TV, that are related regionally to my PC by way of an
It’d definitely be doable to attach a tough drive or strong state drive on to my TV, however I discover my mannequin’s built-in
Android TV
working system to be considerably sluggish and clunky to maneuver round. As an answer, casting my Mac show and working inside a well-known desktop UI paradigm has helped streamline my entry to recordsdata and different content material.

Associated
How I made all my smart home devices HomeKit compatible with a Raspberry Pi
Run Homebridge in your Raspberry Pi to attach incompatible gadgets.
4
Controlling my good dwelling home equipment
TVs make for glorious widescreen good dwelling hubs
I have been reluctant to leap head-first into the world of good dwelling applied sciences, however I’ve gone forward and dabbled within the Apple HomeKit and
Philips Hue
ecosystems over the previous couple of years. Whereas it is simple sufficient to regulate good dwelling merchandise utilizing a smartphone or a devoted good show, I usually depend on my TV display for things like adjusting LED colours, tweaking the room temperature, and turning on my
doorbell camera
dwell feed as wanted.
Is that this essentially the most pragmatic strategy to constructing a centralized good dwelling hub? For most individuals, the reply might be no. For somebody like me who infrequently makes use of my TV for multimedia consumption, having it function a hilariously big good show (full with a far superior sound bar audio setup) has been a enjoyable and surprisingly efficient strategy to good dwelling system administration.

Associated
Best digital photo frames: Relive your treasured moments with family and friends
We rounded up the very best digital photograph frames with high-resolution shows and app controls to view and share your particular recollections.
5
Displaying images
There isn’t any want to purchase a devoted digital photograph body
Along with displaying aesthetically pleasing screensavers on the common, I usually make the most of my good TV as a devoted digital photograph body. My Apple TV mechanically synchronizes with my
Apple Photos
library, and presents recollections and snapshots on display in a fantastically curated slideshow.
Basically, I’ve a behavior of snapping a ton of pictures, after which neglecting to return and respect them sooner or later. By having a direct photograph feed displayed on the most important display in my dwelling, I be certain that no photograph of a enjoyable social outing falls by the wayside or goes underappreciated in the long term.

Associated
5 issues smart TVs really shouldn’t have in 2025
Producers have to band collectively and repair the issues.
Trending Merchandise

Acer Aspire 3 A315-24P-R7VH Slim Laptop computer | 15.6″ Full HD IPS Show | AMD Ryzen 3 7320U Quad-Core Processor | AMD Radeon Graphics | 8GB LPDDR5 | 128GB NVMe SSD | Wi-Fi 6 | Home windows 11 Residence in S Mode

LG 27MP400-B 27 Inch Monitor Full HD (1920 x 1080) IPS Display with 3-Side Virtually Borderless Design, AMD FreeSync and OnScreen Control – Black

Thermaltake V250 Motherboard Sync ARGB ATX Mid-Tower Chassis with 3 120mm 5V Addressable RGB Fan + 1 Black 120mm Rear Fan Pre-Installed CA-1Q5-00M1WN-00

TP-Hyperlink AXE5400 Tri-Band WiFi 6E Router (Archer AXE75)- Gigabit Wi-fi Web Router, ax Router for Gaming, VPN Router, OneMesh, WPA3

CORSAIR iCUE 4000X RGB Tempered Glass Mid-Tower ATX PC Case – 3X SP120 RGB Elite Followers – iCUE Lighting Node CORE Controller – Excessive Airflow – Black

Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Combo, EDJO 2.4G Full-Sized Ergonomic Computer Keyboard with Wrist Rest and 3 Level DPI Adjustable Wireless Mouse for Windows, Mac OS Desktop/Laptop/PC
