Remotes

catter70 · ‎10-11-2017

When you sign up with any of the many streaming services, do you just use your TV's remote or do you need a special remote? Also, do you need a smart TV?

gadgetgal613 · ‎07-07-2021

@catter70 wrote:
When you sign up with any of the many streaming services, do you just use your TV's remote or do you need a special remote? Also, do you need a smart TV?

If you have a smart TV, you use the TV's remote. If you use a streaming device, you use the device's remote. You don't need a smart TV but, you need some type of streaming device. I have both because neither has all of the channels I want.

eadu4 · ‎06-14-2011

@catter70 You can use your remote. You do not need a smart TV. A smart TV connects to the internet to get a signal for your movies and and TV shows. But a streaming device, such as an Amazon Fire TV Stick, Roku, DirecTV Gemini device, or Apple TV works similarly and can make a regular TV work as a Smart TV for under $50. Roku, Firestick, Chromecast, and Apple TV offer channels your Smart TV doesn't. The Roku Channel, FreeVee, and other free streaming channels aren't offered on all smart TVs. Once you set it up it's easy to get used to and you can down load the app (I have Xfinity so I downloaded their app onto my phone and my tablet) and you can watch TV on your phone or tablet or even your laptop.

on the bay · ‎03-09-2010

@eadu4,

I did not know that you can't get all the streaming services on a smart tv like you can with for example a roku, firestick etc. Good to know!

Our neighbors have a smart tv and I thought it was so compicated.

"If you walk the footsteps of a stranger, you'll learn things you never knew. Can you sing with all the voices of the mountains? can you paint with all the colors of the wind?"

Bookplate · ‎08-19-2011

You can also bypass tv's altogether and just stream them on any computer.

Mz iMac · ‎07-26-2014

@on the bay wrote:
I did not know that you can't get all the streaming services on a smart tv like you can with for example a roku, firestick etc. Good to know!
Our neighbors have a smart tv and I thought it was so compicated.

@on the bay Yes you can. Depends on the tv brand.

Last year I purchased a Toshiba FireTV for my living room. It has every app known to man on that thing. Through its settings, I can customize which apps I want to show, which to hide & store in "the cloud." I am still customizing. I try to do so every other month. Not complicated at all. It's just Toshiba FireTV has hundreds of apps in the app section. I don't have to download a thing (yet).

The Toshiba also "updates" itself. I swear everytime it does, I see more apps!!!

On screen instructions are self explanatory. If you can read, you can customize a smart tv.

"Never argue with a fool. Onlookers may not be able to tell the difference."

on the bay · ‎03-09-2010

@Mz iMac,

It's great to get all this info because it seems there are so many different tvs you can buy.

Good to know its not complicated. So you don't even have to sign into each like if you want to get youtube or amazon or a streaming service?

I don't need one yet but I'm taking notes!

"If you walk the footsteps of a stranger, you'll learn things you never knew. Can you sing with all the voices of the mountains? can you paint with all the colors of the wind?"

FranandZoe · ‎03-09-2010

I don't have a smart TV - I access all my streaming services thru my Xfinity DVR. And use the TV remote.

Toot1920 · ‎07-22-2018

@on the bayyou will have to initially sign into most streaming services that you use. For example, Disney+, Prime Video,Netflix, and most others that you have an account with. Usually, once you sign in, you won't have to sign into that app again.