Android TV and Google TV now power a large share of the Sony, Philips, TCL and Hisense televisions sold in Canada, as well as most set-top boxes. It is the most comfortable platform for this kind of service: installation goes through an official store, and typing can be done from a phone.
Installing the app
- From the home screen, open the Google Play Store.
- Search for the app your provider named.
- Install it, then open it.
- Add an account or a playlist, depending on what the app offers.
- Enter your credentials and let the first load finish.
Avoiding remote-control typing
Typing a long string of characters with arrow keys is the most tedious part of setup — and the leading source of errors. Install the Google TV app on your phone: it turns the handset into a keyboard and remote. You can then paste your credentials instead of typing them character by character.
Three settings that noticeably improve playback
- Network first — on a television that never moves, an Ethernet cable removes almost all micro-interruptions. It is the highest-return change you can make.
- Hardware decoding — in the app's playback options, it takes load off the processor and removes stutter on modest devices.
- Buffer size — raising it slightly adds a fraction of a second at start-up but absorbs the throughput swings typical of a shared evening connection.
Maintaining the device
An Android television accumulates apps, caches and updates. Two habits are enough: delete apps you never open, and fully restart the device once a week (a real power cycle, not standby). On an older box, those two habits often make the difference between smooth and choppy playback.
Android box or Android television?
An Android television spares you an extra device and a second remote. A separate box, on the other hand, can be replaced cheaply once it slows down, whereas a television's built-in system ages with the set. If your television is getting on in years, the box is the better investment.
In summary
Android TV takes little effort for a very stable result. If you remember one thing: plug in an Ethernet cable where you can — no software setting compensates for weak Wi-Fi.
Need a service already set up for your devices? See the KING365TV subscriptions, guided installation included.