Recently Droider proved that channels are the least that a TV can offer in 2015. We promised that if viewers and readers are interested in the topic of applications for "smart" TV, then the topic will be developed in other videos.
Asphalt 8
Another well-known representative of its class is the race Asphalt 8 from company Gameloft. The mass of licensed cars, a variety of tracks, nitrous oxide and multiplayer are equally captivating both on a smartphone and on a big TV screen.
Space Invaders
The revived classic Space Invaders, which was played by, perhaps, every geek. The developer carefully approached the porting of the game and even imitated the interface of the machine in order to squeeze more nostalgic tears out of gamers. The gameplay is simple, and therefore beautiful: we move the spaceship horizontally, hold down the trigger and shoot the alien invaders.
World of Goo
A puzzle game present on all major platforms, be it Windows, Android, OSX, iOS and even linux. Each level is based on creating shapes using balls. The created models obey the laws of physics, which the player must use to move forward.
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars
Game, unlike ports GTA III, Vice City and San Andreas, was developed specifically for mobile devices and debuted on nintendo ds in 2009. After a year of disassembly in Chinatown, they got to iOS and after 4 to Android. Unfortunately, the game passed by OS users from Google, so we remind you of the release. If you have gone through the above ports repeatedly, install Chinatown Wars.
Download on Google Play
Read the review about which applications for Android TV you simply must have installed. To watch TV channels, movies and more.
If a TV with support has appeared in your apartment, then it's time to install additional applications. As a result, you will significantly expand the functionality of the device. In this article we will talk about those programs that are designed for the Android TV operating system. It is equipped with relatively inexpensive TVs. Also, some smart ones operate under the control of the "green robot".
The best apps to watch TV online
Do you want to connect cable TV? Don't even have an ordinary terrestrial antenna at hand? Then install the SPB TV application on your TV. In the free mode of use, it offers several dozen Russian-language TV channels. They are viewed using an internet connection. Any channels can be added to Favorites, which allows you to access them much faster.
The main advantage of SPB TV over its competitors is the recording of TV broadcasts on the developers' servers. You can start a broadcast at absolutely any time, the prescription of which does not exceed one week. The “Air Paused” function works on the same principle when you interrupt the show for several minutes or even hours.
Some irritation in the user can be caused only by occasionally appearing ads. However, it can be disabled for 99 rubles a month - at the same time, such a subscription will open up additional functionality. There are other types of subscriptions in the application that open additional channels, including children's and sports. In short, SPB TV may well replace cable TV.
This application was created for our readers who live in Ukraine or miss their homeland. Ukrainian TV channels are broadcast here. This is done completely free of charge, the utility does not even have ads!
In total, the application offers to watch about 50 TV channels, 10 of which broadcast in HD. There are many filters, thanks to which you can always find something interesting for yourself. Not forgotten and a detailed guide to the program guide.
Unfortunately, there are no paid Ukrainian channels here. It is possible that in the future the developers of Lanet.TV will implement the possibility of viewing them by subscription.
The best apps to watch IPTV
An excellent option for those subscribers whose cable operator broadcasts via IPTV. However, using this technology, you can watch TV channels without connecting to cable TV - you just need to find playlists. However, remember that paid channels are unlikely to be watched in this way - they regularly change their address, and it is illegal to do so.
IPTV Pro differs from many analogues by supporting the auto-connect function. This is very important, because connection breaks can occur from time to time. There is also an enlarged playlist history. The program guide is also supported by the application, if it is created in JTV or XMLTV format.
There is a free version of this utility. But we recommend spending 79 rubles, forgetting about any restrictions and advertising. In general, this is the best way to watch TV, as almost all channels will be broadcast in the best quality. But you will have to spend some time looking for a suitable playlist somewhere on the forums.
The Best Media Applications
Any TV with Smart TV support by default can work with multimedia files. But if you want to expand the functionality in this regard, it is recommended to install the Kodi program on Android TV. This is a kind of media browser that divides the contents of a USB drive into categories. But the main advantage of the program is not this. The Kodi application is able to use hardware acceleration, thereby improving the quality of the video. This applies not only to content contained on external media, but also to all kinds of online videos - for example, full support for YouTube has been introduced into the application.
If you get used to this program, then there is a good chance that every launch of a TV or set-top box will start with Kodi. It is important that the application is distributed free of charge, and is also almost completely devoid of advertising.
There is a good chance that you will regularly connect an external drive containing video files to your set-top box or TV. To view them on Android TV, we recommend using MX Player PRO. This is an excellent video player that understands most codecs, including audio ones. The application stably remembers the place where you stopped. Also, the program is able to recognize subtitles, which is especially important for watching, say, anime, which does not yet have a voice translation.
This application is sold for about 350 rubles. There is also a free version of the video player, but it regularly displays ads and has less functionality. Please note that the program supports hardware acceleration, thanks to which even videos with a very high bitrate are played back.
The best apps for listening to music
Oddly enough, radio is still not dead. Motorists still listen to it, and someone has a radio at home. But it should be noted that gradually the radio "moves" to the Internet. You can listen to a specific radio station on the official website. However, it is much easier to use a special application that contains links to playlists of thousands of radio stations from around the world. The name of this app is TuneIn Radio.
The program has gained worldwide success, as a result of which it has been ported to many platforms, up to Sony game consoles. The version of the application for Android TV will delight you with a user-friendly interface and a wide selection of radio stations. Almost all playlists are working, and access to them is provided for free. At any time you can start recording the broadcast. There is also a "Favorites" section, thanks to which you can access your favorite radio stations in a few seconds. For some time now, TuneIn Radio has also allowed you to listen to podcasts. However, the program copes with this matter a little worse than those applications that were originally created to solve such a problem.
If you have a subscription to the corresponding service, then you simply cannot bypass this application. Until now, you've only listened to music on your smartphone or tablet, but now you can do it on your TV too. This is especially true for those users whose sound is output to speakers.
For beginners, an explanation is required. Google Play Music is a special service that provides access to millions of tracks from all over the world. You can listen to both individual songs and playlists created by other users. Access to music is provided by subscription - it costs about 150 rubles a month.
A rare cloud music service that is quite free to use. However, it should be understood that known compositions rarely appear here. The service operates on a rather unusual principle. He tries to find the perfect music for your current mood. SoundCloud also selects music similar to the songs you love.
In the application, you can listen to tracks of various genres. You can subscribe to each musician, and then receive notifications about his new compositions. The service also publishes podcasts and news. In a word, you should definitely try installing this application on your Android TV, as it is the sound analogue of YouTube.
Best Online Cinema Clients
Photo: HD VideoBox Most of all, the owners of online cinemas are pleased with the popularization of Android TV. After all, most often you want to use a TV just for watching movies. At the same time, a rare user will want to bother with a torrent - it is much easier to launch an online movie theater client, select a movie and start watching it. And it's not scary that some amount of money is required to watch some blockbusters - but you definitely won't be accused of piracy. In a word, the best applications for Android TV cannot but include the creations of online cinemas. In particular, many users recommend installing HD VideoBox.
The application contains a fairly large catalog of films. Each name is supplemented with a detailed description. The library is regularly updated, replenished with all sorts of novelties. All films are at least HD quality. Interestingly, anime is highlighted in a separate category. There is really a lot of it here, which should certainly please fans of this animation genre. You can also find sections "Favorites" and "History" in the application, making it easier to find something interesting.
Okko
Online cinema containing more than 4000 films. The first 7 days you can watch them all for free. Then the list of free movies is greatly shortened, and ads are displayed before watching them. However, no one prevents the user from subscribing, thanks to which all new items become available. In total, the application has 10 types of subscriptions based on movie genres.
Almost all movies and series in this online cinema have high quality pictures. The choice is facilitated by competent sorting by genre and some other parameters. The "Recommendations" section also helps. Download the application not only on Smart TV, but also on your smartphone - transferring the picture to the TV is carried out with one click of a virtual button.
IVI
One of the oldest Russian-language online cinemas. For a long time, it has been present not only on the standard "green robot", but also on Android TV. Unlike competitors, IVI does not constantly remind you of the existence of paid subscriptions. Nevertheless, they are here - through the registration of a paid subscription, access to the latest films is provided.
This online cinema focuses on classic films as well. In this regard, the number of films present here is incredibly high. There are also some popular series in IVI. As for sorting, it is carried out not only by title, genres and country, but also by many other parameters - for example, by year of release or even rating on Kinopoisk. Children will also like IVI - for them there is a huge number of cartoons and animated series.
Best system apps
Free TV apps for Android must include at least one file manager. It is with its help that the easiest way is to view the contents of a connected USB flash drive or even an external hard drive. Also, this application allows you to see a network drive - HDD, connected to your router.
The program, as mentioned above, is free. However, it displays ads from time to time, which may not be to everyone's liking.
A special Internet browser, sharpened for use on a TV. With such a browser, you will not complain about the remote control, with which the control of some Google Chrome turns into torment. At the same time, TV Bro cannot be called low-functional. There are tabs here, and the download manager is not forgotten. If the remote control or set-top box has a microphone, then voice search becomes available.
This browser supports changing User Agent. This is especially true in cases where for some reason the mobile version of the site opens, which does not look the best on TV. The application is distributed free of charge - this is another of its advantages.
A great replacement for any torrent client. With this app, you don't need to download anything. Instead, the program acts like a video player, allowing you to watch TV channels and movies using ACE Stream Engine technology. Please note that the application itself is not capable of playing video - it only generates a link to an online stream, which then needs to be opened using some kind of video player.
The program is distributed free of charge. However, Google recognized it as pirated, removing it from its online store. In this regard, installing the application on a set-top box or TV can cause problems for an unprepared user.
The best games for Android TV
You can kill your free time not only by watching TV channels or movies. Many people use Android TV for gaming as well. However, it should be remembered that they will require a gyroscopic remote control or even a joystick. Using a conventional remote control is not possible in many games.
Now a rare person installs "evil birds" on his smartphone. However, downloading this game to your TV or set-top box will not hurt. The passage of one level takes approximately the same time as the next ad block. Try to complete this game completely! You will be surprised, but it is very difficult. Destroying real fortresses with a limited number of birds will make you sweat.
A great racing game that tests the power of the TV set-top box hardware. This simulator was developed many years ago, but it cannot be said that it has outdated graphics. The game should also please with a lot of cars, which you can change at least every race.
Alas, the remote control will not work in this game. You will have to stock up on a joystick that connects to a TV or set-top box via Bluetooth.
A very addictive zombie shooter that also requires a gamepad to control. The first-person view captivates from the very first seconds. As the game progresses, you will unlock more and more powerful weapons. Nevertheless, the dead are also becoming more and more, and they themselves are becoming more pumped. Everything is in order with Dead Trigger 2 and with graphics that look especially colorful on the TV.
Conclusion
Now you know what apps to install on Android TV in the first place. It cannot be said that the considered programs turn a TV or set-top box into a full-fledged computer. Instead, they make the device a real media center, allowing you to play any kind of content, including online.
Of course, you can browse Google Play on your own. So you are sure to find a lot of other useful applications. The advantage of this platform is that many of these programs will be absolutely free.
Do you have an Android TV device on board? And what apps do you use the most? Share your opinion in the comments.
Android TV's release was exciting. Here was a platform that was more stable than Google TV and the developer community responded in kind by developing some awesome stuff for it. A little time has passed and although the adoption rate isn’t quite there yet, the apps and games available for Android TV have only been improving. Here are the best Android TV games currently available! Please note, you'll need a hardware controller or at least your Android TV remote for all of these! If you want to see more, you can find .
Bridge Constructor Portal
Price:$4.99
Bridge Constructor Portal is a mashup between the popular Bridge Constructor games and Portal. Most of the mechanics are classic Bridge Constructor. You must build a bridge to make it to the end. However, the obstacles, characters, and theme are all Portal. Thus, the obstacles you avoid are mostly those creepy bots that shoot at you when they see you. The game comes with 60 levels, plenty of clever Portal humor, Google Play Games achievements, and more. It's pretty good for its price and one of our favorites from the year it launched.
crashlands
Price:$4.99
Crashlands is one of Android's best games and it's also one of the best Android TV games. You crash land on an alien planet and must figure out a way to leave. The game includes a massive open world, tons of stuff to do and craft, and a bit of story line to keep things moving along. There are also some niceties like a self-organizing inventory. This one features cloud saving and cross-platform play with PC and iOS so you can play it on multiple platforms with the same save file. Those who like open world games should definitely try this one.
Crossy Road
Price: Free to play
Crossy Road is one of the most popular arcade games in all of mobile gaming. It's also one of the best Android TV games. It's basically this generation's version of Frogger. You hop across roads, streams, and other places while avoiding obstacles. You lose if you are hit by traffic, fall in water, or other similar fate. This one has both local and online multiplayer. It's simple enough for most kids and it's just a good time all-around. It is just an arcade game, though, so don't expect too much more than that.
Final Fantasy III, IV, V, VI, and IX
Price: Variations per game
Square Enix hit the mobile gaming landscape at a full sprint. They have a ton of games on Android. Some of them are even Android TV games. They include the ports of Final Fantasy III, IV, V, VI, and IX, according to Google Play's Android TV games page. Other parts of the series may be compatible as well. Each game features 20-30 hours of story line, multiple side quests, good soundtracks, and simple mechanics. The controller support is generally good with all of them as well. They are expensive. However, they are also among the best jRPGs on mobile. Doom and Destiny is another good jRPG on Android TV.
Horizon Chase
Price: Free / Up to $2.99
Horizon Chase is a retro racing game and one of the better Android TV games. The games with right around 100 tracks along with a bunch of cars, various tournaments, and other content to play with. You get retro racing mechanics through and through, although we do appreciate the level of polish with this one. It feels like playing an old racing game for the Nintendo 64 but with better graphics and controls. The World Tour update also added nine new tracks, two new cards, and some extra stuff to collect. Real Racing 3 is another decent option if you don't mind free to play games.
We interrupt your scrolling for some shameless self-promotion!
15 best free Android games available right now!
15 best action games for Android! (Updated 2019)
NBA Jam
Price:$4.99
NBA Jam is a classic arcade basketball game that was originally released in the 1990's. This game allows you to play two-on-two basketball where you score baskets, shove your opponents around, and hopefully go on fire. You go on fire by making three unanswered baskets by the same player and you'll get a sizable stat boost for doing it. The game has online and local multiplayer modes along with a single player campaign. It's one of the best sports games on Android and it works great on Android TV.
Machinarium
Price:$4.99
Machinarium is one of the classic puzzle games on Android. It received updates a few years ago to make it compatible with Android TV as well. The game revolves around a little robot. He lost his girlfriend and he wants to save her from the villains. You help him solve puzzles and do just that. It's not an overly long game, but the puzzles are fun and the game design is quite far above average. It's also a premium game with no in-app purchases or ads.
Oddmar
Price: free demo / $4.99
Oddmar is a platformer from the developers of Leo's Fortune, another excellent Android TV game. Oddmar is a disgraced viking who wants to make a name for himself. You help him do that by conquering various levels. The mechanics are simple, the graphics are above average for a platformer, and it comes with modern niceties like cloud saving. You can play a bit of the game for free before you buy the whole thing for $4.99. Leo's Fortune also costs $4.99 if you want that one too.
Orbia
Price: Free / Up to $15.99
Orbia is a neat little arcade game. You shoot little puff balls through obstacles and to the targets. You hit the obstacles and you lose. It's a fairly basic premium but it's executed well. The game features colorful graphics, hundreds of levels, various characters, and multiplayer. Of course, it works well on Android TV as well. This one doesn't actually require a hardware controller. Any remote should be sufficient to play this one.
PBA Bowling Challenge
Price: Free to play
PBA Bowling Challenge is one of the few decent bowling games on mobile. It also has Android TV support. The game features above average graphics, simple controls, and more. You get three game modes. There's a multiplayer mode, a career mode, and a quick play mode along with leaderboards and all kinds of other things. There are also tournaments and special events. It's a freemium game and that isn't optimal. However, this is another family friendly game with tons of stuff to do. Plus, it's bowling. Who doesn't like bowling?
PewDiePie: Legend of Brofist
Price:$4.99
PewDiePie: Legend of the Brofist is actually a pretty decent little platformer. It features voice acting from the venerable YouTube star along with cameo appearances from other YouTube stars. The game also requires a bit of skill to play, but you'll get better as you progress. It features epic boss fights, unlockable characters, some decent retro-style music, and various difficulty levels to keep things interesting. It's a lot of fun, has no in-app purchases, and more. It's definitely one of the better Android TV games.
Teslagrad
Price:$4.99
Teslagrad is one of the newer Android TV games on the list. It's also a fairly decent puzzle-platformer. The main mechanics are platformer. However, as you play, you unlock various powers that help you complete the puzzles throughout the game. It also features very little text so you don't have to read endless dialog like some other games. Aside from the occasional bug, the game is otherwise quite good.
Thimbleweed Park
Price:$9.99
Thimbleweed Park is one of the more expensive Android TV games, but it's still pretty good. It's a puzzle-thriller with a bunch of crazy people and some dark story elements. Your job is to track down the clues and solve the mystery. There are five playable characters, various puzzles, two difficulty levels, a hint system, and voice overs. It's actually quite modern feeling despite its retro style graphics.
This War of Mine
Price:$14.99
This War of Mine is one of the best Android games available today and was our choice for the best Android game of 2015. In this survival game, you play as innocent civilians caught in the grips of a city at war. Your job is to survive the encounter while losing as few people as possible. The game forces you to make some tough decisions and some pundits have even said the game “isn't fun”, but totally worth playing anyway. It’s a little expensive, but it’s an unforgettable experience and is among the best Android TV games available, period.
Unkilled and Dead Trigger 2
Price: Free to play
Unkilled is among the best FPS games released in the last couple of years. It’s a zombie shooter which means most of your gameplay will be missions where you must go and destroy some bad guys. It features a ton of bad guys, zombie bosses, and hundreds of levels to play through. Updates in 2016 added in online multiplayer support so you can now get online and play with others if you choose to. The graphics are phenomenal and we all know that that first person shooters are better played with actual controllers. It's a freemium game, but it's still pretty fun. Madfinger Games' Dead Trigger 2 is another excellent zombie shooter on Android TV.
If we missed any of the best Android TV games, tell us about them in the comments! You can our latest Android app and game lists!
