A lot is made about the fact that Android Tv Boxes are great devices to stream your favorite movies, TV shows and music. Especially with the addition of third party apks and add-ons for the Kodi Media Player. Of course, they are definitely great for that. But there are many other useful applications that are often overlooked.
With the Android operating system, access to Google Play and the addition of a Mini Wireless Keyboard, suddenly your TV is turned into a large Android tablet or Mini P.C. Anything you can do with a tablet, you can do with your Android TV Box. Except maybe lose it on the bus!
Writing: Many office apps such as Microsoft Word, OfficeSuite, Microsoft OneDrive and Google Drive are available for free on the Google Play store. The aspiring writer or blogger can sit in the comfort of their living room or den and work on ideas, story lines or even novels. With the addition of printer apps those stories can be printed wirelessly, even if the printer is in another room. Except for certain things that can only be done with a computer, the days of sitting in an uncomfortable office chair in a small room in the back of the house are numbered. I know, laptops, but tablets wouldn't be so popular if laptops were easier to use and less expensive.
Gaming: Many games are available on Google Play, and with the addition of a Mini Wireless Keyboard or compatible Game Controller an Android TV Box can become a great little gaming console. Many retro emulators are available for download, such as but not limited to Nintendo, PlayStation, Atari and Gameboy. While the boxes themselves usually have limited storage space, the addition of microSD cards and USB ports adds unlimited storage for saving games and progress. Entire libraries of retro games can be accessed and played with one inexpensive device.
Music: Of course there are many good streaming and live radio apps, but another great feature is the ability to access your music library using the USB ports and USB memory sticks or even connecting to a portable hard drive. We of the older generation went from Records to Eight Track Tapes to Cassette Tapes to CDs, with each jump being just a little more portable than the last. Then along came digital storage and blew everything out of the water with literally thousands of songs being able to be stored in very small devices. The Android TV devices are excellent for accessing and playback of your treasured tunes.
Movies: Yes, as with music their are many apks and Kodi add-ons for streaming movies. However, if you're like me you probably have book shelves filled with, well books, but also lots of Movies, primarily in DVD and Bluray format. Many movies now come with digital copies, making it easy to store your collection on drives and memory sticks. While most of the Android TV devices can handle 4k, 1080p and even 3-D, with the higher bandwidth of 4k and future formats who knows if streaming will ever be better than 1080p. But you will be able to store those high resolution movies and use your Android TV Box to watch them in glorious 4K on your big screen. Plus you can control which movies your kids are watching and not worry about them losing DVDs.
Surfing The Web: You can use the built in Web Browser or download Chrome browser and turn your big screen TV into an internet machine. Browse your favorite sites, catch up on the news, check the weather. The entire web is at your fingertips. A wireless Mini Keyboard is a must, especially one with a mouse touchpad. Download apps for Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and other social media platforms.
Running a business, writing, blogging, gaming, movies, music or surfing the web, Android TV Boxes can be a great addition to the tablets and computers we already use on a daily basis. I believe that we are at the beginning of a major shift into how consumers use their TVs and that the Android boxes will be at the center of the entertainment and computing hub.
Disclosure: MtnMan Digital is in no way connected to Kodi, Google Play or any branded product or software mentioned in this article. I have a Sign business that I have run for 20 years and started this blog due to my love of electronics, movies, music and gaming. I personally placed relevant ads from reputable companies on the blog and do receive small commissions from any sales resulting from clicking on the ads. I also sell Android boxes that I've personally loaded with my favorite apks and Kodi Addons. Thank you for your support and feedback.
-Larkin T. Livesay, Jr.
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