Author: Press Room

Android TVs aren’t exactly known for their speed. And as apps pile up and storage fills, even simple tasks like opening a menu or switching apps can start to feel slow. That’s exactly what was happening to me too, so I finally decided to unlock the Developer Options settings on my TV. All it took was a couple of quick changes, and my Android TV felt quicker and more responsive than before. Android TV’s best-kept secret Credit: Shimul Sood / MakeUseOf If you’ve used an Android phone or tablet for a reasonable amount of time, you probably already know about its…

There is a new way to watch YouTube, and it might be my favorite of all time. It turns YouTube into a full cable experience that even looks like an old cable UI, complete with scanline effects similar to your old, chunky CRT TV, and best of all, it’s completely free. Channel Surfer is a surprisingly fun alternative to watching YouTube on the site itself, and making the switch to its list of 20+ channels comes with another big benefit: no advertising interruptions. YouTube is cable, and it’s surprisingly awesome? It’s a different way to watch Channel Surfer is a…

In the past, I’ve sat down to watch something on Plex, only to be met with endless buffering — and it turns out I’m not alone. A quick check on Reddit revealed scores of posts dating back years seeking help with this very issue. It’s especially annoying, as streaming apps are supposed to “just work” straight out of the box with minimal tweaking, regardless of the device or network conditions (although a few handy setup tips never hurt). However, as I found out, this lies at the root of the problem. It turns out that, by default, my Plex server…

Prime Video has a new tentpole series it’s been promoting: Scarpetta, a crime thriller starring Nicole Kidman as Dr. Kay Scarpetta, a brilliant forensic pathologist who uses advanced forensic technology to solve crimes. Oscar winner Jamie Lee Curtis is on board as Kay’s older sister Dorothy, while Emmy winner Bobby Cannavale plays Dorothy’s husband. It is a star-studded affair, but that doesn’t make it the best thriller in Amazon’s arsenal. There’s a twistier, more challenging series just a few clicks away. Time for The Devil’s Hour From (some of) the people who brought you Doctor Who The Devil’s Hour is…

Your TV’s home screen shouldn’t feel like a billboard. And yet, that’s exactly what Android TV and Google TV often turn into. All you see is ads and random recommendations, which make it harder to get to the streaming apps you actually want to use. Sure, you could use the Apps-Only Mode to cut down on the noise, but it’s not without its own limitations. A better solution is to use a third-party app like AT4K Launcher. It’s a free app that replaces the cluttered interface with a clean, app-first layout that makes navigation feel so much better. Now that…

Tubi is a free streaming service that you can use at any time, any place, without a subscription. All you do is go to the website, search for what you want to see, and enjoy it without paying a dime. All you have to do is watch a few ads. If you’re tired of paying month after month for services like Netflix, HBO Max, and more, Tubi and other free streaming services could be the answer. Tubi even makes original content, and some of it is very entertaining. Why Lowlifes is worth your time (no spoilers) Lowlifes is a fun…

YouTube first introduced short-form videos around the world in 2021, and it didn’t take long for them to become popular. It was clearly a reaction to the popularity of TikTok, which specializes in short-form video, whereas YouTube has videos that are literally hundreds of hours long. So now, when you open your YouTube homepage, you’ll get recommended a variety of long-form videos in 16:9 format alongside several short-form videos in vertical format, perfect for consuming in quick bursts on your phone. The mix works for some people, but others miss the way YouTube started pushing Shorts so aggressively. There are…

I’m a heavy user of Amazon’s Echo ecosystem (and there’s power in owning more than one), and lately, Alexa has gotten a huge upgrade with Alexa Plus, which has literally changed my life. But something people don’t give Amazon enough credit for, especially with the Echo Studio line, is the incredible sound quality, especially when you enable and properly set up spatial audio on compatible Amazon Echo devices. This spatial audio feature is usually off by default, and you should really start using it because, with compatible audio sources, the audio experience can be truly breathtaking with vast sound stages…

Dollhouse is a sci-fi show that ran on Fox from 2009 to 2010, only lasting two seasons. It was one of many terrific sci-fi shows canceled before its time, which is a shame, because Dollhouse had trenchant things to say about technological progress that seem more relevant than ever today, at a time when the generative AI revolution is threatening to upend many people’s lives without giving them anything to steady themselves. What is Dollhouse about? Meet the human chatbots Dollhouse is set in Los Angeles, California, where the shadowy Rossum Corporation has built a very interesting business: beneath the…

Smart TVs are still in that space of machines that can do so much, but are inherently limited. And yes, when I say smart TV, I mean the TVs with built-in OSes and streaming boxes and sticks. After all, they’re revenue machines — you are going to stream on them, and the manufacturer has already decided how. More than any other device, smart TVs and streamers are built around the manufacturer’s intentions. But you don’t have to play along. A little customization goes a long way, and it starts with the very interface you use to navigate everything: the remote…