I am always a late adapter, and though they had been around for a while, I just decided to upgrade my television to a smart TV. When I went out to look for one, I decided I wanted a Samsung as it is a brand that I am really familiar with.
If you’re anything like me, you’re definitely experiencing the same problem, therefore I’m going to share all I’ve learned, including how to download apps on the Samsung Smart TV.
- Smart TV – What Is It?
- How Do Samsung Smart TVs Work?
- How Your Samsung Smart TV Connects To Your Internet
- What Platform Does Samsung Smart TVs Use
- What Apps And Services Are Available On Your Samsung Smart TV
- All About Updates
- Are There Any Apps That Are Not Available To Download?
- How To Download Apps In Samsung Smart TV
- Advantages Of A Samsung Smart TV
- Disadvantages Of A Samsung Smart TV
Smart TV – What Is It?
We all know that technology keeps advancing every year. No longer are you tied to a TV that requires bunches of cords or antennas.
The smart TVs of today use many of the same ideas as the phone we all carry in our pockets. I was actually really surprised about how much they were alike.
Because of the way they connect to the world, there are tons more options when it comes to their uses, including streaming services and social media.
For me, the best thing about going with a Samsung TV was that my phone is really compatible with it, letting the phone be used as a remote.
Does it integrate with your smart home?
Even better than that, the TV I chose was also compatible with my smart home.
This means I could set it up to turn on and off with ease. This makes it super easy to control from the kitchen as I am cooking dinner.
This feature is fantastic because it saves me time.
How Do Samsung Smart TVs Work?
Once my smart TV had connected, the home screen opened up, and I entered my log-in information from my ISP.
Then the menu appeared, and I was able to look through the available apps. There were even some apps that came pre-installed.
The TV setup took a little time as I went through and found all the apps that I wanted to have access to.
Many of these apps are the very ones that you have on your smartphone, and so you can link your accounts with these apps through your TV so you can always have access to them.
Are all smart TVs the same?
The truth is the basic idea of all smart TVs is the same.
But the way you navigate through the menu and the method which you use to manage the apps you download will vary even from model to model, even within the same brand.
It depends on what software they’re using.
How Your Samsung Smart TV Connects To Your Internet
Smart TVs use your home’s wi-fi network to connect to the internet. The way they connect will depend on the model.
Some will connect via an ethernet cord, and others will come with a built-in wi-fi receiver. The method of connection will depend on the model and when it was built.
If your model is like mine, then you will not have to worry about that ethernet cord because your TV will hook up via wi-fi.
This comes with some issues, as I found. The signal I was receiving wasn’t as strong as it should have been. I upgraded my router, and the problem was solved.
How do you know your WiFi can handle your Samsung Smart TV?
Many things go into making sure you have optimal wi-fi coverage.
After all, this will affect the speed at which your apps download and then function once installed.
There are apps you can download to test your connection. Which is what I did, and it really helped!
What Platform Does Samsung Smart TVs Use
As I said, the navigation and way you manage your apps will depend on the brand and model. This is because each of the brands chooses to use one type of platform.
This platform is what the smart TV uses to integrate the connectivity to the internet. Basically, this software that is included in the TV’s build is what makes it so smart.
If you’re looking for a better understanding of this, then the only way I was able to get a grasp on this was to think about my phone.
It is an Android, and that is its operating system which is what the platform is for smart TVs.
What platform does Samsung Smart TVs use?
As I researched everything I could about my new Samsung Smart TV, I found out that the brand tends to use the Tizen Smart Hub.
This system is a comprehensive option that offers a lot of great features and easy navigation.
The system has been used in Samsung TVs since 2015.
What Apps And Services Are Available On Your Samsung Smart TV
I upgraded to a smart TV because I wanted to have access to all the streaming services without having to cast my laptop screen onto the TV or to pipe the service in via HDMI.
When you get your TV up and running, you can download things like Netflix and Hulu as well as the rest of the streaming services.
You will also be able to find apps like YouTube and many of the music streaming services through your app management system.
When accessed through the smart TV, these apps will offer an easy navigational system to use its features that is customized for the smart TV.
And social media…
You can even access some of your social media platforms. Most TVs can download Facebook and Twitter.
Though it is difficult as there is no keyboard attached, you will have to use the one that drops downs.
So I tried it, but in truth, I would rather stick with my phone.
All About Updates
So this answer really depends on the brand. Or those that go with a smaller company or opt to go with an older TV, you may find that there are little to no updates to the systems.
But for me, I went with a new Samsung TV, and it has stayed pretty up to date. The TV updates anytime Samsung had a change to their operating system or added new apps and features.
These updates can include adjustments to the platform system, support for new formats, and fixing bugs.
For those with older TVs, you may want to look up the manual because usually, there are steps for a manual update.
They seem to keep up…
As for the apps themselves, these are updated when you turn on the TV if there is one waiting.
This ensures that no matter what, you are always using the most up-to-date version of the app with all the important features you need.
Are There Any Apps That Are Not Available To Download?
So are there any apps that are not downloadable on any Samsung Smart TV? There may well be, but for me, it had everything I wanted available to me.
Samsung Smart TVs seem to always be updating and making any new apps or series available to me.
But, as I already stated, that is simply my experience. I primarily utilize streaming services for music and TV/movies.
There are a few social media platforms I could not find, like Instagram, which makes sense as this is specifically designed for photos from your phone.
It might not be available because of the age of the TV…
If you do open up your app manager and try to find an app and it is not available, this may happen because of the age of the TV.
I have talked to many people who have older smart TVs, and they do not have access to some of the newer streaming services.
How To Download Apps In Samsung Smart TV
Downloading an app is relatively easy once you have the TV set up and connected to your WiFi network.
When the menu opens up, you will head over to your Smart Hub and then find the apps tab. In the upper right corner, you will see the standard magnifying glass icon.
Then you will enter into the search bar the app that you are looking for. Then hit the search icon.
Once you find the app, you will click on the icon, and it will come up to a screen that will give you a few details about the app.
Finding the app…
When you go there, as with everything else, you’ll notice a button that reads download link, and then all that’s left is to wait for the software to download.
After that, you may go ahead and launch the app to connect your account to this device.
Advantages Of A Samsung Smart TV
After having my TV for just a short time, I have really noticed several big advantages.
The first is that I could set up anywhere I want in my house as long as I have a high-powered wi-fi router. Plus, everything I do on the app on one device is transferable to my smart TV.
But most of all, I can use my TV to watch all my streaming services and any live events I want to as long as I have the app.
Plus, these streaming services or live events are not super small and hard to see like they were on my laptop and phone.
How about those extra features?
I also really liked the access to games and, as I have said, the ability to hook it into my smart home system.
You can attach smart speakers and set up voice commands to prompt things like volume changes and power options.
Disadvantages Of A Samsung Smart TV
Unlike old school TVs, your access to the TV depends on the quality of connection you have to the wi-fi.
That means that if your internet connection goes down, you may encounter latency or perhaps lose access to your streaming services. You are also at the mercy of the router’s quality.
I also suggest looking into extra security where that be a VPN or other methods.
Because you are using everything over the internet, you are open to privacy and security issues. Using this also opens you up to all new technical issues that might be annoying.
Be cautious because they can crash…
I haven’t had this happen, but your smart TV is like a computer, and therefore it can crash.
Typically newer models don’t have this problem.
But I have had friends that have dealt with older models diving due to the user working with multiple apps at once.
Summary
I learned a lot, and because I did my study, setting up my Samsung Smart TV was easier.
I was a little scared that I didn’t know how to download apps on a Samsung Smart TV, but it wasn’t that hard. I hope that my study can help you as much as it helped me.
