Smart TV manufacturers are increasingly betting on more complete models. This not only means that they have the best image and video quality, and a wide variety of functions in their operating system. They also have plenty of ports on the back or on the side. Although HDMI stands out, most have at least one USB connection. What can it be used for?
Currently, most smart televisions on the market have at least one USB port. However, not all of them offer the same features and this is something to keep in mind. If you are looking to give this connection a special use, it is advisable to consult the specific documentation first. But if you still don’t know what possible uses of USB you might be interested in on a television, from ADSLZone we give you a few ideas.
Play multimedia files without taking up space
Modern Smart TVs have enough internal memory that we can use to download videos from the television itself and view them without problems. Typically, they have built-in media players. If there is none that comes installed from the factory, we can always use specialized applications from the device’s app store. However, there are those who are used to using external USB drives or prefer to use them so as not to take up storage space on the smart TV.
In the pen-drives we can put countless videos, music or images without them filling the internal memory of the Smart TV. Simply connect them through the USB port of the device and look for what we want to play in the file folder. This is possibly one of the best-known uses that we can make of this type of connection, but not the only one.
Recording of live programming
Some smart TVs have a feature that allows you to record what is being broadcast on a live channel. The tool is called Personal Video Recorder (PVR). If you are lucky enough to enjoy this feature on your Smart TV, all you have to do is insert a pen-drive into the USB port and activate it to record something that is being broadcast on television.
Depending on the model you have, you will or will not have this function. Read the manual of your Smart TV or search the Internet and find out if this is your case and how to use it.
Connect accessories or devices to the Smart TV
As we already told you a few days ago, the USB port of a television can be used to connect a mouse. The most advisable thing is to buy a wireless one, so you can manage it from the comfort of the sofa. But also if you have one that plugs in by cable it can be just as useful, although more cumbersome. This way you won’t have to use the remote control.
In the same way that we can use the USB connection to use a mouse, the USB port on the smart TV is used for a keyboard and faster typing. In addition, you can use it to play video games with console controllers, and countless other things. Any accessory that connects via USB could be tested on the smart television.
In short, all devices that are charged using a USB cable can be connected to the Smart TV. This way, if your mobile phone or tablet has run out of battery, all you have to do is put it in the TV port to charge it again. This is especially useful in homes with few outlets, as it gives you more places to charge your devices without having to buy any power strips.
