If you have a smart TV that is now old and dull, no longer gets updates, or are replaced by a radical with better glasses, and you are thinking about dumping it, stop for a moment. You can give your aging smart TV a second life in all ways in surprisingly useful ways.
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Photo or art display
You can mount your old smart TV on a wall near the power outlet in the living room, bedroom or hallway, and can turn it into a dedicated photo or digital art display. Load a USB drive with your favorite images, plug it to the TV, and use its inherent slideshow feature to cycling through family photos, travel memories, or high-rage artwork. If your TV comes with an indigenous art apps like Deviantart, you are golden, because it keeps the scene fresh, without you to micromean it.
For more polished gallery looks, adjust the shine of the screen to mix with room lighting, disable the sleep timer, and hide the power and HDMI cable.
7
Secondary monitor for your computer
If you want to promote your productivity or want more screen real estate, this old television is perfect to re -present as a secondary monitor for your computer. Most smart TVs have an HDMI port, so all you have to do is to do it from your computer to HDMI cable (or for HDMI adapter from USB-C, based on your setup), select the right input on your TV, and configure your display settings in your operating system.
Doing this expands your scope, allowing you to spread the application, keep an eye on slack, or stream video or music on one screen when you work on another. Of course, it is not going to defeat a fancy 4K monitor in fresh rate, color accuracy and other important factors. But do you really need to check the email or slack? Probably not.
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6
Security camera monitor
Your Legacy Smart TV can create an excellent dedicated monitor for your home security system. Many safety cameras, such as ring, earlo, vaiz, or nest, offer apps that are compatible with smart TVs, especially running on Android TV, Fire TV, or Ruktu platforms. Download the related app, log in and stream your live camera feed directly on the screen. Some setups may allow you to view several feeds simultaneously, converting your TV into a complete monitoring cockpit.
If your TV does not support the native apps, you can still connect a compatible streaming device (such as a Roku, Fire Stick, or Chromecast) and put your camera feed from your phone or computer. Alternatively, if you are using DVR (digital video recorder) or NVR (network video recorder) system with HDMI output, plug it directly to the TV. Mount it like your home office or to a central location near an entrance, and you will have a reliable, always monitor to keep an eye on your property without tying your main screen.
5
Retro gaming hub
You can plug into a retro gaming console or make yourself by using a raspberry pie and an emulator such as retropy or locke, and convert your unused smart TV into a dedicated gaming station. With HDMI support, most smart TVs perform brilliantly for classic games from retro console such as SNES, Sega Genesis, Playstation 1, and more. The pairing it with some controllers, and you have an immediate apathy machine. If you are especially in luck, if you are thinking about tossing the smart TV you are a Samsung model with an inherent gaming hub, which supports the Xbox game and GeForce for cloud gaming now. LG has also joined action and now also supports Xbox Cloud Gaming.
Some Android Smart TV Retro Games such as retroracs such as retroarc can run through Android-based app store or sideloaded APK, although your mileage may vary on hardware performance. Either way, your aging panel should be able to chew through 16-bit graphics and soundtrack, which is fine to give you a fun, low-maintenance gaming setup. To keep things well, consider growing TV in a dedicated game room, garage, or spare bedroom and store your controllers and games nearby for quick access.
4
Dedicated video conferencing screen
When you are lying around a retired smart TV, you do not have to keep squinating on the “small” laptop screen during the video meeting. With a simple HDMI connection for your laptop or desktop, or using streaming devices such as Fire TV Stick, Chromecast, or Google TV streamer, you can display zoom, teams or Google Meat Calls on the big screen. Some Android-based smart TVs also basically support these apps, so you may not need any additional software.
If your TV does not have an inbuilt camera, you can pair the setup with an external webcam and mike (or using the hardware of your laptop) for a smooth experience. In this way, you can keep your notes, emails, or browser open on your primary screen, while your video call runs a full-screen on TV.
He said, a little setup sets a long way. Mount the TV at the eye level for more natural viewing angles during the call, behind your desk or behind your desk.
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3
Children’s entertainment station
Instead of collecting them around a tablet or sharing your phone continuously, you can dedicate your additional smart TVs as your very entertainment hub. Set a TV in a playroom, basement, or spare bedroom, where children can play their favorite shows, educational materials, or age-appropriate games without monopolizing the main family TV.
If Smart TV already comes with apps such as Youtube Kids, Disney+, PBS Kids, and Netflix Baked Right, you have got a head start in making a safe, baby friendly screen for them. You can also make the settings to make it super kid-safe, such as parents control, app ban, whole deals. And if your TV screen supports mirror, it opens even more possibilities. You can be the correct drawing app, storyteime game, or other creative accessories from a tablet.
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2
Create a fish tank confusion
If you love a cool vibe of a fish tank, but nothing wants to clean or feed anything, your old smart TV can simulate the experience completely. Go to YouTube and search for “virtual aquarium,” or similar discovery words phrases. You will get 4K footage of countless hours of schools that reduce Vibrant Coral Reefs and Fish schools.
You can also do high quality aquarium videos from websites like websites Uscenes Depending on the capabilities of your device, these videos can be downloaded on USB drive or stream directly on your TV. Once the video is on your TV, set it to loop it so that the fish continuously swim, create an easy, immersive experience.
If you really want to increase confusion, you can place the TV with a transparent front behind a frame or inside a cabinet, and some decorative pebbles, sessels, impure plants, or even add LED lighting around the base. You will find a comfortable centerpiece that your guests will assume that as long as they catch fish, I will not say that I would say, their nominated swimming places are remarkably loyal to the places. And if you are feeling a little extra, you can also program your TV to switch to a specific time with smart plugs.
1
Crop parts for DIY projects
Finally, if that old smart TV is shot completely – eg, there is no hope of resurrection – then do not chuck it to curb it. Pop open it and see which treasures you can do for your next DIY adventure. You will be surprised (probably) how much good goods have been packed there: speaker, LED backlights, IR sensors, Wi-Fi modules, power boards, small fans, and more, cooked to all, all, ripen to reproduce. For example, you can reuse speakers for a custom Bluetooth speaker project or use LED strips for under-shelf lighting or homemade photography light panel.
However, before diving, consider the first security. Throw on some gloves, perhaps some glasses, and as soon as you open, discharge any capacitor so that you are not zapped. I would also recommend that you keep a magnetic tray nearby so that the screw and small connector do not disappear in zero.
If you are in a microcontroller like Arduino or Raspberry Pie, you can overcome these parts to use without spending additional cash. Even the TV frame or stand can be reborn to mount a monitor, some gear, or whatever it is.
It is wild fun to see how much you can use from something that looks completely to do. In addition, you are cut on the e-waste while exiting the electronics. This is a win in my book.
