X-twitter Facebook-f Pinterest-p
X-twitter Facebook-f Pinterest-p

Your old Android phone can replace a Roku or Fire Stick—here’s the setup I use


After a recent phone upgrade, I had my old Moto G 2025 just lying around, waiting for a fun experiment or project to give its newly disconnected life purpose. Smart TVs and devices like the Nvidia Shield have their issues, but I thought, “Why not mess with Android TV a bit and set up an ATV experience on my phone?”

Android TV is a functional operating system, already loaded on plenty of TVs and different streaming boxes.

I wanted to find a way to breathe new life into an old device and tap into the potential of the Android TV OS. Plus, I’ve been meaning to set up an Android TV project for a while, so I conscripted the old Moto G for the task.

Making sure the phone will work

Along with a brief primer on Android TV

Android TV has been around since 2014 and is built into a lot of smart TVs, but you can use your old phone to create a better experience. It’s also worth noting that Google TV and Android TV are not the same, as Google TV focuses more on content recommendations and a minimal UI.

Android TV is centered around the apps. That’s why we’re doing this experiment. I was concerned the low-powered Motorola might not be up to the task. But after checking the specs, I knew it would work just fine:

  1. 4GB + 2GB RAM (the extra 2 is from RAM Boost)
  2. 128 GB storage
  3. It runs Android 16, codenamed Baklava, which is from 2025.
  4. It’s unlocked/unattached to a carrier.
  5. It has built-in casting features that work with actual Android TVs.

For the TV, I used a Samsung smart television that’s approximately three years old and an Android TV that’s a little more recent. I predict it’ll work fast and easily on the latter, but the Samsung will be a challenge.

To make this work, I required a launcher (because I don’t like the default home screen), a screen-casting app, and, of course, my two TV sets.

The setup began with ATV Launcher

A premium setup for less than $3

A series of icons on the ATV Launcher against a black background. Credit: David J. Buck / How-To Geek

To get things started, I wanted a good-looking, functional launcher with killer features. There was only one obvious choice: ATV Launcher.

Although I once worked in marketing (and admit I have a soft spot for silly radio commercials from the ’70s to ’90s), I utterly despise ads in my daily-use apps. So, I coughed up the $3 for an ad-free experience in the interface itself.

This might sound odd, but having grown up in the era of network TV and syndication, I don’t actually have too much trouble just ignoring commercials between shows. It’s those interface-level and YouTube video ads that bug me the most. With that in mind, I did go for the free versions of some of my TV apps.

Some of the other apps I chose are either ad-free or I already have pre-paid premium access to them. My criteria weren’t terribly picky.

Getting started with Android TV on an old phone

Tuning in the Motorola to the next level

A widget on the ATV launcher app. Credit: David J. Buck / How-To Geek

What we’re doing here is essentially converting the old Motorola into a content “hub” and a remote that can connect to any smart TV that’s compatible with the Android TV Launcher.

This is a fantastic experiment because it creates a universally useful thing. If it works on an accessible, low-end, freebie phone like my Moto G, it stands to reason the process should also work on any phone running Android 16. Android 17 is currently in its fourth beta, but I imagine this process will work just fine in that version (when it finally releases).

Be that as it may, I intend to try this setup out with an Android 17 device when it becomes available, but for now, we’re working with the current version (16 as of this writing).


TV screen showing the Google TV logo with multiple illustrated eyes around it.


I found out my Google TV was tracking me, here’s how I stopped it

I always feel like somebody’s watching me.

Setting up a customized TV experience

Finding the right channels that make sense for this experiment

Full disclosure: I’m not a big TV or movies guy. So, why would I even bother with an Android TV setup? Well, I do watch YouTube often (it’s one of the few subscriptions I have). Soon, I plan to pick up a mini-PC to incorporate into my home lab for self-hosting and streaming. I also recently worked with my son to set up a new Plex server for movies.

Aside from that, I installed The Gizmoplex, which is a video player for Mystery Science Theater 3000 that I have access to from when I backed the 2022 Kickstarter and NHK World for news and killer documentaries (like the one I recently saw on Peace, the epileptic polar bear).

So we have those four and a few others I wanted to check out:

With those selections locked in and my Android TV app ready to go, I placed them all in an easy-access folder and got ready for the test.

Finding the right app for casting

One choice stood out among an overabundance of options

ATV Launcher, the best app for Android TV on a phone. Credit: David J. Buck / How-To Geek

Since I planned this project on a shoestring budget, and it relies on converting old equipment to a new purpose, it didn’t make sense to go out and buy a bunch of cables.

I decided casting to the TV would be my best bet for now, with the option to grab a USB-C to HDMI adapter down the line for a hardwired connection.

So I turned my attention toward screen mirroring apps–a process that turned out to be a bit of a nightmare for getting this project to work. I eventually got it to work, but I was a bit surprised by how challenging this part of the experiment turned out to be, largely because smart Samsung TVs are temperamental to say the least.


Hisense 55 inch Class U8 Series Mini-LED ULED 4K UHD Google Smart TV mounted on wall


Here’s the Easiest Way to Speed Up Your Old Smart TV

You can boost your smart TV with just a few methods.

Casting onto my smart TV

Testing my selections using screen casting

Finally finding the right two TVs on a casting app. Credit: David J. Buck / How-To Geek

Remember what I said about the Samsung TV earlier? “Challenging” wasn’t the right word. “Frustrating” is more like it.

Samsung TVs use the Tizen OS, which is decidedly not Android. I spent about half an hour or so testing various mirroring apps. So many of the apps available on the Google Play Store are bloated, ad-ridden monstrosities that seem built on broken code.

Functionality is just bad. It gets worse when the intrusive ads with unseen or tiny “x’s” make you accidentally click on them.

If I see another Temu ad…

Anyhow, even with successful casting, the video was far too laggy to be useful. Thankfully, I also have a smaller TV that has Android TV as its operating system.

I did get it to work using two different apps: Pigeon Cast and Samsung Stream to TV. Neither let me watch very long without prompting me to buy premium. I declined. I tried several other apps as well, with the same effect. They were all disappointing, ad-ridden, and most of them wouldn’t recognize my Samsung TV as a viable option.

Getting the phone (with ATV Launcher as my interface) set up was pretty easy with a non-Samsung TV, though. Motorola phones have a built-in “cast” function, so I just switched it on, and everything worked like a charm.

An episode of Battlestar Galactica plays on a TV screen after being cast from a Motorola phone. Credit: David J. Buck / How-To Geek

The downside to casting can be a slight delay on some apps, but in my experiment, I didn’t have much trouble with it. There’s also the fact that you can kill the battery fast or really wreck your data from all the streaming if you’re not careful. My workaround was simple: I just kept the phone plugged in and put it on Wi-Fi. It’s worth noting, however, that I’m a minimalist viewer. I watch one episode of a show at a time and spend no more than 1.5–2 hours watching TV at a time.

It drives my wife crazy. So, your experience might vary based on viewing time, bandwidth, and device type.

An old cast-off phone is an inexpensive and ideal choice for an Android TV setup

A fully optimized ATV launcher on a Motorola phone. Credit: 

David J. Buck / How-To Geek

While I went the casting route, you can also find USB-C to HDMI adapters that allow you to hook up your phone to the TV directly. I have not tried this method yet.

Wired TV can give you up to 4K resolution, but casting is going to be limited, so do keep that in mind when you’re repurposing an old device for something like this.

Hopefully, this gives you a few ideas to start your own Android TV project or at least help you find a way to breathe new life into old Android devices.



Source link

Leave a Reply

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get our latest articles delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, we promise.

The 90’s necklace doesn’t shove AI into your face. It just tracks UV to take care of your skin

Ivanti Sentry Gateways Compromised Shortly After Patch Release

OnyxC2 Malware-as-a-Service Offers Enterprise-Grade Data Theft

Takedown of a Decade-Long Phishing Empire

I’m a lawn expert, and here’s my favorite trick for finding your perfect robot mower

Ivanti Sentry Gateways Compromised Shortly After Patch Release

OnyxC2 Malware-as-a-Service Offers Enterprise-Grade Data Theft

Takedown of a Decade-Long Phishing Empire

Claude’s no-code canvas replaces hours of Python debugging in minutes

Ivanti Sentry Gateways Compromised Shortly After Patch Release

OnyxC2 Malware-as-a-Service Offers Enterprise-Grade Data Theft

Takedown of a Decade-Long Phishing Empire

Recent Reviews

I’m a lawn expert, and here’s my favorite trick for finding your perfect robot mower


Robot mowers on a yard

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.

The perfect robot mower for you is not nearly as fancy and feature-heavy as you may think. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: it’s not the lawn mower, it’s all about the yard. A robot mower may be a market leader with top-of-the-line specs and still not be a good fit for your yard.

Here’s the great news: There’s a perfect robot mower for almost any yard. As someone who’s tested numerous types of robot lawn mowers, I’ve learned that many of the specs that brands market as groundbreaking are simply not vital for most shoppers. A mostly flat, fenced-in 0.10-acre yard doesn’t need the power that a hilly, sectioned, unfenced one-acre yard does.

Also: I tested the Ferrari of robot mowers for a month – here’s my verdict

If you’re looking to choose the best mower for your home, be sure to check out ZDNET’s robot mower buying guide. 

Here’s what you don’t need to stress over when buying a robot mower

Eufy E15 Robot Mower

Maria Diaz/ZDNET
For yards with… Best robot mower type Examples
No fences A wired boundary is best, but a great GPS/RTK robot mower can stick to the map you make with it. Yardcare E400, Mammotion Luba 3
Fences A LiDAR robot mower that can be dropped to mow with little setup and learn its map as it navigates. Eufy E15, Ecovacs Goat A3000
A lot of trees A LiDAR or wired boundary mower, since trees can interfere with satellite signals. Husqvarna iQ series (optional wire, EPOS)
Unbordered garden beds A GPS/RTK robot mower that you can set up to avoid flower beds when mapping. Mammotion Luba 3, Husqvarna iQ Series
Bordered garden beds A LiDAR, GPS, or wired boundary robot mower works for these yards. If you choose a wired boundary, you may have to bury wire around the flower beds, unless the borders are tall enough for the mower to avoid. Mammotion Yuka, Navimow Series H
pets A LiDAR robot mower that can adjust its navigation in real-time in reaction to its surroundings. Mova LiDAX Ultra 2000, Segway Navimow i2
Hills and uneven terrain An AWD robot mower capable of handling steep slopes, regardless of the navigation type. Mammotion Luba 3, , Husqvarna iQ

1. Don’t focus on: ‘AI-powered’ or other marketing buzzwords

Segway Navimow X3 Series robot mower

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

Artificial intelligence (AI) has surpassed the popularity of acid-wash jeans in the 80s and Baby G watches in the early 2000s. And tech companies — including robot lawn mower manufacturers — are capitalizing on its appeal.

Most of these “AI-powered” or “intelligent mowing” terms are vague, geared to grab shoppers’ attention with buzzwords. That doesn’t mean that the robots don’t use AI to navigate, however. 

The key is to find out how the robot uses AI to its benefit, and whether that will meet your AI expectations. 

Also: This robot mower took care of my lawn for months – and it’s currently $300 off

AI algorithms typically process data captured by the robot’s hardware to help it make quick decisions and adjustments. For example, a robot lawn mower may have a set of sensors and cameras to capture its surroundings. The robot’s processor then uses AI to convert that information into actionable data, so it knows whether to swerve to avoid an obstacle or slow down around a retaining wall.

Instead, look for: The navigation tech under (and on) the hood

Instead of AI and other buzzwords, you should focus on matching the robot lawn mower’s hardware and navigation system to your yard. This includes whether the robot uses RTK (Real-Time Kinematic) for positioning, and whether it features LiDAR, cameras, and sensors. 

Then look at real user reviews to assess how accurately the robot mower maps and how well it performs around various types of obstacles.

There’s no blanket rule for robot mowers, but most do well with the following guidelines.

2. Don’t focus on: Premium extras

Yardcare E400 robot lawn mower

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

Skip the premium extras that don’t match your yard. You really don’t need the most advanced robot mower; you need the one that will best handle your lawn. 

Most US homeowners have mostly flat lawns, simple rectangular layouts, minimal obstacles, and small yards. Yet some of the most popular mowers advertise features that don’t match this, and you don’t want to spend an extra few hundred dollars on advanced features that won’t deliver a noticeable difference in your yard.

Instead, look for: Only as much as you need

Do you have a mostly flat lawn with no fences and need a robot that can navigate to several sections separated by paths? Then you can skip AWD models and commit to superior mapping and navigation features, like multi-zone intelligence.

Also: I let a modular yard care robot mow my lawn – here’s my verdict after a month

Similarly, if you have a yard with dense trees covering most of it, it’s safe to skip the RTK models and go for LiDAR or boundary wire options instead. 

3. Don’t focus on: Flashy app features

Mammotion Luba 2 robot mower path

The path lines created by the Mammotion Luba 2, as captured by our Bink Outdoor camera, is one flashy app feature I can’t quit.

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

Any dependable robot lawn mower requires an equally reliable mobile app to let you use it effectively. However, manufacturers market many flashy app features that end up being unnecessary for many users. 

Don’t make app features the deciding factor unless it’s something you genuinely care about. Many users don’t rely on voice control to run their mowers and don’t mind using a separate app for their robot rather than integrating it into an existing home automation system.

Also: I let a smart planter maintain itself for 2 months – here’s the result

A robot lawn mower with mediocre navigation and cutting performance can still have a flashy app — all while leaving behind missed patches or taking longer to finish mowing.

Instead, look for: The features you’ll actually use

Most robot mower users keep them running on a schedule to get the lawn-cutting chore off their minds. The majority of the most popular models offer basic features beyond scheduling, such as remote start and stop, basic mapping, automatic rain delay, and theft protection. 

It’s easy to find robot lawn mowers with these features, but if you’re looking for anything beyond that, just be sure that the feature is worth it, especially if you’re paying extra for that model.

Also: I’ve tested robot mowers for years – here’s my expert advice for every yard type

An example of a flashy app feature that is completely unnecessary, but I love having? The Mammotion’s pattern cutting. I can select the cutting pattern I want on the Mammotion app, whether I want lines or checkered, but I can also have the robot cut in custom patterns, like letters and numbers. I don’t care for mowed letters in my yard, but I like that it always has that freshly mowed checkered patterned with no effort from me. 

4. Don’t focus on: Cutting system extras

Segway Navimow X3 Series robot mower

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

The cutting width and system specs are important, as they can determine whether a robot can cover a given area in a day. However, most robot mowers use similar multiple-blade mulching systems. 

Unlike traditional lawn mowers with large blades for aggressive cutting in a single pass, robot mowers typically feature a set of small blades that constantly spin. Because of this, robot mowers trim smaller amounts of grass with each pass than a traditional mower, but they also cut more frequently and leave behind smaller grass clippings that decompose naturally.

Also: I powered my 3,000-sq-ft home with an EcoFlow battery in a blackout – here’s how it kept my AC on

Because the robot mowers have a smaller, compounding cutting system, the real-world differences between the cutting systems from one brand to another are often smaller than you’d expect. Other issues, like poor navigation, will be glaringly obvious before small differences in blade design.

Instead, look for: Cutting width and yard size

The average US yard would benefit more from navigation quality, consistency, and connectivity than blade design. Instead, you should focus on matching the mower to your yard size.

The robot’s capacity is measured in how many acres it can cover in a day. Among other features, this is calculated based on your robot’s battery size and cutting width. Essentially, most users want a robot that can mow an entire yard in a day, so you can set it and forget it and always come home to a mowed yard. You get this by getting the appropriate robot for your yard size.





Source link

Hackers accessed BWH Hotels reservation system for months

Critical fortinet vulnerabilities fixed in FortiSandbox and FortiAuthenticator

Instructure settles with hackers following massive student data theft

Copyright © 2024 All Rights Reserved.