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Can often do more than smart TVs: Stresaming sticks
Photo: Amazon
A documentary on Netflix, the Bundesliga on Dazn, the "Tatort" from the ARD media library and "Game of Thrones" on Sky: Streaming services have a huge selection of films, series and sports broadcasts.
A number of companies offer so-called streaming sticks and boxes to bring this variety to the television.
What they all have in common is that they are actually small computers running apps for the respective services.
But their technique is very different.
In Europe, in addition to Amazon's Fire TV sticks, popular network TV players include Apple TV, Google's Chromecast and Nvidia's Shield.
Another industry heavyweight has been trying to establish itself here since September: the US company Roku.
Just like Amazon and Google, Roku attracts with low prices and a fairly large range of apps.
The selection of TV apps available for a streaming stick is decisive for the purchase decision, says Chris Heinonen from the New York Times test magazine Wirecutter: "The most important thing is that buyers make sure that their device supports the streaming service that they need.«
The streaming boxes from Amazon, Apple, Google, Roku and Nvidia have no problem on this point.
The basic app supply includes Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV+ as well as Disney+ with its »Star Wars« and Marvel films.
In addition, the media libraries of the public broadcasters.
Sports fans in Germany cannot avoid the streaming service Dazn, which specializes in sports events.
The company shares the live licenses for Bundesliga soccer with the payment channel Sky.
This is how the entry works
In order to be able to use a TV stick or a streaming box, the television only needs to have a free HDMI connection. The device is connected to the cable or plugged in directly and supplied with power via a cable. Most TVs automatically recognize that a new device has been plugged in and switch to it. If that doesn't work, you have to switch to the respective HDMI connection, usually via the source selection on the TV remote control.
Registering for streaming services can be annoying if you have to enter your access data using a remote control on a keyboard that appears on the screen.
Luckily, this is becoming less and less necessary.
On some devices, such as the Apple TV, you can enter the user ID and password on the smartphone or dictate the access data using voice recognition.
Other systems establish the connection between the user account and the TV stick by entering a numerical code on a website that is displayed on the television.
What televisions can and can't do
But why should you buy a streaming box when the apps of the streaming services on smart TVs can also be installed directly on the television?
Philips, Sony and TCL, for example, equip their TV sets with Google's Android TV ex works.
Basically, they've built in a Chromecast stick.
On the other hand, if manufacturers use their own operating system for their televisions, things are different.
With the devices from LG and Vizio, it can happen "that there isn't an app for a new service right away," says expert Heinonen.
In the USA, for example, it took a very long time before the app from the pay TV broadcaster HBO finally became available for devices from these manufacturers.
According to Heinonen, some less popular streaming services will never be adapted for certain TV models.
Is the service missing that you really want to see?
This often also applies to older networked televisions, because "after a few years their performance can drop quite a bit," says Heinonen.
The processors of old smart TVs have long been outdated by IT standards.
That's why the old chips are reaching their limits with modern streaming offers.
A stick for 30 or 50 euros can then be a cheap alternative to buying a new television.
