While television isn’t as simple as it was in the cable era, cutting the cord has also brought plenty of benefits.
In addition to the possibility to save money and watch on your own terms, modern smart TVs and streaming players enable features that cannot be done on a cable box. Some people enjoy watching TV, while others place limits on what TV can do in the first place.
It’s easy to see these benefits amidst all the gaming under the current state of streaming. So consider this a reality check, covering the things you couldn’t (and, in many cases, still can’t) do with cable:
Play from your phone
Jared Newman / Foundry
Sometimes the best remote control is the phone already in your hand. With Apple AirPlay (on Apple TV and Roku), Chromecast (on Google TV devices and Android TV), and the Roku mobile app, you can use your phone to send content to the TV. This is convenient not only for videos, but also for music and photos.
Listen privately
Jared Newman / Foundry
Want to watch TV without disturbing the rest of the house? Fire TV, Android TV, Google TV, and Apple TV support Bluetooth headphones for private listening. Roku also supports private listening through its mobile app, via Bluetooth on the latest Roku Ultra or through any Roku remote that has a headphone jack.
Split screen viewing
NCAA
The March Madness app is a great example of how the streaming experience can trump cable. On supported streaming devices, you can watch two games at the same time, while watching live scores from all over the competition.
On Apple TV devices in particular, you’ll find split-screen viewing options in the ESPN app and on FuboTV; plus, you can use picture-in-picture mode to view any two apps at the same time. In doing so, they have essentially revived a feature that most cable boxes have abandoned.
Multi-room audio
Jared Newman / Foundry
With major streaming platforms, you can use your TV as part of a multi-room audio system with other smart speakers around the house.
Apple TV and Roku players, for example, can sync with other AirPlay speakers through Control Center on any iOS device. Amazon Fire TV devices can play audio in sync with Echo speakers by setting up groups of speakers in the Alexa app. The Chromecast with Google TV can be part of a group of speakers with Google Home and Nest speakers. If you have a decent sound bar or surround system connected, this is a great way to take advantage of it.
Smart home controls
Jared Newman / Foundry
Do you have any smart light bulbs, plugs, doorbell cameras, or other connected gadgets at home? You may be able to control them from your streaming player:
- On Apple TV, control HomeKit devices by holding the home button and clicking the Home icon, or ask Siri.
- On Fire TV, click the Alexa button and select the smart home panel, or hold the Alexa button to control devices with a voice command.
- On Google TV, hold the Assistant button to control smart home devices by voice.
- Roku’s smart home controls are more limited, though the company has started dabbling with a handful of devices you can control with voice.
Personal photo slideshow
Jared Newman / Foundry
With the right smart TV or streaming player, your TV can double as a digital photo frame (see my recent TechHive article at the previous link for instructions). You can set slideshows that will automatically show when the TV is idle, or use your phone to play specific photos and videos.
Get a workout in
Apple
If your streaming habit feels too sedentary, you can turn your TV into a fitness tool by downloading some fitness apps. Check out services like Peloton, Apple Fitness+, DailyBurn, and CorePower Yoga, or check out YouTube’s huge catalog of exercise videos.
Play some games
Jared Newman / Foundry
As streaming devices have become more powerful, so have become capable gaming systems. Explore the app stores on Fire TV, Google TV, or Apple TV devices and you’ll find large libraries of casual games to play with your remote or (ideally) a dedicated Bluetooth game controller. Apple’s Arcade service even offers a bundle of quality games to play for $5 a month.
Alternatively, you can use Amazon Luna or Nvidia GeForce Now to stream console-quality games from the cloud, or use Valve’s Steam Link application to stream games from your PC.
Customize everything
Jared Newman / Foundry
For faster users, streaming also allows you to build the type of TV setup you want. With DVR Channels, for example, you can set up your own custom channel guides and playlists that extend far beyond a traditional cable package, while also skipping commercials.
All of these things are possible because modern streaming devices are smarter and faster than a typical cable box. While saving money is still the best part of cord cutting, you may find that a life full of other possibilities await once you’ve made the leap.
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