How To Add Personal Media To Itunes
If you want to enjoy your non-iTunes-purchased music, videos, books, or photos on your device, you must first make sure to import that content into iTunes on your computer.
To add an external media file to iTunes, simply drag it to the applications Dock icon on your computer. Alternatively, with iTunes open, choose File > Add to Library and select the files.
When it comes to your photographs, iTunes sources images from either iPhoto, Aperture, a folder on your hard drive, or Photoshop Elements 3 or later. To sync your images with your device, youll either need them to be in one of these programs or youll need to create a folder for them.
Not all media files play nice with iTunes: If youre having a problem adding your content, check out our tips for troubleshooting music, video, ringtones, and ebook uploads.
Wireless Options: Miracast And Google Cast
Lets be honest here: its 2017, and no one likes to deal with wires or cablesespecially for transient connections. If you can connect your smartphone to your TV without even getting up off the couch, why would you not want to?
The good news here is that there a couple of different types of connections that allow just this: Google Cast and Miracast. Like MHL and Slimport, these are two means to the same end.
The primary difference between these wireless technologies and their wired counterpartsaside from the wiresis that instead of mirroring your phones entire display on the TV , you can pick and choose what is shown. For example, you can play Netflix or YouTube on the TV and still use your smartphone for other thingsit effectively just becomes a really expensive remote control.
The biggest downside is latency. If you plan on trying to play your phones games on the big screen, there will definitely be some lag between whats happening on the phone and what you see on the TV. Because of that, we dont really recommending using wireless connections for gaming. Go wired, instead.
Of the two technologies, Miracast is older. It was developed by the Wi-Fi Alliance as a way of replicating HDMI over Wi-Fi. While Miracast initially required the TV to have built-in Miracast support, many dongles are now available for you to add to any TV. Miracast is also the standard used in devices like , which we highly recommend if youre looking for a Miracast device.
From Hdmi To Usb And Everything In Between Here’s How To Connect Your Phone To The TV So That You Can Show Off Those Stunning Holiday Snaps
Wanting to connect your phone to the TV? Then you’ve come to the right place. While a lot of us are put off this task thinking it’s going to be too time consuming and complicated, the reality is it’s a lot less hassle than you think. Many of us have more smart devices in our homes than ever before, but we dont know how to easily share content between them. But thanks to this guide, you’ll be a pro in no time.
Connecting up the best TV with your smartphone or the best tablet opens up a whole range of ways to stream and cast things from your mobile device to the big screen of your TV. Why might you want to do this we hear you ask? Well, for starters, it’s a great way of showing off all those stunning holiday snaps to your friends and family without them all having to crowd around your phone.
And when it comes time to connect your phone to the TV, you’ll be pleased to learn that the benefits don’t stop there. Let’s say you’ve were engrossed in one of the best Netflix shows on your commute home from work and want to finish watching it when you get in the door. Instead of having to fast forward through Netflix on your TV to get to the right spot, you can cast it straight from your phone to your TV and pick up right where you left off. It’s also ideal for streaming a YouTube clip of video file in higher resolution that your phone can handle.
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Casting An Android Smartphone On A TV With Chromecast
The most obvious solution, and one that works on almost all devices , is Google’s Cast technology. Google Cast is available on both Android smartphones and iOS devices. Many apps are compatible. Most Android TVs have Cast directly integrated as well as Android TV boxes. If you don’t have one, the only thing left is Google’s Chromecast TV stick.
This technology is very simple to use. You need a Chromecast receiver to plug into the HDMI port of your TV, connect it to the same Wi-Fi network as your smartphone and the compatible applications can then be “cast” directly on the TV. You can find the list of compatible applications on the .
The basic Chromecast stick sells for about 30 dollars, but you can also opt for the 4K version with Google TV, which costs about 60 euros. This version is more than an HDMI key to caster, but a TV box in its own right.
Wireless Mirroring With Airplay
The easiest way to mirror your iPhone or iPad to your TV is through Apples wireless AirPlay protocol. This allows you to either stream your entire screens contents straight to the TV, or beam just the video and audio from within supported apps.
While AirPlay used to require an Apple TV streaming box, it now works on most modern Roku devices, select LG TVs from 2018 onward, select Samsung TVs from 2018 onward, select Sony TVs, all Vizio SmartCast TVs, and 2020 Fire TV Edition TVs from Toshiba and Insignia.
Heres how to mirror whats on your iPhone or iPad display:
- Ensure that both the TV device and iOS device are on the same Wi-Fi network.
- If you have an iPhone X or newer or an iPad running iOS 12 or later, swipe down from the upper-right corner to reveal the Control Center. Otherwise, swipe up for Control Center instead.
- Tap the screen mirroring button, which looks like two overlapping boxes.
- Select your TV from the list.
- On your iOS device, enter the four-digit code that appears on your TV screen.
- To disconnect from the TV, follow steps 1 through 3, and then select Stop Mirroring from the list.
To start mirroring your screen wirelessly to an Apple TV, just open Control Center and select Screen Mirroring.
Jared Newman / IDG
With most video apps, you can hit the AirPlay button to send video to the TV instead of mirroring your display directly.
Jared Newman / IDG
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Hdmi Connector On Older Phones
A few years ago, several Android phones and tablets shipped with a physical HDMI-out port. These devices included the Sony Xperia S, LG Optimus 2x, LG Optimus 3D P920 , Acer Iconia A1, and others.
Should you have one of these old devices, you’ll need a special HDMI cable. These have a standard Type-A connector at one end and a suitable connector at the other. This might be Type D , Type-C , or the standard Type-A.
The problem with these phones, however, is their age. You won’t be able to enjoy the latest versions of Android with older hardware, and by extension, the safety and stability of security updates.
How To Connect Your Phone To Your TV
by Suzanne Kantra on August 12, 2021in , , , , , , , ::
Sometimes, your phone’s screen just isn’t big enough for viewing your photos and videos or playing games. Connecting your phone to your TV can be a quick and easy fix. I tested a number of solutions using phones from Apple, LG, Samsung, and Google, as well as TVs from Samsung and LG and various streaming devices. Here are the methods that work best for every combination of models.
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How To Mirror An Android Phone Or Tablet To Your TV Using The Quick Settings Panel
Step 1: From your device’s home screen, swipe down from the top edge.
Step 2: If you don’t see the full list of settings, swipe down further.
Step 3: Look for the Screen Cast button and tap it.
Step 4: From the list of Chromecast devices, pick the device you want to mirror to.
Step 5: On the following dialogue panel, select Start Now.
Step 6: Your mirroring session will start automatically and you should see your screen’s content on your TV.
Step 7: To end the screen mirroring process, repeat steps 1-3, then tap Disconnect
What Is Screen Mirroring
Screen Mirroring is a feature in most smartphones that allows you to wirelessly cast the phones content on another device screen, mostly a TV or an external monitor. It is useful in situations where you want to showcase photos, play games, and watch movies on the big screen.
Smart TVs have the screen mirroring functionality built-in whereas for older TVs, you will need a media stick or a media player for the screen mirroring to work. Google Chromecast, Amazon Fire Stick and Roku are some of the most popular media streaming devices that support screen mirroring.
There are mainly two prerequisites required for casting your smartphone to a Smart TV. First, make sure both your smartphone and TV should be connected to the same WiFi network. Secondly, your smart TV should have chromecast built in or/and you should have a streaming device that supports screen mirroring.
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Connecting Your Phone To Your TV
In this month’s technical article, we will outline step-by-step instructions for mirroring your smartphone screen straight through your media player and onto your TV quickly and easily. Join us as we go in-depth to explore different types of streaming devices, and how to get them all synced up with your smartphone. We have you covered whether you have an Android, iPhone or a Windows phone. The process of screen mirroring occurs when you wirelessly create an exact replica of your smartphone or tablet’s screen and transfer it straight to your TV. Before you begin, make sure that your mobile device’s operating system is updated to the latest version. For newer phones, the most current updates are iOS 9.3, Android Marshmallow 6.0 and Windows 10. Here we go!
Android to Roku
iPhone to RokuWindows Phone to RokuAndroid to Apple TViPhone to Apple TV
Connect An iPhone Or iPad With An Hdmi Cable
While a wired HDMI adapter isnt as convenient as AirPlay for screen mirroring, its a more straightforward way of connecting, especially if Wi-Fi is flaky or unavailable.
For an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with a Lightning connector, you can use Apples Lightning Digital AV adapter, which costs about $40. Cheaper third-party adapters are also available, but be aware that these will not support streaming video apps that use copy protection, such as Netflix.
Apples official Lightning Digital AV Adapter is pricey, but itll let you mirror an iPhone or iPad on your TV with no hassles.
Jared Newman / IDG
Setup is easy: Just plug the HDMI cable into your TV on one end and the adapter on the other, plug the Lightning cable into your iOS device, and set the TV to the appropriate input. You can also plug a charger into the adapters second Lightning port to keep your iOS devices battery from draining.
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How To Connect iPhone To TV With Hdmi
Big Screen Or Small Screen You Decide
Once you connect your iPhone to your TV with the option best for you, you can start viewing everything that you see on your phone on your TV you arent limited to just video, you can also mirror the screen, which is great for looking at pictures and even browsing websites.
Remember that for a better view you can turn your phone sideways, usually, videos do this automatically on both your phone and your TV, and even if your phone is horizontal, it will change to full landscape view on your TV.
The apps that only work horizontally wont change to sideways or vertically since they are not programmed to do so.
Remember: If you want to know how to connect your iPad to your TV you can use the same steps.
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Keep Life Entertaining By Connecting Mobile Devices To Your TV
Smartphone screens today are getting bigger and better, making watching videos and playing games more enjoyable than ever. Tablet screens arent lacking, either. But nothing can top watching a movie on your 60-inch HDTV.
Fortunately, there are easy ways to connect your smartphone or tablet to your TV, so you can stream movies or share photos during your gatherings on the biggest screen you ownall without physically transferring any files.
Here are some options for connecting your devices as well as a few accessories and apps that are sure to improve your viewing experiences.
How To Mirror An Android Screen Wirelessly Using The Google Home App
An alternative method to connect your Android screen to your Smart TV is with the help of the Google Home app. This method will work if you own a Chromecast or have an Android TV with Chromecast built-in.
1. Download the Google Home app from the Google Play Store.
2. if you havent already. If your smart TV has a Chromecast built-in, it will automatically appear on the app.
3. Tap on the device and then tap on Cast my screen at the bottom.
4. Tap on Cast screen > Start now.
5. To stop mirroring your Android to your Smart TV, retrace the steps and select Stop mirroring.
Also Check: How To Setup Chromecast On Roku TV
There’s An Easier Way Depending On Your Phone
Using the Home app isn’t a lot of work, but there’s an even easier way: Use the Casting shortcut in the quick settings panel. Access the quick settings panel by swiping down from the top of your Android phone or tablet’s display. There should be an option labeled Screen cast — if you can’t find it, you may have to tap on the pencil icon to edit what is and isn’t available in your quick settings panel.
Once you find the Screen cast button, select it and then pick the device you want to mirror your display on from the list. It can take a few seconds for your phone to connect to the Chromecast-enabled device, but once it does, your screen will show up on your TV. Stop casting by repeating the same steps we just outlined.
Want to show off your photos? Mirror your screen.
But here’s the rub: Not every phone includes a cast button option in the quick settings panel. It’s not clear why, but if your phone doesn’t have the shortcut option, don’t give up. You can still mirror your phone using the Home app.
If you’re looking for ways to get more out of your Chromecast, check out these tips. Google Assistant has a trick you’ll want to keep in mind the next time you have a song stuck in your head.
How Can I Connect My Android Phone To My Non
The traditional TVs do not come with any facility for screen mirroring or screencasting primarily because there is no Wi-Fi integrated. However, one can use Google Chromecast, Apple Fire TV Stick or any other Android-based dongle to mirror your smartphone or table to your non-smart TV. One can connect the dongle to the HDMI port in the non-smart TV and then simply cast it using the above-mentioned methods.
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How To Mirror An Android Phone To A Smart TV
Although most smartphones have a screen mirroring option, the terminology and steps to activate the feature might vary depending on the smartphone manufacturer. Heres how to connect your Android phone screen to a smart TV wirelessly
1. Swipe down twice from the top of the screen to access the Quick Settings panel and look for the Cast option.
2. If you dont see the option, tap on the Edit button and locate the Screen Cast toggle.
3. Hold and drag the cast button to the Quick Settings tray.
4. Toggle the Screen cast button and see if your Smart TV is showing up on the list.
5. Tap on your TV name to begin mirroring your Android phone.
To disable Android screen casting, tap on the Cast toggle in the Quick Settings panel. Android screen mirroring is available on devices running Android 5.0 or later.
If the screen cast option does not appear in the Quick settings panel, see if your device has the option to connect Android to TV wirelessly option under a different name in settings.
For instance, Xiaomi devices have two options within the device settings that offer screen mirroring Cast and Wireless display. Most users are able to cast their Xiaomi screen with the help of Wireless display. The option is located in Settings > Connection & sharing > Wireless Display.
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