TVs – and by extension many other displays such as PC monitors, secondary displays, digital signage, and more – hold a special place in the pantheon of tech by way of its longevity. While PCs, phones, tablets, and consoles need to be replaced every few years to prevent becoming outdated and uselessly slow, displays can keep on going for quite some time.
Thanks to 1080p being the HD standard for more than a decade, and 4K quickly catching up as the de facto resolution for displays, a TV you have from quite a while ago may still be perfectly usable. We know of several people in the tech industry who picked up a large enough TV right when 1080p, or “Full HD” as it was called back then, and simply kept using that as time and tech went on.
Right here in the office one of our writers has a 1080p screen from around 2010 that they still use regularly which still outputs a good enough picture for the odd movie or local co-op gaming.
The real problem with the longevity of displays is the software and functionality that the manufacturer shipped them out with. Earlier displays were notorious for custom operating systems that were simply not up to snuff, on top of being different between manufacturers.
If you own an older TV it’s just about impossible to run content through it natively, requiring that you connect some other device into it. While that may be fine in some circumstances, a lot of other times you just want the TV to work natively, taking up as little space as possible and wasting as little of your time as possible.
So what’s the solution?
Of course there is not just one way to keep using your TV without replacing it, but two, and both come from tech giant Xiaomi.
These are the Xiaomi TV Box S 2nd Gen for 4K displays and the Mi TV Stick for good old 1080p. Both options plug into the HDMI port of your TV or other display, connect to the internet, and you’re up and running on the tried and tested Google TV (Box) or Android TV (Stick) platforms.
It’s really that simple.
Just plug one of these dedicated solutions in and enjoy the latest when it comes to modern TV platforms. Android and Google functionality means full compatibility with everything on the Play Store right when it launches. Is there a new streaming service out or an existing service with a new app? You don’t need to wait for a dedicated port for your system as Android and Google launches on day one and you can enjoy them right away.
It’s not just about streaming because you can now take advantage of Google Assistant, Chromecast, dedicated memory for taking your content with you on the go, and more.
Both the Xiaomi TV Box S 2nd Gen and the Mi TV Stick are available in South Africa right now with shockingly low recommended retail prices. The Xiaomi TV Box S 2nd Gen can be yours for R1 199 (from Takealot, Incredible Connection, HiFi, Game and Makro) and the Mi TV Stick for R949 (Takealot, Incredible Connection, HiFi, Game, and Makro).
This article is just a short introduction to these devices, so check back on Hypertext soon for more on how these small purchases can make a big difference in the way you enjoy your leisure time.
