Android TV apps

[Android Central Question]

Hi, my name is Raj and I am a student at Ohio State University. I currently work within OSU and have been tasked to find a smart tv capable of running various "gaming" apps, namely language learning apps (eg. duolingo, google arts and culture, tinycards etc) for my work (Center for Languages and Culture). I came across the android tv and saw how it has google play store available in it to download apps, but I wanted to know if I would be able to run language apps like the ones stated above and play them directly on the tv touch screen? Please let me know about suggestions you might have. Thank you.

 

[SpookDroid]

Don't know about any specific apps, but not every app runs on Android TV (as usual, devs set their own compatibility list and might block installation on non-compatible devices). So you need to check with the specific apps you want to use to see if they are compatible.

Where your particular application would fail, however, is with the TV Touch Screen. That is not a generic input device, hence you'd need an app specifically for your TV and from the TV manufacturer to be able to use the touch input on an Android device (think drivers for Windows PCs).

You can always opt for a tablet that is mirrored to the TV and use the tablet itself for input, but that will only allow you to have a bigger image on the TV, not let you use the touch input of the TV itself. Wireless dongles like Chromecast or Rokus can also mirror the display without a cable as long as all devices are in the same WiFi network (there will be more delay this way than with a wired connection).

 

[Rukbat]

Your best bet might be to install Kodi on a phone or tablet. That will give you a TV app and you can install whatever can be installed on that device. (Remember, though - Android TV apps aren't free TV - you have to pay for the services like Hulu, Sling, etc. whether they're on an Android TV box or an Android phone.)

 

[SpookDroid]

Or a Windows computer if the apps you want to run are available for that OS. The even sell computers on a stick now, and those would (in theory) be able to install a generic (or brand specific) driver for the touch input from the TV.