Gone are the days when the only thing you could do on your TV was watch what the cable company and broadcasters wanted you to do. Today, your TV can be used for almost any purpose, like your smartphone or tablet. But this is only true if the manufacturer equips your device with all the necessary tools for this.
JVC's solutions, for example, can't really compare to those of some of the market leaders like Samsung or Sony. When it comes to the "smart" aspect of things, there's a ton of confusion about how everything works. Specifically, there are no clear guidelines on how to manage apps on your JVC smart TV.
Here you will see what it is and what you can do about it.
Android or not?
Not all JVC smart TVs come with Android OS. Instead, they offer specific versions of popular apps like YouTube and Netflix. Now this is where it gets pretty chaotic. Many users have complained that the apps are not working and there is no update option. Even TVs that support Android can have issues with Google Play Services that can prevent you from updating apps.
In this case, a firmware update would be able to fix the problem and fix the services that aren't working. But the problem is that users who contacted JVC asking for updates got the answer that there won't be any in the future. For this reason it is not possible to update apps, as JVC does not release separate app updates either.
So how do you get the most out of your smart TV despite these limitations? Let's take a look at a few options available to you.
Update apps on compatible Android devices
Provided your JVC smart TV supports Android smoothly, updating apps is a piece of cake. The process is largely the same as updating Android phone apps. Here's what you need to do:
- Make sure your TV has a stable internet connection.
- Open the Google Play Store from the menu.
- Find the app you want to update and click on it.
- Select Update profile beside the Open
Another thing you can do is download the . Apk of the app you want to update and install it manually. This is a great option when Google Play is malfunctioning. Here's what you need to do:
- Find it . Apk file of the app you want to update and make sure it is the latest version available.
- Transfer the file to a USB flash drive and plug it into your TV.
- On your TV, go to Source > USB and install the latest version of the app.
You should see the updated version in your List of applications menu.
What about non-Android TVs?
Unless JVC releases a firmware or software update, you're pretty much stuck with what you have. However, that doesn't mean you can't access the apps you need.
You can get an Android TV box which can provide you with all the functions of Android based smart TVs. In this case, the application update process will be the same as described in the previous section. Another option is to use a casting device like Google's Chromecast. It lets you project the screen of Cast-enabled devices onto your TV, allowing you to use apps from your phone or tablet on a big screen.
Avoid outdated apps
As you can see, JVC doesn't handle updating apps very well. If you have an Android-compatible TV, you're in luck, as you should have no problem updating your apps. But if not, you may need to use an Android box or streaming devices to ensure you can use the latest versions available.
Although these solutions do not seem very practical, they are the only way to circumvent the limitations of JVC. The good news is that they are quite affordable, so you should get what you pay for in most cases.
What are your experiences with JVC's TV interface and applications? Share them with us in the comments below.
