The last part of Toshiba’s new Cloud TV system warranting our attention is its smart device app support. As noted earlier, the breaks down into two separate apps: the Toshiba MediaGuide App. Mar 10, 2021 There is no Sky Go client for smart TV. (Android 8.1.0 Oreo), LG 49UJ701V with Yamaha RX-V375, Toshiba 32L6353, Samsung UE22F5400.
- Toshiba Smart Tv Fire Edition
- Sky Go On Toshiba Smart Tv App
- Toshiba Smart Tv Apps List
- Sky Go On Toshiba Smart Tv Manual
You can stream NOW on a huge range of devices. So whichever NOW Membership you've got, there are loads of different ways to get stuck in.
Not a NOW member yet?Join in and start your membership.
Check below to see if your device is supported:
Set-top boxes and streaming devices
Select to see clever boxes, sticks and other devices that plug straight into your TV.
NOW Devices
- NOW Smart Box with 4K and Voice Search
- NOW Smart Box with Freeview
- Black NOW Box
Got a white NOW Box?
White NOW Boxes are no longer supported, so you won't be able to stream NOW or use any of the other apps on your device.
To continue enjoying your NOW Membership and access your apps on your big screen, why not Grab a NOW Smart Stick to plug straight into your TV?
Other set-top boxes and devices
- Amazon Fire TV Stick: 2nd generation or later, Fire TV Stick 4K, Fire TV Stick Lite, Fire TV Stick Basic Edition
- Apple TV: HD (4th gen) or 4K. Check here if you’re not sure which generation you have.
- Roku boxes and streaming players: All models
- Chromecast
- BT TV Box
- YouView box.
Good to know Older YouView boxes that look like those below (model numbers DTR-T1000, DTR-T1010 and Talk Talk's DN370T box) are no longer supported.
Smart TVs
Select to see TVs that come with the NOW app already installed or available to download.
Toshiba Smart Tv Fire Edition
LG
Selected Smart TV models
Keep in mindNOW hayu membership isn't available on any 2012 or 2013 models, plus some 2014, 2015 and 2016 models. The NOW app is no longer supported on LG NetCast TVs.
Samsung
2015 models and later (see the Samsung info here for more details).
Keep in mindNOW isn't supported on the Samsung Serif range of TVs.
Sony
2016 models and later
Keep in mindOnly Sony Smart TVs running Android OS 8.0 or later are supported.
Hisense
All Roku TV models
JVC
Fire TV edition HD/FHD (2020): LT-32CF600, LT-40CF700, LT-43CF700 models
Not supported at the moment: Panasonic or Toshiba Smart TVs
Tablets and smartphones
Select to see which mobile devices you can download the NOW app on.
Android
Apple iOS
- iPhone: 5S and later
- iPad: 5th generation or later, plus iPad Air and iPad Mini 2 or later
- iPod Touch: 6th generation or later.
All devices with iOS 11 or later are supported.
iOS 9 & 10 are no longer supported
The NOW app no longer supports iOS 9 or 10. If your iOS device is running on 9 or 10, you'll still be able to watch for as long as the app works for you, but you won't receive any updates like new features and bug fixes.
If your device supports later iOS versions, we recommend you update to 11 or later.
Keep in mindYou can't use AirPlay to stream or mirror NOW from any iOS device.
Windows
Find out how to watch on a Windows tablet.
Not supported at the moment: Windows smartphones, Kindle Fire HD
Laptops and computers
Select to find out how to watch NOW on your PC or Mac.
You can stream NOW on your Windows PC or a Mac by downloading the NOW Player.
Windows
Follow these steps to get the NOW Player on a Windows PC or laptop.
Keep in mindYou can no longer stream via the Windows 8/10 app – you'll need to download the Player to watch.
Mac
Follow theses steps to get the NOW Player on a Mac.
Not supported at the moment: Chromebook
Games consoles
Select to see which games consoles the NOW app is available on.
Xbox One
Keep in mindThe NOW app might not work if you're taking part in the Xbox One Update Preview.
- Xbox Series X/S
- PlayStation 4
- PlayStation 5.
Not supported at the moment: Nintendo Wii
Got a NOW Sports Mobile Membership?
You can only stream your mobile membership on supported iOS or Android smartphones.
Can I stream NOW on my Sky box?
You won’t be able to stream NOW on your Sky box.
If you want to stream movies, shows and sport on your big screen, why not check out our NOW Smart Stick?
Start watching
Got one of the devices above? Find out how to get started.
In recent years, smart TVs and aftermarket set-top boxes are being shipped with a useful feature called “PVR Recording.” By enabling it, you can connect an external hard drive to your smart TV or set-top box and continuously record live programs, as well as pause and rewind while you are watching live TV channels. The feature is quite versatile, which is why USB HDD for TV sells like hotcakes nowadays.
On LG Smart TVs (select models), the recording feature is branded as Time Machine II. If you have a Samsung Smart TV, then look for the Timeshift feature.
Other TV manufacturers like Sony also includes the USB HDD TV recording feature in certain regions. As long as your TV has a dedicated USB port specially labeled for HDD recording, there shouldn’t be any compatibility issues.
However, you will need a fast and reliable external hard drive for continuous recording, with decent read/write speeds and guaranteed prolonged usage.
You can check out our top picks for the best external hard drives for TV recording below.
Also, See –Can Alexa Work With Sky Q?
Contents
- 1 Best External Hard Drives for TV Recording (Samsung, Sony, LG, etc)
- 2 What should you Look out for When Buying an External Hard Drive for TV?
Best External Hard Drives for TV Recording (Samsung, Sony, LG, etc)
Aside from using an external hard drive for PVR on your TV, you can also use it to back up your important files on Windows and Mac devices, or extend the storage space on your game console.
You can use an external hard drive in several ways, which is why we have listed only the best HDDs below.
It’s worth mentioning that most TVs support external hard drives with a max capacity of 2TB, so make sure that you confirm the fact before buying a high-capacity USB HDD for your TV.
1. WD 1TB Elements Portable External Hard Drive
If you are looking for the best USB hard drive for tv then you should definitely check out WD 1 TB Elements Portable hard drive. The WD 1TB Elements external hard drive is one of WD’s best-selling products, and it currently is Amazon’s Choice for external hard drives.
It is available in other storage variants as well, which goes up to 5TB, retaining the same compact and portable form factor. The internal drive speed maxes out at 5,400 RPM.
This external hard drive supports USB 3.0 connectivity, providing faster data transfer speeds than its predecessors. However, you can also connect it to a USB 2.0 port, as it’s backward compatible with the older USB interface.
The WD Elements external HDD also has a slick black plastic casing, with an LED indicator on top. The 1TB variant weighs only 130 grams, whereas the 2TB variant weighs almost 235 grams.
It still is quite stealthy and compact enough to be left behind your TV or soundbar.
2. Seagate Portable 1TB External Hard Drive (STGX1000400)
Seagate is another American storage solution company trusted for its consumer and enterprise-level high-density hard disk and solid-state drives.
The 1TB Seagate Portable external hard drive is a decent choice for TV recording, alongside storage expansions and file backups.
It’s a plug-and-play solution for all USB-compatible devices. It has an internal drive speed of 5400 RPM, and the max variant of the Seagate Portable external HDD is 6TB. The drive supports USB 3.0, which can transfer data at up to 625 MB/s.
While only SSDs can achieve such speeds, it leaves the external HDD with plenty of bandwidth to work with. It also works with USB 2.0 in backward compatibility mode.
The 1TB variant of the Seagate Portable external HDD weighs 190g, but it’s quite portable. However, note that it’s not covered by the manufacturer’s warranty, but you get a 30-day return window from Amazon if something goes wrong.
3. Toshiba Canvio Basics 1TB Portable External Hard Drive
Although the Japanese electronics brand isn’t primarily known for its data storage products, it still is one of the few reputable HDD manufacturers in the market.
The Toshiba Canvio Basics is an excellent option for you in case you are searching for an external hard drive for tv recording with a smaller footprint.
Similar to the previous external HDDs from WD and Seagate, the Toshiba Canvio Basics comes with USB 3.0 data transfer speeds of up to 5Gbit/s.
It also works with the legacy USB 2.0 interface, with a maximum bandwidth of 480Mbit/s. You can connect the external drive to a USB 3.0 port and still saturate the full read and write speeds.
The 1TB variant of Toshiba Canvio Basics is often discounted, so keep your eyes for sales if you want to grab one for cheap. Other variants of this external HDD include 500GB, 2TB, 3TB, and 4TB. The 1TB version weighs only 149g, and its slim casing looks very premium.
4. Transcend 1TB Slim StorageJet 25M3S
Taiwan-based storage solution brand Transcend is mostly popular for its flash memory cards, pen drives, card readers, and other storage accessories.
Sky Go On Toshiba Smart Tv App
They also make portable hard drives, and its Slim StorageJet 25M3S (S stands for Slim) is a popular choice on Amazon.
The Transcend 1TB Slim StorageJet external HDD uses the USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5Gbit/s) interface for data transfer. At the same form factor and dimensions, it’s available in 500GB and 2TB variants as well. The 1TB variant is 185g, but the 4TB version weighs 294g.
One of the best things about this external HDD is its rugged build quality. Instead of regular plastic, the Transcend Slim StorageJet 25M3S uses a reinforced hard casing, protected by an outer silicone rubber case.
There’s also an internal suspension damper that absorbs vibrations, overall providing three-stage shock protection that meets the military drop-test standards. It’s also covered by three years of manufacturer warranty.
In case you decide to use this drive as a backup drive for your Windows or macOS computer, the auto-backup button on the drive can instantly back up your data with a single press. However, you will have to install the Transcend Elite software.
5. Maxtor M3 Portable 1TB Hard Drive
Maxtor is a subsidiary brand of Seagate, and its 1TB M3 Portable external HDD is a decent choice under £70. It’s available in up to 4TB of capacity, similar to all other portable drives listed here.
The drive speed is rated at 5400 RPM, and it uses the USB 3.0 SuperSpeed (5Gbit/s) interface for data transfer. The M3 Portable drive also comes pre-formatted in NTFS format, and it’s a ready-to-go solution.
It will work perfectly even when connected to a USB 2.0 port, as it’s fully compatible with the legacy USB interface.
The matte black plastic shell can stand up to the rigors of day-to-day usage, and its weight of 150 grams is lightweight enough to be carried everywhere.
For TV recording, we would recommend you go for the 2TB version of the Maxtor M3 Portable HDD, as it costs only £10 more than the 1TB variant.
What should you Look out for When Buying an External Hard Drive for TV?
When buying a new external hard drive for TV, there are a few things you should be aware of. The drive speed of the external HDD matters the most, which is rated by RPM (Revolutions Per Minute). The faster it is, the better read/write speed you will get on the mechanical hard drive.
5400 RPM and 7200 RPM are two of the most common hard drive speeds. While 5400 RPM drives are generally more affordable, 7200 RPM drives are considered significantly faster.
However, most high-density external drives have a rated 5400 RPM speed, as it draws less power from the USB port.
Also, make sure that your device has USB 3.0 ports, as it can utilize the maximum potential of an external hard drive. USB 3.0 ports are labeled blue, whereas 2.0 ports are black.
Fortunately, most TVs and set-top boxes with PVR functionality come with USB 3.0 ports. Hence, you won’t have to worry about limited bandwidth for data transfer.
Toshiba Smart Tv Apps List
Should you get an External SSD for TV Recording?
Sky Go On Toshiba Smart Tv Manual
You probably have heard about SSDs before. It stands for “Solid State Drive,” and it has no moving parts, unlike mechanical hard drives.
Since there are no mechanical components in SSDs, they are not only more durable but also marginally faster than HDDs.
An HDD at 7200 RPM can reach a maximum read and write speed of 80-120MB/s, while an SSD comes with an average 250-550MB/s read/write speeds (SATA III interface).
SSDs can provide read and write speeds as high as 3500MB/s on the NVMe interface!
As much as we would recommend you to buy an SSD and use it as your PC boot drive or storage, you won’t notice any difference when using it for recording TV. Also, external SSD solutions are often overpriced compared to regular HDD.
Also, Read – Best SCART to HDMI Converters
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Should I leave my external hard drive connected to the TV 24/7?
It’s completely fine to leave your external hard drive connected to your TV all the time since they are built to last long. When not in use, the hard drive will automatically go into idle mode and save power.
2. Is 1TB of storage enough for TV recording?
It depends on how many hours of TV shows or sports programming you usually record. With a 1TB external drive, you can record up to 180 hours of high-definition content, which should be enough for your needs.
3. How long does an external hard drive last?
External hard drives generally last three to four years of daily usage, assuming that you don’t drop it or leave it in a hot place for prolonged periods. Most manufacturers offer 2-3 years of warranty on their external hard drives, so it should be fine.