If you are looking for an Android TV dongle, you will certainly need a remote control to interact with your now smart TV. The question is, what type of remote will work best for your situation?
Pre-packaged Android TV remote control
Most HDMI and USB TV dongle packages come with their own remote controls, making them the go-to solutions for working with an Android multimedia dongle. These look a lot like your standard TV remote – rectangular blocks with various buttons so you can play games.
This is a simple solution that gets the job done, although manipulating the Android media interface can be quite cumbersome. This is especially true when entering text and numbers, which involves pressing a button with great difficulty. Stick with this solution if you want to keep costs down and are willing to put up with a somewhat cumbersome entry.
Android-based remote apps
Many dongles have an application for Android smartphones and tablets. All you need to do is install the correct app and voila, your nifty tablet or smartphone is now a TV remote! The phone’s virtual keyboard also makes text input a lot easier, solving another big headache. You can even install apps that allow a TV streaming dongle to send video to your Android device.
However, the downside to using these devices is that you will often need wireless internet access for the setup to work. You also need to be very careful when using your smartphone or tablet as a remote control. Dropping and breaking a twenty- or thirty-dollar remote control is nothing compared to dropping and breaking a device that is worth a few hundred dollars.
Specialized Android TV Remote Controllers
There are remote controllers that are specifically designed to work seamlessly with the average dongle. These come with their own keyboards for typing text, Bluetooth systems for connecting without internet access, and miniature touchscreens (or pads) for selecting larger tiles on the computer screen with pinpoint precision.
Needless to say, you’ll have to put a bit more money into these dedicated Android TV controllers, but the resulting increase in ergonomics will make the purchase well worth it. This is the option for those who are willing to invest in a solid and reliable control system to go with their Android TV dongle.
Voice and gesture controllers
Major tech companies like Microsoft, Samsung, Sony, and Google are pushing voice and gesture-based technology in the average home. There are already some examples of smart TVs that you can manipulate using voice commands and hand gestures. It will only take a little while for that technology to be available for the average Android TV dongle setup.
Such technology is not yet mature enough to be useful for today’s consumer; however, if reliability and usability issues are overcome, voice and gestures will be an excellent, if somewhat expensive, method of manipulating the average Android TV device’s user interface.
Keep this in mind and you will be able to find the perfect control settings for your Android TV device!