Hotmail on a smart TV?

[AbeSurd]

I'm trying to help a friend in his late 70s who, apart from using Hotmail which he uses at an internet cafe, is not at all tech savvy. And in truth he's not interested in becoming tech savvy. He's on a limited budget, has restricted mobility, and is finding it harder and harder to get out and about from his condo. He also needs a new TV set.

I don't own a smart TV or know a huge amount about them, but from the little research I've done I think the ideal thing for him is a smart TV with a physical keyboard - if he can access Hotmail on it.

So maybe the question is: do any smart TVs have an app for Hotmail?

I think Google is trying to tell me "no".

Thanks.

[Jimbo]

They should have a web browser so he could just type in www.hotmail.com and get there like that

 

He would obviously need internet access

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

 

[OneEyedPie]

What about a tablet?  Email on TV is quite a painful experience, to be honest.

[AbeSurd]

1 minute ago, Jimbo said:

They should have a web browser so he could just type in www.hotmail.com and get there like that


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

Yes, the Samsung smart TV I had a look at had a basic web browser.

 

But once you've got to the Hotmail log in page in this way, will Hotmail let you log in? If there's a Hotmail app, I assume you will be able to. But if there's no app?

 

Doesn't Hotmail usually only allow access from devices running Windows, OS, Android, Linux etc?

[AbeSurd]

2 minutes ago, OneEyedPie said:

What about a tablet?  Email on TV is quite a painful experience, to be honest.

This is a possible solution. But I think my friend would like a big screen.

Also, he's never used a touchscreen device.

What email have you accessed on a smart TV?

Would it be painful if you had a proper keyboard attached to the TV?

[janclaes47]

2 minutes ago, AbeSurd said:

Yes, the Samsung smart TV I had a look at had a basic web browser.

 

But once you've got to the Hotmail log in page in this way, will Hotmail let you log in? If there's a Hotmail app, I assume you will be able to. But if there's no app?

 

Doesn't Hotmail usually only allow access from devices running Windows, OS, Android, Linux etc?

A browser is a browser, either if it is installed on a TV - tablet or PC.

 

In the internet cafe he also access hotmail through thee browser, that's why it is called web based email.

 

For an app he would need an smart tv with Android operating system. Only few brands have Android, but all brands have a web browser

[OneEyedPie]

17 minutes ago, AbeSurd said:

Would it be painful if you had a proper keyboard attached to the TV?

Trust me it's torture.  

 

If your friend can use a computer at an internet cafe then he'll be a dab hand with a tablet.  They're foolproof and plenty of brands with big screens.

 

 

Edited January 13, 2019 by OneEyedPie

[AbeSurd]

4 minutes ago, janclaes47 said:

A browser is a browser, either if it is installed on a TV - tablet or PC.

 

In the internet cafe he also access hotmail through thee browser, that's why it is called web based email.

 

For an app he would need an smart tv with Android operating system. Only few brands have Android, but all brands have a web browser

It's useful to know there are Android smart TVs. Thanks.

 

Do any have an app for Hotmail?

[AbeSurd]

3 minutes ago, OneEyedPie said:

Trust me it's torture.  

 

If your friend can use a computer at an internet cafe then he'll be a dab hand with a tablet.  They're foolproof and plenty of brands with big screens.

 

 

OK, I hear you ????

 

Yes, a tablet is under consideration.

[janclaes47]

1 minute ago, AbeSurd said:

It's useful to know there are Android smart TVs. Thanks.

 

Do any have an app for Hotmail?

If you have an Android tv you will have google playstore so you can download apps from playstore.

 

There is Android TV and there is Android OS, 2 different operating systems. On Android TV you can only download media related apps.

 

An app will also be much more confusing to him. I hate for example the Gmail app on my phone.

 

Better to stay with web based hotmail, as that is what he's familiar with.

 

When you connect a wireless keyboard and mouse top the tv it will be same as if he's in the internet cafe

[AbeSurd]

5 minutes ago, janclaes47 said:

An app will also be much more confusing to him. I hate for example the Gmail app on my phone.

 

Better to stay with web based hotmail, as that is what he's familiar with.

Thanks - that sounds like very good advice.

 

Do you think he'd be better off with a large screen tablet? For accessing Hotmail and watching TV?

[janclaes47]

1 minute ago, AbeSurd said:

Thanks - that sounds like very good advice.

 

Do you think he'd be better off with a large screen tablet? For accessing Hotmail and watching TV?

On a tablet you can check email, but you don't watch tv on a tablet, I know some even do on a phone but then you're crazy in my opinion.

 

On a TV you can watch tv and check email

Edit : Another reason why you don't watch tv on a tablet is that for IPTV you should use a wired internet connection, which you don't have on a tableet

Edited January 13, 2019 by janclaes47

[AbeSurd]

11 minutes ago, janclaes47 said:

On a TV you can watch tv and check email

 

OK, but for good reasons you say you don't think he should use a Hotmail app (assuming one exists anyway) on the smart TV.

 

So if he uses the smart TV browser, will he be able to do more than go to the Hotmail log in page? Will he be able to log into Hotmail and create emails, answer emails etc?

 

Have you yourself used web based email on a smart TV?

[janclaes47]

2 minutes ago, AbeSurd said:

OK, but for good reasons you say you don't think he should use a Hotmail app (assuming one exists anyway) on the smart TV.

 

So if he uses the smart TV browser, will he be able to do more than go to the Hotmail log in page? Will he be able to log into Hotmail and create emails, answer emails etc?

 

Have you yourself used web based email on a smart TV?

As I said already, a browser is a browser, regardless which device it is installed on.

 

So in the browser on the tv he can do exactly same as what he can do in a browser on a pc.

[wgdanson]

Another solution would be to get something like an Intel NUC, mini PC with W10, HDMI into the telly, wireless mouse & keyboard. Best of both worlds. Doesn't need to be a smart TV. Then get a VPN (Express recommended) and the world's your lobster.

Edited January 13, 2019 by wgdanson

[AbeSurd]

6 minutes ago, janclaes47 said:

As I said already, a browser is a browser, regardless which device it is installed on.

 

So in the browser on the tv he can do exactly same as what he can do in a browser on a pc.

I'm rather hoping OneEyedPie will come in here and explain why email on TV is 'torture'.

 

janclaes47, you say it's all the same. But you don't say what you use your TV browser for. Let me try another question: do you use it for online banking?

[janclaes47]

6 minutes ago, AbeSurd said:

I'm rather hoping OneEyedPie will come in here and explain why email on TV is 'torture'.

 

janclaes47, you say it's all the same. But you don't say what you use your TV browser for. Let me try another question: do you use it for online banking?

I feel agenda being pushed, in which I'm not interested

 

Bye

Edited January 13, 2019 by janclaes47

[AbeSurd]

1 hour ago, wgdanson said:

Another solution would be to get something like an Intel NUC, mini PC with W10, HDMI into the telly, wireless mouse & keyboard. Best of both worlds. Doesn't need to be a smart TV. Then get a VPN (Express recommended) and the world's your lobster.

Thanks - unfortunately I'm sure your lobster access is too complicated for my friend!

[OneEyedPie]

1 hour ago, AbeSurd said:

I'm rather hoping OneEyedPie will come in here and explain why email on TV is 'torture'.

Try it and report back on your experience.  Good luck.

[AbeSurd]

1 hour ago, janclaes47 said:

I feel agenda being pushed, in which I'm not interested

 

Bye

The agenda is as explained in my OP.

Personal experience is always very helpful.

You very kindly explained your personal experience with the Gmail app on your phone - and that was very helpful.

Following on from that I was simply asking you for your personal experience of using a TV browser.

[AbeSurd]

4 minutes ago, OneEyedPie said:

Try it and report back on your experience.  Good luck.

Unfortunately my friend would have to buy all the gear before he'd be able to experience it, and he's on a budget.

[OneEyedPie]

18 minutes ago, AbeSurd said:

Unfortunately my friend would have to buy all the gear before he'd be able to experience it, and he's on a budget.

A tablet is the safest option then.

[wgdanson]

6 hours ago, OneEyedPie said:

A tablet is the safest option then.

Followed eventually by a trip to the opticians because he was watching telly on a small screen...maybe.

[chrisinth]

Your friend could also try getting a tablet/cheap laptop and either Chromecast or one of the other HDMI casting devices to transfer what he sees on the tablet to his TV.

 

Then he can read his Hotmail compose his new mail, delete his old, etc, etc with the aid of a bigger screen.

 

This, IMO is probably the cheapest solution he will get.

[sfokevin]

My vote is for a tablet too... You can get apps and go to websites to watch TV, mail is easily set up and one other thing to note is that if he has to transition to another place or facility the tablet can easily go with him whereas a TV might not be able... 

 

I have successfully transitioned my 90yo father from an old windows machine to a Apple IPad and he loves it...

 

Facebook Marketplace has a lot of used like new tablets for sale...

[d2g]

I am dealing with the same problem.

The information provided here has been outstanding.

Thanks to all that have contributed.

Based on this, I plan to use my Xiaomi Mipad 4 tablet as a test device.

It works for me as email access using the tablet "Chrome" browser.

The next problem is choosing a Chromecast type device to use in conjunction with the tablet to "cast" video from the tablet to the TV.

Anyone with suggestions/experience with that who is willing to explain how that's done would be deeply appreciated.

The final step will be to determine if an AIS or True "Pocket wifi" dongle at the maximum unlimited bandwidth for internet access is adequate for TV.

If that doesn't work, getting wired internet access in a condo may be the most difficult problem.

Thanks to all for helping define/clarify this problem.

 

[KhunHeineken]

Does he have a flat screen TV?  If so, it will have a HDMI Port.

 

What about he keeps the TV, and just adds a cheap Chinese android box for around 1500 baht? 

 

He can plug in a keyboard / mouse combo, also cheap, connect via WiFi, and he's good to go.

 

If he's not on the internet much, why do an expensive upgrade on a TV?  Also, the android box it portable, so he can take it with him if / when he moves.   

 

If he's due to upgrade his TV, sure, get a new smart TV, but if his current TV is fine, why not just add an android box?