Ever catch yourself checking e-mail or browsing the Web while you're watching your favorite show? You're not alone. A recent survey found that 42% of viewers use a smart phone or tablet while watching TV.
Now you can do a lot more with a second screen than post snarky comments on Twitter. Tech and media companies are rolling out apps and gadgets that let you send video wirelessly from a phone or tablet to your HDTV, get more information about the show you are watching, and use your device as a remote control.
Mirror, mirror. Mobile devices make convenient video players. But to get the thrill that only a big screen can provide, try Apple's AirPlay Mirroring app. With it you can wirelessly sling whatever is showing on your Apple phone, tablet or PC (but not your Windows or Android devices) to an HDTV — as long as you also have an Apple TV media-streaming box ($99), which acts as an intermediary. AirPlay Mirroring can transmit anything that's on your mobile device, including Web pages, games and photos, so it's handy for slide shows and other shared activities.
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88 $24.99, plus get up to 4 Special Issues
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
A free Google YouTube app does a similar trick for Android users: It sends video wirelessly from a phone or tablet to a TV or set-top box equipped with Google TV, an Internet-meets-TV platform that has been slow to catch on since its debut in 2010. To be fair, Google continues to improve the service, which comes pre-installed on a limited number of devices, including LG G2 series smart TVs.
Xbox SmartGlass is a free app for Android, Apple iOS, Windows Phone and Windows 8 devices that turns your phone or tablet into an Xbox game console. Plus, when you start a movie, TV show or game, the app automatically detects second-screen content, such as movie trivia and photo galleries, and retrieves it.
Cable providers are also jumping on the second-screen bandwagon. If, for example, you hate the remote that came with your cable box (and who doesn't?), try an app instead. Verizon's FiOS Mobile Remote (Apple iOS and Android) not only controls the set-top box but also lets you record TV shows and movies on your DVR from wherever you happen to be — assuming that there's an Internet connection. Free mobile apps from Xfinity and Time Warner Cable offer similar capabilities.
Nintendo's new Wii U game console ($300 and up) fully embraces the second-screen concept. The handheld Wii U GamePad controller comes with a 6.2-inch LCD touch screen; swipe a finger across the screen in games such as Nintendo Land (included with the $350 deluxe package) and you can fling virtual objects from the device to the big screen. The handheld display shows information that enhances what's on the TV screen, making both devices essential to game play.
Netflix reportedly has big plans to make use of a second screen, but its initial effort — syncing with Sony's PlayStation 3 game console — is modest. For now, the Netflix smart-phone app lets you automatically start playback on the screen attached to your PS3, says Linda Barrabee, an analyst with NPD Group.
Of course, a second screen isn't ideal in every situation. "Personally, I'm a big fan of Homeland," says Barrabee. When it's on, she says, "I don't want to do anything but watch Homeland."
-
3 Ways to Stretch the 2026 Social Security COLA For Your BudgetThree steps retirees can take to stretch the Social Security COLA to fit their budgets.
-
How to Keep Your Charitable Giving Momentum Going All YearInstead of treating charity like a year-end rush for tax breaks, consider using smart tools like DAFs and recurring grants for maximum impact all the year.
-
Uber Takes Aim at the Bottom Lines of Billboard LawyersUber has filed lawsuits and proposed a ballot initiative, in California, to curb settlements it claims are falsely inflated by some personal injury lawyers.
-
When Tech is Too MuchOur Kiplinger Retirement Report editor, David Crook, sounds off on the everyday annoyances of technology.
-
I Let AI Read Privacy Policies for Me. Here's What I LearnedA reporter uses AI to review privacy policies, in an effort to better protect herself from fraud and scams.
-
Amazon Resale: Where Amazon Prime Returns Become Your Online BargainsFeature Amazon Resale products may have some imperfections, but that often leads to wildly discounted prices.
-
What Is AI? Artificial Intelligence 101Artificial intelligence has sparked huge excitement among investors and businesses, but what exactly does the term mean?
-
Roth IRA Contribution Limits for 2026Roth IRAs Roth IRAs allow you to save for retirement with after-tax dollars while you're working, and then withdraw those contributions and earnings tax-free when you retire. Here's a look at 2026 limits and income-based phaseouts.
-
Four Tips for Renting Out Your Home on Airbnbreal estate Here's what you should know before listing your home on Airbnb.
-
Five Ways to a Cheap Last-Minute VacationTravel It is possible to pull off a cheap last-minute vacation. Here are some tips to make it happen.
-
How Much Life Insurance Do You Need?insurance When assessing how much life insurance you need, take a systematic approach instead of relying on rules of thumb.
