Surprising things you can do on your Apple TV

Now it can run its own apps, there’s no limit to the uses of that little black box

Hijack hotel TV

Your Apple TV is easy to carry and can connect to any TV with an accessible HDMI port (remember the cable!) Getting it online can be trickier – it won’t cope with sign-in portals – but if you stream videos you’ve downloaded to your iPhone, iPad or MacBook, you won’t need Wi-Fi to stay entertained.

Get fit

Working out with a virtual instructor on the big screen is ideal, and there are several fitness apps for Apple TV, most requiring a subscription. Simply Yoga – Fitness Trainer is basic but free (there’s a £14.99 Pro version); the fancier adidas Training by Runtastic is subscription-based but free to try.

Order takeaway

US favourite GrubHub now has an Apple TV app, but UK services like Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats don’t.

Try mirroring your iPhone or iPad screen to the Apple TV via AirPlay next time you’re ordering. When the squad can all see at once, you’ll have consensus on a menu within hours!

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You can use the Remote app in iOS to control your Apple TV. See bit.ly/mfapptvrem. Even if you prefer not to, your Apple TV will ping your iOS device (on the same Wi-Fi and iCloud account, with Bluetooth switched on) to help whenever it needs you to enter text – look out for the notification.

Learn stuff

Learning platforms like Udemy, Linda.com and MasterClass all have Apple TV apps, though content is paid. Search the YouTube app for ‘free lectures’ and you’ll find plenty from across the world. And the TED app has free talks from Silicon Valley’s favourite inspirational conference.

Chill out

First Rule Fireplace (free) simulates gently burning logs, with optional rain and… jazz? Fantastic Fireplace goes further, with, say, a campfire, with in-app purchases. Or get euphoric with Earthlapse, which uses enhanced NASA videos to show awe-inspiring views from the ISS. Ladies and gentlemen, we are floating in space…