Ok, now I understand how to do it, and have apkmirror saved, so it's just search and download. (that specific link didn't work, but once I was on apkmirror I just searched and downloaded from the site.
With ability to have expressvpn on the chromecast itself everything is easy. Winning.
Worth watching a few reviews of this google TV thing.
I'm very impressed so far, especially now I've sussed the apk stuff.
pros:
lots of apps, and a proper back end for fiddling and yarring options
vpn download and and easy to set up.
Any music streaming will be on there and have full fat sound options. (Tidal has both master and dolby atmos available and works a treat.)
can sync power button and volume button with just about any brand so you can control volume and turn TV on/off with google remote. (That I can do this with my old NAD amp and a lowish end Hisense TV is very impressive.)
Cons:
It defaults to it's own picture mode, Dolby vision, which seems to override TV settings. Fine for TV stuff so far, having tested BBC and some other apps, but for NBA, the contrast/brightness/colour is just silly, and unwatchable. There may be a way to sort it, but it's not obvious. I can watch NBA through the builtin TV app so it's moot anyway.
Basically, it's worked out beautifully. The google TV thing will be for UK/BBC and Tidal only. With the TV for all other streaming.
It appears All 4 don't have an actual Android TV app, so fuck them.
No button like that bottom left of my keyboard but I did find the settings elsewhere and have fixed it! There was no solution in the phone's wallpaper and theme settings (which is where you change the colour), but yes the kb's settings via the kB itself let me revert. Cheers!
I'm in the hunt for a new phone but all the new ones seem extremely underwhelming, giving you less features for more money?
Things I desire: Compact - preferably 6 inches or less Headphone Jack and Hi-res / Dolby support Expandable memory. 256GB phones cost too much and my current phone has 528GB when you factor in the micro sd card.
Things I care not about:
90hz / 120hz / variable refresh rates
Phones I have in mind so far: Xperia 5 ii / iii. Not what I call compact, but has everything else. FOOKING expensive though. Asus Zenfone 8. It's compact and has a headphone jack, but missing the expandability. iPhone 13 Mini. Absolutely the best size, but missing everything else.
Decided I'm going to be good and simply replace the battery in my phone which is otherwise in great nick. Anyone recommend a place? Just been on samsungrepair.com and £99.99 seems a bit mad?
I mean, does it? They send a technician out to you, it's a same day service and it's guaranteed for 12 months.
You can take it to a market stall, but there'll be no guarantee with that, and if the phone is water resistant it's unlikely to still be after an unauthorized repair.
A few places seem to offer it for £70, but you might need to post it to them, or take it in to a store.