Q&A: Getting Up to Speed With an Apple TV, and Ditching Android Widgets

Q. How fast does my Internet connection have to be to stream movies on an Apple TV?

A. Apple recommends at least a 2.5-megabits-per-second connection to stream video smoothly in standard definition, but suggests even faster connections for streaming high-definition movies and television shows with the latest model of its Apple TV set-top box. For video in the 720p low end of the high-def scale, a 6-megabits-per-second connection is recommended, and to watch content in the 1080p format, a consistent 8-megabits-per-second connection is advised.

If you are not sure of your Internet connection speed, check with your service provider. Online bandwidth tests you can run in your browser, like Speakeasy Speed Test or Ookla Speedtest can give you a general idea; Verizon has an online test as well. Try to run the test when no one else on the network is downloading large files or playing a bandwidth-intensive online video game.

Watching video over connection speeds that are slower than recommended may lead to stalling and buffering while you try to watch movies and shows. The Apple TV box can be connected to a home network wirelessly or with an Ethernet cable to the router. For a wireless connection, the current Apple TV model needs an access point or router using 802.11a, g or n technology and a good, strong network signal.

Ditching Widgets on the Android Home Screen

Q. How can I get rid of this giant “Recommended for You” thing on my Nexus tablet Home screen?

A. The “Recommended for You” widget from the Google Play store offers suggestions for apps, music, movies and other content that Google thinks you may want, based on previous purchases. If you would rather use the Home screen real estate for something else, remove it by pressing and holding the widget with your finger and then dragging it to the Remove icon at the top of the screen.

To redecorate the Home screen, you can remove other widgets and apps from view the same way. (Keep in mind that these are just Home screen shortcuts to the apps and widgets; the actual programs are still tucked away in your apps collection.)

To add apps or widgets to the Home screen, tap the All Apps icon. At the top of the screen, tap either Apps or Widgets. Press and hold your finger on the item you want to add until the Home screen pops up in the background, and then drag it to your desired location.

You can find quite a few helpful widgets — those self-refreshing little programs and utilities designed to live on the Home screen — on the Widgets tab in the All Apps area. In addition to clocks, your calendar and Google Now, you can add a small preview window of your email account, your photo gallery and bookmarks to the screen for easy access. To resize a widget, press and hold it until a set of blue dots appears, and then drag the dots until you have shrunk or enlarged the widget to your satisfaction.