Can I play 360-Degree photos with Nero?

Yes, indeed you can.

With free Nero 360 VR App for Windows 10 you can watch your equirectangular 360° panoramic images – also known as ‘spheric panorama images’ in jpg, gif, png, or bmp image format.

Install free Nero 360 VR App via Windows App Store. Then launch it via Windows 10 start screen.

360 VR Start

Nero 360 VR also integrates into the home screen of Nero products from Nero product generation 2018 under ‘Nero Tools’ button.

Via mouse click Nero 360 VR player enables you to view all sections in your 360° image from all angles. You can use Nero 360 VR in full screen mode or in normal mode.

A 360° photo for preview is pre-selected. When clicking on ‘File‘ top left you can select other 360° photos via Windows Explorer.VR screen EN 1

Note that Nero 360 VR App can be used from Window 10 Creators Update V.1703 and higher.

Nero KnowHow 00079

Which Benefits do I have through Nero KnowHow Notifications?

From version 1.2 Nero KnowHow sends notifications to your Windows 10 PC or your mobile device, as soon as a new FAQ blog is available. This will happen via the respective notification function via Windows App, iOS, and Android App.

We recommend allowing notifications in Nero KnowHow so that you can benefit from direct access to latest answers to frequently asked questions as well as latest blogs on ‘Digital Life Made Easy’.

Moreover, via Nero KnowHow notifications you will have an exclusive sneak preview on latest product feature updates.

Nero KnowHow 00078

Nero KnowHow version 1.2 available as an essential Update!

Nero KnowHow version 1.2 comes with essential improvements and new features.

Install it now to benefit from the improved experience.

NEW

  • Via Nero Manuals access button you now can download Nero application manuals directly from the home screen per listed Nero application. Then print it via your device’s system printer support.
  • Via the new notification function you now will automatically be noted when new Nero KnowHow FAQs and new blogs on ‘Digital Life Made Easy’ have been posted. From there go to the new blog right away.

Improved

  • Now you can zoom into texts and images with two finger zoom gestures
  • A network loading indicator was added to the App and you will also experience an improved page loading time

Buxfixes

  • Version 1.2 includes several bug fixes

 

Nero KnowHow 00077

Digital Life made easy (2) – How can I play wirelessly and securely to my Smart TV using Nero?

Our digital life is meant to make things easier but in fact it is not that easy without knowing some of the fundamental concepts behind the digital world.

In this blog we try to answer the question: How can I play wirelessly and securely to my Smart TV using Nero?

In fact more and more customers put this question. On one hand it shows that streaming to Smart TVs has become extremely popular on the other hand it reflects that reports about being spied via your Smart TV have become a fear for many users. This blog will help you getting rid of this fear via some useful tips and continue enjoy streaming with Nero.

Growing Number of Smart TVs

Due their comfortable internet and multimedia functions Smart TVs have become really popular. Likewise the security aspect of such devices has become a matter of public concern. In the past, TV set vendors were accused of having enabled functions in their Smart TVs that would allow spying of customers by collecting user data and of having provided such data to third parties.

The vendors opposed to that, but nevertheless there is the thread of hackers trying to utilize special functions of your TV set. Given that Smart TV security implementations are close to not existing hacker attacks are a realistic scenario.

How can I protect myself?

The most simple way of protection is disconnecting your Smart TV from the internet, but this goes along with not being able to use those functions of your TV that make it smart: home network streaming and the ability to access content via the internet.

If you do not want to miss those functions here are some useful tips how to protect your Smart TV from unwanted third party access.

1. Set Filters in your Router

One of the most secure ways of protection from unwanted access is blocking special internet pages via the filtering options of your router.

Internet and LAN / WiFi access of your TV can be reduced to a few URLs that you control via the so called white list. Additionally your router allows you to limit the internet connection to dedicated devices – e.g. if you use the integrated ‘parental control’.

How to set these limitations depends on your router’s setting options. Via these you can decide which pages should be accessible at all or – via the opposite approach – can just block dedicated URLs.

2. Deactivate the built in Webcam and the Microphone

If your Smart TV has an integrated webcam we recommend deactivating it via the set up menu of your Smart TV. Additionally you should also deactivate the microphone. If you want to be totally safe you can also put some tape over the camera. This may sound a bit over the top but in fact it is known that hackers have options to remotely activate the camera again without the signal on the camera even showing that the camera is on.

3. Deactivate HbbTV Service

Deactivate the function ‘HbbTV‘ in the setup menu of your TV. Similar to ‘Teletext’ with ‘Hybrid broadcast broadband TV‘ broadcasters can show additional information on the screen. Different to ‘Teletext’ that is embedded in the TV signal, ‘HbbTV’ uses the internet connection of your Smart TV.

Consumer advice centers accuse TV vendors of misusing this function by collecting user data and handing these over to third party without the user’s agreement.

HbbTV

In case your TV set does not include this function yet, there are standalone add-on boxes available providing the HbbTV function. If you want to be on the safe side you do not need such a device. In general we recommend taking a look into the TV set’s menu or – if available – into the device manual to understand if your TV has this function included or not.

Deactivating this service needs a closer look into the setup menu of your TV set. Terms used here to describe the HbbTV function can be quite cryptic like ‘data service function’ or ‘interactive service’. Not each vendor activates this function by default. But checking it, is worth the effort, anyway.

4. Smart TVs with Android OS

As of today, vendors like Sony are offering their range of TV sets with fully integrated Android OS known from Smartphones. As Android is Google’s mobile operating system you should take a closer look into the menu of your TV regarding Google data services. For protecting your privacy, we recommend not allowing Google to collect data.

Android TV

We also recommend disabling the location option.

Location off

5. Regularly update your TV’S Firmware

Make sure that you keep your Smart TV’s firmware always up to date. Updates can be triggered directly via the TV set when connected to the internet. You can also use your (safe) PC connected to the internet for downloading the firmware update, save it on a USB stick, connect it to your TV, and execute the update this way.

6. Adapt your Surfing Behavior

Due to the fact that Smart TVs  largely lack security options make yourself aware of which web pages you need and want to access. Do not open pages that you cannot judge security wise. Only use apps und web pages from known source via a secured connection (https). Never type in sensitive data like your bank account into any page used with your Smart TV. If you do not use secure connections these data could even be sent unencrypted and hackers would have no problem accessing these.


Enjoy Streaming with Nero Streaming Apps

If you follow those above tips that suit best to your streaming behavior you will continue enjoying streaming with Nero Apps. With Nero MediaHome (PC) and Nero Streaming Player (free mobile App for iOS and Android) you have comfortable ways of making best use of your SmartTV with streaming your photos, slide shows, movies, and music, wirelessly to the big TV screen in the living room.

Installing Nero Receiver on your tablet (or smartphone) allows you to stream photos, movies, and music even without using your Smart TV directly to your tablet (smartphone), preferably.

Watch the video

 

Nero KnowHow 00076

Which Products does Nero offer?

Nero products include Nero Suite versions (Platinum/Classic/Standard) as a complete set of different applications on one hand and standalone applications for dedicated use cases on the other. There are also Nero Free Tools and free Nero Mobile Apps.

Nero Mobile Apps are extending functions of Nero PC products and in such cases are depending on an installed Nero PC application. But there are also mobile Apps like Nero KnowHow and Nero Streaming Player that work standalone, i.e. independantly from a Nero PC application.  Find more details on how Nero Mobile Apps and Nero PC applications interact in the table further down.

Trial versions of Suite and standalone products have a limited time span of 15 days for feature testing. They are also limited in regards to codecs like AVC and have a burning limit. Trial versions can be upgraded to a full version via upgrade offerings. When you purchased a serial for a full version product the trial version can be set to become a full version product via Nero ControlCenter. Find more details here. 

Below breakdown shows an overview of the Nero product portfolio.

 Nero Suite Products

  • Nero Platinum*
  • Nero Standard / Classic
  • Nero Trial

*Nero Platinum products are also available as 365 day subscriptions in two flavors. 

Nero Standalone Products

  • Nero Video
  • Nero Burning ROM
  • Nero Recode
  • Nero MediaHome
  • Nero BackItUp
  • Nero TuneItUp

Nero PC Products and included Applications

PC Products EN

Free Nero PC Applications & Free Nero Mobile Apps

PC & Mobile Apps EN

Upgrades & Updates

There is a general difference between an upgrade and an update.

A product upgrade is a paid version of a product for a lower price point than the full paid version replacing/renewing a former product and also extending a trial version to become a full featured new product. In general, product upgrades are available as special offers for a lower price than the standard sales product. So keep your eyes open for special offers on nero.com or in Nero newsletters!

A product update is a free new product version of the actual product lifecycle including application bug fixes or minor improvements. A product update comes as a download initiated via Nero ControlCenter.

Products & Use Cases – which Nero Product is the right one for me?

If you have serval use cases the most appropriate solution to buy is one of the two Nero suite products. Which one to buy depends on your wanted feature set. If you want it all, buy Platinum.

If you are mainly into video editing and video disc authoring with disc menus Nero Video will be your product of choice. Compared to the Platinum product there are only some minor limitations regarding the feature set. Note that Nero Video also includes Nero MediaHome as your media manager.

If you mainly want to consolidate and manage your media library, play and stream media form there, the most appropriate product is Nero MediaHome Unlimited. Nero MediaHome standard version is limited when it comes to DVD-Video playback, burning, and format support.

If your key job is burning in any aspect, you should get yourself Nero Burning ROM. Note that this does not burn video discs with menus – except that you have a disc image, or a video disc structure like Video_TS and BDMV available, already. So if it is video disc creation – depending on your wish list – get yourself Nero Platinum, Nero Video, or Nero Classic/Standard.

Use Cases EN

Nero KnowHow 00075