Set yourself up for Films of Norway
ANDY MEYER
Assistant Editor
The Norwegian American
Since early 2021, The Norwegian American has teamed up with Films of Norway, a Stavanger-based streaming service that offers Norwegian films and TV series with English subtitles for viewers outside of Norway. A match made in Valhalla for readers of The Norwegian American!
Once you have an account, you can stream Films of Norway in a web browser. At this point, though, a dedicated app isn’t yet available, so you won’t find Films of Norway on streaming devices like Roku, Apple TV, or Google Chromecast. But don’t let that stop you! There are several ways to show the contents of a laptop or smartphone screen directly on your TV, if you have the right cables or a Wi-Fi streaming device.
If you have a smart TV with a web browser built in, you should be able to navigate to filmsofnorway.com and you’re off and running. But this guide will help you get started if you don’t have a smart TV or prefer other methods. It might be easier than it seems!
Using a computer to watch:
To show the contents of a web browser on a TV, you’ll need either an appropriate adapter cable that can connect your computer directly to the TV or a Wi-Fi-enabled streaming device like Roku, Apple TV, or Chromecast.
Option 1: Use a cable
For the hard-wire option, you’ll need two things: an adapter and an HDMI cable. You’ll need an adapter that connects your computer’s display port to an HDMI port. Most TVs today have a couple HDMI inputs, while most Windows PCs have an HDMI or, in newer models, USB-C output. Most Apple computers have a “Mini DisplayPort” or, in newer models, a USB-C port.
Staff at most electronics stores can help you find out which port your computer uses. Once you get the right adapter, you can use an HDMI cable to connect your computer to your TV. Then select the right HDMI input on your TV, and the contents of your computer screen will show up. Voila!
Option 2: Mirror your screen via Wi-Fi
You can also “mirror” or “cast” the contents of your computer screen to a TV wirelessly, provided you have a compatible smart TV or a compatible streaming device. Most devices, like Roku or Apple TV, allow you to mirror the contents on your computer wirelessly if your streaming device and your computer are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
Generally, if your devices are compatible, you’ll see a screen-casting icon that you can click. This should open up a menu of available devices. If your streaming device (e.g., Roku, Apple TV) shows up, click on it and it should begin projecting your computer screen to your TV.
Using a smartphone to watch:
Most smartphones today can be connected in the same ways as computers. For hard wiring, you’ll need the right adapter, either a lightning-to-HDMI for most iPhones, or a USB-C-to-HDMI adapter for many Android phones.
You can also mirror your phone screen over Wi-Fi, again if both your phone and a compatible device are on the same Wi-Fi network. Once you start streaming a video in your phone’s web browser, you should see one of the icons below (depending on what kind of phone you use). Click on it, select the device you want to screen cast with, and off you go!
Keep in mind that there are many small variations among producers of devices, so you may have to change some settings on one or another device to allow them to work together, so be sure to consult your devices’ manuals for further help.
Screen mirroring/casting icons:
Apple:
Image: Wikimedia Commons
Android: Image: Wikimedia Commons
These articles might help for some of the most common devices:
Roku:
support.roku.com/article/208754928
support.roku.com/article/360003044933
support.roku.com/article/360002990094
Apple:
support.apple.com/en-us/HT204289
Google Chromecast:
support.google.com/chromecastbuiltin/answer/6059461?hl=en
This article originally appeared in the May 21, 2021, issue of The Norwegian American. To subscribe, visit SUBSCRIBE or call us at (206) 784-4617.
