Samsung's One UI Arrives on Smart TVs: A New Era for the Interface?

Samsung has just launched a major update to its smart TV platform, and it's generating a lot of buzz.  They're rolling out One UI, a new interface designed to provide a fresh, modern experience.

While I'm not a Samsung TV owner myself (I've always preferred Roku, Fire TV, Google TV, or Apple TV), I know many people are excited about this change.  My sister, for example, is a huge Samsung fan, and she'll get it when she buys her next TV.

What's New with One UI?

One UI brings a cleaner, more streamlined look to Samsung TVs, similar to the interface found on their Galaxy smartphones.  Here are some of the highlights:

• Modern design: Say goodbye to clutter and hello to a more visually appealing interface.
• Personalized recommendations: A new "For You" tab offers tailored suggestions based on your viewing habits.
• Watch Later: Easily save movies and shows to watch later.
• Improved Game Bar: Enhanced features for gamers, including quick access to settings and game optimization.

Why This Update Matters

This isn't just a cosmetic change. One UI represents a significant shift in Samsung's approach to its TV platform.

• Unified experience: It creates a more consistent experience across Samsung devices.
• Improved usability: The interface is designed to be more intuitive and user-friendly.
• Long-term support: Samsung is promising up to 7 years of OS updates for TVs receiving One UI, demonstrating a commitment to long-term support.

Will One UI Make Samsung a Top Contender?

Currently, One UI is only available for select 2023 Samsung TV models, but the company plans to expand its availability in the future.

It'll be interesting to see how this update impacts Samsung's position in the smart TV market. Could this new interface elevate Samsung to the top tier, alongside the major four (Roku, Fire TV, Google TV, and Apple TV)? Only time will tell.

My Streaming Life isn't impacted by this, but some family is. What do you think of Samsung's One UI? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!

ESPN Streaming: Ditching Sling TV (Eventually!)

Cord-cutters rejoice! Well, maybe not quite yet... but soon! We've all been waiting with bated breath for news on the standalone ESPN streaming app, and while it's not here quite yet, the finish line is in sight.

As many of you know, I've been relying on Sling TV to get my ESPN fix. It's been a decent option, but let's be honest, it's not ideal. I'm tired of paying for channels I don't watch just to get access to sports.

So, when Disney CEO Bob Iger confirmed the ESPN streaming app is coming in the fall of 2025, I was thrilled! Finally, a way to get all the sports I want without the extra baggage (and cost) of a bloated cable package or a bundled streaming service.

What We Know (and What We Don't)

Here's the lowdown:

• Launch Date: Fall 2025 (yes, it's a bit of a wait, but hopefully worth it!)
• Content: Expect a comprehensive lineup of live sports, including NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, college sports, and ESPN+ originals. Fingers crossed for all the games we crave!
• Price: This is where things get a little fuzzy. Early rumors had the price as high as $40-$45/month, but more recent reports suggest it could be in the $25-$30 range. Still a hefty price tag, but potentially cheaper than some cable sports packages.
• How to Get It: It'll likely be available as an add-on to Disney+ or as a separate subscription.

Why I'm Excited (and You Should Be Too!)

• No More Bundles: Say goodbye to paying for channels you never watch!
• Potential Cost Savings: Depending on your current TV setup, this could actually save you money in the long run.
• Streamlined Sports Experience: Get all your favorite sports in one place, with a dedicated app designed for sports fans.

The Waiting Game

While the wait is a bit frustrating, I'm choosing to be optimistic. In the meantime, I'll be keeping a close eye on any updates from Disney. And when that glorious day arrives, you can bet I'll be one of the first to ditch Sling TV and dive headfirst into the world of standalone ESPN streaming.

My Streaming Life will give it a try, and perhaps that will be my way to stream sports. What about you? Are you excited about the ESPN streaming app? What are you hoping to see from the service? Let me know in the comments!

Windows Alternative: FydeOS

With the ending os Windows 10 support, many are finding their computers won't upgrade. Many of those don't like the idea of having to shell out hundreds of dollars for a new computer if their existing computer is otherwise working fine. So, what is one to do?

To extend a computer's life after Windows 10 support ends, the best option is to install a different operating system. I've mentioned a couple of options for this previously:

1. Linux
2. ChromeOS

Well, there is another option. I've not used it yet, but only heard about recently: FydeOS. Here is a recent video from Explaining Computers talking about it:

[YouTube]

I like the idea of an easy to use OS that is similar to ChromeOS. I also like the idea of a ChromeOS clone that does not require a Google login, increaseing privacy and security. It's more like Linux in this way, and this could be the perfect blend of the two. I'll be installing FydeOS on an older computer soon, and testing it myself.

My Streaming Life appreciates the connections to Apple, Google, and the other services that are currently necessary. However, for everything else, and for as much streaming as possible, I don't like sharing my data.

Watching College Football: 2024 Week 7

Week 7 of the 2024 college football season is underway with 9 games already in the book. This week began early, with a Tuesday night game, a Wednesday night game, three Thursday night games, and four games last night. Today, 43 games are on the schedule, same number as last Saturday. Between now and next Saturday, there are nine more games. Today, there are 16 Top 25 teams playing today, with one game between ranked teams.

This weekend's games will be broadcast over several networks. Here are the channels or networks you'll need to watch all the game this season:

• ABC
• ACC Network
• Big Ten Network
• CBS
• CBS Sports Network
• The CW
• ESPN
• ESPN2
• ESPN U
• ESPN+
• Fox
• Fox Sports 1
• Fox Sports 2
• Max
• NBC
• Peacock
• SEC Network
• truTV

Here's how to get the channels to watch college football this week:

ABC

• Antenna (free)
• Sling TV (8 markets only) ($45/month)
• YouTube TV ($73/month)
• DirecTV (Entertainment) ($75/month)
• Hulu+Live TV ($77/month)
• Fubo (Pro) ($80/month)

ACC Network

• Sling TV (Orange + Sports Extra) ($51/month)
• YouTube TV ($73/month)
• Hulu+Live TV ($77/month)
• Fubo (Pro) ($80/month)
• DirecTV (Choice) ($106/month)

Big Ten Network

• Sling TV (Orange + Sports Extra) ($51/month)
• YouTube TV ($73/month)
• Hulu+Live TV ($77/month)
• Fubo (Pro) ($80/month)
• DirecTV (Choice) ($106/month)

CBS

• Antenna (free)
• Paramount Plus (Premium) $12/month
• YouTube TV ($73/month)
• DirecTV (Entertainment) ($75/month)
• Hulu+Live TV ($77/month)
• Fubo (Pro) ($80/month)

CBS Sports Network

• YouTube TV ($73/month)
• Hulu+Live TV ($77/month)
• Fubo (Pro) ($80/month)
• DirecTV (Ultimate) ($136/month)

The CW

• Antenna (free)
• Not available streaming.

ESPN, ESPN2

• Sling TV (Orange) ($40/month)
• YouTube TV ($73/month)
• Hulu+Live TV ($77/month)
• DirecTV (Entertainment) ($80/month)
• Fubo (Pro) ($80/month)

ESPNU

• Sling TV (Orange + Sports Extra) ($51/month)
• Vidgo (Plus) ($70/month)
• YouTube TV ($73/month)
• Hulu+Live TV ($77/month)
• Fubo (Elite with Sports Plus) ($100/month)
• DirecTV (Choice) ($106/month)

ESPN+

• ESPN+ (standalone) ($11/month)
• Disney Bundle Trio Basic ($15/month)

Fox

• Antenna (free)
• Sling TV (19 markets only) ($45/month)
• YouTube TV ($73/month)
• Hulu+Live TV ($77/month)
• DirecTV (Entertainment) ($80/month)
• Fubo (Pro) ($80/month)

Fox Sports 1/Fox Sports 2

• Sling TV (Blue + Sports Extra) ($51/month)
• YouTube TV ($73/month)
• Hulu+Live TV ($77/month)
• DirecTV (Entertainment) ($80/month)
• Fubo (Pro) ($80/month)

Max

• Max (with Bleacher Report Sports Add-on) ($22/month)

NBC

• Antenna (free)
• Peacock (Plus) ($12/month)
• Sling TV (11 markets only) ($45/month)
• YouTube TV ($73/month)
• Hulu+Live TV ($77/month)
• DirecTV (Entertainment) ($80/month)
• Fubo (Pro) ($80/month)

Peacock

• Peacock is its own service, and can be used to watch NBC live programming with the $12/month plan.

SEC Network

• Sling TV (Orange) ($40/month)
• YouTube TV ($73/month)
• Hulu+Live TV ($77/month)
• Fubo (Pro) ($80/month)
• DirecTV (Choice) ($116/month)

truTV

• Sling TV (Blue) ($40/month)
• YouTube TV ($73/month)
• Hulu+Live TV ($77/month)
• DirecTV (Choice) ($116/month)

That's this week in Division 1-A/FBS college football, and covers the networks that are carrying college football games this weekend. My Streaming Life focuses on college football during this time of year. Of course, we'll cover next week's games next weekend.

The Streaming Rotation and the Streaming Gap

I've been thinking lately about my streaming life and how I rotate services to save money. The idea is to subscribe to only one or two at a time, but I realized it's not always a perfect rotation. Sometimes there are gaps where I don't subscribe to any!

Here's the lineup of services I rotate through:

• Netflix
• Max
• Disney Plus
• Discovery Plus
• Apple TV Plus
• Hulu
• Peacock
• AMC Plus
• Starz

You might notice I left out Prime Video and Paramount Plus. That's because they're bundled with other subscriptions I have (Amazon Prime and Walmart Plus, respectively). Those two are always available, so they're not part of my rotation strategy.

Right now, I'm subscribed to Hulu and Disney Plus, mainly to get ESPN Plus for football season. It was cheaper to bundle all three. Once football is over, I'll likely drop them both. I may pick up another service then, or maybe I'll just enjoy a break from paid subscriptions for a while.

After all, even without Hulu and Disney Plus, I'll still have Paramount Plus and plenty of free streaming content to keep me entertained. My Streaming Life has the goal to save money. Rotating services -- along with taking breaks from paid subscriptions altogether -- is how I make that happen.

The Streaming Shuffle: Maximizing Content, Minimizing Costs

To maximize my streaming enjoyment while minimizing costs, I rotate through a selection of popular services. This means I subscribe to just one service at a time, binge-watching my desired content, then cancel and move on to the next.

Here's the lineup:

• Netflix ($7/month)
• Max ($10/month)
• Disney Plus ($8/month)
• Paramount Plus ($12/month)
• Discovery Plus ($5/month)
• Apple TV Plus ($10/month)
• Hulu ($10/month)
• Prime Video ($15/month)
• Peacock ($14/month)
• AMC Plus ($7/month)
• Starz ($11/month)

For example, one month it's Max. The next month, it's Paramount Plus.  This strategy lets me explore each service fully without the burden of multiple subscriptions.

Occasionally, I'll opt for a bundle deal like Disney Plus and Hulu, or Paramount Plus with Showtime, for extra value. If the total is $10-15 for multiple services, it's a good deal.

With this approach, I enjoy a year's worth of diverse content for roughly $15/month or less!

A few exceptions:

• Amazon Prime: I maintain this year-round for shipping and other perks, though I rarely use Prime Video itself. I'll re-evaluate this in January.
• Peacock: Free for me as an Xfinity internet customer, but again, rarely used.

This "rotating subscription" method isn't unique to me. Publications like Tom's Guide even recommend similar strategies, though perhaps less extreme.

My Streaming Life has saving money as a priority. If saving money is a priority in your streaming life, consider giving this a try. Even if it seems too drastic, you can always explore less intense options.

Cord Cutting Reflections: A Decade of Streaming and What I'd Miss Most

Back in 2011, I took the plunge and cut the cord. This wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision; I'd spent two years meticulously analyzing my TV viewing habits and comparing the costs of cable versus streaming.  In 2009, the numbers didn't quite add up, but by 2010, it was clear that streaming was the more economical choice. So, I embraced the world of on-demand content, antennas, and nascent streaming services.

Fast forward to today, and the streaming landscape has transformed. While I initially focused on the financial benefits of cord cutting, my decade-long streaming journey has revealed something unexpected: the true value lies in control.

The Power of On-Demand

Before cutting the cord, my trusty TiVo gave me a taste of TV freedom. I could record shows, skip commercials, and watch at my own pace. This shift to on-demand viewing fundamentally changed how I consumed content.  Live TV became almost irrelevant, with the exception of sports, particularly college football.

Even after all these years, on-demand remains the most satisfying aspect of streaming. It aligns perfectly with my desire to control my viewing experience. I can choose what I want to watch and when I want to watch it, without being bound by a broadcast schedule.

What I'd Miss Most

If I were to return to the world of traditional cable, the financial hit would be noticeable. But the real loss would be the autonomy I've come to cherish.  The ability to curate my own TV experience, free from the constraints of live programming, is something I wouldn't readily give up.

Beyond the Dollars and Cents

While cord cutting initially offered a way to save money, it has evolved into something more significant. It's about empowerment, flexibility, and having the freedom to shape my entertainment on my own terms.

In the end, cord cutting isn't just about saving money; it's about gaining control. And that's something I'd truly miss. My Streaming Life couldn' bear that.