A lot of computers that are running Windows 10 will not run Windows 11. They don't have the proper hardware.
Yes, there are ways around it, but the risk of issues is great, and will mean users don't enjoy the experience. And, there's one other issue that will result from the stringent Windows 11 requirements: waste.
[YouTube]
This is a bigger problem than a lot of people realize. My Streaming Life won't be impacted by this. But a lot of people's regular life will be.
Bowl Season of college football for 2023 is underway. There are four bowl games today, two involving ranked teams.
Two of today's games are on ESPN, and simulcast on ESPN+. Both feature ranked teams facing each other.
(11) University of Mississippi vs (10) The Pennsylvania State University
(5) Florida State University vs (6) University of Georgia
One of today's games is on ABC, and simulcast on ESPN+.
Auburn University vs University of Maryland, College Park
One of today's games is on CW network. It is also available via the Barstool Sports app.
University of Toledo vs University of Wyoming
The remaining bowl games will air on:
Here's how to get all the networks:
This year's Division 1-A/FBS college football is winding down. My Streaming Life focuses on college football during this time of year. I'm going to miss it when it's gone.
Bowl Season of college football for 2023 is underway. There are four bowl games today, three involving ranked teams.
Three of today's games are on ESPN, and simulcast on ESPN+.
(22) Clemson University vs University of Kentucky
University of Memphis vs Iowa State University of Science and Technology
(9) University of Missouri vs (7) The Ohio State University
One of today's games is on CBS.
(19) Oregon State University vs (16) University of Notre Dame du Lac
The remaining bowl games will air on:
Here's how to get all the networks:
This year's Division 1-A/FBS college football is winding down. My Streaming Life focuses on college football during this time of year. I'm going to miss it when it's gone.
Bowl Season of college football for 2023 is underway. There are four bowl games today, three involving ranked teams.
All of today's games are on ESPN, and simulcast on ESPN+.
Boston College vs (24) Southern Methodist University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey vs University of Miami
(18) North Carolina State University vs (25) Kansas State University
(14) University of Arizona vs (12) University of Oklahoma
The remaining bowl games will air on:
Here's how to get all the networks:
This year's Division 1-A/FBS college football is winding down. My Streaming Life focuses on college football during this time of year. I'm going to miss it when it's gone.
Bowl Season of college football for 2023 is underway. There are four bowl games today.
Three of today's games are on ESPN, and simulcast on ESPN+.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University vs Tulane University of Louisiana
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill vs West Virginia University
Oklahoma State University vs Texas A&M University
One game is broadcast on Fox network, and it's the first bowl game of the season to feature a ranked team.
(15) University of Louisville vs University of Southern California
This is the first bowl game of the 2023 college football season to feature a ranked team.
The remaining bowl games will air on:
Here's how to get all the networks:
This year's Division 1-A/FBS college football is winding down. My Streaming Life focuses on college football during this time of year. I'm going to miss it when it's gone.
Bowl Season of college football for 2023 is underway. There are three bowl games today on ESPN and simulcast on ESPN+.
University of Minnesota vs Bowling Green State University
Texas State University vs William Marsh Rice University
University of Kansas vs University of Nevada, Las Vegas
The remaining bowl games will air on:
Here's how to get all the networks:
This year's Division 1-A/FBS college football is winding down. My Streaming Life focuses on college football during this time of year. I'm going to miss it when it's gone.
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.
(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
-- The Gospel of Luke, chapter 2, verses 1-20.
As we approach Christmas, we're breaking to offer this classic, that you may remember from your childhood, or which your children or grandchildren may in future remember from theirs.
'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds;
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap,
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow,
Gave a lustre of midday to objects below,
When what to my wondering eyes did appear,
But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny rein-deer,
With a little old driver so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment he must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:
"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"
As leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;
So up to the housetop the coursers they flew
With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too—
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a pedler just opening his pack.
His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples, how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly
That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight—
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”-- Clement Clarke Moore
And to you and yours, a happy Christmas!
I've spent several days using Walmart's new Onn Streaming Stick. At first, I liked it. Of course, it's an HD (1080p) device, not a 4K/UHD device. Still, for $15, it looked like a good device for a second TV. Or even a main TV, if it's a 1080p television.
You may notice that I said "at first" regarding my positive impressions. But what about now, after using it for several days?
I like it. It has the Google TV interface, which is the same interface as the Chromecast with Google TV (which I'll just call Chromecast going forward). Using it is a very similar experience to using a Chromecast. The responsiveness is not that much different. The only real difference is the remote.
I like the Onn remote much better than the Chromecast remote. Don't get me wrong, the Chromecast remote is easy to use, but I like the Onn remote layout and buttons better. It seems more like a remote I'm used to.
The rest of the experience? Honestly, it's not that much different than using a Chromecast. I can see why the reviews for the device have been positive. And, contrary to the original Onn Stick from 2021, which I hated, I like the new 2023 version.
My Streaming Life has used Google TV and Android TV devices a lot lately. Since September, in fact. That's over three months since I used anything else regularly. I've used two models of Chromecast (HD and 4K/UHD), NVIDIA Shield (Android TV interface, not Google TV), and Onn Streaming Stick. I'm really liking the Google TV interface (standard Android TV interface ain't bad). I'm not really in any hurry to get back to Roku. And that surprises me.
Bowl Season of college football for 2023 is underway. There are seven bowl games today on ESPN or ABC, with all being simulcast on ESPN+.
Three games will be on ABC and simulcast on ESPN+.
Troy University vs Duke University
United States Air Force Academy vs James Madison University
Northwestern University vs University of Utah
Arkansas State University vs Northern Illinois University
Utah State University vs Georgia State University
University of South Alabama vs Eastern Michigan University
Coastal Carolina University vs San José State University
The remaining bowl games will air on:
Here's how to get all the networks:
This year's Division 1-A/FBS college football is winding down. My Streaming Life focuses on college football during this time of year. I'm going to miss it when it's gone.
Bowl Season of college football for 2023 continues. There is one bowl game today, on ESPN with simulcast on ESPN+.
Georgia Institute of Technology vs University of Central Florida
The remaining bowl games will air on:
Here's how to get all the networks:
This year's Division 1-A/FBS college football is winding down. My Streaming Life focuses on college football during this time of year. I'm going to miss it when it's gone.
Bowl Season of college football for 2023 has begun. There is one bowl game todayairing on ESPN and simulcast on ESPN+:
Syracuse University vs University of South Florida
The remaining bowl games will air on:
Here's how to get all the networks:
This year's Division 1-A/FBS college football is winding down. My Streaming Life focuses on college football during this time of year. I'm going to miss it when it's gone.
One thing that frustrates me is when things that work just fine are suddenly changed. I find that many changes are not what was wanted or needed. This happens with many many things.
I will admit that sometimes I get used to the changes and like them. Sometimes. Most of the time, I don't. Maybe I'm just set in my ways. Or maybe someone is making changes to justify their job.
What I really think, though, is that sometimes the changes are needed because some people need the changes. They aren't able to deal with things as they are. Some people have trouble working the ins and outs of streaming.
So maybe the changes are good? Maybe. But maybe the lowest common denominator isn't the only audience. Maybe if something works well, it should simply be allowed to work.
Sure, I get it. If a change brings new customers and doesn't drive away old customers, then a company will make a change. But why not have two interfaces? They do for kids, right? Doesn't Netflix have a kids interface? Don't many services and devices have kids intefaces? Why not have a "simple" and an "advanced" interface for adults? I mean, what's the difference? Why not cater to three audiences instead of just two? Roll out the simplified interface. It could even be the kids interface, but with a "grown up" look instead of a "kiddie" look.
My Streaming Life has changed over the years. Sometimes, it got better. Many times, though, it got dumbed down. Leave the things that work available to use that can work them, and roll out the simple interface for those new to streaming.
Bowl Season of college football for 2023 has begun. There is one bowl game today. It will be broadcast on ESPN and simulcast on ESPN+:
University of Texas at San Antonio vs Marshall University
The remaining bowl games will air on:
Here's how to get all the networks:
This year's Division 1-A/FBS college football is winding down. My Streaming Life focuses on college football during this time of year. I'm going to miss it when it's gone.
Bowl Season of college football for 2023 is underway. There is one bowl game today, airing on ESPN and ESPN+.
Western Kentucky University vs Old Dominion University
The remaining bowl games will air on:
Here's how to get all the networks:
This year's Division 1-A/FBS college football is winding down. My Streaming Life focuses on college football during this time of year. I'm going to miss it when it's gone.
I don't use Microsoft Windows if I can help it. Sometimes, it is necessary, but it is not my day-to-day operating system.
I switched to Mac OS, called OS X (that's a Roman numberal and is pronounced "ten") at the time. I used Mac OS until a little over a year ago when Apple dropped support for my computer. It was outdated, according to Apple, and needed to be replaced in order to get updates. As it works just fine, I didn't shell out over $1,000 for a new computer. Instead, I replaced the hard drive and put Linux on it. And I've been happy with it ever since. That is my primary laptop.
I'm a fan of Linux, and prefer it to Windows, and have had not trouble switching from Mac OS to Linux. But, we have Windows computers at work and I still have to deal with them. But even though I prefer Linux to Windows, mostly for security and privacy reasons, I understand that not everyone can make the switch to Linux.
When I saw a video from Britec about that very thing, I decided to share it here.
[YouTube]
I still feel that for security and privacy, Windows is the worst choice of the four major operating systems. I feel Linux is the best, with Chrome OS and Mac OS both great on security but not so much on privacy.
My Streaming Life doesn't rely so much on computers, as I use streaming devices for the vast majority of my streaming, but I do feel very strongly about privacy and security. However, everyone must make the best choice for their circumstances.
Bowl Season of college football for 2023 has begun. There are seven bowl games today with four more between today and next weekend. This weekend's games are either on ESPN or ABC, with all being simulcast on ESPN+:
Three games will be on ABC and simulcast on ESPN+.
Miami University vs Appalachian State University
University of California, Los Angeles vs Boise State University
Howard University vs (5 FCS) Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
Four games will be on ESPN and simulcast on ESPN+.
Georgia Southern University vs Ohio University
Jacksonville State University vs University of Louisiana at Lafayette
New Mexico State University vs California State University, Fresno
University of California, Berkeley vs Texas Tech University
The remaining bowl games will air on:
Here's how to get all the networks:
This year's Division 1-A/FBS college football is winding down. My Streaming Life focuses on college football during this time of year. I'm going to miss it when it's gone.
I'm testing the new Walmart Onn Stick. I'm not done testing, but so far, the testing is going well.
Lon.TV has concluded its testing of the device, and has some nice things to say about it, if you aren't trying to play games with it.
[YouTube]
As I'm not a gamer, the problems they had won't impact me. My Streaming Life is focused on streaming, not gaming. And I've been happy so far with the new Walmart Onn Stick. I expect to be done testing soon, and give you my thoughts as well.
In summer 2022, Walmart+ added a new benefit. Walmart+ subscribers can get Paramount Plus Essential plan. It wasn't all good news, however. If you wanted to upgrade to the Paramount+ with Showtime (formerly the Premium plan), you couldn't. It was the Essential plan, or you have to pay full price for the Premium plan.
That's now changed.
Walmart+ now has an upgrade option for Paramount+, and I'm happy about that.
Normally, the Essential plan is $6/month or $60/year. It's included with Walmart+.
The Premium (now called Paramount+ with Showtime) plan is $12/month or $120/year. With Paramount+, it's $65/year (there is no monthly plan).
With Walmart+, you get $60 off the Essential plan, or $55 off the Premium/with Showtime plan.
That's a great deal, and I'm thinking about doing that. I really don't care much about Showtime, but the live local CBS is nice, as is no commercials.
My Streaming Life has included Paramount Plus from time to time, as part of a rotation. Since Walmart+ added the perk, it's been a regular thing. I'm happy I now have the option to upgrade at a discount. I might not upgrade, but I might.
Recently, I purchased one of the new Onn Sticks from Walmart. I had one of the original Onn Sticks, and hated it.
Of course, there is a lot of potential in cheap Android/Google TV device. The problem with the original Onn Stick is that it was way underpowered. When an updated version was announced, I had hopes it would be a more powerful device.
The good news is that it is. But is it enough?
I'll be finding out soon enough. I've begun testing the new Onn Stick. So far, it's going well. But when I got the original device, I used it for a few days before I realized it was not a good device. The original had some issues right off the bat, but I tested it for a few days to make sure about it. It didn't take many days to determine I didn't like it.
The new one might be okay. I did already test the new streaming box, and I like it much better than the original streaming box. It could still benefit from more RAM and a more powerful device would be better, but it is a good device.
My Streaming Life has traditionally used more powerful devices, and the specs on the new Onn Stick aren't that great. But the first little bit of testing has gone well. We'll see after a week or so just how well it holds up.
Last week, Google announced that users could reduce the delay on YouTube TV. That may not be a good thing.
Okay, if you're watching live sports, it's good -- in theory. In practice, maybe not.
Here's what Google posted last week about the new feature:
Broadcast delay is the delay between the camera capturing an event and the event being displayed when you’re watching on your TV.
The lower the broadcast delay, the less buffer the video player will have. With a lower broadcast delay, you’re more likely to experience playback interruption.
Internet congestion, Wi-Fi interference, and other factors may also cause live programming issues, which can delay the stream. Delays can happen even when you have a great network.
What does that mean? Well, TV Answer Man Phillip Swann answered it well:
In other words, if you choose to reduce the delay between the live action of a sports event and when you see it on screen, the odds increase you will experience buffering, picture freezing and other issues. Consequently, I suggest you try it but turn it back off if you undergo more picture problems than normal.
My Streaming Life only uses services such as YouTube TV when live sports is involved. To be, the delay isn't really a problem. But, if it is for you, do as TV Answer Man suggested and give it a try. You may be happy with the result.
I saw reports recently that Hulu had been integrated into the Disney Plus app. I didn't find that to be the case, but that's probably because it rolled out to different platforms at different times.
Now, it is on my devices, and I have some thoughts on them. First, here's a rundown of the integration of the apps from Cord Cutters News:
[YouTube]
Now, my thoughts. I don't like it.
No, I'm not being ornery. I might be ornery, but that's not the reason I don't like it. There is some missing and important functionality. I'm not talking about Hulu+Live TV either. I don't use that service, and it being missing isn't a problem. There are other things missing that I like about the Hulu app.
The primary thing, and a deal-breaker for me, is that the "My Stuff" section of Hulu is missing. That's important.
If you're not familiar, "My Stuff" is essentially your watch list. You add shows to "My Stuff" and when new episodes are released, or if there are episodes you haven't watched, they'll appear there. This is missing from the Disney Plus app. Shows I've added to "My Stuff" are not highlighted in Disney Plus. To me, this is an important feature, and one that they are erring by leaving it out.
Sure, the Hulu section of Disney Plus is listed as "Beta" meaning it's not the final version. But the fact that they didn't incorporate it from the beginning either means they don't think it's important, or they found it hard to do. Neither of those is a good sign.
My Streaming Life has included Hulu since 2010. I plan to keep it, and enjoy it for many years to come. If the integration into Disney Plus doesn't improve, that will severely impact its usefulness to me. Just another way Disney is becoming something I don't like.
Microsoft is dropping support for Windows 10 in October 2025. You may wonder if that's a big deal or not. Well, for some people, it is.
Windows 11 has some pretty serious hardware requirements. That means someone (maybe you) could have a perfectly good computer that is missing some component that is a requirement of Windows 11. A perfectly good computer may not support Windows 11. Or is it that Windows 11 may not support a perfectly good computer. Either way, that is a situation where the operating system becomes out of date in less than two years. To me, that's a big deal.
What does Microsoft say to do? They offer three options:
Britec has a video telling all about this:
[YouTube]
My Streaming Life does use Windows. My Plex server is running on Windows 10. I'll be changing that soon. Whether it's to Windows 11 (my comptuer is compatible), or moving to a Linux server, I'm not sure. I have done Raspberry Pi as a Plex server, and that has worked well. I'll make up my mind soon enough. I just don't like being foreced into a move.
For many years (not quite 20 years), some online friends and I have been advocating a 16-team playoff for Division 1-AA/FBS college football.
It took the NCAA years to get around to having a championship, and then they did it wrong. They only had two teams involved. It wasn't until 2014 that they expanded to four teams. Not nearly enough. This year proves that, if nothing else.
Next year, they're expanding to 12 teams. That's still not enough, and that will come to light eventually, just as this year showed that four is way too few.
What my friends and I have been advocating for years is a 16-team playoff. And, it's simple. Every conference champion gets the top spots. The remaining spots are filled with the best teams that did not win a conference title. That covers independents (think: Notre Dame), and the best teams that did not win their conference, either because they lost the title game (such as Georgia) or didn't make the title game (such as Ohio State). And with every conference champion in, there would be no snub, such as what Southern Methodist experienced.
With that in mind, here would be this year's College Football Playoffs (fixed):
All ten conference champions get the top ten spots, and the six best non-champions get the last six spots. The seeding is by the CFP rankings, within that guideline.
Some may think it's silly that Liberty, Troy, Miami (Ohio), and Boise State are seeded ahead of Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon, Missouri, Penn State, and Mississippi, but if they wanted a higher seeding, they should have won their conference. Conference championships should mean something, right Florida State?
The first round matchups would be:
The seedings, with conference champs at the top, will give seven good or great matchups. And while there is one that's a total mismatch on paper, you never know what may happen.
Highest remaining seed plays lowest remaining seed, second highest plays second lowest, and so on, until the championship.
This is how this year's college football playoffs should have gone. It makes the conference championships mean something. It rewards really good teams for nearly perfect seasons. It creates some really good matchups. It offers the chance for a true Cinderella story. This is college football as it's should be.
I watch local channels with an antenna. Tablo is my DVR of choice, and it allows me to watch local channels on any device on my network. Actually, I own the antenna at my mother's house, and I use Tablo Connect to watch from that antenna on the TVs at my house.
But what if I didn't have an antenna? How would I get local channels then?
Well, there are a few options I have. One is to simply not watch them. That's the cheapest way.
Another depends on what it is I want to watch. If I want to watch NBC, ABC, or Fox network TV shows, then I can use Hulu for $8/month and watch the content the next day. If I want CBS, I have to subscribe to Paramount Plus for $6/month for next day viewing. If all I want is NBC, Peacock TV for $6/month gets next day viewing.
If I want local content, or live content, I can get local and live CBS by subscribing to Paramount Plus for $12/month, and local and live NBC by subscribing to Peacock TV for $12/month. There are no cheap options for live/local ABC or Fox.
If I want all four of the major networks, I have to subscribe to a service that carries them. The cheapest is YouTube TV at $73/month, or Hulu+Live TV at $77/month and includes the Disney Bundle.
There are other live streaming services, such as Fubo and DirecTV streaming, but they cost even more.
Without an antenna, it costs a lot to get live local channels. With an antenna, I get 35 over the air channels (actually, 41, but there is some duplication of content) for no monthly charge.
My Streaming Life includes an antenna. That $73/month can be spent on other stuff.
A while back, I set up and used Tablo Connect. I had purchased an antenna for my mother's house, and set up Tablo locally. I was going to put up an antenna at my house, but decided to try Tablo Connect. It worked great.
After my sisters leased the house to a couple, I set up Air TV for them, and disconnected Tablo Connect. They've moved, and I got with my sister and set up Tablo for her, and set up Tablo Connect for use at my house. It works again.
The only problem with Tablo Connect is that it only works with network connected Legacy Tablo devices. That means the new 4th Generation devices don't support Tablo Connect. You can't watch TV from another location. You have to be on the same network.
Okay, there is another problem with Tablo Connect. Roku isn't supported. I use Chromecast to watch via Tablo Connect. I could use Fire TV instead, but I use Chromecast, because I like it better. And, you have to use the Legacy Tablo app, as the new Tablo App doesn't support Tablo Connect.
Also, you have to set up the device on the home network, but once you do that, you can take it to your other network and use it there.
Your device must be 'paired' with your Tablo on your Tablo's home network for Tablo Connect to work. Pairing is accomplished simply by syncing your device with your Tablo while you’re at home.
Devices that currently support Tablo Connect include:
- PC/Mac
- iOS & Android smartphones
- iOS & Android tablets
- Android TV
- Amazon Fire TV
Tablo Connect is not yet supported on Roku or the native Apple TV app. Apple TVs can however Airplay content from paired iOS devices.
Once paired, Tablo and your app communicate and confirm a secure authentication, all without having to remember and type in a password. Then, when you're away from home, your Tablo Connect-enabled device will know it's away and will contact our server to remember how to reach the Tablo in your home.
While I prefer to use my Chromecast, I can also watch it on a mobile device.
I'm extremely happy with Tablo Connect. I just wish the new 4th Generation Tablo devices supported it. My Steaming Life has had a Tablo Connect sized hole in it for a couple of years. I'm glad to have it back.
First, know that I am a fan of streaming devices. I think Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Google/Android TV devices are good options for streaming. But what if you already have a smart TV? Suppose your TV already has apps. Should you get a Roku, Fire TV, or other device? The answer to that question is easy: maybe.
Many smart TVs include one of the above-mentioned systems as the "smarts" of the smart TV. You can find Roku TV devices. Those are TVs that include the Roku software. You can also find TVs with Fire TV or Android/Google TV built in. You turn then on, and there is the Fire TV or Android/Google TV menu.
If you have one of those TVs -- Roku TV, built in Fire TV, or built in Android/Google TV -- then you really don't need a streaming device attached. Unless of course you want to. Why would you want to? Well, there is actually a good reason, which I'll cover shortly.
If your smart TV does not use one of those platforms, then I'm going to suggest that you look seriously into adding one of those platforms to the TV.
Sure, a lot of people like the WebOS (LG TVs) or Tizen OS (Samsung TVs) interface. I don't. If you have one of these, and like it, then you're good. You don't need anything else. Well, probably.
For me, the last time I bought a TV that wasn't a smart TV was around 20 years ago. Maybe longer. On the last non-smart TV I had, I put a Roku and Apple TV device. That was in 2010 (it was already on older TV). The last few TVs I bought all had built-in smarts. I tried them, but didn't really like them.
You see, I had used Roku and Apple TV, so I knew just how good a streaming device could be. I had experience with a faster, more robust system, and the built-in system didn't come close. If I had not had Roku or Apple TV experience, I may have been satisfied, but since I was familiar, I wasn't going to put up with it, so I kept using Roku, Apple TV, etc., bypassing the build-in systems.
But what if you have smart TV that is one of the major platforms? Should you put a separate streaming device on it? Maybe.
Once, I had use of a Roku TV for about a year. It was an okay experience, but I really didn't care for it. I was used to a better quality Roku device. This was a cheap Roku TV, and it was sluggish compared to a Roku Ultra, or even a Roku Stick. So, I put a Roku Stick on it. I liked the Roku interface, but the device was not performing as I liked. I had a Roku Stick, so I put it on the Roku TV. So I converted my Roku TV to a Roku TV.
In a bedroom, I have a good quality Roku TV. Excellent TV. Great picture. Responsive Roku interface. But as I was testing Google TV, and I put a Chromecast on it. I was using Chromecast on my primary TV, but to fully try out Google TV, I put one on my second TV as well. I wanted all the TVs to use the same interface.
So, depending on personal preference, and the abilities of the family members, you may want to consider buying a device even with one of the top tiers platforms on your TV. If your family members prefer, or if you prefer, something like Amazon Fire TV above all else, and if your TV has Google TV built in, or even Roku TV, then sure, go ahead and add a Fire TV device to it. Or if you really like Apple TV, put that on your TV, even if it's a good quality Roku TV, Android/Google TV, Fire TV, WebOS, Tizen OS, or any other platform.
My Streaming Life is easier when all my TVs use the same interface. You may or may not care. Essentially, do whatever makes your Streaming Life run better.
The question many people ask when they cut the cord or start streaming is "How can I still watch TV like I'm used to watching it?"
The answer is, you can't. You may be able to watch the same content, but the experience won't be the same.
Is the difference difficult? For some people, it is. But for most people, it's really not that difficult. It wasn't for me. I'm not a young person. I'm older, and I had no trouble with it.
So, how do you determine how difficult it will be? Let me answer the question with a question: How upset do you get when the cable company changes the channel numbers, or drops a channel and replaces it with something else? If you throw a hissy fit, you won't like switching from cable to streaming. Then again, you won't like cable for long, because they will change the channels.
If you can deal with it, then you'll be just fine.
Have you ever moved? I mean, really moved? To a different city? Or to a different place that didn't have the same cable service? That took some getting used to. Finding out where the old channels now were. What new channels you have. What old channels you lost. But you dealt with it, right?
It's not exactly the same when you go to streaming, but there is a difference. Just like when moving to where there's a different cable system, you'll find it different, but still much the same. You have the shows you want to watch. You just need to find where they now are.
Here's where I'm a little different. I think you should ask yourself if you really need live streaming. How much do you have to watch when it airs? How much can not wait until a few hours later? Just how big of a deal is that?
If you already DVR most of the stuff you watch, you are already not using your live TV setup. Your DVR is functioning as an on-demand service.
Why does this matter? Well, what's the difference between $7 and $73? That's the difference between Hulu standard service, which includes a lot of current season TV content available hours after airing (like a DVR) and Hulu + Live TV service, which has that, plus live TV.
Yes, Hulu + Live TV also has some programming that's not part of standard Hulu. But is it worth $66/month, every month? That's $792/year.
Even if you decided that you needed live streaming during certain times of the year -- say during March Madness, College Bowl season, or some other specific time of year -- you could easily add a live streaming service during that part of the year. The savings won't be as great, but it will be significant.
However, saving money isn't the only reason people stream. Some simply like the benefit of having more control of their TV, watching content on their own schedule.
Whatever your reason or primary benefit there is for streaming, you should always be able to make the best decision about what's right for you. Is it extra work? Yes, at first. But is the benefit worth the extra work? Maybe. It was for me. I like saving money.
If replacing cable with a live streaming service is the thing for you to do, then get the best one that meets your needs. But if you find that you can save more by going with on-demand packages, and that's what's best for you, do that. I'm not suggesting you not use live streaming services, I'm just bringing up that it's possible to have a great experience without it. You know what's best for you. I'm trying to make sure you know your options.
My Streaming Life doesn't usually involve a live streaming service. That works best for me. Do whatever works best for you, and take control of your TV. Make it work for you.
Good news everyone! Or not.
According to an online report, streaming services are looking to double the number of tiers they offer customers. This isn't a good thing. Well, I don't think it is.
Let's start by looking at the report, then we'll go from there.
Roger Cheng from Cord Cutters News reported last week that Deloitte Technology, Media, & Telecommunications predictions for the upcoming year pointed to doubling of pricing tiers:
You're already seeing the results of the streaming services' shift to prioritize profitability. Virtually every streaming service has raised prices on their existing plans, or introduced new tiers, like Max's Bleacher Report sports add-on, which will costs an additional $9.99 a month starting in March. Netflix brought back its basic plan -- with a $2 increase. Disney+ and Netflix introduced cheaper ad-based tiers, with Amazon set to roll out ads next year, with the option to pay $2.99 to remove them.
But, according to Deloitte's predictions, this is just the first step. The top U.S. providers offer an average of around four pricing tiers, typically ranging from a cheap ad-based one to a premium one with offline viewing and 4K or Dolby Vision quality video. That average is expected to double to eight tiers next year, with the firm noting that some may offer many more.
"As streaming services work toward profitability, they're getting resourceful with how they offer content to viewers," said Jana Arbanas, vice chair of Deloitte who leads the firm's telecom, media, and entertainment coverage.
These tiers show that the days of paying a single rate for all of the content are long gone, and that consumers will need to do more homework when figuring out which plan is right for them. This gets infinitely more complicated as people are increasingly looking to trim their budgets and keep their subscriptions to a minimum.
That complication is what I mean when I say this is not good news. Sure, more options generally are a good thing. However, confusing pricing tiers often lead to no good, and can actually cost someone more money unless a lot of work is done. Right now, with minimal tiers, that's not too hard. Double the work, though, and that opens up the greater chance someone will pay for more than they really should.
My Streaming Life doesn't need any more complications. I want to keep it simple. Of course, I don't subscribe to a lot of services, so much of this may not impact me. I'll use a service for a month, then drop it. I'll switch services every month, and over a year, I get to watch a lot of content from a lot of services for a lot less money. Whatever changes they make, this won't change.
We often focus on network, device, and system security and privacy on weekends. Today is another one of those days.
Internet Privacy Guy Rob Braxman says that browsers offer hidden dangers.
[YouTube]
None of this is to panic you. Rather, it's to inform you of the things you need to be aware in today's world. It's really up to you how seriously you take your security and privacy. I like to take mine seriously. My Streaming Life is mine. What I share of it should be my choice.
The Conference Championship Week of college football for 2023 has begun. All 10 Division 1-A/FBS conferences have their championship games this week, with two already played last night.
There are eight games scheduled today:
There is one game next week: Army vs Navy, with each team trying to become bowl elibible.
Today's games will be broadcast over several networks. Here are the channels or networks you'll need to watch all the games:
Here's how to get all the networks:
That's this week in Division 1-A/FBS college football, and covers all the networks that are carrying college football games this week. My Streaming Life focuses on college football during this time of year.
I have an old Tablo device. They call it a "legacy" device. What I'm writing about today doesn't apply to me, or those with legacy devices. However, if you have a new Tablo device, or are thinking about getting one, this is for you.
Tablo has updated the new Tablo interface, available on the 4th generation DVRs, to include holiday content.
The special "Home for the Holidays" featured content row makes it easy to discover, watch and record new and classic holiday TV shows, specials and movies from major broadcast networks and the free live streaming TV channels included in your Tablo guide.
Tablo has your holiday viewing locked and loaded, from Rudolph to the Grinch to festive rom-coms and wintertime tales.
My Streaming Life doesn't have a new Tablo device, and won't until they support remote watching (Tablo Connect), which is only available on legacy devices. But, if you have, or are thinking about, a new Tablo device, this is good news.
Amazon has updated the Fire TV Channels feature of their platform's devices to include more sports.
This doesn't necessarily mean live sports, but it does include highlights, news, and even condensed games for fans of various sports and leagues.
Amazon Fire TV Blog says the feature has already rolled out:
We’ve added the NBA, Big Ten, SEC, Big 12, Fox Sports’ 24/7 linear channel, beIN SPORTS XTRA & video-on-demand, and the Locked On Podcast Network to our lineup of sports content available to all FTV customers in the US for free. These partners join Major League Baseball, the National Hockey League, NBC Sports, and many other high-profile sports content providers already streaming on Fire TV Channels.
For basketball fans, the content from the NBA includes daily highlights from every game and event, along with top plays. If you’re into college sports, the college conferences offer highlights, condensed games, news, and analysis from all of their member teams. Check out Fox Sports for their expert coverage of the biggest national stories in sports, and Locked On Podcast Network for hyper-local coverage of your favorite teams.
Fire TV Channels also introduced a new Favorites feature that makes finding and watching your favorite team’s content easier and faster. Now fans can select and follow their favorite teams in Fire TV Channels to instantly watch fresh feeds of their teams’ highlights, news, and analysis. You can also favorite Channels, like NHL or any of the other 400+ channels on Fire TV Channels, to quickly and easily get right into the shows and personalities you like best.
This is good news for sports fans who use the Fire TV platform. My Streaming Life doesn't use Fire TV a lot, but it's good to know these options are there when I do use that platform.
For years, I've been firmly on Team Roku. However, lately I've used Android/Google TV in the form of Chromecast and NVIDIA Shield devices. I have to say I like them.
This does not mean I've left Team Roku. It simply means that I'm using other devices in order to ensure I know about them, and can answer questions when asked.
I've not mentioned Fire TV yet. Well, until now. I've used Fire TV, and it's a user friendly device as well. While I'm still using Android/Google TV, I'm going to take a minute and talk about the two top platforms, Roku and Fire TV. Many new streamers want to know which is better: Roku or Fire TV. The answer to that isn't simple.
The choice between Roku and Fire TV often depends on your personal preferences and and what you are looking for in a streaming device. Both Roku and Fire TV offer a range of streaming devices from which you are able to access the popular streaming services, including Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, Disney Plus, Max, Paramount Plus, Peacock TV, and more.
So, what's the real difference?
The bottom line is that the better choice depends entirely on your specific preferences. If you are already heavy into Amazon Alexa, then Fire TV is probably the way to go. If not, Roku is an excellent choice. Both Roku and Fire TV are excellent platforms, and either could be a good choice based on your needs and preferences. My Streaming Life utilizes Roku more than Fire TV, but if Fire TV has been around in 2010, I may have gone that way instead.