My Streaming Life

Luke 24:1-9 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. And they remembered his words, And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.

Sometimes on weekends, we take a moment to look at security or privacy (or both). It doesn't always relate to streaming, at least not directly. But with so much data collection and people using and selling your data, which can include online advertisements, including streaming, I feel it's worth doing from time to time. Today, we're going to look at a video from Rob Braxman about phone network privacy. Or lack of privacy. [ YouTube ] We make decisions and compromises regarding privacy and security every day. Sometimes, without knowing. It's good to know. My Streaming Life isn't fully private or secure, due to the nature of Roku, Amazon, Google, Apple, and others. But at least I'm more knowlegeable about such things than I used to be. It's good to understand just what the situation is, even if I don't always like it.

I'm fortunate in that I have an antenna to watch local channels. Not everyone is in such a situation. I wasn't, for a while, and it cost me a bit to get where I could. I bought an antenna, pole, and paid to have it put up. Then bought Tablo to make the channels available on all my TVs. Altogether, it cost a few hundred dollars. But there has to be a cheaper way, right? Well, there is. Maybe. Kinda. Of the vMVPD services that carry locals -- YouTube TV, Sling TV (limited markets), Hulu+Live TV, DirecTV Stream, Fubo -- the cheapest that carries them in all markets is $73 YouTube TV. But can't it be obtained cheaper? No. But maybe. If you only want CBS, you can subscribe to Paramount Plus for $12/month. You'll get your local CBS station live. If you only want NBC, you can subscribe to Peacock for $12/month. You'll get your local NBC station live. So, for $24/month you can get CBS and NBC, Plus a lot of other content. That's not bad. But what about ABC and Fox? Ther...

In the 22 years since MLB TV launched (yes, it launched in 2002), Major League Baseball has continued to black out games to fans willing to pay good money to watch them. Even if I don't start counting until I started streaming full time, it's still been over 13 years that MLB doesn't want my money. I enjoy watching baseball games, and would love to watch the Braves play ball this year. The season starts today, but, as it's been every year since I dropped cable, I can't watch Braves games live. Major League Baseball blacks out the Braves in my town, even though we're over four hours (and nearly 250 miles) away from the stadium. The usual explanation is that the rights are part of contracts with sports networks. And while it is true that the blackouts are part of the contracts, those contracts aren't 22 years long. They aren't 13 years long. The contracts have expired but been renewed with the restrictions still in place. MLB has kept it. It's not that...

I'll say up front that I don't normally use a paid live TV streaming service. At least, I thought I didn't. Turns out I do. Recently, a survey by Cord Cutters News revealed that by far, YouTube TV is the paid live TV streaming service that most respondents use, with all the others far behind . YouTube TV, according to our survey, has more subscribers than Sling TV, Hulu, Philo, and Frndly TV combined. Here is a breakdown of the live TV streaming services results according to our readers. YouTube TV 27.4% Sling TV 8.7% Hulu with Live TV 7.5% Philo 6.5% DIRECTV STREAM 5.6% Frndly 2.9% Fubo 2.9% Clearly, YouTube TV is connecting with cord cutters in a way that is helping it stand out. Yet many cord cutters do not subscribe to a live TV streaming service. According to our survey, 41.7% of our readers do not pay for one, which is a slight increase compared to the same period in the fall 2023. This lines up with what the Leichtman Research Group found: almost 7 million Americans ...

A recent poll indicates that most streamers use four or fewer paid streaming services. That's surprising to me because I was under the impression that most streamers subscribed to a lot of services. That was true at one time, but it has dropped to a smaller number faster than I thought it would. The poll, conducted by Cord Cutters News, says that nearly 2/3 of streamers use four or fewer services : According to our readers, 63.3% pay for four or fewer streaming services, 47.3% pay for three or fewer streaming services, and 27.3% pay for two or fewer streaming services. While most cord cutters still pay for four or fewer streaming services, the number of cord cutters paying for five or more is up slightly since October 2023. Last October 66.2% of cord cutters paid for four or fewer services. Now that number is down to 63.3%. Part of that number may be the growth of sports across multiple streaming services like the NFL airing a playoff game exclusively on Peacock back in January. So...

Recently, Tom's Guide had a list of their top free streaming services for Roku. Using Roku's naming convention, they called it " The best free channels on Roku ." Most of the items on the list are correct, in my opinion. But, I'm not agreeing with the entire list. The list is of eight services : The Roku Channel Tubi Pluto TV Crackle Newsy PBS Kids TED The Bob Ross Channel I don’t really have a problem with any of their items. The items in positions 1-3 would be on my list as well. I will say that I consider Xumo Play is more deserving than Crackle, but I'd probably have Crackle in my top ten. Maybe top eight. I agree with PBS Kids being on my top ten/eight. The CW -- the app now just says "CW," having dropped the "The" -- should be on the list as well. It has all of the CW network shows available on demand, including current season shows. My list would also include Hoopla or Kanopy, both which provide free ...

First, understand that I do have my issues with Google. Of course, I have my issues with Microsoft, Apple, and most every large technology company. Since they all have issues, I deal with them as best as I can, and use the features that I like the best, provided the irritation isn't too much. I've used Microsoft Word for many years, but have grown tired of how much it cost over time. In recent years, I've used Open Office, LibreOffice, and Only Office apps, but I've also used Google Docs. And that's the topic of the video I want to share today, from Explaining Computers: [ YouTube ] Yes, I understand the issues with relying on Google, because of privacy issues. But, it's cheaper than Microsoft Word, and Microsoft 365 is no better, and im my opion, worse in regards to privacy, and definitely worse in regards of security. My Streaming Life involves using several Google services in the creation of this blog. And while I do have some concerns about Google, they...

Rumors are that the new streaming service from ESPN, Fox, and Warner Discovery will run around $40/month. That's a lot of money, in my opinion. But where are those rumors coming from. Well, USA Today reports the expectation is around $40, if not more : ... [former Fox Sports Networks president Bob] Thompson predicted it could cost more than $40 per month. The math would have work for three companies that are paying huge fees to sports leagues for the rights to show this content. For example, ESPN, Fox, NBC, CBS and Amazon are scheduled to pay the NFL more than $100 billion combined through 2033 for rights to broadcast NFL games on their networks. It would also have to take into account how the introduction of this streaming service will spur more viewers to ditch cable television – which has been a huge source of revenue for companies such as ESPN, the most expensive channel on cable television. Variety says it could run  more than $40 : But if you add up the distribution fees for ...

One thing I used to do was take a streaming device with me when I traveled. I don't do that any more, and I'll get into why I don't later. Bur I used to carry one in my travel bag. If you want a streamer to carry, you need to keep a few things in mind. First, never attempt to set up the device while traveling. Set it up ahead of time. Test it at home. Make sure it has the apps you want and it can connect to the Internet. Next, consider that some wireless network for travelers have a splash screen for when you join the network. Some devices don't play well with those. Roku used to be notorious for this, mostly because most people use Roku. For the most part, they have resolved that issue . For Fire TV, the option is pretty easy, and it's not that hard for Chromecast/Google TV devices, according to Cord Cutters News : On Fire TV devices, the process might be easier. Head to Settings, and then Network to set up a new WiFi connection. You should see the captive portal w...

A recent survey reveals that Roku is still king of the streaming devices, and by a pretty hefty margin. Cord Cutters News says that Roku accounts for 62% of all devices streamers use: In our survey, we asked our readers to list all the devices they use to stream their content. (Adding the numbers up won’t add up to 100%, as many people use multiple types of devices.) According to our readers, 62% use a Roku, 36% use a smart TV, and 32% use a Fire TV. In fourth place were laptops and PCs at 25%. In fifth place was the Apple TV with 20% of the market, and in sixth place was Chromecast—all versions—at 15%. The biggest loser were gaming systems. Only 4.7% of cord cutters use a gaming system to stream their favorite shows. This is down from 10.5% in 2019. My Streaming Life has used Roku since 2010. A lot of upgrades and improvements to Roku have happened since then, and this survey indicates the improvements have helped Roku keep its lead.

There is a new report of a data breach, and the company that is said to be involved says they were not hacked. Bleeping Computer said AT&T data was stolen, and report AT&T says it wasn't stolen from them : AT&T says a massive trove of data impacting 71 million people did not originate from its systems after a hacker leaked it on a cybercrime forum and claimed it was stolen in a 2021 breach of the company. While BleepingComputer has not been able to confirm the legitimacy of all the data in the database, we have confirmed some of the entries are accurate, including those whose data is not publicly accessible for scraping. The data is from an alleged 2021 AT&T data breach that a threat actor known as ShinyHunters attempted to sell on the RaidForums data theft forum for a starting price of $200,000 and incremental offers of $30,000. The hacker stated they would sell it immediately for $1 million. AT&T told BleepingComputer then that the data did no...

College basketball has reached the end of the season, and now the playoffs begin. The 68-team tournament starts today, with so-called "play in" games. This is the part of the season that even the casual fans will go crazy about. A lot of people watch the NCAA tournament. And, if you're a streamer, how do you watch it? The games are being broadcast on several networks during the next few weeks: CBS TBS TNT truTV Here is how to watch the channels if you are a streamer: CBS Antenna (free) Paramount Plus (Premium) ($12/month) YouTube TV ($73/month) Hulu+Live TV ($77/month) Fubo (Pro) ($80/month) DirecTV (Entertainment) ($85/month) TBS Max (with Ads) ($10/month) Max (Ad free) ($16/month) Sling TV (Blue) ($40/month) Sling TV (Orange) ($40/month) Sling TV (Orange+Blue) ($55/month) YouTube TV ($73/month) Hulu+Live TV ($77/month) DirecTV (Entertainment) ($85/month) TNT Max (with Ads) ($10...

Recently, Roku updated their dispute resolution terms, and it's caused some controversy. Not the actual terms, which seem okay for most people, but the way they went about it. Tyler the Antenna Man had some thoughts on it. [ YouTube ] I would throw in that there are cheaper ways to go Android or Google TV (almost, but not quite the same thing), such as Google's Chromecast or Walmart's Onn Streaming Box. But, about the Roku terms ... I've still not accepted the new terms. My Roku devices have been useless since the update came. But, how long will I leave things that way? Well, I don't know. I'll probably accept them soon. I don't know if I'll send a letter opting out, but I might just to be difficult. Or not. When I'll accept the terms is unknown. Maybe later today. Maybe never. Probably soon though. My Streaming Life has used Roku for years, but lately has been using Google TV (primarily Chromecast). I'm very unhappy with the latest Roku ...

Lately, I've been working with one of my grandsons on Raspberry Pi projects. A while back, he heard about the Raspberry Pi and asked me a bunch of questions. After several conversations and discussion, he said he wanted a Raspberry Pi to do products. So, I got him one. It went used for a bit -- it seems that things go this way with grandchildren a lot -- because he didn't really have a place to do projects, but that changed recently. He had a workspace and can do his projects in his room. The first project was simply putting together a computer. I got him a keyboard and mouse (official Raspberry Pi versions, though any will work), and a monitor, then we set to work. He did all the work himself. I was with him, explaining things, but he did the actual work. I put none of the parts of the kit together. I would pick the various piece up and show him, and he'd ask questions, as most 8 year old children will, but he did the actual physical labor. The first session ended with his...

Recently, Tablo Blog had a Q&A where they answered a question about the life of a streaming device. The answer they gave is pretty much on target. Here was the question: Our smart TV is only five years old, but it seems to be quite slow compared to the newer Fire TV stick we use on our "dumb TV" in the basement. Do I need to replace my TVs more often now that they're "smart?" Of course, the answer is no. But Tablo did a good job in explaining why: In general, you should plan to replace your streaming TV devices every 5 years. This will ensure that your streaming sticks and boxes get regular updates and have enough memory and horsepower to run your favorite streaming TV apps, including Tablo. However, when it comes to smart TVs, there’s no need to spend several hundred dollars or more and create that much e-waste just to enjoy a more responsive streaming experience. Instead of tossing your entire smart TV, it’s much easier and more affordable to pick up a top...

Nearly three years ago, I asked the question: Do you really need a live streaming package? I spent a long time not really answering the question. What I eventually said was "if you want one, get one." And that really doesn't answer the question. Of course, it's true that if you want one, you can get one. But, do you really need one? No. In the last three years, free live streaming services have expanded, so you have a lot more options. But the question is really about cable-like services, such as YouTube TV, Hulu+Live TV, Sling TV, Fubo, Vidgo, and the like. If you want cable, but watch it streaming, then those services will give you that. They are simply streaming versions of cable TV. They have much the same content as cable: live TV (well, not so much with Vidgo, and even less with Sling), and the major cable channels. But, if you want the same type of programming that you get on cable, you don't really need a pay TV service such as those streaming packages. Pl...

Nearly six months ago, three weeks into September 2023, I wrote that I was going to use more Chromecast. What I said was: I've used all four of the major platforms, and like Roku best overall. However, some family members seem to really like Fire TV. Lately, I've used more Fire TV, but still stick with Roku when it's just me watching TV. This has come at the expense of my familiarity with Android/Google TV and Apple TV. I'm not comfortable with that. Beginning this weekend, I'm going to start using more Android/Google TV. Chromecast will be the the primary device I use. I have Chromecast attached to all my TVs already, so it'll be a matter of setting out the Chromecast remote in place of the Roku remote. It's now 25 weeks later, and I have used more Chromecast. I mean, I have really used more Chromecast. Actually, I've used more than just Chromecast. I've use Walmart's Onn Streaming Box, as well as the Onn Streaming Stick, I've used the NVIDI...

When I posted yesterday about how to remove credit card information from your Roku account, I hadn't heard about the data breach. Now, I wish I had posted it earlier. I had it ready to go a while back, but kept putting it off. I'm sorry I waited. As far as I know, I wasn't impacted by the Roku data breach, as I've not received a notification that I understand they sent to those impacted. Maybe they just haven't gotten to me yet, but I'm guessing I wasn't actually impacted. According to reports, some 15,000 Roku accounts were compromised. Roku has 80-million user accounts, so the number is actually a small percentage. That doesn't make it okay, just that it's unlikely I'm impacted.  Bleeping Computer says Roku announced the breach on March 8 : On Friday, Roku first disclosed the data breach, warning that 15,363 customer accounts were hacked in a credential stuffing attack. A credential stuffing attack is when threat actors collect credentials exp...

Do you have a Roku device? Most streamers do. Well, maybe not "most" but certainly there are more Roku devices in use than other devices, and by a pretty decent margin. So, if you have a Roku device, did you notice that when you set it up, it asked you for a credit card? And if you did at the time, did you forget about it? If you have a Roku account, there's a good chance you have a credit card tied to the account. That may or may not be a good thing. Here's why. If you have a credit card tied to your Roku, it's really easy to purchase stuff. Mostly, I'm talking subscriptions to services through Roku Pay, which is what the Roku payment service is called. Maybe you really want that. The ease of subscribing to a service is nice if all you have to do is click "Subscribe" and there it is. One problem with having a credit card on Roku is that is someone buying something without realizing it. And yes, that happens. Another is forgetting about a subscriptio...

Password sharing crackdowns continue across the streaming landscape. The latest to crackdown on password sharing is the Max app, formerly HBO Max. Reports in the last week talk about this new attack on password sharing. Of course, you're going to know what I say, if you've seen my earlier posts on other companies who have done this: "Eh." If the rules are you can't share passwords, then you can't share passwords. Most of the complaints are from people who are freeloading on family members, either with or without permission. But their complaints haven't stopped companies from cracking down : Netflix kicked off the movement, veering away from a feature of streaming that it had once championed, back in early 2023 with the first major password-sharing crackdown. People were outraged, assumed it was a massive error on Netflix's part and expected subscription numbers to collapse. And then ... they didn't. In fact, it worked brilliantly for Netflix. Netfl...

Microsoft was forcing updates to Windows 10 and Windows 11 users recently. That has now changed. Britec has the information on its YouTube channel. [ YouTube ] I'm of both minds on this issue. On the one hand, I don't like the idea of being forced to get features I don't want. On the other hand, I see Microsoft's side that security is improved. I really don't that that secuity is Microsoft's motivation. It's the ability to gather more data from users to sell. These features are for that reason, when you get right down to it. Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with Microsoft making money. I just don't like that they gather data from me and sell it. Not that Google is any better. I think that for security, ChromeOS, being a version of Linux, is much more secure than any version of Windows. Privacy is the biggest issue I have with ChromeOS. I like most things about it, such as its ease of use, it's security, its lightweight use of resource...

Tom's Guide recently had a review it called " Best streaming devices in 2024 ." I thought they did a good job covering the devices. I don't agree with all the choices, but the selections they made are some I can't really argue, because the devices are still good devices. Straight to the conclusion first, their overall pick is the Roku Streaming Stick 4K. Our current pick for the very best streaming device overall is the Roku Streaming Stick 4K. This model added faster performance and Dolby Vision on top of its predecessor. Some of us at Tom's Guide own multiple entries from this list of the best streaming devices, to see how they evolve over time. Not only do we spend hours and hours watching shows and movies from the top streaming services on these devices, but we compare them against those with similar prices, to help you figure out which is best for your budget. Using all of these devices often shows us the benefits of spending more on your streaming device...

A couple of days ago, I asked when I would be getting the new Google TV home screen. I have my answer: now. Yesterday, when I turned the TV on after getting home from work, I noticed the home screen on my Onn Streaming Box looked different. It took me a minute before I realized it was the new update. I was happy, and surprised, to see it. I had settled on expecting it in a month or so. The day or so update was very unexpected. So, what is it like? Well, let's look at it. Note that the image isn't from my TV. But this example image is an accurate representation of what it looks like. First, the obvious. The round icons allow for more to show on the home screen. I have 18 apps installed on one device, and now all 18 show on the home screen. From the looks of things, all apps show as I don't see an option to see all, as the older home screen had. Next, there is a "Free TV Channels" app. This isn't the same thing as the Live item in the top menu on the Googl...

Google Chromecast has been around for over a decade. Of course, at first, it was simple for casting from a mobile device to a TV with the first release in 2013. It wasn't until seven years later that it really became a general purpose streaming device. Chromecast with Google TV added a remote and a Google TV interface to Android TV and suddenly Chromecast was the real deal. Well, mostly. It was a little under-powered and wasn't as efficient in how it handled apps. In 2022, a new Chromecast was released, but it wasn't an upgrade. It was an expansion of the line, adding a cheaper HD (1080) device to go along with the 4K/UHD device that was the 2020 version. Now, word is a new Chromecast is coming. In recent updates to the Google Home app, the company has introduced a handful of previously unseen models to the internal list of Google Cast-compatible devices. Three new listings are explicitly labeled as being last year’s line of JBL Authentics speakers. However, a new mystery d...

A week ago, Google posted that the Google TV screen was getting a makeover . Not a huge makover, but still an improved look. I've seen screenshots and do agree it looks fine. But that last sentence tells about the problem. I've seen it in screenshots, not on my TV. Not on any of my TVs. I have three different types of Google TV interfaces at home: Chromecast, Onn Streaming Stick, Sony TV. My NVIDIA Shield actually runs Android TV but not the Google TV interface. I'm not seeing the updated home screen on any of those Google TV devices. Yes, it does say "over the next few months" in regards to rolling out . Starting today, and rolling out to all devices over the next few months, we’re introducing some new updates to the “Your apps” row, giving you a sleeker, more streamlined look, making it easier to access your favorite apps. So, I just need to be patient. And this really isn't unusual for my streaming devices. Roku has spread rollouts over months e...

Roku updated their terms of service recently. And they did it in a way that has really upset some people ( link to Cord Cutters News story ). And I'm not too happy about it either. Oh, I understand that all companies update Terms of Service from time to time. I realize that Google, Apple, Samsung, Motorola, and other cell phone device and software companies do this. I just don't like the way Roku went about it. What Roku should have done was presented a screen, with the options to: Read the terms (which they did) Accept the terms (which they did) Reject the terms (not doing this is the problem) It would have been simple enough for a "Reject" action to take the user to a screen saying that the Terms would go into effect on a pre-determined date (30, 60, 90, etc. days out), and there be a link to a Website that did whatever their actual "write a letter" process would do. They don't want to make it easy to opt out. And if I didn't like ...

Good news, everyone! Netflix is going to raise prices again this year! Oh, did I say "good news?" I didn't mean that. I meant "here we go again." Actually, Netflix has not announced a price increase. But a report in Variety says analysts expect a price increase. They base it on hints from Netflix in last quarter's earnings call. Last October, Netflix increased the price of the Basic plan from $9.99 to $11.99 per month in the U.S., and also hiked prices of the tier in the U.K. and France. Netflix hasn't announced specific plans to hike subscription prices in 2024, but execs have said rate increases are on the table. On the company's Q4 2023 earnings call, Netflix co-CEO Greg Peters noted that last year the streamer had "largely put price increases on hold" while it was rolling out the paid-sharing program — "because we saw that as a form of substitute price increase. Now that we're through that, we're able to resume our s...

Microsoft updates can brick some laptops. Not intentionally, but it happens. Britec has the details: [ YouTube ] My Streaming Life doesn't involve Windows much. My current Plex server is running on Windows, but apart from that, I'm not using Windows. And I don't use Windows in general. But most people do use Windows, and these problems can be very serious.

It was reported that the YouTube Kids app was shutting down. Now, before parents (and grandparents) get upset by this, it's just the app that is shutting down, not the service (or feature). Currently, there is a YouTube Kids app that presents an interface for kids, and filters content to make it suitable for children. The app is going away. The functionality is part of the YouTube app, and Google is focusing on that going forward. The message from Google provides the basic information: YouTube Kids is moving: In July, the YouTube Kids app icon on your TV will be going away. But, you can still use YouTube Kids on your TV by going to your child’s profile in the YouTube app. To get started using this new experience, download the YouTube app on your smart TV, streaming device, or game console. Learn more about entering YouTube Kids through the YouTube app. I understand why Google (who owns YouTube) is making the decision, but I really don't like it. To me, it seem easier ...

TV Answer Man Phillip Swann recently answered a question about VPNs and Major League Baseball. I understand why he answered the question. Someone asked, and he gave an honest answer. No problem. What I didn't like about it was that he couched the headline in a way that seemed to advocate using a VPN. If you haven't realized it, I'm against using VPNs for the purpose of circumventing geo-location restrictions. I don't like those restrictions, but I also feel the content owner can set whatever restrictions it wants. I think content owners have the right to be total jackasses. I have the right to call them total jackasses and not do business with them. The title of TV Answer Man's post was "A VPN Could Be Your Ticket to Blackout-Free Baseball" and covered the question asked of him : ... we live in Iowa and we want to watch the Cardinals but the games are blacked out on MLB TV even though we live hours away from the Cardinals stadium. Can you explain ...