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  • Which Streaming Device is Right for You?

    Which Streaming Device is Right for You?

    TV has changed in the last ten years. At one point in time, it was either cable or nothing. Now, with the popularity of Netflix, Hulu and internet TV at an all-time high, cable is the exception rather than the rule. If you’ve been looking to cut the cord and watch internet TV, you’re probably wondering what the best streaming device for your living room is. How can you narrow them all down, though? That’s what we’re here for.

    There are a number of options out there for streaming. Whether you’re an Apple fan who wants to use Apple TV for your content, or you want something smart-home integrated like Alexa, there’s a ton of options. Maybe you’re looking for something more general-use, like Roku? Let’s take a look at some of the most popular streaming options and what each brings to the table. Hopefully this will help you narrow down your options and make a good decision.

    Fire TV

    Fire TV is Amazon’s proprietary TV streaming platform. There are budget options, like the Fire TV Stick, which just plugs into the back of your TV, and more full-fledged platforms like the Fire TV Cube. No matter which one you’re looking into, there are a number of similarities between the platform’s various hardware devices. Namely, the user interface and the Alexa integration. If you like using your voice to pull up your favorite shows, Fire TV is for you.

    For those who really enjoy voice commands, the Fire TV Cube comes with a remote that offers voice-control option. You can navigate menus, search for actors and movies and issue commands all with your voice. It feels very natural to command your entertainment in much the same way you command your smart home features. For people who like high-tech solutions that just work without lots of fiddling and tech knowledge, Fire TV is a perfect fit.

    Roku

    Roku is a very well-known name when it comes to streaming devices. From the budget-friendly Roku Express to full-blown smart TVs with Roku integration, there are versions of the streaming platform across the spectrum of budgets. The best thing about Roku is how straightforward and simple it is. The remote is small and sports only a few buttons. A clean, simple user interface shows you the information you need to see to find your entertainment.

    If you’re new to the world of internet TV, or just want a simple way to turn your old TV into a smart TV, the Roku is the best option for you. While it might not sport the same wide variety of options and features as Fire TV or Apple TV, Roku offers a great platform for users who want a simple and clean platform. The low entry price of the Roku Express is also a huge selling point for the platform.

    Apple TV

    For those users who are fans of the Apple ecosystem, Apple TV is a no-brainer. Offering a great, seamless experience across your Mac, iPhone and Apple Watch, the Apple TV is a great extension of the clean design and deceptive simplicity that makes Apple so popular. Logging in to apps is simple, as you can copy passwords and logins directly from an iPhone or iPad.

    While the Apple TV ecosystem doesn’t offer as many apps as a system like Roku, it’s still a robust hub for your media. If you have lots of pictures or videos on your phone you’d like to see on your TV, AirPlay 2 gives you that option. You can even issue voice commands through Siri to find TV and movies you’d like to watch. The only downside? The higher-than-average price when compared to the competition.


  • Cord-Cutting: Which Internet TV Service is the Best in 2019?

    Cord-Cutting: Which Internet TV Service is the Best in 2019?

    It’s not hard to see why people don’t want to have cable services through traditional providers anymore. Cable bills are astronomical, and they charge consumers a ton for programming that goes mostly unwatched. If you’re looking to save money on your cable bill and watch TV without breaking the bank, your best bet is to use a Roku or Smart TV and connect to an Internet TV service.

    There are so many options on the market, though, and the pricing of all the different services seems to change every few months. Today we’re taking a look at the top Internet TV services to help you decide which one is the best for you. Here are our top picks for the best Internet TV in 2019.

    Sling TV

    The first service to hit with the current business model of being an internet-based TV service, Sling debuted in 2016. Owned by Dish Network, Sling costs only $25, though it offers a number of channel packages and add-ons that can increase that price pretty quickly. Notably, there are two channel packages for the base $25: you choose either Orange or Blue, which essentially is a decision between Fox or Disney and ESPN.

    Notably, Sling recently lost regional Fox Sports in a high-profile contract dispute, which inconveniently also fell right in the middle of baseball season. This frustrating turn of events is due, in part, to Sling’s avowed dedication to keep their price steady at $25 per month. If you’re looking for a good budget TV service, it’s hard to go wrong with Sling. However, the lack of local channels and regional sports can be a turn-off for some viewers.

    PlayStation Vue

    PlayStation Vue might sound like a new video game console from Sony, but it’s actually an Internet TV service like Sling. It’s a more “premium”-style service, as even its base package, called “Access” costs $50 per month. However, Vue offers local channels that aren’t offered on budget services like Sling or Philo, making it a strong choice as a strict cable-replacement.

    The interface for Vue is clean, snappy and similar to many major cable providers. DVR is built in and stores shows for up to 30 days, and normal on-demand content is available through the service. The $55 per month “Core” offers up even more robust sports coverage, and the high-end “Ultra” package, which is $85 per month, adds Showtime and HBO to the channel lineup. Notably, Sony doesn’t carry any Viacom channels, like MTV, Comedy Central and Spike.

    Pluto TV

    If you’re looking to slide in for the low, low price of free with your Internet TV, we’ve got good news. Pluto TV is totally free, though you get what you pay for. The service is more akin to a curated selection of already-available content from the internet, comprising mostly reruns of shows from a few years ago and original content from websites like IGN.

    One of Pluto’s strengths is that it offers incredibly focused channels that are collections of very specific interests, like Gaming or Anime. If you’re just looking for something to throw on to watch idly without giving the content much thought, Pluto is a great option. After all, the content is free and it’s entertaining. If you’re looking to catch current sports games, local channels or new content in general, though, it might be worth springing for a paid TV service.

    HD Antenna

    If you’re looking to catch local channels but don’t have a service that carries them, you can also opt to use an HD antenna. Once you buy one, it picks up HD signals over the airwaves and allows you to watch local channels, including the news and the Big Three. HD antennas can be paired with Sling or Pluto to create a low-cost TV-watching solution without giving up too much content.


  • Cutting the Cord Without Breaking the Bank

    Cutting the Cord Without Breaking the Bank

    Ostensibly, the whole point of not having cable and using Internet TV is to keep your monthly costs down. After all, cable is prohibitively expense for the average person, so there’s no reason to have a cable subscription. However, if you’re subscribed to Hulu, Netflix, Sling and more, you’re going to see those monthly bills getting to a similar place as that cable bill.

    There’s good news though: there are plenty of free streaming services you can start using today. There’s no great reason to spend a ton of money on entertainment when so much is available for free, right now, on the internet. Let’s keep it inexpensive!

    Pluto TV

    Pluto TV is an internet streaming service available on most streaming platforms. If you have Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, whatever: you can run Pluto. It works by aggregating content from the internet and grouping it into channels of like content. For instance, if you like anime, there’s tons of websites that have free episodes of anime, and Pluto uses those to create an all-anime channel. Similarly, if you’re into gaming, there’s a channel for that.

    Most of what you’ll see on Pluto is older re-runs of shows from major networks or online content from larger websites. There are commercials, which is how the thing gets monetized, but it’s completely free to download and use. When it comes to completely free television, Pluto is a great option.

    The Roku Channel

    If you run your streaming services through Roku, you can access the Roku Channel. This free streaming channel is operated by Roku themselves and offers classic and modern movies, news streaming and more. Essentially, it’s a great companion to whatever other content you watch on Roku. The channel also offers older streaming TV content, making it a bit of a grab-bag when it comes to entertainment.

    You can also manage your other subscriptions through the Roku Channel. For instance, if you have HBO or Shotime subscriptions, you can manage them through the Roku Channel, streamlining your bill while allowing you to find your content all consolidated to one place. If you use Roku, this is a great free TV option.

    Kanopy

    One of the coolest things about living in the modern world is public goods like parks, public transit and libraries. You’ve already paid for it through your local taxes, after all, so you might as well enjoy these public goods. Kanopy is one such public good in this category: it connects to your local library to allow you to rent movies, though the number you can “borrow” digitally could differ from library to library.

    Once you have the app downloaded, you enter your library card and then create a Kanopy account. Then, like that, you’re hooked up to watch free movies, courtesy of your local library. While you’re at it, consider heading by your library and checking out some books: there’s tons of great stories to be found within!

    Crackle

    The long-running service from Sony, Crackle, has been around in some form or another since 2004, long before Netflix was offering streaming content online. Interestingly, Crackle has a lot in common with Netflix. There are tons of older sitcoms and 90’s cult classic movies available on-demand, and there’s even original programming like The Oath that you can watch. Like Netflix, the selections are updated regularly and you can almost always find something to watch you haven’t seen before on Crackle.

    Unlike Netflix, however, Crackle is totally free. There’s no catch to it: the content streaming on the service costs nothing to view. Why not give it a shot? You can binge some of your favorite old sitcoms today, for free, through Crackle.


  • Which Streaming Device is Right for You?

    Which Streaming Device is Right for You?

    TV has changed in the last ten years. At one point in time, it was either cable or nothing. Now, with the popularity of Netflix, Hulu and internet TV at an all-time high, cable is the exception rather than the rule. If you’ve been looking to cut the cord and watch internet TV, you’re probably wondering what the best streaming device for your living room is. How can you narrow them all down, though? That’s what we’re here for.

    There are a number of options out there for streaming. Whether you’re an Apple fan who wants to use Apple TV for your content, or you want something smart-home integrated like Alexa, there’s a ton of options. Maybe you’re looking for something more general-use, like Roku? Let’s take a look at some of the most popular streaming options and what each brings to the table. Hopefully this will help you narrow down your options and make a good decision.

    Fire TV

    Fire TV is Amazon’s proprietary TV streaming platform. There are budget options, like the Fire TV Stick, which just plugs into the back of your TV, and more full-fledged platforms like the Fire TV Cube. No matter which one you’re looking into, there are a number of similarities between the platform’s various hardware devices. Namely, the user interface and the Alexa integration. If you like using your voice to pull up your favorite shows, Fire TV is for you.

    For those who really enjoy voice commands, the Fire TV Cube comes with a remote that offers voice-control option. You can navigate menus, search for actors and movies and issue commands all with your voice. It feels very natural to command your entertainment in much the same way you command your smart home features. For people who like high-tech solutions that just work without lots of fiddling and tech knowledge, Fire TV is a perfect fit.

    Roku

    Roku is a very well-known name when it comes to streaming devices. From the budget-friendly Roku Express to full-blown smart TVs with Roku integration, there are versions of the streaming platform across the spectrum of budgets. The best thing about Roku is how straightforward and simple it is. The remote is small and sports only a few buttons. A clean, simple user interface shows you the information you need to see to find your entertainment.

    If you’re new to the world of internet TV, or just want a simple way to turn your old TV into a smart TV, the Roku is the best option for you. While it might not sport the same wide variety of options and features as Fire TV or Apple TV, Roku offers a great platform for users who want a simple and clean platform. The low entry price of the Roku Express is also a huge selling point for the platform.

    Apple TV

    For those users who are fans of the Apple ecosystem, Apple TV is a no-brainer. Offering a great, seamless experience across your Mac, iPhone and Apple Watch, the Apple TV is a great extension of the clean design and deceptive simplicity that makes Apple so popular. Logging in to apps is simple, as you can copy passwords and logins directly from an iPhone or iPad.

    While the Apple TV ecosystem doesn’t offer as many apps as a system like Roku, it’s still a robust hub for your media. If you have lots of pictures or videos on your phone you’d like to see on your TV, AirPlay 2 gives you that option. You can even issue voice commands through Siri to find TV and movies you’d like to watch. The only downside? The higher-than-average price when compared to the competition.


  • Cutting the Cord: Can You Still Watch TV Without Breaking the Bank?

    Cutting the Cord: Can You Still Watch TV Without Breaking the Bank?

    Recently, several high-profile internet TV streaming services have jacked up their prices. Hulu with Live TV, DirecTV Now and YouTube TV have all seen price increases in the last month. It’s becoming hard to find internet TV for less than $50 per month, making it cost roughly the same as just bundling TV with your internet provider.

    That’s not what people were promised when they cut the cord from cable. Cord cutters jumped ship so they could get the TV they wanted without spending so much. Is there a way to still watch TV without breaking the bank—and without giving the cable company a dime?

    How to Watch TV on a Budget

    Sling TV

    Sling is often mentioned before other streaming TV services due to the consistency of its price. Sling started out with a $20 per month option, though they bumped that up to $25 not long ago. However, $25 for the 40 or so channels Sling offers isn’t too bad when you compare it to other expensive cable services.

    There are two options with Sling: Sling Blue and Sling Orange. The major difference is whether you get ESPN or Fox Sports. There are also a la carte channel package add-ons that cost around $5 per, but if you’re looking to get out while saving money, you should probably avoid these.

    AT&T Watch TV

    AT&T offers a rather low $15 per month price to access lots of channels, like TNT, TBS and CNN. If you’re an AT&T Unlimited Plan holder, it’s actually included with your phone service. Currently, AT&T Watch TV is the least expensive internet TV provider out there.

    On the negative side, AT&T only offers one stream, so no multi-TV viewing in the house. Similarly, there’s no DVR and you also don’t get access to a Roku app. While AT&T is inexpensive, it’s a bit difficult to recommend to someone used to normal cable.

    Philo TV

    Philo TV offers a comparable selection of channels to Sling, but for $20 per month. That also includes unlimited DVR with 30-day storage and up to three streams on one account. In short, if you’re looking for a good value on internet TV, the happy medium seems to be Philo.

    Philo also offers an Apple TV app, Roku app and Fire TV support. It’s a rather robust package!