Channels
Latest
WhatsApp Channels now let owners send voice messages
WhatsApp has introduced new features Channels can use to interact with their followers.
WhatsApp Channels are expanding to 150 countries
Channels will now be available in more than 150 countries.
WhatsApp may soon let you add multiple accounts to one device
It follows an update that allows you to use one account across multiple phones.
WhatsApp's new Channels feature lets accounts send one-way updates to followers
WhatsApp has launched a new feature called Channels that makes it much more like a social media app.
YouTube brings Showtime, Paramount+ and other streaming services into its main app
YouTube is clearly trying to be a one-stop shop for all your streaming video needs, including livestreams, movies, TV and sports.
YouTube TV may drop 14 NBC Universal channels over a contract dispute
NBC Universal has warned YouTube TV subscribers that 14 of its channels may be removed if the two parties can't resolve a dispute.
Apple may offer half-off CBS All Access and Showtime bundle for TV+
Apple may offer TV+ subscribers discounted access to bundled CBS All Access and Showtime content.
Amazon Prime now includes 'free' live TV in Germany
Amazon Prime customers in Germany now have access to live TV at no additional cost.
YouTube TV is adding 14 ViacomCBS channels to its lineup
Thanks to an expanded, multi-year distribution agreement between Google and ViacomCBS, YouTube TV will add another 14 channels.
SiriusXM extends free Premium streaming offer through May
SiriusXM will make its Premier Streaming plan free through May 31st.
YouTube may offer sign-ups for premium subscriptions like Showtime
YouTube may take a cue from Amazon and Apple in letting you put all your streaming services in one place. The Information sources say YouTube has spent the past several months talking to "several" streaming providers about allowing sign-ups for their services through YouTube. While there's no mention of names or how far along the talks might be (YouTube declined to comment), this would go well beyond the handful of services you can sign up for through YouTube TV, like Showtime.
Comcast sues Maine over a law requiring a-la-carte cable offerings
Cord cutting may seem like the new norm, but plenty of people still pay for cable TV. That doesn't mean they're happy with it though. This summer, in response to complaints that customers had to purchase an entire cable package just to watch one or two channels, Maine passed a law requiring cable companies to offer channels a-la-carte. Now, Comcast and a handful of cable operators, including Fox, CBS and Disney, are suing Maine and 17 municipalities to prevent the law from going into effect.
AirTV Mini delivers streaming and local TV in a dongle
A couple years ago Dish revealed AirTV, an Android TV-powered set-top box. The company has been relatively quiet since then, but today, it launched the AirTV Mini. The new device is a 4K HDR-compatible streaming stick that brings users Sling TV, Netflix and over-the-air (OTA) channels, as well as other apps built for Android TVs.
Apple's redesigned TV app arrives today
If you've been patiently waiting for Apple's redesigned TV app, which was revealed back in March, today is your lucky day. The company is now rolling out the updated application to iPhone, iPad, Apple TV and compatible Samsung smart TVs, complete with a fresh look, the new Channels feature and curated sections such as "For You" and "Kids." Aside from the overhauled design, which focuses on offering big, beautiful imagery for movies and TV shows and a UI that's intended to help you swipe/scroll less, the biggest changes to the TV app are the addition of Channels and the full iTunes library.
Sky’s restructured TV pricing is simpler and more flexible
As UK consumers have become more confident with streaming services and accessing content via a low monthly subscription, UK broadcasters have been forced to take notice. These days, the all-you-can-eat package is no longer the de-facto option, with companies like Sky choosing to split bigger content bundles into more bitesize options. In July, it broke up Sky Sports into 10 individual channels, allowing sports fans to pay only for the sport they actually wanted to watch and chop and change whenever it suits. Now, it's bringing the same flexibility to traditional TV.
LiDAR strips landscapes down to their bare glory
LiDAR is having a moment right now helping self-driving cars and robots not hit things, but don't forget about what else it can do. In a study called The Bare Earth, scientists from the Washington Geological Survey used it to image the ground right down to dirt and rocks. Stripped of trees and other distractions, the images provide not only valuable geological survey data, but stunning, otherworldly views of our planet.
Your Amazon login can sign you into HBO Now and Showtime apps
Amazon has begun changing the way its Channels pay-TV service works, giving users more freedom to choose where to stream their next show. The tech titan began allowing Prime subscribers to tack streaming services to their accounts through Channels back in 2015. While it's certainly one way to cut the cord, users only have access the add-ons they pay for, including HBO's and Cinemax's offerings, through Channels itself -- they can't exactly log into the services' applications. According to TechCrunch, though, Amazon has recently launched a new feature that gives HBO's and Showtime's Channels subscribers the power to log into those networks' standalone apps.
Researchers discover bacteria can communicate electrically, like neurons
Bacteria may be unicellular but that doesn't mean they're complete loners. They often congregate in (relatively) large colonies, not unlike human cities. In fact, a team of researchers from the University of California, San Diego have recently discovered that at least one species has even developed a long-range (again, relatively) communications mechanism which works very similarly to the brain's neurons.
Audible's Channels offer short-form content for $5 a month
We've known about Audible's original content plans for for a few months now, but it turns out there were much bigger plans for the service. Today, the Amazon-owned company formally launched Audible Channels: a $5 monthly subscription that gets you shows, original series, comedy and news. If you're already paying for Audible, you won't have to pay extra for the new Channels. It's basically a podcast-like option from the service where the main focus has been audiobooks in the past. There's topic-based content alongside shows from notable publishers like The Wall Street Journal, Scientific American, and The Onion and Audible's own originals.
Instagram adds more video channels to your 'Explore' feed
Back in April, Instagram added a channel feature to the "Explore" feed inside its apps. Those video channels are getting a lot more options today, displaying content based on the topics that interest you most. In fact, there are 23 different categories total, ranging from baking to hair and makeup tips, trick shots, dancing, art, travel and more. The new channels get pretty specific too, as dog lovers can expect dedicated feeds for Pitbulls, for example. Instead of the broad "Videos You Might Like," you'll be greeted with a "Picked For You" feed that fits one of nearly three dozen topics.
