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Watch the first trailer for Jordan Peele's YouTube sci-fi show 'Weird City'
Prolific filmmaker Jordan Peele is reuniting with Key and Peele writer Charlie Sanders on a new YouTube sci-fi series dubbed Weird City -- the first trailer for which just landed. Described as "a satirical anthology set in the not-too-distant future metropolis of Weird," the show depicts a world split between literal class lines, separating the rich and the poor. As for the middle class, they've vanished.
Gift cards and subscriptions to give as last-minute gifts
Sometimes it's better to pick out a gift for someone yourself and other times it's a good idea to let that picky loved one choose their own. (And if you've waited this long to buy gifts, that might be your easiest course of action.) This is where gift cards and subscriptions come in particularly handy, and we've selected a few of the best for our 2018 holiday gift guide. For TV lovers, we've recommended subscriptions for HBO Now, Hulu Live TV and YouTube Premium, but we've also got your gamers covered no matter which system they use. For the readers on you list, how about a curated book subscription based on their tastes or an unlimited subscription to Comixology? A pre-emptive note: Some services that you or your friends use (like Apple Music, say) didn't end up on this list. That doesn't mean we don't recommend them -- we do! -- but for people who are starting fresh without a paid music subscription or what have you, these are the services we feel bring the most value. Can't hurt, of course, to do some sleuthing first and see what your giftee is already using and go from there.
YouTube Music and Premium now offer student discounts
If YouTube Music is going to compete with Spotify and Apple Music on price, it's going to need discounts for the student set. Thankfully, they've just turned up -- you can now subscribe to a $5 per month YouTube Music Premium plans as well as a corresponding $7 YouTube Premium plan ($6 if you sign up before January 31st). So long as you're a full-time student at an accredited US college or university, you can listen or watch to your heart's content without stretching your budget past the breaking point.
Eminem-produced film 'Bodied' hits YouTube Premium November 28th
Earlier this year, YouTube snagged the rights to Bodied, an Eminem-produced satirical film that premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and took home the Grolsch People's Choice Midnight Madness award. Now, ahead of its November release, YouTube has shared a new trailer for the film.
Watch the first trailer for YouTube sci-fi thriller series 'Origin'
YouTube's Originals haven't hit the critically-acclaimed highs of rivals Netflix and Hulu's shows, but it's not for want of trying. Its latest stab at creating the next must-watch streaming series is Origin, a sci-fi drama that borrows the premise of Passengers, but jettisons the romance in favour of suspense.
YouTube Music is about to get a lot better
YouTube Music launched in May to mixed reviews. Even though its song catalog matches Apple Music and Spotify's (in addition to millions of videos pulled from YouTube) it arrived missing some essential features. Something as simple as sorting out your saved albums alphabetically, for example, isn't an option. You also can't browse by genre or easily see new albums from the week. But Google, which will replace Play Music with YouTube Music, is aware of these shortcomings and plans to address them soon.
YouTube may produce more original programming outside the US
YouTube is working on original programming for international markets in an effort to boost paid subscriber numbers, Reuters reports. The company plans to develop shows for customers in France, Germany, Japan and Mexico, adding to series that have already been released in South Korea and India. Susanne Daniels, YouTube's global head of original programming, told Reuters that new productions will include music documentaries, reality series, talk shows and scripted series.
Four problems YouTube Music will face in the UK
The worst-kept secret in music is out, and Google has now released YouTube Music and YouTube Premium in 11 more countries. But despite being in the streaming music game for quite a while, the company is almost going to have to start fresh in several places, including the UK. So here are four of the major challenges that the company faces as it looks for its second chance to make a first impression.
YouTube Music and Premium come to Canada and the UK
As expected, Google has announced that YouTube Music and YouTube Premium will continue its global rollout, coming to 11 more countries. The list of nations now able to take advantage of the two platforms has swelled to include the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Russia, Italy and Spain.
YouTube Music arrives late to the party with room for improvement
A massive number of people use YouTube not just for videos, but as a de facto music-streaming service, not unlike Spotify. YouTube is well aware of this, which is why the company has been trying to make music an official part of its paid offerings for nearly four years now. This week, YouTube Music launched in early access, and it's the closest the company has come yet to building a proper Spotify or Apple Music competitor. Google's launch strategy behind YouTube Music and what's now called YouTube Premium has been confusing, but now that the service is rolling out to the masses, it's time to see how it stacks up to other streaming-music options. After spending a few days with YouTube Music, it's clear that there's potential here, but that a ton of work needs to be done before it's on par with the established players.
‘Dallas & Robo’ pairs a trucker and a robot to save the solar system
Earlier the month, YouTube announced a new Kat Dennings- and John Cena-led animated series for its Red, soon to be Premium, platform -- a buddy comedy from the company behind BoJack Horseman about a space trucker and a robot. In Dallas & Robo, the two travel together between different worlds, delivering goods and getting into trouble.
Google's music- and video-streaming strategy is a mess
Today Google announced a major shake-up of its music- and video-streaming services. That should be cause for celebration, since the company's offerings are a convoluted mess right now. There's Google Play Music, a Spotify rival with a robust "locker" system for streaming your personal library. In a handful of countries you can also download YouTube Music, a free app that includes music videos and live-concert footage. It's ad supported, but you can unlock a premium version if you subscribe to YouTube Red, which also comes with a free Play Music subscription.
