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Cut the Cable Cord, Skip Satellite, Switch to Streaming TV
Every time I read an article about saving money by ditching cable or satellite TV, I wondered if doing so would be practical for me. After all, I'm not one of those outliers who rarely watches TV or stays silent when the conversation shifts to Sunday's episode of "The Good Wife."I was drawn to the idea of keeping money in the bank, but thought I'd miss all the foreign language programming my satellite subscription offered. I know having such a diverse programming lineup is certainly one of the benefits of satellite TV, as so many foreign shows supplemented my language studies and helped me become (almost) fluent in Spanish.But then I realized that ditching my TV service for a streaming subscription really is the way to go. There are so many options out there and I can watch my favorite shows on any of my devices, no matter where I am. Perhaps that's why it seems like everyone I know is opting to cut the cord and why I did too.Millennials Are Making the SwitchIt was easier to make the switch when I realized I wasn't alone. We're all tired of paying for channels we don't watch just to get those we do. And it seems my peers agree. Between 2008 and 2012, the number of millennial TV viewers dropped by almost 20 percent, and a recent study by analytics firm comScore showed that 24 percent of millennials don't subscribe to conventional pay TV.We're Watching OnlineIt's not that millennials aren't watching TV shows, because we certainly are. Research shows millennials are turning to streaming sources to watch traditional television programming and exclusive streaming content on their smartphones, tablets, and laptops. When my friends all talked about watching Hulu on their lunch breaks, I started wondering what I was missing, and how I could get more quality programming for less money by switching to streaming TV services.Figuring out How to Pay Less and Get MoreIt took some research to find the combination of streaming subscriptions that provided access to all my favorite shows and still helped me cut costs. If you're wondering what to do, know that you can get the basics from Hulu and CBS All Access for network TV. Netflix can bring you hit exclusives like "Orange is the New Black" and "House of Cards" and you can get premium shows, like "Game of Thrones," on HBO Now or the Showtime service.Purchasing subscriptions to individual shows on iTunes or Amazon can shave even more money off monthly expenses. For sports fans, DISH Sling TV offers a sports package, or look into league-specific subscriptions, which provides access to NFL, NBA, or MLB games online.Still, I Had ConcernsOnce I started to convince myself that streaming content instead of getting it through my satellite subscription wasn't such a bad idea, new concerns crept in.Will I have to pay more for Internet service to get the bandwidth I need for streaming so I don't have to deal with episodes constantly buffering? I did some digging and found that if my home's Wi-Fi connection drops out, I can use my data plan to continue watching the show on my tablet without a pause in the action. The ability to watch programs anywhere – at home, on the road, or at a favorite coffee shop – is yet another benefit to streaming TV. And I'm only paying for the devices I already have and use, so I'm not incurring the additional expense of a screen and a cable box or satellite receiver.Why I Won't Go Back to Cable or SatelliteOnce I made the decision to ditch my satellite TV connection, I never looked back. I can enjoy binge-watching all my favorite shows with none of the stress or guilt of worrying about filling up my DVR. I can watch what I want, wherever and whenever I want. Most importantly, I'm saving hundreds of dollars a year. Netflix marathon, anyone?
Apple services down for some, including Beats1, iTunes and App Store
This morning isn't turning out to be a great one if you lean heavily on Apple's media ecosystem. According to the company's status page, a whole of host of Apple services have been plagued by issues since a little before 10AM Eastern time today, to the point where some users just can't access them. The full list of impacted features is a pretty hefty one at this point — it includes both the iOS and Mac App Stores, Apple Music, Apple TV, the iBooks Store, iTunes in the Cloud, the iTunes Store, iTunes U, iTunes Match, Radio, OS X Software Updates and the Volume Purchase Program. Basically, good luck trying to buy anything that isn't an attractive hunk of aluminum or plastic from Apple right now.
Apple Music in the UK: what you need to know
After months of waiting, Apple Music is finally upon us. The company is now ready to take the wraps off its new streaming service, which will deliver millions of tracks on demand, host a free 24-hour radio station with slots from some of the world's biggest artists, and include a bevvy of social features. It'll go live in over 100 countries today (June 30th), but as is often the case with new Apple services, there's still some uncertainty around what you get and how much it'll set you back. Fear not, for we've pieced together everything you need to know about Apple Music in the UK. Read on to find out.
Apple is bumping the iTunes Match limit to 100,000 songs
When Apple first revealed iTunes Match -- the service that lets you add your own, non-Apple purchased music to iTunes -- the 25,000 song limit probably seemed huge. That was way back in 2011, however, and Apple VP Eddy Cue has revealed that when iOS 9 arrives this fall, Match will support up to 100,000 songs. Cue reminded followers that Apple Music will also get Match-like capabilities, meaning you can fill in any missing streaming music with your own tracks. Though the service will launch tomorrow with a 25,000 song limit, it too will support 100,000 songs when iOS 9 comes out.
Pebble Time's iOS app hasn't been approved by Apple yet (update: it's live!)
The iOS faithful who already received their shiny new Pebble Time smartwatches are likely more than a little disappointed. The wearable is shipping to Kickstarter backers, but there's one big problem: the Pebble Time Watch iOS app hasn't been approved by Apple yet. Despite pushing minor bug fixes for approval on May 22nd, and asking that the folks in Cupertino fast-track the request, the software needed to get the gadget up and running isn't in the App Store. Even though a version of the app was approved on May 18th, it can't be released "due to quirks in the App Store submission process and rules."
Apple's new music service will reportedly cost $10 a month
Rumors that Apple is going to debut its retooled music offering at WWDC next week are nothing new. However, in a report by The Wall Street Journal comes word that the streaming service will be priced at $10 a month when it's announced in a matter of days. That would put the unlimited Beats Music/iTunes listening option right in line with Spotify, Rdio and Tidal in terms of pricing. Previous reports indicated that Apple thought Beats' price was too high, but it seems knocking a few dollars off of the monthly subscription may not be part of the strategy to lure new users.
Movie of the Day app hopes you'll impulse buy $7 'X-Men' via iPhone
Fox and Apple are trying a new twist on digital movie sales starting today, pushing a Movie of the Day app on iOS. For now, it's only for Apple devices and Fox movies (a Google Play version should arrive eventually), but as you can guess from the name it just does the one thing. "Daily Flash Sales" offer a single movie, heavily discounted (up to 70 percent off, somewhere between $5 and $10), for purchase for 24 hours, with the app highlighting which one and pointing users to it. It's launching in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Germany and France today and the first flick for sale is a $7 copy (in HD or SD, and you could just grab it via iTunes) of X-Men: First Class. Movies like Alien, Die Hard, Ice Age, Planet of the Apes, Rio, and The Sound of Music will float through its library, so if you're interested in filling up your Apple-connected digital shelf it could be worthwhile.
Apple music service will give artists control over what they share
Apple's oft-rumored, Beats-based streaming music service may have more to offer artists than a big wad of cash. Tipsters for 9to5Mac claim that the service (reportedly called just "Apple Music") will give artists the freedom to share things beyond their latest songs -- they could post music videos, concert details, photos and track samples, even if the content is from other performers. Think of it as an amped-up SoundCloud page, or a take on Apple's defunct Ping network that people might actually use. Artist activity is reportedly big enough that it'll be a "core feature," and you'd see it in the Android, iOS and desktop versions. Apple isn't confirming any of these details, as you might imagine, but previous rumors of a WWDC debut suggest that you'll hear more about this musician-friendly platform in early June. [Image credit: Adam Berry/Getty Images for Apple]
Video on demand firm sues Apple over streaming patents
Remember OpenTV, the video on demand software developer that sued Netflix for allegedly violating its streaming patents? It's back. The company is suing Apple in the belief that virtually everything Apple makes (such as the Apple TV and iTunes) is infringing on five streaming-related patents, including ones for interactive TV and copy protection. Supposedly, you're borrowing OpenTV technology when you download or rent a movie through Apple's software. The folks at 1 Infinite Loop haven't issued a formal response to the suit, although there's definitely pressure to offer compensation. OpenTV's parent company, the Kudelski Group, brags that it already has licensing deals (Netflix settled earlier this year) with the likes of Disney and Google -- Apple didn't necessarily use OpenTV's ideas, but it'll go against the grain if it fights back.
Apple Watch App Store is ready to equip your device upon arrival
If you've already ordered Apple's smartwatch, it should arrive sometime in the next few weeks. To prep for that delivery, the App Store's selection of Watch-specific apps is available for browsing on the web or with that trusty iOS device. The Wall Street Journal reports that over 3,000 software options now reside in iTunes, ready to outfit the wearable with tools for keeping tabs on scores, fitness data, news, social channels, payments and more. Of course, if you haven't secured one yet, you won't be able to nab the gadget at your local retail store tomorrow, so you'll have to wait until it arrives by mail.
Apple reportedly in talks with Taylor Swift for Beats Music exclusives
Exclusive content was mentioned more that once during Tidal's recent relaunch at the hands of Jay Z & Co. Not to be outdone by the celebrity-backed competition, it seems Apple is also looking to offer releases that you won't be able to find anywhere else -- at lease for a period of time. Bloomberg reports the folks in Cupertino are in talks with Florence and the Machine, Taylor Swift and "more than a dozen" others about exclusive deals for its upcoming streaming service. The former has an album that's set to drop in June -- a follow-up to 2011's Grammy-nominated effort Ceremonials. If you'll recall, Ms. Swift's catalog will be available on Tidal, as it doesn't have a free option like the service she spurned last year.
Apple's iOS 8.3 update breaks Touch ID purchasing for some users (updated)
If you haven't downloaded and installed iOS 8.3 yet, you might want to hold off for a bit first. Apple says the update packs that new emoji keyboard and a slew of performance fixes, but multiple reports on Reddit, Twitter and Apple's own support forums claim that the new software build basically breaks TouchID support for iTunes and App Store purchases. It's not yet clear how widespread the issue is -- Twitter in particular is light on the moaning today -- but we've just installed iOS 8.3 on a pair of iPhone 6s on different carriers and now neither of them work the way they're supposed to.
You can (legally) download the 'Star Wars' movies starting Friday
While the world waits for the next entries in the Star Wars saga (Episode VII on December 18th, followed by the Rogue One spinoff next year and Episode VIII in 2017), Disney, Fox and Lucasfilm have finally worked it out so you can buy the movies as digital copies. Sure a Blu-ray set came out a few years ago, but if physical media isn't your thing then Friday is the big day (yes, they're still the "special" editions). The movies will be available globally through retailers like Vudu, Xbox, PlayStation, Google Play, iTunes, Amazon and others. If you need a reason to do the digital double-dip, take a peek at the promised new extras, like "Discoveries from Inside" featurettes for each movie, and "Conversations" between key contributors. Vudu is taking pre-orders on the full set for $90 (US) and Google Play shows the individual movies for $20 each -- in case you're wondering, the Blu-ray set is listed on Amazon for the same price.
Apple's App and iTunes Stores are down (update: back up)
Good luck trying to buy anything that isn't hardware from Apple right now. The company recently confirmed on its services status dashboard that the iOS and Mac App Stores, as well as the iTunes Store, are "unavailable for all users." The silver lining? Some people might still have luck picking up some new reading from the iBooks Store, but we wouldn't count on it. Don't be fooled, either: For now you can still sift through the stores' wares and listings as though nothing happened, but you won't actually be able to purchase anything. The first spate of issues started making the rounds at about 5AM Eastern, and Twitter's slowly been swelling with confused, clamoring consumers ever since. At time of writing, Apple hasn't yet said how far along it is in the recovery process, or when users can expect to access the stores once more. Update: Service appears to be fully restored, check for more details after the break.
Apple will reportedly debut its music streaming service at WWDC
If you're hoping that Apple will launch its retooled music streaming service alongside a smartwatch next week, you'll have to wait a bit longer. 9to5Mac reports that Monday's "Spring Forward" event won't include details on the next phase of iTunes/Beats Music. Instead, the audio subscription option will launch at WWDC in June as part of an iOS update that annually rolls out soon after. Reportedly priced around $8 per month, the music service is said include features like curated playlists and content tailored to users' personal tastes -- both of which are key pieces of Beats Music. As you might expect, an app for the new service will make its way to Apple TV, and the same report claims a redesigned (read: slimmer) case and more capable remote control are on the way for Cupertino's set-top box. However, with the rumored 13-inch iPad and Retina MacBook Air that we may see this year, it'll be interesting to see how Apple plans to reveal a highly-anticipated update to its living room tech.
Apple ordered to pay $532.9 million to an iTunes patent troll (update)
Despite attempts to curb patent trolls, at least some of them are getting lucky -- and this week, one got very lucky. A Texas court has ordered Apple to pay a whopping $532.9 million to Smartflash, a holding company which sued over claims that iTunes (specifically its copy protection, payment systems and storage) violates its patents. The Cupertino crew allegedly abused the inventions on purpose, in part because one of its execs was briefed on them over a decade ago.
Apple hires the UK's biggest radio DJ to help boost its music service
While Apple reportedly has "hundreds" of employees working to build the fabled "Apple Car," the company is also busy integrating its Beats acquisition into iTunes. We may not have to wait too long to see fruits of that union, but before we do, Apple is acquiring talent to ensure the launch gets off to a good start. The UK's biggest radio DJ, Zane Lowe, today confirmed that after 12 years at the BBC's Radio 1 station, he's abandoning Britain for the sunnier skies of Los Angeles.
iOS games are about to get bigger and (hopefully) better
Not many apps hit iTunes' 2GB file limit, but those that do tend to fall into a certain category (cough games). As a result, developers often must sacrifice graphics quality and effects for iOS titles, the exact problem we pointed out with the recent BioShock iOS release. But Apple has finally lifted that limit, and the max file size on iTunes titles is now 4GB, according to its developer site. That should result in better games, with a caveat. If you decided that $949 was a tad too much to pay on the 128GB iPhone 6 Plus and went for much cheaper 16GB iPhone 6 instead, you may not have enough space for the latest, largest titles.
Apple makes iTunes more kid-friendly with 'Pay Once and Play'
No one likes having to buy carrots/coins/crystals just to progress in a mobile game. Thankfully, a new "Pay Once and Play" section has appeared in iTunes that lets you discover/buy games you can be sure won't hold you hostage with such in-app purchases. Kids racking up a huge bill on their parents' credit cards is a storied theme (something that has already caused Apple and others headaches), a problem that this new section should go some way to alleviate. As the name suggests, none of these games are actually free -- but at least you know the costs upfront. It appears Apple might be making other changes to the games section of iTunes, too. Developers are reporting that artwork and icons for their app that was previously passed as ok, is now being rejected for containing images deemed unsuitable for the very young (guns and gore etc.). Important to note, game content isn't affected, just the materials that promote it. It seems like Cook and co are making iTunes games a bit more family friendly.
Pinterest adds button that installs apps straight from iTunes
Pinterest launched Rich Pins a couple of years ago, adding item prices, author bylines, movie ratings, recipes and just more context in general within each entry. Now, the company's pairing up with Apple to expand the feature and add Install buttons to every pinned iOS app. You'll need to access those pins from an iPhone or an iPad to see the Install button, of course, because clicking them automatically brings up their App Store profile. It's not such a surprising development, seeing as 75 percent of Pinterest's traffic comes from mobile, and it could make finding hidden gems from among the many, many options in iTunes easier. Unfortunately, the visual discovery website didn't announce if it will also be available on Android devices later on. If you're an iOS user, though, you can visit Cupertino's new App Store account or the collection of pins compiled by Pinterest's staff to see the new feature for yourself.
