theverge--2020-07-01--Samsung’s Galaxy Buds Plus are more affordable than ever today

Only the best deals on Verge-approved gadgets get the Verge Deals stamp of approval , so if you 're looking for a deal on your next gadget or gift from major retailers like Amazon , Walmart , Best Buy , Target , and more , this is the place to be .
Samsung ’ s Galaxy Buds Plus truly wireless earbuds that have excellent battery life and come with a wireless charging case are more affordable than ever today , and we have two special deals to tell you about .
Daily Steals has the best price on a new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to $ 130 ( $ 20 off ) .
If you want to check that out , head over to its site and enter VERGESBUDS at checkout to get the discount .
These have a one-year warranty through Samsung .
On the other hand , you can save even more money by snagging a refurbished set of Galaxy Buds Plus at Best Buy .
They ’ re just $ 90 , which is a steal .
Like all of Best Buy ’ s refurbished gear , these are tested for quality and include @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case , that means ear tips , the charging case , and the USB-C cable . )
These come with a 90-day warranty through Best Buy .
Remedy ’ s Control , one of the best games of 2019 , is 42 percent off on PC ( redeemable on Epic Games Store ) at Fanatical .
It normally costs $ 60 , but you can get it for $ 35 right now .
This console versions of this game see discounts fairly regularly , though this is one of the better sale prices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ version .
Samsung ’ s 860 QVO 1TB SSD is $ 100 ( usually $ 120 ) as part of Amazon ’ s deal of the day .
This model sold for $ 88 during Black Friday , but this is the lowest price outside of that period .
It ’ s possible that this one will see more frequent discounts until it ’ s phased out , as Samsung recently announced the slightly improved 870 QVO SSD that starts at $ 130 for a 1TB drive .
This isn ’ t the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s a lot of storage at a very good price .
B & H Photo is offering an excellent bundle that includes Apple ’ s previous-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro ( 256GB , Wi-Fi + LTE ) and the new $ 300 Magic Keyboard with touchpad and passthrough USB-C charging for just $ 1,199 .
This model used to cost $ 1,299 , and the 2020 counterpart with similar specs is $ 1,249 .
If you ’ re okay with a slightly less capable processor and fewer cameras , you can save @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were hoping to also get the Magic Keyboard .
Persona 5 Royal for PS4 is more affordable than ever at GameStop today only .
It ’ s $ 35 ( $ 25 off ) for a new copy of what my colleague Megan Farokhmanesh calls “ the definitive version of an already brilliant RPG ” .
It ’ s the most complete version of Persona 5 you can buy , flush with new late-game content , as well as some quality-of-life-fixes not seen in the original release .
Plus , it comes with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fox character from the game for no extra charge .

Samsung’s Galaxy Buds Plus truly wireless earbuds that have excellent battery life and come with a wireless charging case are more affordable than ever today, and we have two special deals to tell you about. Daily Steals has the best price on a new set of Galaxy Buds Plus, down to $130 ($20 off). If you want to check that out, head over to its site and enter VERGESBUDS at checkout to get the discount. These have a one-year warranty through Samsung.
Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus (black, new) / Was $150, now 13% off with the offer code VERGESBUDS $130 at Daily Steals
On the other hand, you can save even more money by snagging a refurbished set of Galaxy Buds Plus at Best Buy. They’re just $90, which is a steal. Like all of Best Buy’s refurbished gear, these are tested for quality and include all original accessories. (In this case, that means ear tips, the charging case, and the USB-C cable.) These come with a 90-day warranty through Best Buy.
Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus (black, refurbished) / Was $150, now 40% off $90 at Best Buy
Remedy’s Control, one of the best games of 2019, is 42 percent off on PC (redeemable on Epic Games Store) at Fanatical. It normally costs $60, but you can get it for $35 right now. This console versions of this game see discounts fairly regularly, though this is one of the better sale prices I’ve seen for the PC version.
Control (PC, redeemable on Epic Games Store) / Was $60, now 42% off $35 at Fanatical
Image: Samsung
Samsung’s 860 QVO 1TB SSD is $100 (usually $120) as part of Amazon’s deal of the day. This model sold for $88 during Black Friday, but this is the lowest price outside of that period. It’s possible that this one will see more frequent discounts until it’s phased out, as Samsung recently announced the slightly improved 870 QVO SSD that starts at $130 for a 1TB drive. This isn’t the fastest SSD you can buy, but it’s a lot of storage at a very good price.
B&H Photo is offering an excellent bundle that includes Apple’s previous-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro (256GB, Wi-Fi + LTE) and the new $300 Magic Keyboard with touchpad and passthrough USB-C charging for just $1,199. This model used to cost $1,299, and the 2020 counterpart with similar specs is $1,249. If you’re okay with a slightly less capable processor and fewer cameras, you can save a lot today — especially if you were hoping to also get the Magic Keyboard.
Apple iPad Pro (12.9-inch, Wi-Fi + LTE, previous gen) with Magic Keyboard / Was $1,599, now 25% off $1,199 at B&H Photo
Persona 5 Royal for PS4 is more affordable than ever at GameStop today only. It’s $35 ($25 off) for a new copy of what my colleague Megan Farokhmanesh calls “the definitive version of an already brilliant RPG”. It’s the most complete version of Persona 5 you can buy, flush with new late-game content, as well as some quality-of-life-fixes not seen in the original release. Plus, it comes with a POP! Games figurine of the Fox character from the game for no extra charge.


theverge--2020-07-01--Peloton launches Roku app

Peloton launches Roku app

There ’ s now a Peloton channel available on the Roku platform .
Anyone with a Roku device can sign up to access Peloton ’ s instructor-led workouts from their TV .
“ We are excited to roll out our best-in-class streaming fitness service onto the Roku platform , ” said Karina Kogan , SVP and general manager of Peloton Digital , in a statement .
“ We ’ ve seen growing engagement with our TV apps , especially as more and more consumers look for at-home fitness solutions to keep them physically and mentally fit.
” Don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Peloton app will leverage Roku ’ s “ machine-learning targeting capabilities ” to advertise the app to Roku users who would be most likely to use it .
You don ’ t need a Peloton bike or treadmill to use the app ( though bike and treadmill sessions are available on the Roku channel ) .
There are also floor-based workouts available , including strength , yoga , HIIT , dance , and meditation .
The app includes thousands of options , Roku says .
If you already have a Peloton account @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with your credentials .
New users can take advantage of a 30-day free trial ; after that , the app-only membership is $ 12.99 per month .
( You can sign up on your TV with Roku Pay . )
As the pandemic has driven more people to seek out home workout solutions , Peloton has expanded to a number of new platforms .
Since late February , the company has launched apps for Apple TV and Android TV as well as Chromecast support for its iOS app ( enabling iOS users to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supports Chromecast ) .

There’s now a Peloton channel available on the Roku platform. Anyone with a Roku device can sign up to access Peloton’s instructor-led workouts from their TV.
“We are excited to roll out our best-in-class streaming fitness service onto the Roku platform,” said Karina Kogan, SVP and general manager of Peloton Digital, in a statement. “We’ve seen growing engagement with our TV apps, especially as more and more consumers look for at-home fitness solutions to keep them physically and mentally fit.”
Don’t be surprised if you see ads. The Peloton app will leverage Roku’s “machine-learning targeting capabilities” to advertise the app to Roku users who would be most likely to use it.
You don’t need a Peloton bike or treadmill to use the app (though bike and treadmill sessions are available on the Roku channel). There are also floor-based workouts available, including strength, yoga, HIIT, dance, and meditation. The app includes thousands of options, Roku says.
If you already have a Peloton account, you can sign into the channel with your credentials. New users can take advantage of a 30-day free trial; after that, the app-only membership is $12.99 per month. (You can sign up on your TV with Roku Pay.)


theverge--2020-07-01--This pokémon engagement ring has gone terribly wrong

The Pokémon Company and Japanese jewelry company Ginza Tanaka are selling Pikachu-inspired rings for couples looking to make their marriage @ @ @ @ @ .
Love and pokémon .
Two concepts that are definitely entangled in my mind .
@ @ @ @ @ when you can snag The One ?
As a person who buys jewelry that turns @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t know much about engagement or wedding rings .
These rings appear to @ @ @ @ @ .
There are a few band options available in platinum and gold , all pretty @ @ @ @ @ with a pokéball box .
The collection , which runs from ¥115,500 to ¥346,500 ( @ @ @ @ @ 3,223 ) , includes a pretty straightforward Pikachu head emblem with “ I choose you @ @ @ @ @ , while another has a band designed to look like Pikachu tails .
And then @ @ @ @ @ star here , something of a poking hazard , thanks to its two ... two @ @ @ @ @ you can ’ t really put a price on that , can you ?

The Pokémon Company and Japanese jewelry company Ginza Tanaka are selling Pikachu-inspired rings for couples looking to make their marriage themed. Ah, love. Love and pokémon. Two concepts that are definitely entangled in my mind. Why catch ‘em all when you can snag The One?
As a person who buys jewelry that turns my skin green, I don’t know much about engagement or wedding rings. These rings appear to be perfectly fine for matrimony. There are a few band options available in platinum and gold, all pretty simple. They also come with a pokéball box. The collection, which runs from ¥115,500 to ¥346,500 (roughly $1,074 to $3,223), includes a pretty straightforward Pikachu head emblem with “I choose you” engraved into the band, while another has a band designed to look like Pikachu tails. And then there’s the real star here, something of a poking hazard, thanks to its two... two...


theverge--2020-07-01--Marshall’s Emberton is a basic but brilliant Bluetooth speaker

Marshall ’ s new $ 149 Emberton Bluetooth speaker gives the beloved Logitech Ultimate Ears Boom a run for its money .
For starters , it charges over USB-C for quick , no-fuss charging , and it borrows the excellent joystick-like controls from Marshall ’ s recent lineup of headphones .
Instead of having to learn a few combinations of buttons to change the song , or check the battery ’ s level , everything is dead-simple here .
The remaining battery life is conveniently displayed at all times in an LED-lit window .
To navigate , simply tilt the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four labeled directions to adjust the volume or find the song you want .
As some companies try to find clever ways to let you control your devices , such as swipes or gestures , there ’ s something to be said for physical buttons being easy , accessible , and fun .
The Emberton ’ s design might not strike a chord with everyone : it ’ s a brick-shaped speaker made to look like a portable guitar amplifier with metal grilles covering the front and back .
The speaker is covered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ’ s slipped on by default .
This is Marshall ’ s most subdued speaker design yet , and it offers a simpler look than previous models , though it ’ s not as fashionable or as colorful as some other small Bluetooth speakers .
At 1.5 pounds , it feels far heftier than I expected a speaker of this size to be , though it doesn ’ t seem unwarranted given its long-lasting battery life .
I ’ ve been using the Emberton nonstop since I got a review unit to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20-hour lifespan claim when it was piping out music at medium volume .
I can never mention this enough times because Ultimate Ears apparently hasn ’ t heard us yet , but USB-C charging is great to have .
Good battery life , IPX7-rated waterproofing , and USB-C charging are all great , but this speaker ’ s sound quality is what ’ s going to make me recommend it over other similarly sized and similarly priced models .
Any category of music or my pick of podcasts sounded full-bodied with a surprising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mids and highs , with exceptional balance keeping them present in the sound .
Little Dragon ’ s self-titled album is a good showcase for the little Emberton .
It has intense mids and highs in the vocals and electronic instruments throughout , and the bass comes through in full effect to deliver a balanced , loud sound that sounds like it ’ s coming from something bigger .
This speaker claims to offer 360-degree sound .
It obviously can ’ t provide a true , all-encompassing sound since there aren ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the effect comes close enough to sounding that way .
In terms of what this speaker can not do , it doesn ’ t have a microphone , so if your phone is connected via Bluetooth , you ’ ll need to disconnect it to take calls .
That also means the Emberton doesn ’ t have voice assistant support , which may or may not bother you .
Lastly , it doesn ’ t sport any interesting app-based functionality like Ultimate Ears ’ Boom speakers , which let you pair two or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I wasn ’ t expecting Marshall to copy the Boom ’ s feature set , but some extra effort wouldn ’ t have gone unnoticed .
Also , while I ’ m nitpicking , I ’ m not the biggest fan of the startup chime that plays .
It ’ s reminiscent of leveling up in Call of Duty , and that ’ s a vibe that ’ s incongruous with the kind of music I usually like to listen to .
But it ’ s very possible that the issues I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problematic for you .
The Marshall Emberton is easy to recommend if you ’ re looking for a small Bluetooth speaker with powerful sound , long-lasting battery , and USB-C charging — the latter of which is currently a rarity in the market .
But $ 150 for this speaker seems just a tad too high , given that it doesn ’ t have a microphone or much else in the way of interesting functionality .
Still , it ’ s a stellar value based on everything you ’ re getting here .

Marshall’s new $149 Emberton Bluetooth speaker gives the beloved Logitech Ultimate Ears Boom a run for its money. For starters, it charges over USB-C for quick, no-fuss charging, and it borrows the excellent joystick-like controls from Marshall’s recent lineup of headphones. Instead of having to learn a few combinations of buttons to change the song, or check the battery’s level, everything is dead-simple here. The remaining battery life is conveniently displayed at all times in an LED-lit window. To navigate, simply tilt the gold, spiralized nub in one of four labeled directions to adjust the volume or find the song you want. As some companies try to find clever ways to let you control your devices, such as swipes or gestures, there’s something to be said for physical buttons being easy, accessible, and fun.
The clever joystick from Marshall’s headphones makes a successful jump over to this portable speaker.
The Emberton’s design might not strike a chord with everyone: it’s a brick-shaped speaker made to look like a portable guitar amplifier with metal grilles covering the front and back. The speaker is covered in a rugged, removable silicone sleeve that’s slipped on by default. This is Marshall’s most subdued speaker design yet, and it offers a simpler look than previous models, though it’s not as fashionable or as colorful as some other small Bluetooth speakers.
8.5 Verge Score Marshall Emberton $ 149.99 The Good Elegant, nearly foolproof controls
USB-C charging
IPX7 waterproof The Bad No microphone
Cringe-inducting startup sound $150 at Marshall How we rate and review products
At 1.5 pounds, it feels far heftier than I expected a speaker of this size to be, though it doesn’t seem unwarranted given its long-lasting battery life. I’ve been using the Emberton nonstop since I got a review unit to test, and it easily hit the 20-hour lifespan claim when it was piping out music at medium volume. I can never mention this enough times because Ultimate Ears apparently hasn’t heard us yet, but USB-C charging is great to have.
The battery indicator remains backlit and visible at all times. Marshall uses USB-C for charging, thank goodness.
Good battery life, IPX7-rated waterproofing, and USB-C charging are all great, but this speaker’s sound quality is what’s going to make me recommend it over other similarly sized and similarly priced models. Any category of music or my pick of podcasts sounded full-bodied with a surprising amount of bass and clarity in the mids and highs, with exceptional balance keeping them present in the sound. Little Dragon’s self-titled album is a good showcase for the little Emberton. It has intense mids and highs in the vocals and electronic instruments throughout, and the bass comes through in full effect to deliver a balanced, loud sound that sounds like it’s coming from something bigger. This speaker claims to offer 360-degree sound. It obviously can’t provide a true, all-encompassing sound since there aren’t speakers firing in every direction, though the effect comes close enough to sounding that way.
In terms of what this speaker cannot do, it doesn’t have a microphone, so if your phone is connected via Bluetooth, you’ll need to disconnect it to take calls. That also means the Emberton doesn’t have voice assistant support, which may or may not bother you. Lastly, it doesn’t sport any interesting app-based functionality like Ultimate Ears’ Boom speakers, which let you pair two or more of its speakers together wirelessly. I wasn’t expecting Marshall to copy the Boom’s feature set, but some extra effort wouldn’t have gone unnoticed. Also, while I’m nitpicking, I’m not the biggest fan of the startup chime that plays. It’s reminiscent of leveling up in Call of Duty, and that’s a vibe that’s incongruous with the kind of music I usually like to listen to. But it’s very possible that the issues I’ve listed here might not register as problematic for you.
Sound comes out of the rear just as well as it does the speaker’s front side.
The Marshall Emberton is easy to recommend if you’re looking for a small Bluetooth speaker with powerful sound, long-lasting battery, and USB-C charging — the latter of which is currently a rarity in the market. But $150 for this speaker seems just a tad too high, given that it doesn’t have a microphone or much else in the way of interesting functionality. Still, it’s a stellar value based on everything you’re getting here.


theverge--2020-07-01--Nier: Automata director Yoko Taro’s newest game is a dark fairytale on mobile

SinoAlice has much of what you ’ d expect from a game from Yoko Taro , the acclaimed director best known for his work on Nier : Automata .
It ’ s dark and introspective , with a story that pulls you in unexpected directions .
This time around , he ’ s turned his attention to the worlds of fairytales ; SinoAlice takes place in a setting simply called the “ Library , ” where storybook characters like Alice and Little Red Riding Hood become sword-wielding warriors fighting off waves of monsters in an attempt to revive their “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Taro says he was drawn to these characters for a very simple reason .
“ It ’ s because the copyright has expired and there ’ s no cost , ” he tells The Verge .
“ I researched on Wikipedia .
What a convenient world we live in.
” Taro served as creative director on the game , which is billed as a collaboration between Square Enix and Pokelabo , a small Japanese mobile game studio .
While SinoAlice actually launched back in 2017 in Japan , it ’ s launching globally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Android and iOS .
In some ways , it ’ s typical mobile fare : you have to play regularly to unlock a huge range of characters and gear , while engaging in relatively simple real-time battles and dealing with things like premium currencies and daily check-ins .
What makes the game unique , though , is its tone , which is due in large part to Taro ’ s writing , as well as elaborate character designs by artist Jino and a gripping soundtrack from Nier composer Keiichi Okabe .
Each of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ theme — Alice represents “ bondage , ” for instance , while Sleeping Beauty is “ languor ” — and has their own multi-chapter story narrative arc to play through .
The weapons even have their own lore that you can slowly uncover , much like in Nier .
According to Taro , the universal familiarity of these storybook characters made the writing process easier in a way .
“ Everyone knows the story for famous characters , so it ’ s convenient that I don ’ t have to explain the backstory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It ’ s a hassle to explain why Red Riding Hood is wearing a hood , for example.
” But that doesn ’ t mean the process was straightforward .
“ It ’ s not difficult to make the characters unique , ” Taro adds .
“ If you just give Alice and Cinderella four eyes and make them spit out venomous projectile vomit , it ’ d be something new .
What ’ s difficult is retaining the feeling of both freshness and marketability .
It ’ s so difficult that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ SinoAlice .
I honestly feel like I didn ’ t care anymore.
” Deep stories aren ’ t exactly common in the free-to-play mobile space , where games are typically seen as time wasters .
( “ Worry not , ” Taro jokes , “ the story can be skipped with just one tap !
” ) But it ’ s arguably the main appeal of SinoAlice .
I ’ ve been playing for the last few days , and while I ’ ve found the core gameplay largely monotonous , I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see what happens next .
Even the tutorial text is pithy and entertaining ; at one point the marionette guide characters joke that a dragon you encounter is “ totally unbalanced.
” According to producer Shogo Maeda from Pokelabo , one of the things the team learned after SinoAlice launched in Japan is that storytelling outside of the game , on platforms like YouTube and social networks , is a very important tool .
“ Mobile games are growing into a more comprehensive form of online entertainment , ” he says .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be as popular worldwide as it has been in Japan , but early signs are positive .
Square Enix says more than 2 million players preregistered for the game in the lead-up to launch .
It ’ s yet another example of Taro ’ s growing celebrity .
Ever since Nier : Automata became a cult hit , the publicity-shy director , who wears an unsettling moon mask in public , has been in demand .
In addition to working on this mobile game , he also helped create a new quest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s a balancing act that ’ s been tricky to pull off .
“ I was behind on all the deadlines and everyone was mad at me from all different directions , ” Taro says .
“ It was beyond imagination .
”

SinoAlice has much of what you’d expect from a game from Yoko Taro, the acclaimed director best known for his work on Nier: Automata. It’s dark and introspective, with a story that pulls you in unexpected directions. This time around, he’s turned his attention to the worlds of fairytales; SinoAlice takes place in a setting simply called the “Library,” where storybook characters like Alice and Little Red Riding Hood become sword-wielding warriors fighting off waves of monsters in an attempt to revive their “author.” In typical deprecating fashion, Taro says he was drawn to these characters for a very simple reason.
“It’s because the copyright has expired and there’s no cost,” he tells The Verge. “I researched on Wikipedia. What a convenient world we live in.”
Taro served as creative director on the game, which is billed as a collaboration between Square Enix and Pokelabo, a small Japanese mobile game studio. While SinoAlice actually launched back in 2017 in Japan, it’s launching globally today as a free-to-play title on both Android and iOS. In some ways, it’s typical mobile fare: you have to play regularly to unlock a huge range of characters and gear, while engaging in relatively simple real-time battles and dealing with things like premium currencies and daily check-ins.
What makes the game unique, though, is its tone, which is due in large part to Taro’s writing, as well as elaborate character designs by artist Jino and a gripping soundtrack from Nier composer Keiichi Okabe. Each of the characters is defined by a specific theme — Alice represents “bondage,” for instance, while Sleeping Beauty is “languor” — and has their own multi-chapter story narrative arc to play through. The weapons even have their own lore that you can slowly uncover, much like in Nier.
According to Taro, the universal familiarity of these storybook characters made the writing process easier in a way. “Everyone knows the story for famous characters, so it’s convenient that I don’t have to explain the backstory every time,” he says. “It’s a hassle to explain why Red Riding Hood is wearing a hood, for example.” But that doesn’t mean the process was straightforward.
“It’s not difficult to make the characters unique,” Taro adds. “If you just give Alice and Cinderella four eyes and make them spit out venomous projectile vomit, it’d be something new. What’s difficult is retaining the feeling of both freshness and marketability. It’s so difficult that I had all but given up on SinoAlice. I honestly feel like I didn’t care anymore.”
“I researched on Wikipedia.”
Deep stories aren’t exactly common in the free-to-play mobile space, where games are typically seen as time wasters. (“Worry not,” Taro jokes, “the story can be skipped with just one tap!”) But it’s arguably the main appeal of SinoAlice. I’ve been playing for the last few days, and while I’ve found the core gameplay largely monotonous, I’ve been pushing forward in order to see what happens next. Even the tutorial text is pithy and entertaining; at one point the marionette guide characters joke that a dragon you encounter is “totally unbalanced.”
According to producer Shogo Maeda from Pokelabo, one of the things the team learned after SinoAlice launched in Japan is that storytelling outside of the game, on platforms like YouTube and social networks, is a very important tool. “Mobile games are growing into a more comprehensive form of online entertainment,” he says.
It’s far from guaranteed that SinoAlice will be as popular worldwide as it has been in Japan, but early signs are positive. Square Enix says more than 2 million players preregistered for the game in the lead-up to launch. It’s yet another example of Taro’s growing celebrity. Ever since Nier: Automata became a cult hit, the publicity-shy director, who wears an unsettling moon mask in public, has been in demand. In addition to working on this mobile game, he also helped create a new quest line for Final Fantasy XIV. It’s a balancing act that’s been tricky to pull off.


theverge--2020-07-01--Google discontinues the Pixel 3A and 3A XL

Google has discontinued its mid-range Pixel 3A and 3A XL smartphones , the company announced today ( via Android Police ) .
“ Google Store has sold through its inventory and completed sales of Pixel 3A , ” Google said in a statement to The Verge .
“ For people who are still interested in buying Pixel 3A , the product is available from some partners while supplies last.
” That might be disappointing to hear for people who were on the market for a more affordable Google-made phone .
In his review last year , my colleague Dieter Bohn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , especially for its low price .
The 3A is , in fact , listed as out of stock on the Google Store .
However , as of this writing , there ’ s stock available on Amazon of both the 3A and 3A XL , if you still want to pick one up .
With the discontinuation of the Pixel 3A , the only phone Google sells on its own store is its flagship Pixel 4 , which was released last October .
But a mid-range successor to the Pixel 4 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be coming soon , and we may already know a lot about it after months of rumors and leaks .
The rumored Pixel 4A apparently has a 5.81-inch display with a 2340 x 1080 resolution , a Snapdragon 730 processor , a 12.2-megapixel rear camera , an 8-megapixel front-facing camera , a fingerprint reader on the back of the phone , and a headphone jack .
And we possible know what it looks like thanks to a hands-on posted on YouTube in March and photos of what appear to be a retail Pixel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ April .
But the Pixel 4A isn ’ t actually for sale yet .
So for now , if you want the latest mid-range Google phone , you ’ ll have to snag one of the last Pixel 3As , if you can find one .

Google has discontinued its mid-range Pixel 3A and 3A XL smartphones, the company announced today (via Android Police). “Google Store has sold through its inventory and completed sales of Pixel 3A,” Google said in a statement to The Verge. “For people who are still interested in buying Pixel 3A, the product is available from some partners while supplies last.”
That might be disappointing to hear for people who were on the market for a more affordable Google-made phone. In his review last year, my colleague Dieter Bohn found the 3A had an excellent camera, especially for its low price.
The 3A is, in fact, listed as out of stock on the Google Store. However, as of this writing, there’s stock available on Amazon of both the 3A and 3A XL, if you still want to pick one up.
With the discontinuation of the Pixel 3A, the only phone Google sells on its own store is its flagship Pixel 4, which was released last October. But a mid-range successor to the Pixel 4, supposedly called the Pixel 4A, could be coming soon, and we may already know a lot about it after months of rumors and leaks.
The rumored Pixel 4A apparently has a 5.81-inch display with a 2340 x 1080 resolution, a Snapdragon 730 processor, a 12.2-megapixel rear camera, an 8-megapixel front-facing camera, a fingerprint reader on the back of the phone, and a headphone jack. And we possible know what it looks like thanks to a hands-on posted on YouTube in March and photos of what appear to be a retail Pixel 4A box that hit the web in April.


theverge--2020-07-01--Dark Sky delays shutdown of Android app until August 1st

Popular weather app Dark Sky , now owned by Apple , is keeping its doors open on Android for a little longer .
The company said on Wednesday in an update on its website that it plans to keep the Android version going until August 1st , after initially announcing it would shut it down today , on July 1st .
Presumably , the Wear OS version is still functioning as well , but we ’ ve been unable to check that .
Both apps appear to have been removed from the Play Store , however , so you need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ downloaded it at least once in the past to be able to continue using it for another month , according to 9to5Google .
On August 1st , all existing subscribers to Dark Sky ’ s Android version will receive a full refund — Dark Sky has charged Android users $ 2.99 a year for access to the service , whereas the iOS version involved just a $ 3.99 one-time purchase .
Dark Sky says August 1st is also when it will remove weather forecasts , maps , and embeds from its website , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deadline as well .
The Dark Sky API , in part why Apple purchased the company , is remaining active through the end of the year , but it ’ s no longer accepting new signups .
That will eventually cut off third-party apps from the platform ’ s valuable data .

The company said on Wednesday in an update on its website that it plans to keep the Android version going until August 1st, after initially announcing it would shut it down today, on July 1st. Presumably, the Wear OS version is still functioning as well, but we’ve been unable to check that. Both apps appear to have been removed from the Play Store, however, so you need to have the app downloaded or have downloaded it at least once in the past to be able to continue using it for another month, according to 9to5Google.


theverge--2020-07-01--Fans are upset with Crysis Remastered’s graphics, so Crytek is delaying the game

When Crytek announced that a remaster for the original Crysis would launch this year , fans were excited to see how much the game ’ s legendary graphics would improve — but a leaked trailer has left so many fans disappointed with the graphical changes that Crytek has now pushed the game ’ s release by several weeks .
A trailer showing some gameplay and a July 23rd release date was leaked on YouTube , and the visuals left a bad taste in some fan ’ s mouths .
Several commented how the game ’ s graphics remained significantly unchanged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even said the remaster “ looks like original Crysis but with the lowest settings.
” You can decide for yourself if the game looks too similar to a 10+ year-old game : Crysis , a sci-fi first-person shooter series originally released on PC , PS3 , and Xbox 360 , was praised for its graphical design and remained a benchmark for people looking to test the power of their gaming PC builds .
( Its graphical fidelity warranted a meme that ’ s still going 10 years later . )
So , when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ high-quality textures and improved art assets , ” and yet would also inexplicably pass the “ can-it-run-Crysis ” test on a Nintendo Switch , we definitely perked up our ears .
Crytek acknowledged the leaks and the disappointed fans by promising to work on the game a bit more .
“ This extra time until release will allow us to get Crysis Remastered up to the PC and console-breaking standard you ’ ve come to expect from Crysis games , ” Crytek said in a statement on Wednesday .
In the game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for games to be delayed once or even multiple times , though it ’ s rare to delay a game due to backlash from fans .
Crysis Remaster ’ s delay mirrors a similar move made by the film industry last year when Paramount pushed back the release date for the film adaption of Sonic The Hedgehog after it received backlash regarding the design of the titular blue hedgehog .

When Crytek announced that a remaster for the original Crysis would launch this year, fans were excited to see how much the game’s legendary graphics would improve — but a leaked trailer has left so many fans disappointed with the graphical changes that Crytek has now pushed the game’s release on PC, PS4, and Xbox One by several weeks.
On July 10th, Crytek announced that the Nintendo Switch version will “still” arrive on July 23rd, suggesting that other versions may launch as early as August.
A trailer showing some gameplay and that July 23rd release date was initially leaked on YouTube, and the visuals left a bad taste in some fan’s mouths. Several commented how the game’s graphics remained significantly unchanged from the 2007 original; one fan even said the remaster “looks like original Crysis but with the lowest settings.”
You can decide for yourself if the game looks too similar to a 10+ year-old game:
Crysis, a sci-fi first-person shooter series originally released on PC, PS3, and Xbox 360, was praised for its graphical design and remained a benchmark for people looking to test the power of their gaming PC builds. (Its graphical fidelity warranted a meme that’s still going 10 years later.) So, when Crytek agreed to remaster the game with “high-quality textures and improved art assets,” and yet would also inexplicably pass the “can-it-run-Crysis” test on a Nintendo Switch, we definitely perked up our ears.
Crytek acknowledged the leaks and the disappointed fans by promising to work on the game a bit more. “This extra time until release will allow us to get Crysis Remastered up to the PC and console-breaking standard you’ve come to expect from Crysis games,” Crytek said in a statement on July 1st.
In the game industry, it’s not uncommon for games to be delayed once or even multiple times, though it’s rare to delay a game due to backlash from fans. Crysis Remaster’s delay mirrors a similar move made by the film industry last year when Paramount pushed back the release date for the film adaption of Sonic The Hedgehog after it received backlash regarding the design of the titular blue hedgehog.


theverge--2020-07-01--Google is still paying Apple billions to be the default search engine in Safari

UK regulators are scrutinizing a longstanding deal between Apple and Google over the default search engine in the iPhone maker ’ s mobile Safari browser , reports Reuters .
According to an updated report compiled by the UK government ’ s Competition and Markets Authority , Google pays Apple a “ substantial majority ” of the £1.2 billion ( roughly $ 1.5 billion ) it pays every year in the UK alone for so-called default positions , in other words when Google pays a company to make its search engine the go-to one in a browser or other platform .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ significant barrier to entry and expansion ” for Google competitors .
The report also suggests either limiting Apple ’ s ability to monetize such deals or to give users a choice of search engine upon setup .
“ The scale of these payments is striking and demonstrates the value that Google places on these default positions.
” For years , mobile Safari has relied on Google search , making the iPhone a substantial revenue-generator for Google ’ s mobile ad business and giving Google a competitive edge over the competition .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 billion payment Google made to secure default position on mobile Safari in the US .
Analysts estimate that amount has only increased in the years since .
Apple benefits greatly from this , with an estimated $ 9 billion a year from such placement deals , though the company has never disclosed concrete figures .
Regulators are now concerned this massive UK deal , which last year was 50 percent higher than what Google paid for US placement more than six years ago for a far more populous region , may stifle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , like Microsoft ’ s Bing and DuckDuckGo , actually remain — may not be in a position to pay such a large sum for prime placement on the default iPhone browser .
Here ’ s the excerpt from the report , found on page 13 , regarding the deal : In search , Google has negotiated agreements with Apple and with many of the largest mobile phone manufacturers under which it pays a share of search advertising revenues to these partners in return for Google Search occupying the default search positions on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ payments is striking and demonstrates the value that Google places on these default positions .
In 2019 , Google paid around £1.2 billion in return for default positions in the UK alone , the substantial majority of which was paid to Apple for being the default on the Safari browser .
Rival search engines to Google that we spoke to highlighted these default payments as one of the most significant factors inhibiting competition in the search market .
Consumers primarily access the internet through mobile devices , which account for over two-thirds of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grown substantially in recent years and is likely to continue to grow in the future .
Regulators in both the EU and the US are increasingly looking at Big Tech over concerns that the size and power Silicon Valley companies make them anticompetitive , although the EU has been far more aggressive with regards to actually enforcing such rules and levying fines .
The EU has handed Google numerous multibillion-dollar fines over the last decade , and regulators are now looking into Apple over its management of the App Store and the fees @ @ @ @

UK regulators are scrutinizing a longstanding deal between Apple and Google over the default search engine in the iPhone maker’s mobile Safari browser, reports Reuters.
According to an updated report compiled by the UK government’s Competition and Markets Authority, Google pays Apple a “substantial majority” of the £1.2 billion (roughly $1.5 billion) it pays every year in the UK alone for so-called default positions, in other words when Google pays a company to make its search engine the go-to one in a browser or other platform.
The report says the deal creates a “significant barrier to entry and expansion” for Google competitors. The report also suggests either limiting Apple’s ability to monetize such deals or to give users a choice of search engine upon setup.
“The scale of these payments is striking and demonstrates the value that Google places on these default positions.”
For years, mobile Safari has relied on Google search, making the iPhone a substantial revenue-generator for Google’s mobile ad business and giving Google a competitive edge over the competition. In 2014, court documents revealed a $1 billion payment Google made to secure default position on mobile Safari in the US. Analysts estimate that amount has only increased in the years since. Apple benefits greatly from this, with an estimated $9 billion a year from such placement deals, though the company has never disclosed concrete figures.
Regulators are now concerned this massive UK deal, which last year was 50 percent higher than what Google paid for US placement more than six years ago for a far more populous region, may stifle competition. Google competitors — though few, like Microsoft’s Bing and DuckDuckGo, actually remain — may not be in a position to pay such a large sum for prime placement on the default iPhone browser. Here’s the excerpt from the report, found on page 13, regarding the deal:
In search, Google has negotiated agreements with Apple and with many of the largest mobile phone manufacturers under which it pays a share of search advertising revenues to these partners in return for Google Search occupying the default search positions on the device. The scale of these payments is striking and demonstrates the value that Google places on these default positions. In 2019, Google paid around £1.2 billion in return for default positions in the UK alone, the substantial majority of which was paid to Apple for being the default on the Safari browser. Rival search engines to Google that we spoke to highlighted these default payments as one of the most significant factors inhibiting competition in the search market. Consumers primarily access the internet through mobile devices, which account for over two-thirds of general searches, a share which has grown substantially in recent years and is likely to continue to grow in the future.


theverge--2020-07-01--Microsoft announces new Windows 10 Start menu design and updated Alt-Tab

Microsoft is introducing a new Windows 10 Start menu design that will de-emphasize its Live Tiles .
The software giant first hinted at the refreshed design earlier this year , and it ’ s arriving for Windows 10 testers today .
“ We are freshening up the Start menu with a more streamlined design that removes the solid color backplates behind the logos in the apps list and applies a uniform , partially transparent background to the tiles , ” explains Microsoft in a blog post .
Essentially , the reduction in the color of the blocky tiled interface on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and make it easier to scan for the apps you use on a daily basis .
It ’ s a subtle change , but it certainly makes the Start menu look a little less chaotic and avoids many tiles sharing a similar blue color .
Alongside an updated Start menu , the latest Windows 10 build includes some big changes to Alt-Tab .
“ Beginning with today ’ s build , all tabs open in Microsoft Edge will start appearing in Alt-Tab , not just the active one in each browser window , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a change that might be a little confusing for veteran Windows users , but Microsoft is thankfully allowing you to switch back to the classic Alt-Tab experience .
Microsoft experimented with Alt-Tab changes in Windows 10 builds in the past , back when the company was planning to add tabs to every app .
There will likely be a lot of feedback around any Alt-Tab changes here , especially if Microsoft plans to turn this on by default when its next major Windows 10 update ships later this year .
Microsoft is also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Windows 10 build .
The default taskbar appearance will also now be more personalized with the Xbox app pinned for Xbox Live users or Your Phone pinned for Android users .
This will be limited to new account creation on a PC or first login , so existing taskbar layouts will remain unchanged .
Notifications now include an X in the top right corner to allow you to quickly dismiss them , and Microsoft is also improving its Settings app in Windows 10 .
Links that would typically push you toward the system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ page will now direct you to the About page in Settings .
This will now house the more advanced controls typically found in that system section of the Control Panel , and Microsoft is promising “ there will be more improvements coming that will further bring Settings closer to Control Panel .
”

Microsoft is introducing a new Windows 10 Start menu design that will de-emphasize its Live Tiles. The software giant first hinted at the refreshed design earlier this year, and it’s arriving for Windows 10 testers today. “We are freshening up the Start menu with a more streamlined design that removes the solid color backplates behind the logos in the apps list and applies a uniform, partially transparent background to the tiles,” explains Microsoft in a blog post.
Essentially, the reduction in the color of the blocky tiled interface on the Start menu will simplify it slightly and make it easier to scan for the apps you use on a daily basis. It’s a subtle change, but it certainly makes the Start menu look a little less chaotic and avoids many tiles sharing a similar blue color.
The old Start menu versus the refreshed one.
Alongside an updated Start menu, the latest Windows 10 build includes some big changes to Alt-Tab. “Beginning with today’s build, all tabs open in Microsoft Edge will start appearing in Alt-Tab, not just the active one in each browser window,” explains Microsoft. This seems like a change that might be a little confusing for veteran Windows users, but Microsoft is thankfully allowing you to switch back to the classic Alt-Tab experience.
Microsoft experimented with Alt-Tab changes in Windows 10 builds in the past, back when the company was planning to add tabs to every app. There will likely be a lot of feedback around any Alt-Tab changes here, especially if Microsoft plans to turn this on by default when its next major Windows 10 update ships later this year.
New Alt-Tab interface.
Microsoft is also making some smaller changes with this new Windows 10 build. The default taskbar appearance will also now be more personalized with the Xbox app pinned for Xbox Live users or Your Phone pinned for Android users. This will be limited to new account creation on a PC or first login, so existing taskbar layouts will remain unchanged.
Notifications now include an X in the top right corner to allow you to quickly dismiss them, and Microsoft is also improving its Settings app in Windows 10. Links that would typically push you toward the system part of the legacy Control Panel system page will now direct you to the About page in Settings. This will now house the more advanced controls typically found in that system section of the Control Panel, and Microsoft is promising “there will be more improvements coming that will further bring Settings closer to Control Panel.”


theverge--2020-07-01--Lincoln cancels the Continental again because the US is hooked on SUVs

Lincoln is ending production of the famed Continental sedan at the end of 2020 , just four years after reintroducing the vehicle following a 14-year hiatus .
Why ?
Because Americans have fallen irretrievably in love with SUVs and trucks over the last few years .
As Automotive News first reported , Lincoln will continue to sell the car in the US and Chinese markets into next year .
Lincoln has long been rumored to be interested in building vehicles in China but would not say if it plans to shift production of the Continental there .
“ Sedans continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in China , and we will have more to say about our plans in the future , ” a company spokesperson told The Verge on Wednesday .
Lincoln will soon only sell SUVs The decision to pull the Continental from the US market so soon may be jarring , but it ’ s certainly not surprising .
Lincoln ’ s parent company , Ford , has already abandoned all of its sedans save for the Mustang .
Everything else that Ford now sells here is an SUV or a truck .
Lincoln has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with the company announcing earlier this year that it would no longer make the MKZ sedan .
The Continental peaked in its first full year of sales , with Lincoln selling 12,012 of them .
The company only sold 8,758 Continentals in 2018 , and just 6,586 in 2019 .
In contrast , Lincoln sold 18,656 Navigators — the company ’ s top-tier full-size SUV — in 2019 despite a base price that ’ s $ 30,000 higher than the Continental ’ s .
Automakers like to say they ’ ve shifted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trucks because consumers prefer the higher ride height , the extra cabin space and added utility , and the ease of ingress and egress .
And those things are true , but these companies also make far more money on each SUV sold than they do on sedans .
So even if someone wants to buy a sedan , the automakers are incentivized to push consumers into bigger vehicles .
This has resulted in huge spikes in both greenhouse gas missions and pedestrian deaths .

Lincoln is ending production of the famed Continental sedan at the end of 2020, just four years after reintroducing the vehicle following a 14-year hiatus. Why? Because Americans have fallen irretrievably in love with SUVs and trucks over the last few years.
As Automotive News first reported, Lincoln will continue to sell the car in the US and Chinese markets into next year. Lincoln has long been rumored to be interested in building vehicles in China but would not say if it plans to shift production of the Continental there. “Sedans continue to be important to the luxury market in China, and we will have more to say about our plans in the future,” a company spokesperson told The Verge on Wednesday.
Lincoln will soon only sell SUVs
The decision to pull the Continental from the US market so soon may be jarring, but it’s certainly not surprising. Lincoln’s parent company, Ford, has already abandoned all of its sedans save for the Mustang. Everything else that Ford now sells here is an SUV or a truck. Lincoln has been moving in this direction, too, with the company announcing earlier this year that it would no longer make the MKZ sedan.
The Continental peaked in its first full year of sales, with Lincoln selling 12,012 of them. The company only sold 8,758 Continentals in 2018, and just 6,586 in 2019. In contrast, Lincoln sold 18,656 Navigators — the company’s top-tier full-size SUV — in 2019 despite a base price that’s $30,000 higher than the Continental’s.


theverge--2020-07-01--How to watch videos with friends online

How to watch videos with friends online

Even a favorite stay-at-home activity like watching TV can get lonely sometimes , especially if you ’ re used to hanging out with your friends and watching together .
Although you can stream and text , FaceTime , or share your screen on Zoom , sometimes that just doesn ’ t cut it .
If you ’ re looking for a way to make your social-distancing series binge more , well , social , there are browser extensions that let you host watch parties digitally .
Here are several apps you can use to host movie nights with friends online @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to start watching .
To use these apps , you will need your own subscription for each service , and everyone watching will have to be signed onto their own account .
These extensions work on top of your existing subscription to sync the videos with your friends — they don ’ t provide non-subscribers with a free viewing .
Netflix Party syncs up your streams with those of your friends and adds a live chat on one side of the screen .
The app is only for use with Netflix and is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Netflix Party extension icon next to your address bar should change from gray to red .
Click on it .
• A window will pop up instructing you to “ Create a Netflix Party.
” You have the option to either give yourself total control over the playback or leave it open to everyone .
Click “ Start the party.
” • Another window will pop up with a link .
Click “ Copy URL ” and share it with your friends .
If you need to , you can find this link @ @ @ @ @ @ @ icon .
• Netflix Party will automatically give you an icon .
By clicking on the icon , you can change it ( there are a few alternatives ) as well as your nickname .
Amazon Prime Video now has a Watch Party app for many ( but not all ) Prime videos .
Up to 100 people can watch at once ; all participants must be Prime members .
Currently , it is only available on desktop and not supported for Safari and Internet Explorer browsers .
In this beta version , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forward , or rewind .
• Go to the detail page of your chosen video and look for the “ Watch Party ” button next to the “ Watchlist ” button .
If it ’ s there , you ’ re golden ; click on the button .
• In the right-hand column , decide what name you want to use within the chat and enter it .
Click on “ Create Watch Party.
” • The video will be in the center ; on the right will be your chat area and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can copy and share your Watch Party link or end the party .
• Click on the link your friend sent you .
• You ’ ll be redirected to Prime Video and will be asked to enter a username .
Once you ’ ve done that , click “ Join Watch Party.
” Metastream allows you to live chat while watching videos on a range of platforms , including Netflix , Hulu , YouTube , Twitch , and Crunchyroll ( Metastream will open Netflix in a separate window ) .
The app @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are some kinks — for example , we experienced some issues using it with Hulu on Chrome ; Metastream recommends using Firefox when watching Hulu , which worked better when we tried it .
• Download the extension for Firefox or Chrome .
The extension will be able to read and change data on websites you visit .
• Type in a display name and click “ Get Started.
” • Click “ Start Session ” on the next screen .
• Click the “ Invite ” button on the left to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Copy ” and send it to your friends .
In the same window , you can also make the session public , private , or offline , and change the number of users allowed ( you can have an unlimited number of users ) .
Close out of that window .
• Your friends will click on that link to join the session .
When they join , you ’ ll see a box on the left with your name and theirs ; you ’ ll have to click the green check mark @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
To grant them permission to add videos and change playback , click on the three dots next to their name and then click “ Toggle DJ.
” • The Metastream screen can be a little busy .
You can make things clearer by setting up your chat to play on the right-hand side .
Click the three dots on the far right of the bar at the bottom of the home screen .
Click the “ Chat ” button .
When the chat window opens , click the rectangle icon in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • If you click on the cog icon , you can pick an avatar and change your username .
To watch something , you have a few options .
Click the “ Add Media ” button in the center of the main screen and then you can either : • Paste the URL for the video in the bar either at the top or the bottom of the screen and then click “ Add to Session.
” • Click one of the video sources in the middle of the screen .
That will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that source .
Find the video you want , then click the “ Add to Session ” button in the top right corner .
Doing either of these things will put that video in a queue , so you can set up a list of things you want to watch .
Scener lets you video chat with your friends while watching Netflix , HBO Now , HBO Go ( it does not currently support HBO Max ) , Disney Plus , or Vimeo ; there ’ s also a text chat function .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the primary profile for your Netflix account , but since the app was updated , you can now use it from any of your Netflix profiles .
• Download the Chrome extension .
The extension will ask for permission to read and change your data on Netflix and Scener , show notifications , and “ communicate with cooperating websites.
” • Open the app by clicking on the extension ’ s icon ( to the right of the Chrome address bar ) .
If you can ’ t see it , click @ @ @ @ @ @ @ access it from there .
• This will open up a window , along with a sidebar , which will lead you through setting up a watch party .
Click “ Create a theater ” in the sidebar .
• You can choose to create either a private theater with up to 10 people , but everyone must be invited , or you can host a public theater with up to 10 hosts ( with audio and video ) and unlimited people watching ( with access only to the text chat function ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s say you want to create a private theater ) and then click “ Create.
” • You ’ ll get a window asking you to make an account .
Click the “ Create Account ” button or if you have an account , click the button which says , “ Already have an account ?
Log in here.
” • Enter in a username , email , and password to create your Scener account .
• Select the streaming service you want to use .
Then , sign into that service .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ camera icon which says “ enable ” to turn on your camera .
• This will open up a pop-up window .
Click “ Allow camera and mic.
” You may get another window recommending you use headphones .
Click “ Got it ” at the bottom of the newer window , and then “ All done ” in the first pop-up .
( You may get that headphone window again — just click on “ Got it.
” ) • If you hover over your video window , you ’ ll see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on those to toggle your video or audio on and off .
• Scener will give you the option to share either a link or a code with your friends .
Click the “ Copy invite link ” button to get the link and send it to friends .
• If they don ’ t already have Scener , the link will send them to a page with a download link .
They ’ ll have to install the extension , create an account , sign into the service , enable audio and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be added to your theater .
• If they already have Scener , just send them the code and they can enter that via the app extension to join your theater .
• Select a show or movie and click on the play button to start watching .
Scener has a virtual remote control you can pass to and from your friends .
Whoever has it gets to control what everyone is watching ; they can also rewind , pause , and play the movie or TV show — in other words , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
To “ pass ” the remote , hover over your video window until a remote button appears .
Click on that and then select who to pass it to in the pop-up window .
TwoSeven also has a video chat feature , but it supports more services .
In addition to Netflix , you can use it to watch Amazon Prime Video , HBO Now , YouTube , and Vimeo .
If you pay the subscription fee , you can also use the app with Hulu and Disney Plus .
The subscription @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20 a month , but because of COVID-19 , TwoSeven is offering all of those paid features for $ 3 a month .
• Download the extension for Firefox or Chrome .
The extension will request permission to show notifications and read and change data on websites you visit .
• Create an account by clicking on the extension icon and going to the site .
You will have to confirm your email .
• Click on the TwoSeven icon next to the address bar , then click “ Go to twoseven.xyz ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you can change your avatar and username by clicking on the icon in the top right corner , to the right of the cog icon .
Select “ Account ” to access your profile settings .
• You ’ ll get a pop-up window that lets you create a private room .
Check the boxes to allow the other participants to have webcam and mic access or to only allow admins to control playback .
If you ’ ve already added friends on TwoSeven , you can add them to your room here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Just Me.
” • Click on the icon in the top right corner which has two people and a plus sign .
Click on “ Copy Link ” and share that link with friends .
Once you do , they ’ ll be added to the watch session .
• Click on the camera and microphone icons on the right-hand side of the screen to enable video and audio .
• There is also a live chat feature at the bottom of the screen .
Click on “ Messages ” in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • Click on the button for your chosen video source at the top of the screen .
For Netflix , this will take you to your account ’ s home screen and you can click on a movie or show there to start watching .
To watch YouTube videos , you ’ ll have to paste in the URLs .
Once you add someone to the watch session via a link , you can add them as a friend to make it easier to include them in future watch sessions .
To do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two people ( not the one with the plus sign ) .
• Find their name and click the icon with a person and a plus sign .
This will send them a friend request ; they will need to accept it .
• When you receive a friend request , you can accept it by going to the TwoSeven homepage ( if you have an existing watch session open , make sure to open it in a different tab otherwise you ’ ll leave the session ) .
Any friend requests should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pending Requests.
” Click on the green check mark to accept .
Hulu ’ s ad-free plans now allow you to host a virtual watch party for up to eight people using live text chat within the service .
While the feature is available with the ( ad-free ) Live TV plan , you can ’ t use the Watch Party feature for Live TV content or for content from premium add-ons .
You can join from your own profile , which means that multiple people on the same account can use the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 18 years of age aren ’ t allowed to join .
• Open up Hulu.com .
Make sure you ’ re using the latest version of Chrome , Firefox , Safari , or Edge .
• Find a movie or show to watch .
Not every video is available to watch using Watch Party .
You can check if a title is compatible with the feature by looking for an icon showing three people in it on the Details page , next to “ Start Watching.
” • Once you ’ re on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Watch Party icon .
• Click “ Start the Party ” in the pop-up window .
• Click on the link icon to copy the link and send it to others so they can join your watch party ( as long as they have an ad-free plan and are 18 years of age or older ) .
• When you ’ re ready , click “ Start Party.
” To add people later , you can click on the link icon in the top right corner of the chat bar .
• After @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will log in and will see a message acknowledging they ’ ve been invited to a watch party .
They can click “ Join the Party ” to watch with you .
• If you or your friends are out of sync , a blue button at the top of the chat bar labeled “ Click to catch up ” can be used to sync up your video .
Update July 1st , 5:04PM ET : This article was originally published on March 25th , 2020 ; it has been updated to include @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the entries .

Even a favorite stay-at-home activity like watching TV can get lonely sometimes, especially if you’re used to hanging out with your friends and watching together. Although you can stream and text, FaceTime, or share your screen on Zoom, sometimes that just doesn’t cut it. If you’re looking for a way to make your social-distancing series binge more, well, social, there are browser extensions that let you host watch parties digitally.
Here are several apps you can use to host movie nights with friends online, along with step-by-step instructions on how to start watching.
To use these apps, you will need your own subscription for each service, and everyone watching will have to be signed onto their own account. These extensions work on top of your existing subscription to sync the videos with your friends — they don’t provide non-subscribers with a free viewing.
Netflix Party
Netflix Party syncs up your streams with those of your friends and adds a live chat on one side of the screen. The app is only for use with Netflix and is only available for Chrome.
To host a Netflix Party:
Download the extension
Open up Netflix and start playing a video.
The Netflix Party extension icon next to your address bar should change from gray to red. Click on it.
A window will pop up instructing you to “Create a Netflix Party.” You have the option to either give yourself total control over the playback or leave it open to everyone. Click “Start the party.”
Another window will pop up with a link. Click “Copy URL” and share it with your friends. If you need to, you can find this link again by clicking the Netflix Party extension icon.
Netflix Party will automatically give you an icon. By clicking on the icon, you can change it (there are a few alternatives) as well as your nickname.
To join an existing Netflix Party:
Click on the link.
Click on the Netflix Party icon.
Amazon Watch Party
Amazon Prime Video now has a Watch Party app for many (but not all) Prime videos. Up to 100 people can watch at once; all participants must be Prime members. Currently, it is only available on desktop and not supported for Safari and Internet Explorer browsers. In this beta version, only the host can pause, fast forward, or rewind.
To host an Amazon Watch Party:
Go to the detail page of your chosen video and look for the “Watch Party” button next to the “Watchlist” button. If it’s there, you’re golden; click on the button.
In the right-hand column, decide what name you want to use within the chat and enter it. Click on “Create Watch Party.”
The video will be in the center; on the right will be your chat area and settings tab. Under settings, you can copy and share your Watch Party link or end the party.
To join an Amazon Watch Party:
Click on the link your friend sent you.
You’ll be redirected to Prime Video and will be asked to enter a username. Once you’ve done that, click “Join Watch Party.”
Metastream
Metastream allows you to live chat while watching videos on a range of platforms, including Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, Twitch, and Crunchyroll (Metastream will open Netflix in a separate window). The app is still in beta, so there are some kinks — for example, we experienced some issues using it with Hulu on Chrome; Metastream recommends using Firefox when watching Hulu, which worked better when we tried it.
To host a Metastream watch party:
Download the extension for Firefox or Chrome. The extension will be able to read and change data on websites you visit.
Navigate to https://app.getmetastream.com/
Type in a display name and click “Get Started.”
Click “Start Session” on the next screen.
Click the “Invite” button on the left to get a link to share; click “Copy” and send it to your friends. In the same window, you can also make the session public, private, or offline, and change the number of users allowed (you can have an unlimited number of users). Close out of that window.
Your friends will click on that link to join the session. When they join, you’ll see a box on the left with your name and theirs; you’ll have to click the green check mark by their name to let them in. To grant them permission to add videos and change playback, click on the three dots next to their name and then click “Toggle DJ.”
The Metastream screen can be a little busy. You can make things clearer by setting up your chat to play on the right-hand side. Click the three dots on the far right of the bar at the bottom of the home screen. Click the “Chat” button. When the chat window opens, click the rectangle icon in the top right corner of that window.
If you click on the cog icon, you can pick an avatar and change your username.
To watch something, you have a few options. Click the “Add Media” button in the center of the main screen and then you can either:
Paste the URL for the video in the bar either at the top or the bottom of the screen and then click “Add to Session.”
Click one of the video sources in the middle of the screen. That will take you to the home screen for that source. Find the video you want, then click the “Add to Session” button in the top right corner.
Doing either of these things will put that video in a queue, so you can set up a list of things you want to watch.
Scener
Scener lets you video chat with your friends while watching Netflix, HBO Now, HBO Go (it does not currently support HBO Max), Disney Plus, or Vimeo; there’s also a text chat function. Previously, you could only use Scener with the primary profile for your Netflix account, but since the app was updated, you can now use it from any of your Netflix profiles.
To use Scener:
Download the Chrome extension. The extension will ask for permission to read and change your data on Netflix and Scener, show notifications, and “communicate with cooperating websites.”
Open the app by clicking on the extension’s icon (to the right of the Chrome address bar). If you can’t see it, click on the puzzle icon and you can access it from there.
This will open up a window, along with a sidebar, which will lead you through setting up a watch party. Click “Create a theater” in the sidebar.
You can choose to create either a private theater with up to 10 people, but everyone must be invited, or you can host a public theater with up to 10 hosts (with audio and video) and unlimited people watching (with access only to the text chat function). Make your selection (let’s say you want to create a private theater) and then click “Create.”
You’ll get a window asking you to make an account. Click the “Create Account” button or if you have an account, click the button which says, “Already have an account? Log in here.”
Enter in a username, email, and password to create your Scener account.
You’ll get a notice explaining how Scener works. Click “Next.”
Select the streaming service you want to use. Then, sign into that service.
Click on the button with a camera icon which says “enable” to turn on your camera.
This will open up a pop-up window. Click “Allow camera and mic.” You may get another window recommending you use headphones. Click “Got it” at the bottom of the newer window, and then “All done” in the first pop-up. (You may get that headphone window again — just click on “Got it.”)
If you hover over your video window, you’ll see small camera and microphone icons. Click on those to toggle your video or audio on and off.
Scener will give you the option to share either a link or a code with your friends. Click the “Copy invite link” button to get the link and send it to friends.
If they don’t already have Scener, the link will send them to a page with a download link. They’ll have to install the extension, create an account, sign into the service, enable audio and video, and then they’ll be added to your theater.
If they already have Scener, just send them the code and they can enter that via the app extension to join your theater.
Select a show or movie and click on the play button to start watching.
Scener has a virtual remote control you can pass to and from your friends. Whoever has it gets to control what everyone is watching; they can also rewind, pause, and play the movie or TV show — in other words, it acts like an actual remote control. To “pass” the remote, hover over your video window until a remote button appears. Click on that and then select who to pass it to in the pop-up window.
TwoSeven
TwoSeven also has a video chat feature, but it supports more services. In addition to Netflix, you can use it to watch Amazon Prime Video, HBO Now, YouTube, and Vimeo. If you pay the subscription fee, you can also use the app with Hulu and Disney Plus. The subscription prices range from $5 to $20 a month, but because of COVID-19, TwoSeven is offering all of those paid features for $3 a month.
To host a TwoSeven watch party:
Download the extension for Firefox or Chrome. The extension will request permission to show notifications and read and change data on websites you visit.
Create an account by clicking on the extension icon and going to the site. You will have to confirm your email.
Click on the TwoSeven icon next to the address bar, then click “Go to twoseven.xyz”
Click “Get Started.” Here you can change your avatar and username by clicking on the icon in the top right corner, to the right of the cog icon. Select “Account” to access your profile settings.
Click “Start Watching.”
You’ll get a pop-up window that lets you create a private room. Check the boxes to allow the other participants to have webcam and mic access or to only allow admins to control playback. If you’ve already added friends on TwoSeven, you can add them to your room here. Make your selection and then click “Just Me.”
Click on the icon in the top right corner which has two people and a plus sign. Click on “Copy Link” and share that link with friends. Once you do, they’ll be added to the watch session.
Click on the camera and microphone icons on the right-hand side of the screen to enable video and audio.
There is also a live chat feature at the bottom of the screen. Click on “Messages” in the lower right-hand corner to open it.
Click on the button for your chosen video source at the top of the screen. For Netflix, this will take you to your account’s home screen and you can click on a movie or show there to start watching. To watch YouTube videos, you’ll have to paste in the URLs.
Once you add someone to the watch session via a link, you can add them as a friend to make it easier to include them in future watch sessions.
To do that:
Click the icon with two people (not the one with the plus sign).
Find their name and click the icon with a person and a plus sign. This will send them a friend request; they will need to accept it.
When you receive a friend request, you can accept it by going to the TwoSeven homepage (if you have an existing watch session open, make sure to open it in a different tab otherwise you’ll leave the session). Any friend requests should appear on the right-hand side under “Pending Requests.” Click on the green check mark to accept.
Hulu Watch Party Image: Hulu
Hulu’s ad-free plans now allow you to host a virtual watch party for up to eight people using live text chat within the service. While the feature is available with the (ad-free) Live TV plan, you can’t use the Watch Party feature for Live TV content or for content from premium add-ons. You can join from your own profile, which means that multiple people on the same account can use the Watch Party feature together. Users under 18 years of age aren’t allowed to join.
Open up Hulu.com. Make sure you’re using the latest version of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge.
Find a movie or show to watch. Not every video is available to watch using Watch Party. You can check if a title is compatible with the feature by looking for an icon showing three people in it on the Details page, next to “Start Watching.”
Once you’re on the Details page, click on the Watch Party icon.
Click “Start the Party” in the pop-up window.
Click on the link icon to copy the link and send it to others so they can join your watch party (as long as they have an ad-free plan and are 18 years of age or older).
When you’re ready, click “Start Party.” To add people later, you can click on the link icon in the top right corner of the chat bar.
After they follow the link, your guests will log in and will see a message acknowledging they’ve been invited to a watch party. They can click “Join the Party” to watch with you.
If you or your friends are out of sync, a blue button at the top of the chat bar labeled “Click to catch up” can be used to sync up your video.


theverge--2020-07-01--There are more streaming choices than ever — why are prices going up?

YouTube TV announced yesterday that it ’ d be raising its prices by 30 percent to $ 65 per month .
FuboTV followed shortly after , announcing increases of its own that put the lowest tier of the service at $ 60 .
The first era of internet-streamed TV — the one of cheap , innovative cable alternatives — is over , and what comes next is going to look a whole lot more like the traditional cable services it promised to replace… with prices to match .
Over-the-top internet TV services were supposed to save us from the limited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Big internet companies like Google , PlayStation , and Hulu swooped in to rescue consumers from the archaic TV services of Comcast and AT & T , with better apps and rock-bottom pricing that seemed almost too good to be true .
Turns out , it was .
The latest round of price increases are not without precedent .
Prices for every major streaming service have been steadily increasing over the past few years in leaps and bounds as services have added more channels or faced the harsh realities of rising carriage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Looking back , it ’ s easy to see how we got here .
Take YouTube TV , for example , which started out in 2017 at $ 35 per month , offering access to ABC , CBS , Fox , NBC , and roughly 35 cable channels .
In 2018 , the price went up to $ 40 per month , as YouTube had to pay to cover the addition of new channels from WarnerMedia like TBS , TNT , CNN , and Cartoon Network .
The price went up again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ TV added Discovery ’ s lineup of channels , and once again this week to $ 65 with the addition of ViacomCBS networks .
You can track similar price increases over the years for other services like Hulu ( whose live TV service went from $ 39.99 in 2017 to $ 55 in November 2019 ) , or AT & T Now ( which launched as DirecTV Now for $ 35 in 2016 , and now costs $ 55 for the cheapest plan ) .
Or take PlayStation Vue , which offered its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , tried to raise prices over time to cover costs , but eventually had to shut down entirely last year due to the “ expensive content and network deals ” of the pay TV industry .
Between traditional cable and internet services , there ’ s more TV competition than ever .
But instead of the internet services working to drive prices down by offering better alternatives to cable at a lower price , prices have steadily gone up over the past few years .
Carriers do not like to license their content @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that all of these companies — internet TV and cable alike — aren ’ t really fighting with each other to keep prices down .
They ’ re fighting with content providers like ViacomCBS , Disney , WarnerMedia , NBCUniversal , Fox Corporation , and Discovery , which license out the rights to air their channels to cable providers like Verizon and YouTube TV .
And they do not like to license their content cheaply .
YouTube TV , Fubo , Hulu , and the rest may want to offer their original low @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the mercy of carriage fees .
The competition that matters isn ’ t what YouTube and Hulu charge — or even what Optimum and Verizon FiOS charge — but what ViacomCBS ’ s and Disney ’ s licensed content costs .
When cable providers and carriers do disagree on prices ( carriage disputes ) , providers generally have very little recourse in fighting back , short of refusing to carry those stations at all in a corporate game of chicken where consumers always lose .
So even as the number of TV services @ @ @ @ @ @ @ major channel owners has become more and more consolidated over the years through acquisitions and mergers .
As a result , there ’ s less and less competition where it counts : on the carrier side that sets the prices .
Streaming services were able to avoid this for a time at the start : those enticingly low price tags were from a time when carriage fees were lower , and companies like Google or Sony could afford to run their services at lower rates of return while they built up a customer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on , the harsh reality has been that it ’ s nearly impossible to actually offer those prices long term .
Compounding the problem is that carriers also don ’ t like splitting up their content .
If you ’ re WarnerMedia , you ’ d prefer that Hulu and Google pay for all your channels , not just the two or three that they want to offer , which means that those companies in turn have to charge consumers with extra costs .
In a perfect world , you ’ d be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off a checklist and just pay for those specific channels .
And while some streaming services have managed to offer a la carte TV — most notably , Sling TV , which divides its basic packages into Sling Blue and Sling Orange groups with different lineups — even those are effectively the same as regular cable bundles .
For the most part , streaming TV services have been unable to negotiate their way out of the bundle system that ’ s dominated regular cable for years .
YouTube TV has added more channels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but they ’ ve been mandatory additions : there ’ s no way to opt out of the new ViacomCBS channels and pay a lower price .
Everyone is paying for channels they don ’ t want , as carriers leverage in-demand content to bundle the channels people do want .
It ’ s not the end of the line for streaming services It ’ s not the end of the line for streaming services , though , despite the fact that they ’ ve been forced into the same content and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Internet streaming still offers plenty of benefits to help compete with regular cable .
It ’ s far easier to start and stop anytime , so you can just subscribe when your favorite shows or sports seasons are happening .
They work on a wide range of devices and don ’ t require any outdated cable boxes to use .
And they can be watched from anywhere with an internet connection , as opposed to requiring hardwired cable lines .
Internet services also tend to have better user interfaces and are more equipped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DVRs or personalized recommendations .
But for all that , it doesn ’ t change the fact that all of the internet TV services are still forced to rely on the same expensive carrier fee system that regular cable does .
The only real change is that now the prices are starting to reflect that .

YouTube TV announced yesterday that it’d be raising its prices by 30 percent to $65 per month. FuboTV followed shortly after, announcing increases of its own that put the lowest tier of the service at $60. The first era of internet-streamed TV — the one of cheap, innovative cable alternatives — is over, and what comes next is going to look a whole lot more like the traditional cable services it promised to replace… with prices to match.
Over-the-top internet TV services were supposed to save us from the limited bundles and expensive prices of traditional cable. Big internet companies like Google, PlayStation, and Hulu swooped in to rescue consumers from the archaic TV services of Comcast and AT&T, with better apps and rock-bottom pricing that seemed almost too good to be true.
Turns out, it was.
The latest round of price increases are not without precedent. Prices for every major streaming service have been steadily increasing over the past few years in leaps and bounds as services have added more channels or faced the harsh realities of rising carriage fees for the ones they already offer.
Looking back, it’s easy to see how we got here. Take YouTube TV, for example, which started out in 2017 at $35 per month, offering access to ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, and roughly 35 cable channels. In 2018, the price went up to $40 per month, as YouTube had to pay to cover the addition of new channels from WarnerMedia like TBS, TNT, CNN, and Cartoon Network. The price went up again to $50 in 2019 as YouTube TV added Discovery’s lineup of channels, and once again this week to $65 with the addition of ViacomCBS networks.
Or take PlayStation Vue, which offered its lowest-tier plan for $30 per month, tried to raise prices over time to cover costs, but eventually had to shut down entirely last year due to the “expensive content and network deals” of the pay TV industry.
Between traditional cable and internet services, there’s more TV competition than ever. But instead of the internet services working to drive prices down by offering better alternatives to cable at a lower price, prices have steadily gone up over the past few years.
Carriers do not like to license their content cheaply
The problem lies in the fact that all of these companies — internet TV and cable alike — aren’t really fighting with each other to keep prices down. They’re fighting with content providers like ViacomCBS, Disney, WarnerMedia, NBCUniversal, Fox Corporation, and Discovery, which license out the rights to air their channels to cable providers like Verizon and YouTube TV. And they do not like to license their content cheaply.
YouTube TV, Fubo, Hulu, and the rest may want to offer their original low prices, but they’re at the mercy of carriage fees. The competition that matters isn’t what YouTube and Hulu charge — or even what Optimum and Verizon FiOS charge — but what ViacomCBS’s and Disney’s licensed content costs.
When cable providers and carriers do disagree on prices (carriage disputes), providers generally have very little recourse in fighting back, short of refusing to carry those stations at all in a corporate game of chicken where consumers always lose.
So even as the number of TV services has shot up, the number of major channel owners has become more and more consolidated over the years through acquisitions and mergers. As a result, there’s less and less competition where it counts: on the carrier side that sets the prices.
Streaming services were able to avoid this for a time at the start: those enticingly low price tags were from a time when carriage fees were lower, and companies like Google or Sony could afford to run their services at lower rates of return while they built up a customer base. But as time has gone on, the harsh reality has been that it’s nearly impossible to actually offer those prices long term.
Compounding the problem is that carriers also don’t like splitting up their content. If you’re WarnerMedia, you’d prefer that Hulu and Google pay for all your channels, not just the two or three that they want to offer, which means that those companies in turn have to charge consumers with extra costs.
In a perfect world, you’d be able to select the channels you wanted off a checklist and just pay for those specific channels. And while some streaming services have managed to offer a la carte TV — most notably, Sling TV, which divides its basic packages into Sling Blue and Sling Orange groups with different lineups — even those are effectively the same as regular cable bundles.
For the most part, streaming TV services have been unable to negotiate their way out of the bundle system that’s dominated regular cable for years. YouTube TV has added more channels with each price increase over the years, but they’ve been mandatory additions: there’s no way to opt out of the new ViacomCBS channels and pay a lower price. Everyone is paying for channels they don’t want, as carriers leverage in-demand content to bundle the channels people do want.
It’s not the end of the line for streaming services
It’s not the end of the line for streaming services, though, despite the fact that they’ve been forced into the same content and price model as their traditional competitors. Internet streaming still offers plenty of benefits to help compete with regular cable. It’s far easier to start and stop anytime, so you can just subscribe when your favorite shows or sports seasons are happening. They work on a wide range of devices and don’t require any outdated cable boxes to use. And they can be watched from anywhere with an internet connection, as opposed to requiring hardwired cable lines. Internet services also tend to have better user interfaces and are more equipped to deal with modern perks like built-in DVRs or personalized recommendations.


theverge--2020-07-01--Sling TV promises not to raise prices on customers like everyone else is doing

One day after YouTube TV announced a $ 15 price hike that had customers crying out “ enough already , ” Dish ’ s Sling TV service is promising that it won ’ t raise prices on existing customers until at least August 2021 .
The company seems keen on using the frustration toward YouTube to help boost its own subscriptions ; this offer is extended to anyone who signs up for Sling by August 1st and maintains service .
( That , of course , leaves open the possibility that new customers who come on board after August 1st @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) Right now , Sling ’ s two channel tiers , Sling Blue and Sling Orange , each cost $ 30 .
You can get them individually if only one covers the channels you want , or get both for $ 45 monthly for maximum programming options .
Sling also takes a shot at YouTube TV ’ s timing , saying in its blog post that “ we believe now is not the time to make our customers choose between staying informed and entertained , and putting dinner on the table.
” Ouch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yearlong guarantee “ will bring a sense of much needed stability in a time that feels uncertain to us all.
” YouTube TV said its sharp price increase is a reflection of a growing slate of channels , including recent additions from ViacomCBS like Comedy Central , BET , and MTV that had been absent from the service until now .
The company acknowledged that it expects some subscribers will cancel now that they ’ ll have to pay more for channels they might have no interest in .
Alas , there ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep paying the same price for the previous channel package .
Everyone moves to the same plan , and YouTube TV has refrained from offering tiered channel bundles like some other services .
There was one small nugget of good news in YouTube ’ s announcement : the company said it ’ s “ working to build new flexible models for YouTube TV users , ” but it didn ’ t have any details to share on what that might look like .
Channel owners have steadfastly refused to let the idea of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any real headway .
There ’ s no getting the channels you want without a serving of bland extras tossed into the mix .
And the hits just keep coming .
FuboTV is now more expensive , and you ’ ve got to jump through some customer service hoops if you want to pay the lowest price .
And now , AT & T TV has raised the introductory , first-12-months pricing for its various channel packages .
As noted by NextTV , the base “ entertainment ” package is being raised by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 60 .
The “ choice ” middle option plan is now $ 65 .
The “ xtra ” and “ ultimate ” packages are each going up by $ 10 , so they ’ ll now cost $ 75 and $ 80 , respectively .
The significantly higher prices that AT & T TV customers will pay after the promo period haven ’ t changed , however .
Also , keep in mind that this service differs from others in that you ’ re subject to a contract and early termination fees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some of the benefits of the other streaming TV services , but it still carries some cable baggage .
Disney ’ s ESPN Plus service will undergo a $ 1 price bump this summer , as my colleague Julia Alexander reported yesterday .
So far , the company hasn ’ t made any immediate adjustments to the pricing of Hulu with Live TV .
But I doubt it will be long .

One day after YouTube TV announced a $15 price hike that had customers crying out “enough already,” Dish’s Sling TV service is promising that it won’t raise prices on existing customers until at least August 2021. The company seems keen on using the frustration toward YouTube to help boost its own subscriptions; this offer is extended to anyone who signs up for Sling by August 1st and maintains service. (That, of course, leaves open the possibility that new customers who come on board after August 1st will start off with higher pricing...)
Right now, Sling’s two channel tiers, Sling Blue and Sling Orange, each cost $30. You can get them individually if only one covers the channels you want, or get both for $45 monthly for maximum programming options.
Sling also takes a shot at YouTube TV’s timing, saying in its blog post that “we believe now is not the time to make our customers choose between staying informed and entertained, and putting dinner on the table.” Ouch. The company says it hopes the yearlong guarantee “will bring a sense of much needed stability in a time that feels uncertain to us all.”
YouTube quietly mentioned it’s working on more “flexible” TV subscriptions
YouTube TV said its sharp price increase is a reflection of a growing slate of channels, including recent additions from ViacomCBS like Comedy Central, BET, and MTV that had been absent from the service until now. The company acknowledged that it expects some subscribers will cancel now that they’ll have to pay more for channels they might have no interest in. Alas, there’s no way for existing customers to keep paying the same price for the previous channel package. Everyone moves to the same plan, and YouTube TV has refrained from offering tiered channel bundles like some other services.
There was one small nugget of good news in YouTube’s announcement: the company said it’s “working to build new flexible models for YouTube TV users,” but it didn’t have any details to share on what that might look like. Channel owners have steadfastly refused to let the idea of a la carte TV channel subscriptions make any real headway. There’s no getting the channels you want without a serving of bland extras tossed into the mix.
And the hits just keep coming. FuboTV is now more expensive, and you’ve got to jump through some customer service hoops if you want to pay the lowest price. And now, AT&T TV has raised the introductory, first-12-months pricing for its various channel packages. As noted by NextTV, the base “entertainment” package is being raised by $10; it’s now $60. The “choice” middle option plan is now $65. The “xtra” and “ultimate” packages are each going up by $10, so they’ll now cost $75 and $80, respectively.
The significantly higher prices that AT&T TV customers will pay after the promo period haven’t changed, however. Also, keep in mind that this service differs from others in that you’re subject to a contract and early termination fees. AT&T TV nets you some of the benefits of the other streaming TV services, but it still carries some cable baggage.
Disney’s ESPN Plus service will undergo a $1 price bump this summer, as my colleague Julia Alexander reported yesterday. So far, the company hasn’t made any immediate adjustments to the pricing of Hulu with Live TV.