First, there’s my review. As I mentioned in last week’s newsletter, the new Chromecast is unlike previous versions in that it has a proper remote and an interface for your TV. You can still use your phone or tablet to “Cast” video to the TV from supported apps, but that mode of interaction feels more like a sideshow now. The real star is the Google TV software—hence the name—which pulls content from apps like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu into a unified guide on the TV itself.

At its best, the new Chromecast feels like a revelation. Of course you shouldn’t have to sift through a dozen apps to find something to watch. With so many streaming services to keep track of, there should just be a single menu for everything, and that’s what Google’s trying to provide.

But because the new Chromecast often works so well, it’s all the more glaring it doesn’t. Some apps don’t integrate with Google’s guide at all, and the ones that do sometimes have inconsistent levels of support. And given the device’s emphasis on personalization, the lack of support for multiple user profiles feels like a major omission. I’m impressed with the device overall, but it definitely feels like a work in progress. Check out the full review here.

I also put together a list of 15 tips and tricks for the new Chromecast, which offers a lot of powerful features that you might not notice at first. For instance, you can tie it into a multi-room audio system, connect USB accessories, customize the remote’s A/V controls, and even remap some of its remote control buttons. For the full roundup of tips, check out the column on TechHive.

Although The Roku Channel catalog has a lot of overlap with other free streaming services such as Tubi and Amazon’s own IMDb TV, it’s still nice to have on more platforms. The question now is whether it’ll arrive on Apple TV, Android TV, and other smart TV platforms as well.

More time for Apple TV+: If you redeemed a free year of Apple TV+ between November 2019 and January 31, 2020, you’ll now have a bit longer to enjoy it. Apple says it’s extending those free subscriptions through February (with the exact end date depending on your billing cycle). If you haven’t received a free year and are paying for a monthly subscription, you’ll get $5 monthly credits for November, December, and January.

TechCrunch reports that this is a COVID-related act of benevolence, but it’s also likely that Apple wants more time to convince customers that an ongoing TV+ subscription is worthwhile. While the service’s catalog is still small, it’s gathering some steam with acclaimed shows like Ted Lasso and films like Greyhound. And not to be too conspiratorial, but if you had marked your calendar to cancel the free subscription at the one-year mark, you’ll now have to set yourself another reminder for the new expiration date.

Wireless internet options: One of the most common questions I get about cord-cutting is whether it’s also possible to abandon home internet and just rely on a wireless data plan. While doing so hasn’t really been feasible in the past, that’s starting to change as Verizon and T-Mobile both expand their home internet offerings.

Last week, Verizon expanded its unlimited 4G LTE home internet service to rural areas in 48 states. The plan, which costs $40 per month for Verizon Wireless subscribers and $60 per month for non-subscribers, offers 25 Mbps download speeds with no data caps. That should theoretically be enough for streaming HD video on one or two devices at a time. T-Mobile also expanded its home internet service this week, so it now covers 20 million households. The plan costs $50 per month with no data caps, and while T-Mobile isn’t talking specific speeds, it claims that the service is fast enough for streaming video.

Wired internet will still be a better option in most cases, and these services still aren’t broadly available across the entire country. But if your speed needs are basic and your only other options involve data caps, these would be viable alternatives.

Amazon has also said that its Fire TV Cube will be on sale for $80 on Prime Day, which is $40 off the regular price and a new record low. (You’ll have to wait until Tuesday to get the lower price.)

And while it’s not happening on Amazon, Tablo is selling refurbished over-the-air DVRs for $90 and up.