This week on TechHive: Sling’s big update has just one problem
When Sling TV started teasing a new version of its app last week, it looked like a major step up for the live streaming service.
Sling’s interface has always felt a bit crusty, especially compared to slicker live TV services like YouTube TV and FuboTV. The update, which is rolling out now on Amazon Fire TV devices and and heading to other platforms throughout the year, gives Sling a more modern look, simpler menus, and a some new navigation features.
Now that I’ve had a chance to try the new Sling app myself, I can confirm that it’s a big improvement. There’s just one problem: The pre-release version I’ve been testing can be excruciatingly slow, especially while using the channel guide. Hopefully that’ll change before Sling rolls it out to its regular subscribers. Read the full column on TechHive.
Weekly rewind
More caveats for ad-supported HBO Max: As announced in May, the ad-supported version of HBO Max is now available for $10 per month, but it has a couple more restrictions that WarnerMedia didn’t disclose before: You’re not allowed to download videos offline viewing, and video quality is limited to 1080p instead of 4K. To lift those restrictions—and get access to new movies on the same day as their theatrical debuts—you’ll still have to pay $15 per month for HBO Max’s ad-free tier.
On the upside, HBO Max promises that you’ll see no more than four minutes of commercials per hour. That’s because WarnerMedia has found other places in which to cram advertising, such as in banner ads that follow you around the interface and pop up when you pause.
HBO Max also announced that it will offer annual plans at a discount. If you’re a new or returning subscriber, you can pay $100 per year with ads or $150 per year without, effectively giving you two months free. But if you’re not a diehard HBO watcher, consider cycling through streaming services instead as a cheaper alternative that doesn’t lock you in.
Paramount+ pricing: After June 6, Paramount+ is dropping the price of its ad-supported plan from $6 per month to $5 per month for new subscribers, but with one big trade-off: The cheaper plan will no longer include a live stream from your local CBS station. For that you’ll need the ad-free version of Paramount+, which remains priced at $10 per month.
Existing subscribers can keep getting local CBS for $6 per month as long as they don’t cancel, which adds a new layer of risk to relying Paramount+’s steady stream of free month coupon codes. If those codes ever try up—and you can’t get local CBS with an antenna or Locast—you might wish you’d locked in the lower price.
Walmart’s cheap streamers: Walmart is entering the streaming device business with a pair of Android TV players under its in-house Onn brand. A dongle with 1080p video support sells for $25, while a palm-sized 4K HDR streaming box costs $30. The streamers have been showing up in Walmart stores for at least a week now—Elias Saba over at AFTVNews got his hands on one—but TechCrunch reports that the official launch is next week.
In any case, I wouldn’t rush out to buy either one before they’ve been properly reviewed. I’m expecting to evaluate both in the weeks ahead.
Apple TV 4K review: On the opposite end of the price spectrum, I reviewed the new Apple TV 4K for TechHive, and I like it a lot. Yes, it’s still an expensive streaming box at $179, but it really is a cut above other streaming players in speed, polish, app support and privacy, and the 2021 Siri remote addresses the biggest complaints about the previous version. As I noted last week, it’s also loaded with little tricks that make picking something to watch seem more pleasant.
Owners of the existing Apple TV 4K needn’t rush to upgrade, since the new remote is available by itself (for $59), and the new box’s performance is barely distinguishable from the old one. But for everyone else, the new Apple TV 4K feels like it justifies the added expense if you’re willing to pay for it.
More catch-up
- WarnerMedia and Discovery have picked Warner Bros. Discovery as their post-merger moniker. (Should’ve taken the widely-suggested Disco Bros instead.)
- Channels DVR gets shuffle, auto-play and more on Fire TV and Android TV.
- Apple TV+ arrives on the Nvidia Shield TV.
- Locast brings cheap local channel streaming to Raleigh-Durham.
- By me: FuboTV wants to find out if you’ll bet on sports through your TV.
Save more money
We’ve got a couple deal-related tidbits to know about this morning:
With Amazon Prime Day coming up on June 21 and June 22, you can get $10 in promotional credit when you buy a $50 Amazon e-gift card. While it’s not strictly related to cord-cutting, the credit could come in handy if you’re eying a smart TV or streaming player. Amazon will almost certainly slash prices on Fire TV gear during the sale event. Just click “Apply code to your account” on this page to get started.
Meanwhile, the TiVo Stream 4K has fallen to an even lower price of $29 at Walmart. The 4K streaming dongle tries to make sense of streaming with a unified guide to services like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime, and it also has some interesting customization potential.
Thanks for reading!
I was expecting a slow news week after Memorial Day weekend, but it turns out the world of cord-cutting takes no breaks. Anyway, let me know if you’ve got any questions about anything I’ve covered here, or about cord cutting in general. You can get in touch by replying to this email.
Until next week,
Jared