This week on TechHive: The ideal streaming interface
I’ve finally found it.
After years of waiting, I’ve landed on what I believe is the ideal menu system for streaming, one that helps you find new things to watch without overcomplicating the basic task of launching apps. And it’s landed in the unlikeliest of places.
I’m talking about the Nvidia Shield TV and its new Android TV interface update that started rolling out earlier this month. The new menu makes your full list of streaming apps much easier to access, while also adding a new system for recommendations. It’s smarter than other streaming platforms like Roku and Fire TV, and it’s even better than the similar looking—but in many ways different—interface on the Chromecast with Google TV.
Now for the bad news: I’m not sure Google is even aware of its own accomplishment. While Google has made the new interface available on the Shield TV and some other existing Android TV devices, it’s pushing the separate Google TV interface on newer streaming players and smart TVs. That means the Shield’s menu system is unlikely to appear on any new products going forward. Read the full column on TechHive.
Weekly rewind
YouTube TV’s 4K add-on: If you remember when cable companies charged extra for HD video—or worse yet, if your cable company still does—YouTube TV’s new 4K Plus add-on might give you déjà vu. For an extra $20 per month on top of the $65 per month base price, the service will stream a small selection of content in 4K from Discovery, ESPN, FOX Sports, FX, Nat Geo, NBC Sports (including the Olympics), and Tastemade. It’ll also enable offline downloads on mobile devices and unlimited simultaneous streams at home. (To take the sting out, YouTube’s offering a month of the add-on for free, followed a one-year price of $10 per month.)
Perhaps we should be thankful that YouTube isn’t making these charges mandatory, but 4K isn’t supposed to be a luxury. Amazon Prime, Disney+, and HBO Max all offer 4K streaming and offline viewing at no extra charge. (Even Netflix, the outlier in the group, charges just $4 extra for its 4K plan, which also adds two extra simultaneous streams.) Unfortunately, upsells are to be expected in live TV streaming, where providers barely make any money by distributing the channels alone. FuboTV, to its credit, still streams some sporting events in 4K at no extra charge, though it has several upsells of its own.
On the upside, YouTube TV is also finally adding 5.1 Dolby Audio support for live TV, joining AT&T TV as the only other streaming service that offers it. And unlike with 4K, it’s not charging extra for it.
FuboTV loses A&E: Speaking of FuboTV, the live TV streaming service has just dropped A&E -owned channels such as FYI, History, Lifetime, Vice, and of course A&E itself. Unsurprisingly, the company says it’s doing so to keep costs down.
With the exception of YouTube TV, most other live TV streaming services still carry A&E channels, and you’ll also find a lot of A&E content on Discovery+, the standalone service that costs $5 per month with ads or $7 per month without.
Free Locast for some: Locast, a non-profit that streams local channels in many U.S. cities, has announced a program that waives the service’s usual $5 per month donation requirement. Users who meet certain criteria—including first responders, veterans, SNAP recipients, and others—can apply online, and Locast says it’ll select 25,000 applicants for a year of service. Otherwise, Locast cuts off its live streams every 15 minutes for those who don’t donate.
Also this week, Locast added Columbus, Ohio and surrounding counties to its list of supported markets. That brings the service to 34 markets nationwide, covering more than half the U.S. population. If using an antenna isn’t feasible, it’s a great way to get local network channels without a big TV bundle.
More catch-up
- The remaining Stanley Cup Finals will stream on Peacock Premium, starting tonight.
- The Weather Channel is planning its own streaming service, which may or may not include The Weather Channel.
- Frndly TV adds a couple more channels to its cheap streaming bundle (which does include The Weather Channel.)
- Google is once again offering free Chromecasts to some YouTube TV subscribers.
Save more money
If you’re not already a Disney+ subscriber, you can currently get either three or six months of the service for free with an Amazon Music Unlimited subscription. Current or returning Amazon Music subscribers will get three months of Disney+, while new Amazon Music subscribers get the full six months.
Amazon Music Unlimited is a Spotify-like service that streams millions of songs on-demand, and it costs $8 per month with an Amazon Prime subscription or $10 per month without one. Disney+ also costs $8 per month, so the deal’s worth taking if you’re a Prime subscriber who has need for both services. Just make sure to set yourself a reminder for shortly before the three months is up, as you’ll be auto-billed at the regular price after that.
Thanks for reading!
Last week, I neglected to include the usual link to the newsletter’s web version. If you missed it, you can read it online here.
Also, it turns out this week’s column caused a fair amount of disgruntlement on certain parts of the internet, as seen in the replies to this tweet. Feel free to tell me how wrong I am by replying to this email. Or let me know if you have any other cord-cutting questions or comments. Otherwise, have a lovely July 4 weekend.
Until next week,
Jared