Items tagged with Netflix
We aren't sure the world needs another streaming service, but that isn't stopping WarnerMedia from launching one. The new streaming service will be called HBO Max, and it is a direct-to-consumer service that will include original programming along with old classic series and content from a variety of other sources. HBO Max does include HBO content as well, including its slate of originals. Netflix subscribers who are fans of the classic comedy "Friends" have wondered why it was leaving Netflix. HBO Max has announced that it will be the exclusive streaming location for all 236 episodes of the show. HBO Max also has the rights to all episodes of "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air" and "Pretty Little...
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Early last week, Microsoft started to talk up the "all-new" Windows 1.0 with MS-DOS Executive, clock, and more. We all wondered at the time what exactly the deal was. Rumors suggested that Windows 1.0 was going to be a tie in with Netflix's third season of Stranger Things which landed on July 4. The Stranger Things Season 3 mashup has now been confirmed with the official launch of the Windows 1.11 app. The description for the app reads, "Experience 1985 nostalgia with a special edition Windows 10 PC app inspired by Windows 1.0—but one that's been taken over by the Upside Down from Stranger Things. Explore the mysteries and secrets plaguing Hawkins, unlock unique show content and easter...
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Strange things are happening inside Fortnite, the wildly popular, free-to-play battle royale. Scratch that—Stranger Things, as in the equally popular Netflix original. Portals are popping up in Fortnite in what is a clear Stranger Things tie-in, just ahead of the show's Season 3 premier tomorrow on the streaming video service. Image Source: Reddit (TAK_Blitz) As shown above in a screenshot shared to Reddit by user TAK_Blitz, these not-so-mysterious portals (or gates) have a distinct look to them, with sprawling roots and an eerily orange and red glow in the center. They have been popping up in Fortnite's Mega Mall POI. Interestingly, stepping through them transports your character to a...
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Buying a television can be a daunting experience with so many different models and options available. Sure, size matters, but so does a host of other factors, such as the type of screen, resolution and HDR support, and the implementation of smart features. As it mostly pertains to that latter point, Netflix has come out with its annual list of recommended TVs. Netflix's list is geared towards getting the most from its streaming service, and supposedly it has a "rigorous" testing program in place. The exact testing criteria is not laid out, though Netflix does offer some high-level details. To bear the "Netflix Recommended TV" badge, a qualifying smart TV must meet at least 5 of 7 criteria. They...
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Game streaming services are building up to be the next big race for the dollars of millennials in the future. Services like EA Access and Google Stadia are expected to be hugely popular with gamers around the world, and a new report claims that more American millennials now subscribe to a video game service than subscribe to paid television. The report claims that 53% of people born between 1983 and 1996 are now paying for gaming services compared to 51% who pay for television. The data comes from accounting and services firm Deloitte. The same firm ran the survey last year and found that 44% of that age group had paid for video game subscriptions compared to 52% having paid TV subscriptions....
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Back in January, Netflix announced that it would be raising prices across the board in an effort to help fund its original programming and other content costs. At the time, Netflix revealed that new subscribers to the service would see the price increases immediately, while existing customers would see their rates increase over the next few months. Well, that time has come, and starting with the May billing cycle, long-time Netflix customers will see an increase to their monthly bills. As previously reported, the basic streaming plan is increasing from $8/month to $9/month, while the HD streaming plan support up to two connections sees the biggest increase, going from $11/month to $13...
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It's no secret at this point that Apple is working on a new streaming service that is meant to rival Netflix and Amazon. Whether or not it will be a true competitor to either established streaming service remains to be seen as Apple has very different plans than either of the other major players in the industry. Apple specifically wants the content on its streaming service to be family friendly; that means no sex or violence on the network, and no shows in the realm of Netflix's canceled Marvel series "The Punisher" or Amazon's show "Man in the High Castle." Apple is off to a rough start and is at odds with the content creators in Hollywood that it has hired to make shows for its streaming service...
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If one thing is for sure, recent home TV and movies services market changes have been seismic. Over the years we have gone through Beta, VHS, laser discs, DVDs, HD-DVD, Blu-Ray, but nothing has reshaped the home entertainment landscape like streaming video. Each time a new form factor for delivering movies in the home launches, the old form factors have eventually gone extinct and it appears that Blu-ray may be the next format to die off. Samsung has announced that it is not going to produce any new Blu-ray players for the U.S. market. Samsung announced that no new 1080p or 4K Blu-ray players would be produced for the U.S. and the new announcement gives more detail than an earlier statement by...
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At this point, we know that Apple has been working on a streaming service for several years. It was delayed back in 2015 with reports indicating that the delay was due to negotiations for local content. The service will have original programs that Apple has made with a strict insistence on the shows refraining from sex or violence and being very family friendly. Reports indicate that the service will offer programming at no cost to Apple device owners. A new report has surfaced that claims sources familiar with Apple's plans have stated the streaming service will launch in April, with early May as another possibility. The sources also claim that Netflix and its top-rated original programming...
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Netflix might be the king of streaming, but what some might find surprising is which services the company views as its biggest business threat. Rather than name another streaming media service, Netflix said it primarily competes with Fortnite for screen time, and loses. How's that for being frank? "We compete with (and lost to Fortnite) more than HBO," Netflix stated in a letter to shareholders. "There are thousands of competitors in this highly fragmented market vying to entertain consumers... Our growth is based on how good our experience is, compared to all the other screen time experiences from which consumers choose." Netflix said it currently earns around 10 percent of television screen...
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Netflix fans have a love-hate relationship with the streaming giant at times. It certainly has some fantastic original movies and series, but it also has some junk filling up the bulk of its catalog. Netflix had a gigantic budget for 2018 of $8 billion and to cover the cost of all the original programming it makes, and cover debt, Netflix is raising prices for all of its 58 million U.S. subscribers. The price increase is the biggest increase since Netflix launched its streaming service over a decade ago. The most significant price hike will come to subscribers on its most popular plan that allows HD streaming on up to two different TVs. That plan previously cost $11 per month, and after the price...
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For about the past three years, Netflix has allowed iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV owners to pay for a streaming subscription through iTunes as a matter of convenience. Now, however, that is no longer an option for new users. While existing subscribers who already pay for Netflix through iTunes may continue to do so, Netflix has stopped offering it as a payment option for new members. Netflix actually started incorporating the change earlier this year in select markets. Apparently satisfied with the outcome (i.e., iOS users have likely shown they're willing to jump through an extra hoop to pay for Netflix), the change is now being rolled out globally. "We no longer support iTunes as a method of payment...
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Some new years begin with champagne and fireworks, others begin with termination of employment. Activision Blizzard announced that they plan to fire their Chief Financial Officer Spencer Neumann for undisclosed reasons. The announcement comes on the heels of a rather rocky financial year for Blizzard. Neumann has been placed on paid leave and will receive the opportunity to argue against his termination. Starting today, Chief Corporate Officer (CCO) Dennis Durkin will assume Neumann’s responsibilities and will fully take over the position once Neumann is fired. Blizzard claims that Neumann’s termination is “unrelated to the company's financial reporting or disclosure controls...
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Phishing attacks have become one of the most common methods of scamming unsuspecting people out of something - usually money. We may all think we have our guards up to all forms of attacks, but when they can hit us through every form of communication, it's bound to happen to someone. In a recent series of phishing attacks, Netflix and its many millions of customers have been targeted. The risk of damage from this phishing attempt seeking payment information has led the FTC to issue a specific warning about it. The agency also notes simple things you can do you spot a phishing attack: the first step is simply looking closer at such emails. If you simply skim over it, you might become a victim....
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