Oof, when did streaming movies, games, and music get so expensive?

Cable used to be the only game in town for wide entertainment. Sure, if you wanted to subscribe to a game like EverQuest or World of Warcraft, you could (and well, guess the rest of us were never seeing you again). But for variety, cable is what you had—and it wasn’t cheap. So when streaming services came along, they seemed like an answer to everyone’s budget prayers. These days there’s a digital subscription available for most interests, including gaming. And individually, they’re affordable. Or at least, they were. Xbox Game Pass just went up in cost. (Even if you use the conversion hack to get it cheaper.) So did PlayStation Plus. GeForce Now so far is exempt, but PC gamers haven’t been able to sit assured about much these days. Meanwhile, on the TV and movies side of things, Netflix is rumored to be raising prices yet again. Disney+ and Discovery+ have already announced hikes. And in an extremely annoying variation of shrinkflation, Amazon Prime Video and multiple services are adding adverts to their basic streaming plans (or have already done so). As for music, Spotify also got more expensive, sending notice to subscribers with little fanfare. Streaming was great when you were paying less than $25 per month for all the content you could want. But now subscribing to even three services ad-free runs almost $50 per month. Let’s say you want regular access to Game Pass, Netflix, and Disney Plus—that’s already $40 to start with, if you’re only a PC... Continue reading at 'PC World'

[ PC World | 2023-10-04 14:10:27 UTC ]

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Ayaneo’s Air Pro is a taste of the portable PC gaming future

It’s been a bumper year for gaming on the go. For a spell, it kinda felt like Nintendo was the only name in town, but it’s since become one of the more exciting corners of gaming. Today, there are handheld options for everything from AAA to Indie to retro and beyond. Whatsmore, the current... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2022-12-07 18:00:03 UTC ]
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Today’s Google Doodle celebrates Jerry Lawson, the ‘father of the video game cartridge’

Google’s interactive Doodle today celebrates the life and accomplishments of video game pioneer Gerald “Jerry” Lawson on what would have been his 82nd birthday. The Doodle lets you play five retro pixel-art platformers in your browser — with two even letting you play as Lawson. The Doodles’... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2022-12-01 18:15:43 UTC ]
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How Mastodon and federated services put social networks in the people’s hands

The Internet is getting weird again. Twitter’s recent stumbles under new ownership have surprisingly shined a quick light on the world of federated and decentralized social networking services, like Mastodon. These services are peer-to-peer or community-run networks, depending on the... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2022-11-30 11:45:00 UTC ]
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Donate to Classroom Libraries and Have Your Donation Matched!

For Giving Tuesday, all donations on DonorsChoose will be matched, making your donation go twice as far! Help fund a classroom library today. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-11-29 14:56:07 UTC ]
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Amazon's new Kindle drops to $85 for Black Friday

Amazon's latest entry-level Kindle has received its first discount in time for Black Friday. The company is selling the 2022 ad-supported Kindle for $85, or $15 below the official price. That makes it tempting if you're planning a gift for the bookworm in your life, or have just been waiting for... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2022-11-24 13:30:55 UTC ]
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Score a year of Hulu for just $2 a month for Black Friday

Streaming services are getting more expensive, and it doesn’t help that it seems like all the good stuff is spreading out a lot more. If you’re feeling the cable-style pinch of increasing prices and ever-expanding subscriptions, you should check out this deal on Hulu. You can get access to the... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2022-11-23 11:00:00 UTC ]
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Tech Innovators See Promise in Palm Springs Bookstore

Silicon Valley entrepreneurs Paul Bradley Carr and Sarah Lacy plan to open The Best Bookstore in Palm Springs in time for Black Friday. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-11-21 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Urban Libraries Council Concludes Annual Forum with 'Declaration of Democracy'

"Democracy’s future is diminished when people’s access to power, information, a diversity of voices and the ability to influence policy are restricted," the ULC document states. "As cornerstones of democracy it is incumbent upon libraries to stand up against all efforts to impede the democratic... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-11-18 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Best Buy’s best Black Friday deals: TVs, laptops, Apple gear, and more

As per modern tradition, Black Friday deals are already here, well before Thanksgiving. You don’t have to wait to save money—in fact, if you do, you run the risk of missing out. Not everything will remain in stock, as Best Buy warns in its Black Friday FAQ. Many of today’s best-known tech... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2022-11-17 19:44:06 UTC ]
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Xbox Game Pass Ultimate now includes free trials for Apple Music and Apple TV+

Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Perks now include freebies from an erstwhile rival. The company now offers Ultimate subscribers three-month free trials of Apple Music and Apple TV+ to newcomers for either media service. You can stream tunes in the background while you're playing Halo... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2022-11-16 16:50:43 UTC ]
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Here are the Brooklyn Public Library’s most-borrowed books of all time.

Lately, we’ve been writing a lot about the relentless attacks on libraries by craven gangs of “concerned parents” mobilized by Republican rhetoric and Facebook, so today it’s my pleasure to shine the light on some more fun library news. For the past month, in honor of its 125th birthday, the... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-11-14 15:09:34 UTC ]
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Libraries vs. the Cost of Living Crisis

Llibraries are well-placed to help people deal with some aspects of financial pressure. One Rioter shares how libraries are helping in the cost of living crisis. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-11-14 11:30:00 UTC ]
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Apple releases macOS Ventura, iOS 16.1 and iPadOS 16

It's a major Apple update day, as the company is rolling out new versions of its iPhone, iPad and Mac operating systems. While iPhone users at large have already had a taste of iOS 16, this will be the first time that most folks will get their hands on iPadOS 16 and macOS Ventura.Apple delayed... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2022-10-24 17:08:44 UTC ]
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Amazon Prime Video will stream NFL Black Friday games starting in 2023

Amazon doesn't want to limit itself to streaming football games on Thursday nights. The internet giant has struck a deal with the NFL for Prime Video to livestream a yearly match on Black Friday, the day after American Thanksgiving. The first game airs November 24th, 2023 at about 3PM Eastern,... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2022-10-19 21:10:50 UTC ]
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The Morning After: Our verdict on the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro

Yes, we’ve got full reviews of Google’s new flagship phones as well as its first smartwatch. The phones fare better than the wearable, but we are on the seventh generation of Pixel smartphones, so that’s to be expected.In addition to new software features and Tensor G2 chip, the Pixel 7 Pro gets... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2022-10-13 11:15:44 UTC ]
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Apple iCloud photo libraries will soon be viewable in Windows

It should soon be much easier to access your iPhone's photo collection on a Windows-based PC. Microsoft is updating Windows 11 with the option to directly view iCloud photo libraries in the Photos app — you won't need your browser, just an iCloud app from Microsoft's store. So long as your... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2022-10-12 14:17:46 UTC ]
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New Right to Read Bill Expands School Library Access, Students’ Rights to Read

The Right to Read Act was introduced in Congress October 6. Here's what it is and how it could impact libraries and book bans nationwide. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-10-10 14:39:31 UTC ]
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The best video streaming services in 2022

The number of video streaming services available has increased dramatically over the past few years as everyone decides they want a piece of the pie. The days when Netflix was your only option are long gone now, and while that’s great for all of us itching to discover our next favorite TV show,... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2022-10-06 13:15:17 UTC ]
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Reed, Grijalva Introduce Bill to Support School Libraries

The Right to Read Act would authorize up to $500 million in Comprehensive Literacy State Development Grants as as well as investing in recruiting state-certified school librarians. And crucially, the legislation also reaffirms that "First Amendment rights apply to school libraries," a direct... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-10-06 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Dozens of libraries in England and Wales may become “warm banks” for people who need shelter.

There’s no shortage of reasons to love libraries, and here’s another: a new survey from the UK shows a significant number of them are planning to serve as “warm banks” this winter for people who need to take shelter from the cold. Sarah Shaffi reports today for The Guardian that, from a survey... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-09-28 18:53:02 UTC ]
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