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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Citing Embargo, Libraries Plan Boycott of Blackstone Digital Audio

A coalition of some 44 public libraries across Washington state is organizing a six-month boycott of Blackstone Publishing's digital audiobooks after the publisher announced last month that it would withhold new release audio titles from libraries for 90 days. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-07-12 04:00:00 UTC ]
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The Week in Libraries: July 12, 2019

The digital content market for libraries is about to get even more unsettled; Elsevier cuts off researchers at the University of California; and librarians gear up for the 2020 census. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-07-12 04:00:00 UTC ]
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National Libraries Conference aims for 'continued survival' of service

A National Libraries Conference, due to take place later this month, aims to ensure the service’s “continued survival” in a digital age, organisers say. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-07-11 05:47:50 UTC ]
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Visit 28 of the Best Libraries in the World

From oldest to largest, most popular to smallest, explore the planet and update your travel plans with this list of the best libraries in the world. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2019-07-10 10:39:02 UTC ]
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Essex libraries saved after council U-turn in triumph for campaigners

Essex County Council has announced it is ditching plans to close its libraries and their future is secure for the next five years following a huge community campaign, supported by authors including David Walliams and Jacqueline Wilson. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-07-09 00:31:48 UTC ]
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Campaigners in new bid to save Essex library services

Library campaigners are calling on Essex County Council to launch a new consultation on the future of its libraries in a new bid to save the services.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-07-08 10:24:45 UTC ]
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Beautiful Libraries Around the World Every Book Lover Should Visit: July 7, 2019

Critical Linking, a daily roundup of the most interesting bookish links from around the web, is sponsored by Book Riot’s ... Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2019-07-07 10:30:45 UTC ]
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Want Kids to Learn the Joy of Reading? Barbershops and Laundromats Can Help

A movement supported by nonprofit groups and libraries is creating literary spaces in places where children find themselves with time on their hands. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2019-07-02 09:00:13 UTC ]
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Microsoft's Ebook Apocalypse Shows the Dark Side of DRM

Microsoft has closed its ebook store—and will soon make their customers' libraries disappear along with it. Continue reading at Wired

[ Wired | 2019-06-30 11:00:00 UTC ]
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Co-op launches campaign to protect community hubs

Brand offers financial support to help restore parks, libraries and leisure centres. Continue reading at Media Week

[ Media Week | 2019-06-28 09:22:56 UTC ]
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Springer Nature signs its first 'pure OA' deal with Sweden's Bibsam

An agreement between publisher Springer Nature and Sweden's Bibsam consortium - made up of institutional libraries and funders - will see the two share the costs of publishing in Springer Nature's Open Access journals.   Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-06-27 01:33:22 UTC ]
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State school children miss out on author visits, NLT report reveals

Writers say a lack of funding and cuts to libraries mean children from disadvantaged backgrounds are missing out when it comes to school visits, after a new report shows that independent schools are far more likely to have welcomed an author in the past year than state schools. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-06-26 04:33:29 UTC ]
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New York City’s Public Libraries to End Film Streaming Through Kanopy

The libraries cited unsustainable costs in ending the service. Cinephiles took to social media with their reactions. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2019-06-24 23:21:19 UTC ]
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ALA 2019: In Opening Keynote, Jason Reynolds Celebrates the Libraries Within Us All

Reynolds earned a standing ovation for an intensely personal keynote that touched on family, religion, his closest friends and relationships, the power of narrative, and the central, “sacred” role libraries play in people’s lives. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-06-22 04:00:00 UTC ]
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The Week in Libraries: June 21, 2019

Among the week's headlines: the 2019 ALA Annual Conference kicks off in Washington DC; Librarians cry foul over Hachette's new digital terms for libraries; and the DPLA wins a major grant. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-06-21 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Journalism and Libraries: ‘Both Exist to Support Strong, Well-Informed Communities’

In Weare, New Hampshire, a small town about 45 minutes from the state’s southern border with Massachusetts, the local newspaper Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2019-06-20 19:15:00 UTC ]
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The Week in Libraries: New Reader Survey Urges Publishers, Libraries to Bridge Their Data Gap

Among the stories making news this week: veteran bookseller and library advocate Tim Coates releases a reader-focused survey; more drama over Drag Queen Storytimes; and what to expect from all the talk of antitrust action in the tech sector. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-06-14 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Translated Books Gain Visibility in Libraries

The Global Literature in Libraries Initiative takes translations to the ALA Annual Conference and administers a YA prize. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-06-14 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Google unveils holiday season savings on games, apps, books and movies

It can't have escaped your attention that -- in the US at least -- holiday season is just around the corner. With Thanksgiving comes Black Friday and other sales, and Google is getting in on the action with a series of discounts in the Play Store. There are great savings to be made on games and... Continue reading at Betanews

[ Betanews | 2018-11-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Our favorite Kindle reader, the Paperwhite, is on sale for 25 percent off today

Amazon’s Kindles are among the best ways to read without lugging around physical copies of all your favorite books and magazines, and if you’re looking to try one for yourself, today's your lucky day—our favorite e-reader, the Kindle Paperwhite, is on sale now for $90, its lowest price since... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2018-05-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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