Barb Gonzalez

SmartStream
Roku OS 12 Update - Live News, Sports and a Revamped Mobile App
Barb Gonzalez  |  Mar 15, 2023
Roku promises an enhanced user experience when it rolls out a new OS 12 update in the coming weeks. In addition to delivering a revamped mobile app, the update will expand access to sports and live TV and use advanced artificial intelligence (AI) to improve personalized viewing recommendations.
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SmartStream
How to Watch the 2023 Oscars and Nominated Movies
Barb Gonzalez  |  Mar 08, 2023
The 95th Academy Awards will be held on Sunday at 5 pm PST / 8 pm EST and broadcast on ABC. It's always more fun to watch if you've seen the nominated movies. While you can't stream Avatar: The Way of Water, most other features are available on scattered services.
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SmartStream
HBO Max, Disney, and Paramount Shift Strategies to Keep Streaming Alive
Barb Gonzalez  |  Mar 01, 2023
This past year has been a wake-up call for streaming studios. As post-pandemic churn set in, these services started to report huge losses. The strategy to offer as many original titles to their users was a losing proposition, resulting in mergers, restructuring, and a reduction in new production.
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SmartStream
Peacock Drops Free Tier Making New Users Pay
Barb Gonzalez  |  Feb 22, 2023
At a time when live-TV streaming services are adding more free channels, Peacock streaming service has discontinued its free tier for new customers offering only Peacock Premium and Peacock Premium Plus subscriptions.
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SmartStream
Amazon Blocks Linking From Plex and Others
Barb Gonzalez  |  Feb 15, 2023
The best discovery apps display titles on a watch list or let you search through all streaming apps and then instantly play regardless of which app is streaming. Amazon Fire TV devices now block apps from launching other apps.
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SmartStream
Where to Stream Super Bowl LVII, Puppy Bowl XIX or the Great American Rescue Bowl
Barb Gonzalez  |  Feb 08, 2023
As we increasingly ditch our traditional ways of watching broadcast TV, we're no longer switching on the TV and watching the game. It's just as likely that you'll stream Super Bowl LVII, and here's where to find it. If the big game isn't your thing, perhaps you'd prefer to stream one of the furry games like Puppy Bowl XIX or the Great American Rescue Bowl.
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SmartStream
Paramount+ to Absorb Showtime Into One App
Barb Gonzalez  |  Feb 01, 2023
Later this year, Showtime will be fully absorbed by Paramount+. Not only will the two services stream from the same app, but the premium cable channel will also include Paramount+ original content. The merge will happen soon, but pricing and dates haven't been announced.
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Streaming Device Reviews
Arylic S50+ Pro Preamp and A50+ Amp Review
Barb Gonzalez  |  Jan 28, 2023
Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE A50+ $199, S50+ Pro $219

AT A GLANCE
Plus
A50+
Multiple music sources include streaming music services
Multiroom streaming or stream separately
EQ adjustment buttons on remote
Presets to favorite playlists
Stream legacy devices like turntables or CD players

S50+ Pro
Pairable with A50+ for synchronized listening throughout the home
Optical input and output
Decodes high-resolution audio
Remote control with EQ direct buttons
Presets to switch to favorite playlists from a variety of services
Stream legacy devices like turntables or CD players

Minus (A50+ and S50+ Pro)
The 4STREAM app is confusing and incomplete
Can’t create a play queue
Amazon Music has bugs (doesn’t play when switching from another app)
Output is compressed CD quality, not high-resolution audio
Doesn’t have AirPlay2
Doesn’t work with Alexa, Google, directly with Siri

THE VERDICT
The Arylic A50+ wireless multiroom full digital hi-fi amplifier and the S50+ Pro wireless streaming preamplifier are reasonably priced streaming solutions for specific needs. These aren’t devices for the average user looking for a whole home music system. Instead, the Acrylic amp and preamp are better suited for DIYers or users who are comfortable piecing together a system.

Arylic's A50+ and S50+ are small music streamers that work with most music sources...

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Streaming Device Reviews
Amazon Fire TV Cube 3 Review
Barb Gonzalez  |  Jan 22, 2023

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $140

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Super Resolution Upscaling to 4K improves HD and SD content
Hands-free control of the Fire TV Cube and Smart Home Devices
Fast navigation and loading of content
Connect thumb drive or external drive to view/listen to media
Connect webcam for video calling
Minus
Sponsored apps, ads, and Amazon’s FreeVee monopolize home screen and search
Set-top box integration didn’t work with DISH Hopper

THE VERDICT
If you have Amazon Prime, cable or satellite, and smart home devices, definitely consider upgrading to the Fire TV Cube 3rd generation.

The 3rd generation Fire TV Cube has several new features that may make it worth upgrading from your current Fire TV. One of these features is HDMI pass-through, which allows for easy integration with set-top boxes. Additionally, the cube has a more powerful processor that improves picture quality. As the top-of-the-line Fire TV model, the cube combines the functionality of a smart Echo speaker and a streaming Amazon Fire TV.

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SmartStream
Epix Channel Becomes MGM+
Barb Gonzalez  |  Jan 18, 2023
On January 15th, MGM+ launched as an independent app and Amazon Prime channel. This comes as no surprise after Amazon bought MGM in 2021. The vast library of high-quality titles, previously available on the now-closed Epix channel, is now live on MGM+. This is no B-movie service. It's MGM, founded 99 years ago, the makers of all the movies in That's Entertainment .
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