YouTube is starting its own TV service

Google is about to make the jump in to paid TV service.  No date yet on when they are launching but it will be only $35 per month.

Sign up here to get notified when it becomes available in your area.

Here’s what YouTube TV offers:

• Live TV streaming from ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN, regional sports networks and dozens of popular cable networks. YouTube TV gives you the best of live TV, from must-see broadcast shows like “Empire,” “The Voice,” “The Big Bang Theory” and “Scandal,” to the live sports you want. YouTube TV includes major sports networks like ESPN and regional sports networks like Fox Sports Networks and Comcast SportsNet, so you can watch your favorite NBA or MLB teams. We’ve also partnered with local TV stations, so you’ll also get sports and local news based on where you live. And YouTube TV offers dozens of additional cable channels, so you won’t miss out on the latest news from MSNBC or Fox News, popular shows and movies from USA or FX, kids programming from the Disney Channel or Sprout, or reality TV from E! or Bravo. You can also add Showtime, or Fox Soccer Plus to your networks for an additional charge. In total, YouTube TV gives you access to more than 40 networks, listed below.
• A cloud DVR, with no storage limits. With YouTube TV, you’ll be able to record live TV and never run out of storage. Your cloud DVR can record as many shows as you want, simultaneously, without using precious data or space on your phone and we’ll store each of your recordings for nine months.
• A service that works great on all your screens. You can watch YouTube TV on any screen—mobile, tablet or computer—and you can easily stream to your TV with a Google Chromecast or Chromecast built-in TV. YouTube TV works on both Android and iOS. And your cloud DVR goes with you, so you can stream your recordings on any device, whenever and wherever you want.
• YouTube Red Originals. With a YouTube TV membership, you can watch all of our YouTube Red Original series and movies right on the new YouTube TV app.
• Six accounts, one price. Every YouTube TV membership comes with six accounts, each with its own unique recommendations and personal DVR with no storage limits. You can watch up to three concurrent streams at a time.
• Half the cost of cable with zero commitments. A YouTube TV membership is only $35 a month and there are no commitments—you can cancel anytime.

source – Google Blog

Get a free Chromecast, when you purchase a Google Home

The Google store is running a great deal, when you buy a Google Home and a Chromecast.  Just add both items to your cart and Google will discount your total by 35 bucks giving you the Chromecast for free.

source – Google Store

Free TV show – Clash-A-Rama!

CLASH-A-RAMA! is an original comedy series based on your favorite Clash of Clans and Clash Royale characters. CLASH-A-RAMA! takes viewers inside the Village and Arena to see what life is like between battles. From three writer/producers of The Simpsons and Rough Draft Studios, the animation house that brought you Futurama

get it free at the Play Store

Deal -save on Chromecast and Chromecast Ultra

Best Buy and the Google Store are having a sale on Chromecasts.  Save $5 on the Chromecast and Save $10 on the Ultra.

Best Buy – Chromecast and Chromecast Ultra

Google Store – Chromecast and Chromecast Ultra

Drop cable with these smart gadgets

Roku TV

 

Roku offers a media app based interface. One thing you need to know about it is that there is a very large difference in performance between the cheapest and the most expensive Roku.  With each price increase, processing power is greatly increased. This means that in the more expensive models, you will experience less loading time and will be able to more smoothly navigate the interface.  The premier, premier plus, and the ultra all can stream in 4k.  Here is a full list on the differences between all the models.

Prices range from $49.99 to $160.00

You can buy it from bestbuy.com

Chromecast and Chromecast Ultra

The Chromecast offers one of the best ways to inexpensively stream media to your TV.  All media is sent to the TV via the app on your phone.  You simply open the app, touch the Chromecast button, and select which device to play it on.  In addition to movies and TV shows, your Chromecast can also cast your pictures from Google photos, your whole phone screen or even a browser from your laptop.  Besides the price the only difference between the two options is the $35 dollar chromecast streams video in HD vs the Ultra $70 dollar version streams in 4k.

Buy them here Chromecast $35.00 and Chromecast Ultra 69.99

 

Apple TV

Like most things apple, if you own other apple devices, this well polished interface should feel just like home, between using Siri to search for content and using the familiar looking apps the Apple TV.  Unlike all the other boxes before this one, the Apple TV can play many iOS games using the provided controller.

There are two editions 32 GB 149.99 and 64 GB 199.99

Nvidia Shield – Android TV

The Nvidia Shield TV is very multi-functional, and can be described in 3 different parts.

The first part is a Chromecast Ultra, this machine can do everything a Chromecast Ultra can do.

The second is a traditional Android TV, like the Apple TV and Roku, it offers access to content via apps.  Most Android games are also available and it is the only one of the bunch that comes with a gaming controller.

The 3rd part of the Shield TV is the ability to play PC games over the network if you have a newer Nvidia graphics card on your gaming PC.   In addition to streaming games from your PC, you can also subscribe to Nvidia’s streaming service and have access many more games over the internet.

Coming soon (in the next few months) nvidia will be pushing an update to enable another cool feature.  Google assistant will soon be fully integrated.  This will allow the shield to act as a google home.

Shield TV 199.99 and Shield TV PRO 299.99

Conclusion

There is no bad device in this list to get.  All of them will give you an alternative to cable.  If you want the machine that does the most from apps to gaming and even to setting it up as a server, the Nvidia Shield is in a class of its own.  If you are in the apple ecosystem and enjoy the comfort that familiarity gives, Apple TV would be your choice.  For those who don’t want to spend a lot and have access to all the same media apps, Chromecast gets you started for only 35 bucks.  Last but not least, there is the Roku. It’s not quite as polished as an Apple TV and not quite as robust as an Nvidia Shield TV but still delivers great streaming for less than either of the two.