As you might imagine, tech news is a little hard to come by during the holiday season. So, I will continue my mini review of the new DirecTV now application. When we last talked, I had it up and running on my iMac using the Safari Browser. It is still working well and with only a few very minor glitches, I have it running just the way I want. I found out you can select your favorite channels and only show them in the channel guide. Saves a lot of time when browsing as there are only a few channels out of the 100 that I care about.
My big project for the weekend was to get DirecTV on to my 50” TV using my Chromecast device. For those who don’t know, Chromecast is a device much like Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon’s Fire TV. But the biggest difference between Chromecast and the others is your controls. The others all use remote controls…Chromecast uses your smartphone or a tablet.
You download an app to your phone/tablet, and it controls what is seen on the TV. It should have been easy, but it wasn’t. I could not get the iPhone or iPad to work with Chromecast and DirecTV, although they worked fine with other channels. Then I read article #1 below and found out that Chromecast with DirecTV only works with an Android device. Thanks for the heads-up, AT&T.
Thank goodness I have an inexpensive 8” Android tablet that I occasionally play around with. As soon as I downloaded the DirecTV app, everything worked almost perfectly. The picture quality is very good. I watched part of the Monday Night Football game on it without an issue. One of the best things about that game was very few commercials. I guess DirecTV has a license for the ESPN, but not their commercials. Fine with me!
Early in 2017, I will be able to use my Apple devices on Chromecast, but I will also be able to get DirecTV on my Roku device. I prefer the Roku to Chromecast so I look forward to that. For various reasons, I will probably keep DirecTV, at least for a while. One nice bonus for me is being able to see the Turner Movie Classics (TMC) channel again. A lot of great old movies shown without commercials. I have missed that channel.
The bottom line is DirecTV is a good deal for the money right now. But you should also check out Sling TV and PlayStation Vue to see if their services might fit your needs better. All three have their strengths and weaknesses…the most obvious being the DVR function only available on Vue…at least for now. Here is a link to a comparison chart that compares all three and what they offer.
Tech News and Opinions
DirecTV Now: everything you want to know
The author spent hours streaming AT&T’s new internet TV, and here’s what it’s like.
Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV, Chromecast and Android TV: All the apps and channels compared
The mainstream video streamers offer hundreds of entertainment apps, from DirecTV Now to Netflix to Nick Jr. to NBC News to NHL, and the list is growing all the time. Here's a big chart showing which of the top 75-odd apps are available on which device.
The new MacBook Pro may have some battery issues
Several owners of the MacBook Pro with Touch Bar have taken to Apple’s support forums and Twitter to complain that the battery inside the new machine doesn’t last nearly as long as advertised.
Report claims Galaxy Note 7 batteries exploded because they were too big
A new report says there wasn't sufficient clearance between the battery and its enclosure, and that 'aggressive design' led to the battery being squeezed.
The NFL will reportedly relax their social media rules so teams can post more GIFs and videos
In a memo from the NFL to all teams, the league outlined a new set of rules that should make it easier for teams to share content with fans on social media.
Desktop and Laptop Tips and Tricks
How to Turn on Cortana by Voice in Windows 10
Through Microsoft's "Hey Cortana" feature, you can get the attention of the voice assistant just by saying "Hey Cortana," and segue into your converation seamlessly.
Why you should start using Google Keep right away
Opinion: Artificial intelligence is transforming Google's yellow sticky note app into an indispensable peripheral to your own mind
Microsoft hopes your Windows PC can replace an Amazon Echo
A leaked Home Hub feature would let a shared computer stand in for smart speakers.
Everything you need to know about Windows 10 recovery drives
How to make one, and what you can do with it.
A new Chrome feature automatically mutes multiple tabs
An experimental new Chrome feature lets you focus on one noisy tab at a time.
Mobile Computing
The Best iPad Apps of 2016
These 50 apps will transform your iPad into the ultimate slate computer for work and play.
The 10 Best Messaging Apps for Android and iOS
Messaging apps have grown to provide rich services and interaction with others, from free text messaging, to voice and video calling, and even photo and file sharing.
Opinion: Never Ever (Ever) Download Android Apps Outside of Google Play
A strain of malware hit at least 1.3 million Android phones, stealing user data as part of a scheme to boost ad revenue. Called “Gooligan,” it got into those devices from an app that people downloaded outside the comfortable confines of the Google Play Store.
Microsoft adds more cloud storage options to Office apps on Android
Starting now, you have new storage options and a few more on on the way.
5 new tricks for Instagram addicts
Instagram has been rolling out monthly updates that are changing the way you can use the photo-sharing app, including a new live video option that's already available to some users.
10 best Reddit apps for Android
Reddit fancies itself as the front page of the Internet. For better or for worse, that’s pretty much what it is. It’s a large site with tons of topics and then tons of threads in each topic. With the right app, you can surf through your favorite subreddits pretty easily.
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