The Disney Plus, Hulu, and Max streaming bundle is now available

There is a new streaming service bundle, and I'm interested. Just introduced is the new Hulu, Disney Plus, and Max bundle. That is a , the ultimate streaming experience for the whole family! With this bundle, users will have access to a vast library of content from three of the most popular streaming platforms, all at a discounted price.

Hulu provides a wide range of popular TV shows, movies, and original programming, including award-winning series. I've subscribed to Hulu for years. It was my original cable replacement when I dropped cable in 2011. If you want live TV and sports from major networks like ABC, NBC, and Fox, that's an option, although it's expensive. For me, the $8/month plan does the job.

Disney Plus transports you into the magical worlds of Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic. Subscribers are able to stream all of their favorite Disney classics, along with new releases like Encanto and Wish. Plus, their original series like The Mandalorian and WandaVision are available.

Max gives you access to a curated selection of premium content from Warner Bros., HBO, and DC Comics. Users are able to watch critically acclaimed movies like Joker and The Batman, as well as popular TV shows like Succession and Game of Thrones.

With the Hulu, Disney Plus, and Max bundle, there is something for just about everyone in the family to enjoy. Classic movies, new releases, comedies, epic action-adventures, and more, there's something for just about everyone to watch.

Here's the really good news: You can save money with the Hulu, Disney+, and Max bundle. When you sign up for all three services together, you'll pay less than you would if you subscribed to each service individually. A lot less.

The bundle is $17/month. Yes, there are ads. I can deal with ads. If you can't, it's $30/month.

Compare that to the standalone price for the services:

• Hulu: $8 (with ads), $18 (no ads)
• Disney Plus: $8 (with ads), $14 (no ads)
• Max: $10 (with ads), $17 (no ads)

That's $26/month for the service with ads, and $49/month without ads. The bundle saves $9 (more than Hulu or Disney Plus alone), or $19 (more than any one of the services).

I'm going to try it. I already use Hulu, so that's easy enough. Disney Plus is only another $2, and another $7 for Max, considering the content, is a pretty good deal.

I don't know if I'll keep it long. I'll probably put it in rotation with Netflix, Starz, AMC Plus, and others. My Streaming Life doesn't keep services year-round. This may be an exception.

Paris Olympics 2024

The Olympics have officially started, with some preliminary archery events taking place yesterday. Tonight marks the highly anticipated opening ceremony.

Personally, I stopped watching the Olympics years ago when they delved into politics.  The same organization that held the 1936 Olympics in Nazi Germany and criticized both the U.S. and Soviet Union for their boycotts in 1980 and 1984, respectively, suddenly became politically active themselves. This hypocrisy turned me off completely.

However, I know many people are passionate about the Olympics, and if you're a streaming enthusiast, you're in luck. NBC is the primary broadcaster, but Peacock TV offers comprehensive coverage of every event. For the most extensive viewing experience, Peacock TV is the way to go.

Here's how you can access NBC and Peacock:

NBC:

• Antenna: Free
• Peacock (Plus): $14/month
• Sling TV (11 markets only): $45/month
• YouTube TV: $73/month
• Hulu+Live TV: $77/month
• Fubo (Pro): $80/month
• DirecTV (Entertainment): $80/month

Peacock:

• Peacock is a standalone service.
• Their $14/month plan allows you to watch NBC's live sports programming.

My Streaming Life won't include the Olympics, again, this year. However, I hope those who do enjoy the wealth of streaming options available.

Storage Wars: How Google TV and Roku Tackle App Clutter

In my previous article on the Google TV Streamer, I briefly mentioned the need for better app management. While Google TV's app management isn't as seamless as Roku's, it's definitely a step up from Fire TV.

Roku excels at managing app storage by automatically removing unused apps when space is limited, effectively creating space for new installations. These removed apps are replaced with shortcuts for easy re-download when needed, ensuring users never run out of storage.

Google TV's 2023 update has also improved app management by automatically removing apps unused for 30 days, similar to Roku's approach. However, unlike Roku's comprehensive solution, Google TV's approach doesn't manage recently used apps, leaving the possibility of running out of space.

Despite this limitation, Google TV's new process is a welcome improvement compared to its previous iteration. While Roku's method remains superior in my view, Google TV's efforts to optimize app management are certainly a step in the right direction, enhancing the overall streaming experience for users. My Streaming Life appreciates those efforts to reduce issues with adding apps to my streaming devices.

Google TV Streamer: The Chromecast Successor We've Been Waiting For?

Image: 9to5Google.com

I've recently become a much bigger fan of Google TV. I've always been a loyal Roku user, but the recent improvements to the Google TV interface have won me over. I rarely even use my Roku anymore.

Traditionally, the Chromecast dongle and the Walmart Onn Streaming Box have been the go-to devices for Google TV. However, the Chromecast with Google TV is getting a bit outdated, and an update has been highly anticipated. Now, 9to5Google reports that the new device won't be a Chromecast at all, but rather a set-top box called the "Google TV Streamer."

This upcoming device was first revealed back in April, and 9to5Google has confirmed it will be named the "Google TV Streamer:"

Google is ditching the compact dongle form factor that plugs into your TV and remains out of sight.

As seen in images shared with 9to5Google, Google is aiming for a set-top/table-top design that has a slanted, pill-shaped surface. It's rather wide compared to other streaming boxes, and unclear if it serves any functional purpose. For example, this would be great for Ultra Wideband-powered Tap to Cast that was announced for the Pixel Tablet earlier this year.

This is joined by a pill-shaped base, with the entire thing vaguely looking like a miniature Pixel Tablet Charging Speaker Dock. Two cables — presumably power and HDMI — protrude from the back. Overall, it should have a minimal (height) presence underneath your television.

While the article doesn't mention any specs, I hope they will be significantly better than the current Chromecast. One of its biggest drawbacks is its limited technical specifications. Perhaps the new device will have more RAM and local storage, along with better app management.

The article states that the device will be officially announced in August, but it's unclear if it will be released then or later down the line.

My Streaming Life has involved Google TV a lot more lately, and I'm really excited about this new device, whenever it may arrive.

Subscription Fatigue: How I Survive (and Thrive) in the Streaming Jungle

I've been a streamer for over 13 years. However, I realize not everyone shares my concerns, hopes, and desires about streaming. For me, the most pressing issues are the rising cost of subscriptions and the increasing fragmentation of content.

As more streaming services enter the market, each with exclusive content, consumers like me find it increasingly expensive to access all the shows and movies we want. This has led to "subscription fatigue," where viewers feel overwhelmed by the number of services and their associated costs. New streamers, in particular, can be very overwhelmed.

Besides the financial burden, content fragmentation across platforms makes it difficult to find and watch what we want. Constantly switching between apps and services is inconvenient and frustrating.

Other concerns include:

• Quality and variety of content: Viewers want engaging and diverse content that caters to their interests.
• User experience: A seamless interface and reliable streaming quality are crucial for consumer satisfaction.
• Data privacy and security: Consumers are increasingly concerned about how streaming services use their data and the risk of privacy breaches.

Overall, the rising cost of subscriptions and content fragmentation are the most pressing concerns for streaming consumers, as they directly impact our ability to access and enjoy content. This has led some to explore alternatives like free ad-supported television (FAST) services or even returning to traditional cable TV.

My Streaming Life consists mainly of FAST content. When I pay for content, it's on a rotating basis. This way, I still get what I want without breaking the bank. Though it requires some effort, I find this approach worthwhile to get the content I want without overspending.

Netflix is king

Netflix remains the top-of-mind streaming service for many, and rightfully so. Recent data from the Wall Street Journal confirms its continued growth, with subscriber additions exceeding those from the previous year's second quarter:

The streaming company added 8.05 million subscribers in the second quarter, compared with 5.89 million net new subscribers during the same period a year earlier. It expects new customer additions to be lower in the current quarter than the same period last year, when it began limiting password sharing in earnest.

Revenue rose nearly 17% year over year to $9.56 billion in the second quarter, beating the company’s projections. Netflix raised its revenue growth forecast for 2024 to 14% to 15%, up from 13% to 15%.

The strong performance is a sign that Netflix’s efforts to change its plan pricing and lineup, limit password sharing and expand the advertising tier of its service are bearing fruit.

My Streaming Life will include Netflix (ad supported, of course) from time to time. I don't watch it a lot, but it does have a place on my streaming device.

Stop using Windows? Not so fast...

I'm a privacy advocate, and strongly dislike the way that Windows 11 violates fundamental privacy. However, not everyone feels that way.

I don't like using Windows, and prefer macOS, Linux, or ChromeOS over Windows, partially for privacy, but mostly for security. Britec has a video that says Windows isn't really a problem. While I disagree, his argument is worth considering:

[YouTube]

My Streaming Life follows, as much as possible, the good security and privacy practices I follow everywhere. I understand what Britec is saying, but I think it's possible to reduce privacy concerns as much as possible, and dropping Windows is a way to go.