Sunday, October 30, 2022

Finding replacement Linux utilities

Having used Windows and macOS computers for the last 30 years or so, I got used to using certain applications and utilities.

In 2007, when I moved from Windows to macOS (called OS X at the time) I had to replace some utilities, but not all. For example, there were Mac versions of Microsoft Office, and it was easy enough to use that. There were some differences between the Mac version and the Windows version -- I continued to use Microsoft Windows at work -- but overall, they were very close.

Of course, using Web browsers was not much of a big deal, as the browsers I used were on both operating systems. That was easy.

Audio and video utilities were actually fairly easy, though not entirely smooth. I used the same utilities for the respective operating systems. Some differences, but not a lot.

Some everyday utilities were different, though. For writing Web pages and such, there were different utilities I used. Sure, there were some that were available in both Windows and Mac, but the ones I had been using weren't.

This was true for different applications and utilities that I used for different tasks. There were some that were available in both Windows and Mac, and some that weren't. For those that were not on both operating systems, I would either find a Mac alternative, or I would switch to a utility that was supported on both. Price and ease of use, or the learning curve, drove that decision.

Not, I'm going through much of the same thing again. I have moved to Linux as my primary operating system. And, I'm running into a lot of the same issues I had when I first left Windows for Mac.

This is a little more difficult, however. There are not as many applications that run on Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Don't get me wrong, many that I'm using do run on all three, but certain ones don't. The main one is iTunes. You see, when I purchase movies or TV shows, I use iTunes for that. I've been using Mac and Windows utilities to convert the videos to MP4 and remove DRM. I don't share them with others, but use them on my own personal video library running under Plex.

The problem is that I've not found a free open source utility that runs under Linux and can convert the movies and remove DRM. Heck, I can't find a Linux utility that allows me to download iTunes movies.

DVDs isn't so much of a problem, but these digital videos are the problem. I still have to use Windows or Mac to accomplish this task. I want to be able to do it all in Linux.

I'm continuing to look for Linux utilities that will do what I want, and do it well. And I prefer free open source software (FOSS). But, that has proven to be a challenge. I've not given up, but I am having a hard time with it.

Saturday, October 29, 2022

Watching college football games this weekend: Week 9

College football season has reached Week Nine, and for the first time in a few weeks, there are no games between unbeaten teams.

There are three games featuring matchups of ranked teams, all games between conference opponents. The Big 12, the SEC, and the Big Ten all have a conference game between two ranked teams.

If you want to watch all of the games this season, you need access to most of the networks, which can get expensive. Of course, you might not want to be able to watch all the games.

This weekend, only one game will not be on these networks. Here are the networks carrying games:

  • ABC
  • ACC Network
  • Big 12
  • Big Ten
  • CBS
  • CBS Sports Network
  • ESPN
  • ESPN 2
  • ESPN 3
  • ESPN U
  • SEC Network
  • ESPN+
  • Fox
  • Fox Sports 1
  • Longhorn Network (No games this week)
  • NBC
  • NFL Network
  • Pac 12 Network
  • Peacock (No games this week)
  • Stadium

Here is how to watch these networks listed:

ABC

  • Antenna, over the air, free.
  • Vidgo Plus, $60/month.
  • YouTube TV, $65/month.
  • Fubo TV, $70/month.
  • Hulu+Live TV, $70.
  • DirecTV Stream Entertainment, $70/month.

ACC Network

  • Sling Orange, with Sports Extra, $46/month.
  • Sling Orange+Blue, with Sports Extra, $65/month.
  • Vidgo Plus, $60/month.
  • YouTube TV, $65/month.
  • Fubo TV, $70/month.
  • Hulu+Live TV, $70.
  • DirecTV Stream Choice, $90/month.

Big Ten Network

  • Sling Blue, with Sports Extra, $46/month.
  • Sling Orange+Blue, with Sports Extra, $65/month.
  • Vidgo Plus, $60/month.
  • YouTube TV, $65/month.
  • Fubo TV, $70/month.
  • Hulu+Live TV, $70.
  • DirecTV Stream Choice, $90/month.

CBS

  • Antenna, over the air, free.
  • Paramount+ Premium, $10/month.
  • Vidgo Plus, $60/month.
  • YouTube TV, $65/month.
  • Fubo TV, $70/month.
  • Hulu+Live TV, $70.
  • DirecTV Stream Entertainment, $70/month.

CBS Sports Network

  • YouTube TV, $65/month.
  • Fubo TV, $70/month.
  • Hulu+Live TV, $70.
  • DirecTV Stream Ultimate, $105/month.

ESPN

  • Sling Orange, $35/month.
  • Sling Orange+Blue, $50/month.
  • Vidgo Plus, $60/month.
  • YouTube TV, $65/month.
  • Fubo TV, $70/month.
  • Hulu+Live TV, $70.
  • DirecTV Stream Entertainment, $70/month.

ESPN2

  • Sling Orange, $35/month.
  • Sling Orange+Blue, $50/month.
  • Vidgo Plus, $60/month.
  • YouTube TV, $65/month.
  • Fubo TV, $70/month.
  • Hulu+Live TV, $70.
  • DirecTV Stream Entertainment, $70/month.

ESPN U

  • Sling Orange, $35/month.
  • Sling Orange+Blue, $50/month.
  • Vidgo Plus, $60/month.
  • YouTube TV, $65/month.
  • Hulu+Live TV, $70.
  • DirecTV Stream Entertainment, $70/month.
  • Fubo TV Elite, $80/month.

ESPN3

ESPN3 is usually included with a service that carries standard ESPN/ESPN2.

  • Sling Orange, $35/month.
  • Sling Orange+Blue, $50/month.
  • Vidgo Plus, $60/month.
  • YouTube TV, $65/month.
  • Fubo TV, $70/month.
  • Hulu+Live TV, $70.
  • DirecTV Stream Entertainment, $70/month.

ESPN+

ESPN+ is a standalone sports programming service. It is not the same thing as regular ESPN that you get with cable or one of the live streaming services. Some content from ESPN, ESPN2, or other ESPN networks may be available on ESPN+, but often, it's content that is only available on ESPN+.

  • ESPN+, $7/month.
  • Disney Bundle, $14/month.

Fox

  • Antenna, over the air, free.
  • Vidgo Plus, $60/month.
  • YouTube TV, $65/month.
  • Fubo TV, $70/month.
  • Hulu+Live TV, $70.
  • DirecTV Stream Entertainment, $70/month.

Fox Sports 1

  • Sling Blue, with Sports Extra, $46/month.
  • Sling Orange+Blue, with Sports Extra, $65/month.
  • Vidgo Plus, $60/month.
  • YouTube TV, $65/month.
  • Fubo TV, $70/month.
  • Hulu+Live TV, $70.
  • DirecTV Stream Entertainment, $70/month.

Longhorn Network

  • Sling Blue, with Sports Extra, $46/month.
  • Sling Orange+Blue, with Sports Extra, $65/month.
  • Vidgo Plus, $60/month.

NBC

  • Antenna, over the air, free.
  • YouTube TV, $65/month.
  • Fubo TV, $70/month.
  • Hulu+Live TV, $70.
  • DirecTV Stream Entertainment, $70/month.

NFL Network

  • Sling Blue, with Sports Extra, $46/month.
  • Sling Orange+Blue, with Sports Extra, $65/month.
  • Vidgo Plus, $60/month.
  • YouTube TV, $65/month.
  • Fubo TV, $70/month.
  • Hulu+Live TV, $70.

Pac 12 Network

  • Sling Blue, $35/month.
  • Sling Orange+Blue, $50/month.
  • Vidgo Plus, $60/month.
  • Fubo TV Pro, with Fubo Extra, $78/month.
  • Fubo TV Elite, $80/month.

Peacock TV

Peacock is a standalone streaming service that carries NBCUniversal programming, including much sports from NBC as well as exclusive sports programming. Peacock Premium is $5/month, but is included with Xfinity Internet plans.

SEC Network

  • Sling Orange, $35/month.
  • Sling Orange+Blue, $50/month.
  • Vidgo Plus, $60/month.
  • YouTube TV, $65/month.
  • Hulu+Live TV, $70.
  • DirecTV Stream Choice, $90/month.
  • Fubo TV Ultimate, $100/month.

Stadium

  • Stadium app, free.
  • Plex, free.
  • Roku Channel, free.
  • Sling Free, free.
  • STIRR, free.
  • Tubi, free.
  • Xumo, free.
  • Vidgo Plus, $60/month.
  • YouTube TV, $65/month.
  • Fubo TV, $70/month.

This list of networks covers all the games airing today. It also covers games next week through Friday, as the early games next week are all on one of these networks.

NOTE: Longhorn Network, Big 12 Network, and Peacock are not needed this weekend.

NOTE: Conference-USA has one game (Wyoming vs Hawaii) that is not carried on any of these national networks nor any streaming service.

To watch all the games, having an antenna won't really matter, as in order to get all the networks carrying games, the services also carry the OTA stations. So, how much to watch them all?

The services necessary will cost $85. That's $78 for Fubo TV Pro +Fubo Extra, along with $7 for ESPN+.

If you want college football in your Streaming Life, you have options, though it can get expensive depending just how many games you want to watch.

Friday, October 28, 2022

Another home for Doctor Who

Quick! Tell me where you can watch Doctor Who.

Okay, that's unfair. Mostly because there are so many different places where you can watch the iconic British TV show.

Of course, part of the answer depends on which incarnation of the show you are talking about. The classic shows air on different networks, but the revival series (sometimes called NuWho) has aired live on BBC America for some time, while the rest of the NuWho episodes are on HBO Max.

Starting in November 2023, Disney Plus is the new home of new episodes of Doctor Who.

Ncuti Gatwa, who will star as the 15th Doctor following Tennant's second run, announced that the beloved sci-fi series would be moving to Disney+ during an appearance this morning on Live with Kelly and Ryan. Russell T Davies, who acted as showrunner for the series from 2005 to 2009, will return along with Tennant.

"I love this show, and this is the best of both worlds—with the vision and joy of the BBC and Disney+ together we can launch the TARDIS all around the planet, reaching a new generation of fans while keeping our traditional home firmly on the BBC in the UK," Davies said.

New episodes of Doctor Who will be streaming on Disney+ starting in late November 2023, while BBC will continue to host the series in the UK and Ireland.

I've seen some in the UK upset about this, but it doesn't really impact them. They may not realize that. A lot of people will react without getting all of the facts. People are awful, amiright?

Anyway, it's not known of the previous seasons of NuWho will follow to Disney Plus, if they'll remain on HBO Max, or if another service will become home to the shows.

And classic Doctor Who will remain on BritBox for the time being, as well as part of linear streaming channels on Pluto TV, Xumo, Plex, and other services. It's pretty easy to have classic Doctor Who as a part of your Streaming Life, but NuWho will be a little more complicated in a little over a year.

Thursday, October 27, 2022

Watching the World Series

The World Series starts tomorrow. Of course, with the expanded playoffs in Major League Baseball, only three games of what is called the October Classic will actually take place in October. The World Series will end in November.

I won't spend a lot of time complaining about that, but I will spend a little. While I like the fact that more fans now have the opportunity to win a championship -- 12 of 30 teams were in the playoffs between the two leagues -- I do not like the World Series dragging on into November. I'm of the mindset that the World Series should be played in October. The entire World Series, not just some of the games.

With that out of the way, streamers can watch the October/November Classic starting tomorrow. All four, five, six, or seven games will be carried on Fox.

Fox

  • Antenna, over the air, free.
  • Vidgo Plus, $60/month.
  • YouTube TV, $65/month.
  • Fubo TV, $70/month.
  • Hulu+Live TV, $70.
  • DirecTV Stream Entertainment, $70/month.

That's pretty simple and straightforward. And I like it that way. It's pretty easy to have the World Series as part of your Streaming Life.

Wednesday, October 26, 2022

My suggested Hallowe'en movie

Many times you'll find movie lists of the "best [insert holiday here] movies of all time." Usually, these are yearly lists and vary from year to year.

This year, for some reason, I haven't seen many of these lists. Heck, I haven't seen any at all for Hallowe'en. (Yes, I use the traditional spelling for Hallowe'en.)

I finally did a search for such a list, and the IMDB Top 100 Halloween Movies of All Time showed up. And I was disappointed with the results.

Some of what was on the list made me go "seriously?" Some of what was not on the list made me go "Seriously??!!??"

You see, I consider Nosferatu a great movie for Hallowe'en, or for any time you want to watch a well done creepy movie. That's not bad for a movie that's 100 years old.

The film was released in its native Germany in March of 1922, so it's actually now closer to its 101st anniversary than its 100th. But this is the centennial of the film, and I think it's a great time to watch it.

Link: YouTube

Link: Amazon Prime

It's a great film. Yes, it's old. Yes, it's a silent film. But oh my goodness, some of the scenes are visuals are fantastic.

 

 

 

 

Great visuals. Great film. And quite creepy. To me, it's a great Hallowe'en film, and I enjoy having it as part of my Streaming Life.