Data caps for Spectrum

An online report says that Spectrum customers are about to experience data caps.

Welcome to my world, Spectrum users.

I've been with Comcast for several years, and have dealt with data caps this entire time. I have to say that only a couple of times have I surpassed the caps, and each time was unrelated to streaming. Well, mostly unrelated.

One time, I set up a new computer and had the iTunes settings so that it downloaded everything I had purchased. I thought it was set for new purchases only, but no, it was set for all. And I did this before I went out of town for a few days, so it downloaded about a TB of files, which busted my data cap.

Something similar happened a second time. Not exactly the same, but it was another out of the ordinary thing that busted the caps.

Normally, I don't have to worry about going over, so I haven't complained a lot about the data caps. But a lot of people do complain. And a lot of Spectrum customers have boasted about the lack of data caps on that system.

No more. According to Cord Cutters News, Spectrum is about to impose caps on customers:

Now on May 18th, 2023, Spectrum’s deal with the FCC will end, and it is expected that Spectrum will impose data caps.

Right now, only a handful of major providers do not impose data caps in some form. Most customers may never go over 1TB of data it is possible. Streaming Netflix in 4K will go through 1TB of data in about 171 hours. That works out to be roughly 7 hours of 4K streaming every day in a month.

Now, most streaming is not in 4K. With Netflix HD, it works out to be about 500 hours of streaming to hit 1TB. That works out to be over 16 hours of HD streaming every day in a 30-day month.

Whether or not Spectrum imposes the caps -- and I don't doubt they will -- it probably won't impact a lot of people. Like me, they probably won't go over. And while I don't like the idea of data caps, it is a part of my Streaming Life, though a part I don't like.

Top free apps for Fire TV

I've been a Roku user since 2010, well before Amazon and Google launched streaming platforms. I actually used both Roku and Apple TV, but that was when Apple TV had a very limited interface. In the years since, I've stayed with Roku.

Recently, I've used Fire TV more and more. I'm not dissatisfied with Roku, but from time to time will focus on other platforms. I'm not always qualified to suggest apps for other platforms -- at least, not as qualified as I am for Roku -- but I do have an idea. However, I'm willing to defer to those with more experience with the other platforms, including this video from Cord Cutters News that lists the top free apps for Fire TV:

[YouTube]

Could I have done a list like this? As it turns out, yes. I would agree with most of these. Luke knows his stuff, but since I pretty much agree with his list, I kinda know my stuff, too. Still, it's a good resource for new about cord cutting, and a Website that I use in my Streaming Life.

Not cutting cable? Cut the costs!

Not everybody who streams cuts cable. Some using streaming as an enhancement to their entertainment options, and still keep cable. It's what works for them.

I saw a video from Lon.TV recently where he covered things he did to help his mother reduce her Xfinity cable bill. I had done the same things with my mother and her cable bill some years back. These suggestions were good then, they're good now, and are not exclusive to Comcast/Xfimity.

[YouTube]

If you or someone you care about still has cable, perhaps these tips will be useful. If you still have cable along with your Streaming Life, this can make your overall costs go down. And that's good.

Private Cloud Storage

Yes, I know that the purpose here is focused on streaming, or is supposed to be. However, security is also something of great interest to me. I hope that it is of interest to you as well.

Part of increased security is a change in the way of thinking of things. Keeping security in the forefront of thinking is how you become more secure. And when it comes to saving money, you can do more than learning tips and tricks about streaming. You can keep your data, and your money, safe and secure.

One of the tools that many people use today is cloud storage. That can be tricky to do and stay secure.

[YouTube]

If security helps you in your everyday life, not just your Streaming Life, then it gets better.

Cord cutting grew last year. Again.

Twelve years ago, I was a rarity. I was a cord cutter, and there weren't as many of us.

Today, there are so many more cord cutters, and the numbers of others joining us in the world of cord cutting continues to increase.

A report from TVTech says that traditional pay TV services lost a lot of subscribers in 2022, more than they lost the previous year.

The top pay-TV providers now account for about 70.2 million subscribers—with the top seven cable companies having about 37.8 million video subscribers, other traditional pay-TV services having 24.1 million subscribers, and the top publicly reporting Internet-delivered (vMVPD) pay-TV services having 8.3 million subscribers.

That number represents a steep drop from LRG’s estimate of 76.1 video subscriptions in 2021. Although cord cutting has gradually increased year over year for the past decade, LRG reported that the trend eased up between 2020 and 2021 when pay TV providers lost 4,690,000 net video subscribers in 2021, compared to a pro forma net loss of about 4,870,000 in 2020. That blip was probably best represented by the fact that more TV was being consumed during the lockdowns imposed by the global pandemic.

You and I are part of a growing field. My Streaming Life, and yours, are the way that more and more people are going.