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Geared Up: iPhone 11 Dream Features, Streaming Subscription Services Landscape, and a New Co-Host Appears!

iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro

On this week's Geared Up, Apple's fall iPhone 11 announcement is just a few weeks away, and we talk about what our dream features for the device would be - what would make the perfect iPhone 11? We also go over the vast array of streaming services like Apple TV+ and Disney+ and how they fit into the landscape of Netflix, Hulu, HBO, and others, along with a way to combat subscription fatigue. We answer tons of listener Q&A - and the new Geared Up co-host is revealed!

LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW

SPONSOR: National Car Rental - skip the line with the Emerald Club. Go National. Go Like a Pro.

Listen to the episode in the player below or subscribe to Geared Up in your favorite podcast app to listen on the go:


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Deal of the Day: 3 Years VPN Unlimited Premium for 53 cents per month

vpn unlimited app

Today in the Gear Live Deals Shop we've got 70% off VPN Unlimited Premium as our Deal of the Day. For the next 6 days, VPN Unlimited is offering 3 years of VPN access for just $19. That is 36 months of VPN access, for roughly 53 cents per month. You’d be hard-pressed to find a better price anywhere. It’s a full account, so any upgrades or new features added over the next 3 years, you’d get access to them as well.

For those curious what a VPN is, it is a Virtual Private Network. It allows you to connect to any website anytime you have Internet access. All data sent through VPN is encrypted, which means your information is hidden from hackers or identity thieves. The other benefit is you get to choose the country of origin for your data. For example, means that if you are in Canada putting up with the abysmal WWE Network issues up there, you can instead connect with a VPN, set your country as USA, and get the full experience. Or if you're a Netflix subscriber traveling abroad, you can still access the content.

Aside from accessing the VPN on your PC or Mac, VPN Unlimited also has apps for Android, iPhone, iPad, and even Linux.

Head on over to the Gear Live Deals Shop to grab the 3-year VPN Unlimited offer for $19.

Don’t forget, if you’re looking for other deals, be sure to check out our Newegg Promo Code thread. Oh, and if you're on Twitter, be sure to follow @TechPromos for the latest deals.


Watch this: SNL spoofs Google Glass [Video]

Google Glass SNL skit

With this past weekends Saturday Night Live spoof, Google Glass has officially gone mainstream. As part of Weekend Update with Seth Meyers, Fred Armisen plays Tech Correspondent Randall Meeks, and tries to explain just how revolutionary Glass can be, all while trying to work within the constraints of poor speech recognition and awkward gestures. Yes, it's a spoof, and therefore, it is very exaggerated--but that's what makes it funny. We've embedded the Hulu clip below, after the break, for your enjoyment.

Click to continue reading Watch this: SNL spoofs Google Glass [Video]


Amazon scores Downton Abbey exclusivity for Prime Instant Video

Downton Abbey Amazon exclusive

Amazon has announced that it's Instant Video service has secured exclusive rights to Downton Abbey, the same day that Netflix exclusive House of Cards went live. Season 3 of the popular show will debut on Amazon Prime Instant Video on June 18th. The first two seasons are available on Hulu and Netflix, but will be removed later this year. Season 4 (and 5, if produced) will maintain Amazon exclusivity.

It's fun to sit back and observe the battle between Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu, but we have to wonder what this does for customers. If you want to be able to watch shows that are exclusive to different services, then you need to be a subscriber to  all of them. Not super-expensive at about $25 per month, but it's still a substantial jump over just choosing one service for $8 per month and sticking with it.

Read More | Amazon

Microsoft developing smaller Xbox set-top box

Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Microsoft, Rumors, Xbox,

Xbox set top box

Microsoft is developing a set-top box as an alterntative to a fully-fledged next generation gaming device. The set-top will run on core components of Windows 8, offering casual gaming titles (most likely through Xbox Live) instead of the big productions you'll find on the next-generation of Xbox consoles.

Furthering the casual theme of the set-top box, Microsoft is planning on incorporating a chipset enabling the device to boot up practically instantaenously for quick and simple access to TV, games and other entertainment services.

The set-top box is but one step in Microsoft's plan to bring the core architecture of the next-generation across several devices, such as a phone capable of handling a complete Xbox Live experience.

Click to continue reading Microsoft developing smaller Xbox set-top box


Hulu Plus now available on Apple TV

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Home Entertainment,

Hulu Plus Apple TV

In a move that's far overdue, Apple has finally launched Hulu Plus on the Apple TV. A software update was released early this morning that adds the Hulu Plus app to the second- and third-generation Apple set-top-box, but it's a behind-the-scenes update. All you need to do is restart your Apple TV if you don't see Hulu Plus on the home screen.

Users can get a 1-week trial, log in with their existing Hulu Plus account, or subscribe right from the Apple TV using their connected iTunes account.

Read More | Hulu

Wii U will offer dual-screen Netflix, Hulu Plus, YouTube, and Amazon Instant Video experiences

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Home Entertainment, Video Games,

Wii U Netflix, hulu, amazon, youtube

If you thought Nintendo wasn't serious about bringing more than just video games over to the Wii U console, think again. This morning during its E3 Media Briefing, Nintendo announced four popular streaming video options that'll be available on Wii U at launch: Netflix, YouTube, Hulu Plus, and Amazon Instant Video. That's not all, though. While you'll be able to watch content from these four service, Nintendo also announced plans for a dual-screen experience with each one. Imagine, for example, that while watching a movie on Netflix, you could pull up all sorts of related content, facts, maps, and other information about that movie on the Wii U GamePad when it launches later this year. Could be interesting, and it sounds a lot like Xbox SmartGlass.


Hulu to offer more original content for 2012

Hulu original content

Network and cable TV has been the primary source for new sitcoms and shows, historically. Now, with the adaptation of the internet, that is slowly changing. What started as a mere hub used to catch up on television shows, Hulu is now expanding into producing original, first-run shows on its own.

For those that use Hulu, you may have already known that Hulu had original programing like Battleground, Up to Speed, and A Day in the Life. Hulu’s programing is now expanding to include new shows, titled We Got Next, The Awesomes, Don’t Quit Your Daydream, and Flow.

Click to continue reading Hulu to offer more original content for 2012

Read More | TechCrunch

Nintendo looking to woo content providers for Wii U

Posted by John Ball Categories: Corporate News, Nintendo, Rumors, Wii U,

wii u netflix hulu

Ahh Nintendo, rarely an innovator, often an imitator. At least that can be said about the company’s next online “innovative” venture. The company is looking to various media service providers in order to kick off the Wii U release later this year with a bang. Like the Xbox 360, Nintendo has every intention of collecting as many service providers as it can in order to try to replace your cable or satellite box with the console. Nintendo is currently in talks with several ‘top content’ companies, possibly including Comcast, to become a cable TV provider alongside or after the Wii U launch.

Currently there are no official statements from Nintendo as to what content we can expect to see with the Wii U. What we do know is that Nintendo has announced that the Wii will soon be receiving Hulu compatibility.


Ask Andru: Should I get Kinect if I use my Xbox 360 primarily for watching Netflix?

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Features, Microsoft, Video Games, Videos,

kinect netflix

We're back with another edition of Ask Andru - this time we're focusing on the wildly popular Kinect add-on, and how useful it might be for Xbox 360 owners who primarily use their consoles for watching streaming video. On to the question:

My family has an Xbox 360 but we end up using it primarily for Netflix, not games. I've read that the recent Xbox Live update added more ways to navigate menus and content using voice and gestures with Kinect. Is it worth buying a Kinect just for those controls, if we don't use it to play games? Is talking and waving at the TV better than using the controller?

It's true--Microsoft recently released an update for the Xbox 360, known as the Fall 2011 Dashboard Update, that has fully optimized the console's interface for use alongside the Kinect add-on. Many early adopters of Kinect complained about how clunky and tacked on the experience felt when trying to navigate menus while using the Xbox 360 outside of gaming, and the update pretty much solved all of those problems. Now, it's easy to "grab" something on screen, swipe through menus, and make selections using hand gestures. Even cooler, though, is that the dashboard is now pretty much fully navigable using just your voice. Simply say "Xbox" and all your options for where you can go are displayed on the screen. If you can see it, you can pretty much say it. Here's a video I made that looks at the features you'll find in the latest update:

Click to continue reading Ask Andru: Should I get Kinect if I use my Xbox 360 primarily for watching Netflix?


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