Netflix is $25 a month now: How much do you spend on streaming? Use the Rocket Money app to see what you’re paying for. I do! They’ll even cancel a subscription for you if it’s not worth the money.
Why video streaming still fails
When it comes to big events, Netflix, Hulu and others still can’t seem to get it right. I’ll tell you why in this short podcast.
Found after 7 years: Watch “Unsolved Mysteries” on Netflix? You might remember Abdul Aziz Khan. He went missing from Atlanta after his mom, who didn’t have custody, allegedly kidnapped him. Police found her and her husband, who isn’t Abdul’s dad, in an empty house in Colorado and charged them. Now Abdul is 14 and finally coming home.
Up to $1.3 million annually
Netflix just listed this eye-popping salary for a new remote job. The role? “General Manager of Games,” overseeing business strategy and development for their flagship franchises. One catch: You’ll need at least 10 years of senior leadership experience to get it.
🚫 Kick moochers off your Netflix: Changing the password is one thing, but you can also log everyone out so they’ll have to sign in again. Just click your Profile icon (top right) > Account > Manage access and devices > Sign Out of All Devices. Want to be more selective? You can also remove specific devices!
Uncanny valley: Hit play on the 1980s sitcom “A Different World” on Netflix, you’ll notice something is … off. The streamer used AI to make the old footage HD quality. The result is nightmare-inducing. Faces look warped, and words or objects in the background are all pixelated. Check out this video to see for yourself. Dumb.
Net-tricks scam spreading: Look out for a phony Netflix email with the subject line “Let’s tackle your payment details.” Click the red update button to update your card, and you’ll land on a sign-in page primed and ready to steal your info. Never stops.
Cancelling? Netflix doesn't care
Buy returned stuff at a discount and flip it for a profit. Some folks make thousands a month!
61%
Of folks who cancel Netflix come back within a year. They’re better at luring back subs than all the other streaming options (paywall link). That’s my strategy, btw. Cancel when your show ends and come back when something new pulls you in. Psst, I use Rocket Money to find subscriptions I’m paying for and cancel them.
▶️ Annoyed by Netflix autoplay? You’re not alone. To turn off autoplay previews or the next episode, log into Netflix on a browser. Go to Account > Manage Profiles > Playback Settings > Autoplay controls. Bonus: To hide certain shows or movies, go to Manage Profiles > Viewing Restrictions. Type in what you want to hide and save.
📺 Did Netflix cross a line? If you’ve seen “American Murder: Gabby Petito,” you heard Gabby reading her journals and texts. The filmmakers actually used AI to clone the murder victim’s voice. They say her family approved, but some are calling it “monstrous” to tell her story this way. What do you think?
📺 Binge in bulk: New to iPhone, you can download an entire season of a Netflix show with one tap. Season Download works on Android, too. In the app, open the show’s page. The Download Season button is on the right, next to Share. Tap it, and the season starts downloading. Easy.
Is DeepSeek hiding something?
Rumors say DeepSeek is using American tech — but workers are banned from talking about it. Plus, Netflix’s new button (you’ll want to know about this), tax filing tips, and a robot kidnapper.
$18
New monthly price for Netflix’s ad-free Standard plan. Oh, goodie, another $3 price hike. The ad tier is now $8 (up from $7), and Premium is $25 (from $23). Account sharing went up a buck to $9. In the final quarter of 2024, Netflix pulled in $10 billion, and its revenue shot up 16%.
4 secret ways to use your smart TV
You use your smart TV for Netflix and chill, but let me show you how to unlock its full potential.
💬 Netflix search is smart: You don’t have to know the name of the show or movie to find it. You can type in an actor, genre or term, too — or go total spy mode and check out the secret Netflix category codes.
Subtitles rock: My son, Ian, switched them on one day and I won’t go back! You can change how they look to make them easier to read. On the Netflix TV app, pause your show and open Settings. Choose Size and Style to change ‘em. On the Hulu TV app, go to your profile > Settings > Subtitles and Captions. Change the color, opacity and shadowing.
Is Netflix going to tick off millions of people again? The streaming giant is going live with two NFL games tomorrow: The Chiefs versus the Steelers and the Ravens versus the Texans. After the Tyson-Paul fight fiasco, they must’ve learned their lesson, right? Internet providers like Comcast are stepping in with extra capacity, and Netflix says they’re ready (paywall link). They passed on third-party backups, so we’ll see.
Netflix shortcuts: Try these next time you’re watching from a browser. Hit F for full-screen mode and Esc to exit. Hit the spacebar to play and pause. M mutes, and the up and down arrows control the volume. Sweet!
💸 Another flop for Harry and Meghan: Their $100 million Netflix deal is on shaky ground. “Polo,” their new series focusing on the world of elite equestrian sports, has been ridiculed by critics as “unintentionally hilarious.” I tried to watch it, but it was so bad. The couple never did the animated series Netflix signed for, either. Meghan’s reputation as being extremely difficult to work with isn’t helping matters, and her cooking show is going up in smoke, too. PSA: Working for a living takes up your whole day.