🎬 The Wookie’s cookie is a little Chewie: “Star Wars: Skeleton Crew” drops on Disney+ on Dec. 3. Set during the same era as “The Mandalorian” and “Ahsoka,” the series follows a group of kids who discover a spaceship and embark on an adventure. It stars Jude Law as a Jedi and looks like a 1980s Steven Spielberg movie. Check out the trailer.
Streaming prices are out of control - See what services are charging
We’ve come a long way from the days of visiting Blockbuster Video on a Friday night to find a few movies to pass the weekend. These days, you don’t have to get off the couch to rent the latest Hollywood smash hit.
Now, you just fire up the smart TV and connect to your favorite streaming service to have fantastic content at your fingertips. Giants like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Max, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+ and Paramount+ have emerged as dominant players, offering a vast array of movies, TV shows and original content.
But as the competition intensifies and the demand for quality content grows, prices for these streaming services have steadily climbed. Let’s look at the top streaming platforms, why costs are skyrocketing and the prices you can expect to pay.
Why are streaming prices constantly climbing?
The primary driver behind the price hikes for streaming services is the fierce competition among these platforms. Each service vies for a share of consumers’ wallets and screen time, leading to an arms race in producing exclusive content and securing the rights to popular shows and movies.
Also, the cost of producing high-quality original content has significantly increased. Not only does original programming attract new subscribers, but it helps retain existing ones. This constant demand for fresh, engaging content puts pressure on streaming services to invest more in production budgets, driving up subscription fees.
Licensing fees for content from major studios and networks have also risen, especially for in-demand titles and blockbuster movies. To maintain a competitive edge, streaming services must pay a premium to secure exclusive rights to popular content, which is reflected in their subscription prices.
Netflix: The pioneer of streaming
Netflix, the streaming industry’s trailblazer, revolutionized how people stay entertained. With its vast library of movies, TV shows and critically acclaimed originals, it quickly gained millions of subscribers worldwide.
As the market became more crowded, Netflix focused on producing exclusive content, which undoubtedly contributed to the spike in its subscription prices. Here’s what Netflix charges now:
- Standard with ads – $6.99 monthly: It’s ad-supported, with all but a few movies and TV shows available and unlimited mobile games. Watch on two supported devices at a time. Watch in Full HD.
- Standard – $15.49 monthly: Unlimited ad-free movies, TV shows, and mobile games. Watch on two supported devices at a time. Watch in Full HD. Download on two supported devices at a time. Option to add one extra member who doesn’t live with you for $7.99 monthly.
- Premium – $19.99 monthly: Unlimited ad-free movies, TV shows, and mobile games. Watch on four supported devices at a time. Watch in Ultra HD. Download on six supported devices at a time. Option to add up to two extra members who don’t live with you for $7.99 monthly. Netflix spatial audio.
Hulu: Where TV shows find a home
Here's how Facebook is actually listening to you
It’s happened to all of us. You have an innocent conversation and some random topic pops up, like cat food or Luke Skywalker. A while later, Facebook shows you ads for Fancy Feast and “Star Wars” or even a strange combination of the two.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
📺 My (TV) name is: Your default TV name is the model name at best and more like a Star Wars character name at worst. Change it to whatever you want. For ideas as to where to find yours on newer-model Samsung TVs, it’s under Settings > Connection. On Android TVs, open Settings > Device Preferences > About > Device Name. This is great to know when you’re troubleshooting your Wi-Fi.
🎬 The Wookie’s cookie is a little Chewie: “Star Wars: Skeleton Crew” drops on Disney+ on Dec. 3. Set during the same era as “The Mandalorian” and “Ahsoka,” the series follows a group of kids who discover a spaceship and embark on an adventure. It stars Jude Law as a Jedi and looks like a 1980s Steven Spielberg movie. Check out the final trailer.
What was the first feature film to use computer-generated imagery, aka CGI? Was it … A.) “Star Wars: A New Hope,“ B.) “Tron,“ C.) “Westworld“ or D.) “Alien“?
58 years ago
The first episode of “Star Trek” debuted. Since then, Captain Kirk and his crew have starred in 850 TV episodes and 13 movies. I used to confuse “Star Wars” with “Star Trek.” What a wookie mistake.
Your iPhone (even an old one) can project 3D holograms – Here’s how
Sci-fi films such as “Star Wars” and “Star Trek” famously used holograms to communicate with people in galaxies far (far) away. But while those are conjurings of Hollywood, the technology does exist and is being used today.
Fact or fiction? Answering some of the biggest holiday-related rumors
Christmas is a time to give gifts, spend time with family and take a breather from the chaos of the last year. If you are still stuck on what to buy, tap or click here for Kim’s Christmas shopping list of 13 things your friends and family will love.
In a galaxy far, far away: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang predicts we’ll all have our very own R2-D2 or C-3PO (paywall link) robots following us around. For non-”Star Wars” fans, these droids help with daily tasks like starship repairs and translating alien languages. Imagine that, a bot you can take on vacation or leave to do the laundry at home.
Here VR in the ER: VR headsets are sending gamers to the hospital, and 30% of the visits are for broken bones. One 54-year-old tripped and flipped over his ottoman playing a Star Wars VR title. If you have a VR headset, set a safety perimeter.
4-hour videos
Getting millions of views on YouTube. You may wonder, “Who the heck watches them?” They’re especially popular among a more nerdy audience. A four-hour critique of the Star Wars hotel has over 6 million views.
$850 for a “Star Wars” Millennium Falcon Lego brick set
Guess it wasn’t a pandemic fad after all … Since launching adult sets in 2020, Lego has doubled its over-18 offerings to include fan favorites like an $899 Titanic set and a $469 Hogwarts set. There’s even a name for the diehards: AFOL, or Adult Fans of Legos. I’m more of an AFON myself — Adult Fan of Napping.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
Jedi mind trick: Elon Musk shared a video of Neuralink’s first human patient using the brain implant to play chess on a laptop and stream music. Noland Arbaugh, a 29-year-old guy paralyzed from the shoulders down due to a diving accident, compares his Neuralink experience to “using the Force” from Star Wars.
What was the first feature film to use computer-generated imagery, aka CGI? Was it … A.) “Star Wars: A New Hope,“ B.) “Tron,“ C.) “Westworld“ or D.) “Alien“?
What was the original ringtone before customizable ringtones took over our mobile phones? Was it … Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 5,” the theme from “Star Wars,” Nokia’s “Gran Vals” or the sound of a rotary phone?
Alexa isn't the only thing to call your Echo - Here's what all the other names do
Smart assistants like Amazon’s Alexa or Google Home can make your daily tasks easier. They can also update you on traffic conditions and nudge you with specific reminders.
Even though they are only electronics at heart, you still need to call them by name to get their attention. While the standard “Hey, Alexa” will prick her ears every time, did you know that you can call her something else? Tap or click here to enable celebrity voices like Shaq on your Amazon Echo.
On the hunt for the season's hottest toys? Don't fall for these scams
Many parents dread the holiday season shopping, as there are always new hot toys that kids want but are hard to find. Not content with last year’s trends, many children want the latest and greatest things in their stockings. Tap or click here for details on a holiday decoration scheme going around.
Streaming comparison: These services give you the most bang for your buck
Over the years, streaming services have gone from a bit of a luxury to being nearly essential in every household. With broadband more readily available, switching to streaming is easier than ever.
Streaming providers know the competition is fierce, so most will do anything in their power to have you on their service. Netflix recently stopped giving new subscribers a free trial, but plenty of other services still do. Tap or click here to check out streaming services that offer free trials.
3D printers 101: Guide to getting started, best printers, tips
Look at the printer next to your computer. What can you use it for? You may rely on it for work, but the truth is the features offered by your old inkjet printer are pretty limited. You can print documents, photos or maybe even make a copy or two if you invested in a printer with advanced features.