HBO Max is one of the largest and priciest streaming services on the market, but that will soon change. AT&T has revealed that starting this summer, HBO Max will offer a cheaper version of its service, one supported by advertisements, but with some restrictions that won't apply to those who pay for the ad-free plan.
Back in the late 2000s, when streaming services like Netflix and Hulu were just getting going, I was convinced that those services would change the way we watch TV. Even back then, it wasn't difficult to envision a future where cable wasn't the only way we watched shows. Fast forward to today and things have largely panned out as expected. The streaming market is fragmented as everyone attempts to build out their own streaming services, yes, but these days you can get along just fine with a few streaming subscriptions, which still comes in at less than the cost of a cable package.
The COVID-19 pandemic didn't stop the inevitable rollout of 5G networks, it just slowed it down a bit. Network operators, however, have started picking up the pace, especially now that the need for faster Internet has never been greater, exactly because of that pandemic. AT&T, for example, is continuing its rollout of 5G services but its latest targets aren't residential or even business establishments but airports instead.
As the world inches towards 5G adoption, network operators are unsurprisingly eager to drop older networks and equipment. Unfortunately, those networks are actually still in use, leading some carriers to reconsider their plans. Verizon, which would have been the earliest among its peers, has decided to forego shutting down its 3G network until further notice. AT&T, on the other hand, doesn't seem to have any plans on budging and its Cricket Wireless business will now be following its footsteps, announcing big changes to its BYOP program starting next week.
The devastating Christmas Day explosion in Nashville caused 'significant damage' to the AT&T building located on 2nd Ave., damaging connection points and triggering backup battery power. Service disruptions soon followed, but that has largely been fixed, with AT&T saying in its latest update that 'nearly all' services are back up and running.
Although Netflix is the household name for video streaming and includes a selection of popular anime titles, anime fans in the US and elsewhere might be more familiar with Crunchyroll as the place to go to for streaming that particular genre. Thanks to its particular focus and niche market, Crunchyroll has withstood the test of time and the onslaught of other streaming services. The winds of change are blowing, however, and the service is changing owners for the third time in less than a decade, giving Sony almost complete control over anime distribution in the US.
AT&T has announced a new discounted wireless data offering to help more students get connected to remote schooling services. The move aims to address the 'homework gap,' which refers to the millions of students in the US who lack Internet access, preventing them from accessing online schoolwork and classes.
Stadia had a fairly big October, but one addition you may have missed was the arrival of game streaming over mobile data. Specifically, Google upgraded mobile data streaming from an experimental feature to a fully supported one, thereby allowing users to stream games over 4G and 5G, assuming they have access to 5G where they live. The question is: would you want to stream games over mobile data? Given the state of the mobile industry, we're guessing that you probably don't.
Today we're looking at what it'll meant to purchase a Google Pixel 5 or Google Pixel 4a 5G from AT&T. Both devices were revealed to be released in November of 2020, at which point they'll both have 5G connectivity - or 5G so far as AT&T provides it. The Google Pixel 5 will be available on November 6th both in-store and at AT&T online, while the Pixel 4a 5G will start pre-orders that same day.
LG has made great phones and some not so great phones. Whether they sell well or not is a different question but it's hard to deny it has created some rather unusual and sometimes innovative designs over the past years. The LG WING definitely takes the cake, at least for now, and sits on both ends of the spectrum. Those who have been enamored by its swiveling screen but scared off by its price tag may now get their chance to get one, presuming they trade it their old phone and pledge loyalty to AT&T.
The whole 5G thing is becoming more of a story with the launch of some exciting new mobile phone models designed to take full leverage of the new wireless connectivity. As a new 5G smartphone pops-up with each passing day, we are seeing all prominent network carriers stateside doing their bit to ensure you have 5G coverage no matter what part of the country you’re in. While these are early days and everyone’s just working on increasing their portfolio – it seems appropriate to know, which of the top-tier carriers have what 5G plans you can choose from to get on from the word go.
Today's entry in our ever-expanding exploration of 5G connectivity checks the most basic question: Do I need 5G? This question can be answered by looking at the world's transfer from 3G to 4G, and 4G LTE. In short: There's a significant amount of time between now and the point at which you'll absolutely NEED your next smartphone to have the ability to connect to 5G data.