Quibi has arrived, and the depths of a pandemic are either the very best or the absolute worst timing for launching a mobile-first streaming video service. Arriving after months of hype, Quibi doesn't just focus on smartphones but positively ignores other ways of watching, with video designed to be comfortably watched in vertical orientation and shorter episodes.
Plex has just pushed out a number of improvements and new features to its Live TV offering, which enables users to access and manage over-the-air television channels. In addition to some bug fixes that are described as 'quality of life improvements,' the company has also added some key features like a guide preview, the updated video player, and more.
Popular home entertainment company Roku has announced its latest Roku OS update, bringing the software to version 9.3. With this, users get access to new and enhanced features, the most notable being 'Works with' support for Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. As well, Roku has updated its 'Roku Voice' feature with better control for users, plus performance has been improved and more.
Earlier this month, Sling TV launched a new free tier called 'Stay in & SLING' targeted at people who don't subscribe to the service, but who are currently stuck at home and seeking new streaming services to watch. The service offers a variety of free channels and on-demand content, including news content and a bunch of older and lesser-known series. Some of that content is now integrated with Fire TV's 'Live' tab.
Xiaomi's new Mi 10 series of smartphones may have made a splash today with their unexpectedly affordable 5G, but the company also had a much bigger screen to show off. The Xiaomi Mi TV 4S 65" is the latest expansion in the Chinese manufacturer's scheme to take over the smart home, complete with Android and some slick specs.
TV is a welcome distraction these days, and with more movies skipping the theater and making their debut on streaming platforms, making your media room more engaging seems like a good idea. The Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box may have an awkward name but the idea is simple: using the color-changing lights already a hit with smart home fans, expand what's happening on-screen beyond the bezels of your TV.
![Amazon Prime Video just changed how families will watch [Update]](https://scdn.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/amazon-prime-video-fire-tv-box-1-1280x720.jpg)
For a number of years now, Amazon Prime Video has been attempting to go toe-to-toe with other big streaming services like Netflix and Hulu, but all this time, it's been missing a feature that the other two offer: user profiles. While Netflix and Hulu allow you to create profiles for each user in the household - in turn giving each user their own set of recommendations and watch lists - Amazon has not. It looks like that's all beginning to change.
Amazon will throttle Prime Video streaming in an attempt to alleviate pressure on coronavirus-hammered European internet providers, the latest on-demand service to trim bitrates. The move comes after Netflix and YouTube confirmed that they would be addressing bandwidth use by their streaming, after EU officials asked for help ensuring that internet connections weren't overloaded during self-isolation.
Netflix will temporarily lower its streaming quality in Europe, after concerns that the video service might be putting too much stress on broadband infrastructure. On-demand services have proved to be a welcome distraction for people forced to stay home during social distancing, in an attempt to curtail the community spread of coronavirus.
Comcast Xfinity is adding Hulu to its service, bringing another potential source of distraction during these times of coronavirus self-isolation. The update sees Hulu streaming arrive on Xfinity Flex from today, while Xfinity X1 customers will get it "soon" according to Comcast.
While the entertainment industry, particularly theaters and film production, has been hit hard by this virus pandemic, some are finding a new wave of customers and users, mostly because those are stuck at home. Streaming and Video On Demand (VOD) services are on the rise and, unsurprisingly, it is also an opportunity for some brands to put their best products forward to help people while the days away, just like LG's latest generation of LG TVs coming very soon to the US.
Sonos is readying Sonos S2, its new OS for connected speakers, which will be released in June and power all new hardware from the company from that point on. As you might have guessed, the arrival of Sonos S2 is also the reason why the company began encouraging owners of some of its earliest hardware to consider upgrading over the past few months.