Streamers love to fiddle with their navigation menus, moving this menu bar here and shifting this button there, all in the name of “streamlining” the experience. The changes are typically just different, not better, but Max’s latest menu revamp at least adds something new.  The most obvious change on the new Max navigation is that the top menu bar, which housed such items as Home, Series, Movies, HBO, B-R Sports, and News, has been nixed.  Those top “content lenses” have now shifted over to the left-side menu, meaning you’ll no longer have to jump from one side of the screen to the other when navigating the various menu items.  Sounds logical—although as The Streamable points out, the Max change is essentially the reverse of what Netflix did last year, when it moved its main navigation bar from the left side of the page to the top. (Sigh.)  The new Max design (drag the slider left to reveal) moves the top navigation to the side, while also adding What’s New and Categories. Aside from juggling the location of its existing menu items, the new Max navigation adds a couple of new options to the mix: Categories and What’s New.  Categories is just what it sounds like, with a Max press release saying the option offers “a new pathway for users to browse titles by genre, brand, and thematic collections.” That’s a pretty standard navigational feature—Netflix and most of the other big streamers let you browse by category too, in one configuration or another—but we’ll take it.  More interesting is the What’s New option, a “new navigation page showcasing content that has recently arrived on the platform, as well as those coming or leaving soon.”  What’s New should be a handy way to keep tabs on recently added movies and shows on Max—and more importantly, to catch titles that are poised to leave the service before they’re gone.  Veteran Max users on Reddit are saying that the just-added What’s New option hearkens back to the “leaving soon” section on the former HBO Max app, back before Max underwent its name change.   Max says it’s been testing its new navigation layout in Latin America, and that the revamped design will go worldwide in a “phased rollout approach.” Read...

Some big changes are coming with the latest season of Major League Soccer on Apple TV, including a new production studio and a featured Sunday night soccer match each week.  One thing that isn’t changing for Apple’s MLS Season Pass in 2025 is the price, although there will be some special offers for Comcast’s Xfinity, DirecTV, and T-Mobile subscribers.  The latest MLS season is set to get underway on February 22, with select preseason matches being streamed via MLS Season Pass starting February 11.  Just like last year, the 2025 edition of Apple’s MLS Season Pass costs $14.99 a month, or $99 for the full season. Apple TV+ subscribers can sign up for MLS Season Pass at a discounted rate of $12.99 a month, or $79 for the season.  Besides watching matches on the Apple TV app, you’ll also be able to watch games on the Apple Vision Pro headset, with video available to stream either within your physical space or within a Vision Pro “Environment,” complete with a virtual screen that feels up to 100 feet wide.  New for 2025 on MLS Season Pass is Sunday Night Soccer, a weekly marquee matchup that will boast an “enhanced” production and “dedicated” studio programming, Apple says, along with pre- and post-game shows.  The first Sunday Night Soccer showing will feature San Diego FC, the newest MLS club, taking on the MLS Cup champions LA Galaxy on February 23 at 7:00 p.m. Eastern.  Sunday Night Soccer matches will offer English-language commentary from Jake Zivin, Taylor Twellman, and Andrew Wiebe, while the Spanish broadcast will be helmed by Sammy Sadovnik and Diego Valeri.  MLS Season Pass viewers will also see the new digs of MLS Productions, which is slated to move its studios to a new 30,000-foot facility at WWE’s headquarters in Samford, Connecticut.   Meanwhile, Apple has announced that T-Mobile will give free MLB Season Pass access to “qualified” T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile subscribers via a promotional offer. You can snag the deal starting February 18 by in the T-Mobile Tuesdays section of the T-Life app.  Over at Comcast’s Xfinity, users will get an “integrated” MLS Season Pass experience through the Xfinity user interface, as well as the ability to sign up for the package through the Xfinity service. The cable operator is also offering free access to the MLS 360 whip-around show to all Xfinity subscribers.  Finally, DirecTV subscribers will get a free preview of MLS Season pass from February 22 to March 1.  Apple offers various MLS Season Pass tie-ins across a variety of its services, including the Apple Sports app, Apple Music, Apple News, and Apple Podcasts.  The 2025 edition of MLS Season Pass marks the third of a 10-year deal between Apple and Major League Soccer for streaming rights to the games. Read...

Will the Kansas City Chiefs become the first NFL team to win three consecutive Super Bowls? Or can the Philadelphia Eagles soar back from their 2023 Super Bowl loss to the Chiefs and secure another title? We’re about to find out. Super Bowl LIX promises drama, high stakes, and unforgettable moments. And watching the game on Sunday, Feb. 9 will be easy to do without paying for an expensive cable bundle. The game kicks off at 6:30 PM Eastern Time at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, with pre-game coverage starting at 2:00 PM ET. Fox has the rights to broadcast the game this year, and you can watch it in upscaled 4K UHD on multiple platforms. The game will be available in 4K on Fox’s cable and satellite channels through participating TV providers, as well as via the Fox Sports app. Additionally, Fox’s free streaming service, Tubi, will offer the game in 4K for the first time. Whether you prefer traditional TV or streaming, we’ll show you how to watch all the action—plus those iconic commercials and the halftime show, starring Kendrick Lamar—even if you don’t have a cable- or satellite-TV subscription. Option 1: Stream Super Bown LIX for free on Tubi Tubi Fox-owned Tubi is a free, ad-supported streaming service. No subscription or credit card is required—simply create a free Tubi account, then get ready for some Super Bowl action. Even better, Tubi will be presenting Super Bowl LIX in 4K, provided you’re streaming on an Android TV, Apple TV, Fire TV, or Roku streaming player. While Tubi doesn’t require a paid plan, its broadcast will include commercials during the game, just like live TV. Option 2: Stream the Super Bowl with a TV-streaming service Signing up for a streaming service is another way to tune into the big game, although it’s not the cheapest–unless you sign up for a free trial and cancel your subscription sometime after the game. These are our top picks in streaming TV services DirecTV Stream Pros Powerful grid guide DVR has no ad-skipping restrictions Cons Limited channel selection for the price DVR limits both recording space and storage time No personalized viewing recommendations Software suffers from bugs and sluggish performance Best Prices Today: Retailer Price DirecTV Stream $101.98 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $101.98 at DirecTV Stream DirectTV Stream isn’t one of our favorite streaming services, but it does offer Fox in its Entertainment package for $86.99 a month. Read our full DirecTV Stream review Fubo Pros Unique lineup of sports channels that are much pricier in other bundles Well-designed TV apps make sporting events easy to find Live streams have much lower latency than other bundles Cons Included DVR storage is skimpier than other bundles Inconsistent 60 fps support on sports channels Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Fubo $79.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $79.99 at Fubo Fubo is the most sports-centric streaming service in our roundup. You’ll need the Essentails package at $84.99 a month to access it. Fubo is currently offering $25 off the first month after a 7-day free trial. Read our full Fubo review Hulu + Live TV Pros Excellent value for Disney bundle subscribers Expansive on-demand catalog Recommendations and staff picks make the app fun to explore Cons Live TV can be inefficient to navigate Hard to figure out which Hulu programs allow ad skipping Can’t watch on TV devices while traveling Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Hulu.com $82.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $82.99 at Hulu.com Hulu’s live TV streaming service also gets you Fox. As with other streaming services, geographical restrictions apply, but you can check availability in your area here. Now that Disney has complete control over Hulu, a subscription includes Hulu + Live TV, Disney+, and ESPN+ (all with ads) for $82.99 per month. Hulu also offers an $95.99-per-month subscription that nixes the ads from its Hulu channel (but not live TV) and Disney+; ESPN+ still has ads at this level. Read our full Hulu + Live TV review YouTube TV Pros Solid mix of channels for the money Includes DVR with no storage limits Easy-to-understand app design Cons Not available in some markets Ad-riddled on-demand videos can override DVR Some channels don’t support 60-frames-per-second video yet Best Prices Today: Retailer Price YouTube TV $82.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $82.99 at YouTube TV YouTubeTV includes Fox among more than 100 channels in its $82.99-per-month base package ($72.99 per month for the first six months). To watch the game in 4K, you’ll need the 4K Plus add-on, which costs an additional $9.99 a month. You can try the service for free for two weeks. Read our full YouTube TV review Option 3: Tune into the Super Bowl with an over-the-air antenna If you’re old enough, the thought of using an antenna probably conjures memories of temperamental “rabbit ears” and staticky images. Thanks to modern broadcast technology and over-the-air antennas, you can get a high-quality image that can, in many cases, be better than what you’d get with a subscription. If you live close enough to a broadcast tower, you might be able to use a paper-thin indoor model, such as our top pick, the Channel Master Flatenna 35. The 35 indicates the manufacturer’s promise of 35-mile range. A Flatenna 50 model promising—you guessed it—50 miles of range is also available for $49. We’re also fans of the Televes Bexia amplified indoor antenna ($99.95 street). If you’re more distant than that, you might be better off with an antenna that mounts to your roof or on a freestanding mast. The Televes Dat Boss Mix LR (model 149884) is our favorite in that category. Another alternative is to mount an antenna like the Winegard Elite 7550 in your attic. Whichever way you go, all you need to do is plug the antenna into the tuner that’s a fixture of most modern TVs. Before you purchase an antenna, though, go to a site like Rabbit Ears and see which networks are available from your local broadcasters. Just enter your address to get a report of all the broadcast signals in your area, ranked from strongest to weakest. Once you determine which broadcaster is furthest from your home, you’ll know what range antenna to buy. A website such as Antennaweb will show you the Fox channels closest to your zip code. Enter your zip code at Antennaweb’s website and you’ll get a channel guide to the over-the-air programming available in your area. You can also enter “Super Bowl” in the search box to see a schedule of all the TV programming related to the game. Antennaweb These are our top picks in TV antennas Winegard FlatWave Amped — Best flexible amplified indoor TV antenna Pros Strong reception, clear picture quality Amplifier contributes to good range Amplifier can be powered by a wall wart or your TV’s USB port Cons Not the best-looking thing to have on your wall or window Excess cable can get messy quick Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $59.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $59.99 at Amazon The FlatWave Amped impressed us with its ability to pull in more broadcast channels than the competition. Further, those it did receive were a little stronger than from our runner-up, which should make for happier TV viewing. Read our full Winegard FlatWave Amplified (model FL-5500A) review Televes Dat Boss Mix LR (model 149884) — Best roof-mount TV antenna Pros Strong, sensitive reception Built-in 5G filter Built-in amplifier and indoor distribution amp Cons Large physical size Assembly can be confusing Not designed to tune in low-VHF signals Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $179.95 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $179.95 at Amazon The Televes Dat Boss Mix LR (model 149884) is the best outdoor TV antenna we’ve tested. It delivered an excellent performance, pulling in strong signals from local and distant TV towers. It’s a great choice in areas with medium to low reception levels, and it comes with a built-in amplifier and in-home distribution amplifier, plus a 5G filter to eliminate interference from cellphone signals. Read our full Televes Dat Boss Mix LR (model 149884) review Winegard Elite 7550 — Best attic-mount TV antenna Pros Good reception of strong to medium level signals on UHF and VHF-High Inline amplifier helps boost signals Suitable for attic or outdoor mounting Cons Plastic mounting bracket feels a little cheap Best Prices Today: Retailer Price $142.36 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket $142.36 at Amazon The Winegard Elite 7550 immediately impressed with its ability to pick up more broadcast channels than the competition at higher signal levels. It has a built-in amplifier and performed well on both VHF-High and UHF broadcast bands. Because of its size you’ll want this one in the attic or outside of your house. Read our full Winegard Elite 7550 review Get your gridiron on  Whichever options you choose, you’re guaranteed to have a front-row seat when the NFL’s best team hoists the Lombardi Trophy in New Orleans. 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The Super Bowl is right around the corner and the Chiefs have an opportunity to make history as the first to win it three times in a row. What’s the best way to prep for this momentous event? Upgrading your entertainment center might just be it. And right now, LG’s massive 4K smart TV is $400 off at Best Buy, meaning you can snag this beauty for just $500. That’s a fantastic price for a 65-incher with 4K resolution and a NanoCell display for vivid colors, deep blacks, and superb contrast. Perfect for sports! The 4K resolution means images are crisp and beautiful, and thanks to AI brightness control, the TV automatically adjusts screen brightness for the best experience in your ambient lighting conditions. The TV’s built-in AI processor can also enhance picture and sound quality on the fly, which is great when the source is lacking. This year’s Super Bowl is a great excuse to upgrade your TV, and now’s the time with LG’s 65-inch 4K TV on sale for $500 at Best Buy! Save $400 on this 65-inch 4K TV that`ll blow you awayBuy now at Best Buy Read...

A round-up of news and sports in brief from around the region, including PNG leader calling on Donald Trump to rethink his decision of pulling out the USA from the Paris climate accord. Read...

Netflix is metaphorically flexing its muscles and spiking the football this week, announcing both record fourth-quarter subscriber gains and price hikes for nearly every one of its plans. In other words, the streaming giant has you right where it wants you. It’s the world’s most popular paid streaming service, with cancellation rates well below industry averages. Its crackdown on password sharing has been a resounding success, and its foray into ad-supported streaming is boosting revenues. As it dumps money into more expensive sports programming—like those Christmas NFL games—it’s confident you’ll help pay the bill. Hence the price hikes: The Standard with Ads plan is now $8 per month, up from $7. The Standard no-ads plan is now $17 per month, up from $15.49. And the Premium plan with 4K video is now $25 per month, up from $23. The only plan that isn’t increasing is the optional $7 surcharge for adding an authorized password sharer to your account. What can you do about it? While Netflix believes most everyone will stay put, price hikes are always a fine time to reevaluate the value of a subscription. Here are some pointers: Check your watch history Netflix’s website contains a list of everything you’ve watched. To find it, log into your account, click the profile icon, select “Manage profiles,” choose a profile, then select “Viewing activity.” (If you’re signed in, you can also visit netflix.com/settings/viewed.) Jared Newman / Foundry Look through everything you’ve watched in the past few months or so. How often do you use Netflix, and how many shows have you thoroughly enjoyed? Are there enough of them to justify keeping Netflix year-round, or could you take some time off and allocate that viewing to other services with shows you’ve been meaning to watch? Look elsewhere for favorites Netflix mostly traffics in exclusive content, and the shows that bring in new subscribers tend to be the ones you can’t find elsewhere. But some of the staples keeping you onboard might not be exclusive to Netflix. Suits, for instance, became a Netflix hit, but debuted on USA Network and is available in full on Peacock (which you can currently get free for three months). My kids are currently binge-watching Avatar: The Last Airbender, which also streams on Paramount+ (obtainable for free as well). And while Netflix has the exclusive streaming rights to Seinfeld, it’s also a staple on free over-the-air TV, which you can watch with an antenna (and even record for later). Netflix also licenses a bunch of HBO shows that remain available on Max. I’m cherry-picking here, and I realize a lot of shows become popular because they’re on Netflix—not the other way around—but it’s worth looking at some of your favorites on a site like Reelgood to see where else they’re available, if at all. Consider your family Dropping Netflix might be easier if you’re on your own, but I know it’d be a tough sell in the Newman household, where my wife and kids make more extensive use of it. You might want to have others in your home consult their own watchlists before making any rash decisions. The good news is that you no longer need to account for people outside of your home. With Netflix having banned password sharing—at least without paying an extra toll—the service isn’t quite as sticky as it used to be. Look at some free alternatives If Netflix for you is mainly something to put on in the background while doing other things, there are lots of free streaming services to fill that void. Tubi, Pluto TV, Plex, the Roku Channel, and many others offer vast catalogs of free movies and shows, with linear channels you can flip through. The free tiers of Sling TV and Philo even include a DVR, so you can record shows and skip the ads. Just try cancelling Jared Newman / Foundry The easiest way to tell whether Netflix is worth keeping is to try going without it for a while. All it takes is a trip to Netflix’s membership page and a click of the cancellation button (plus another click to confirm). There’s no penalty for cancelling a Netflix subscription, nor are there any rewards for continued loyalty. When you cancel, Netflix keeps your account info on file for 10 months, so your watchlist, recommendations, and viewing history will still be waiting if you resubscribe anytime before then. If you can’t quit Netflix has a unique gravitational pull in the streaming world, so it’s understandable if you can’t break away, but at least consider some ways to defray the cost: If you’re mostly keeping Netflix for your children, consider downgrading to the ad-supported tier. Kids profiles don’t have ads. Netflix’s ad-supported tier is included for free with some T-Mobile postpaid plans, including all of its current “Go5G” offerings. According to TMo report, customers who upgrade to an ad-free tier will still get a $7-per-month credit (which means the price hikes will still apply). Verizon offers a $10-per-month bundle of Netflix and Max (both with ads) with certain mobile and home internet plans. You can upgrade to ad-free Netflix by paying the difference in price. Comcast offers a $15-per-month bundle of Netflix (with ads), Apple TV+, and Peacock (with ads) for customers with Xfinity home internet or TV. You can also look for savings on other streaming services or consider cancelling some of them instead. In the end, Netflix seems pretty confident that’s the path its subscribers will take. Sign up for Jared’s Cord Cutter Weekly newsletter for more streaming TV advice. Read...

The Winter Games featured the likes of Olympic gold medallists Nico Porteous and Zoi Sadowski-Synnott, but it couldn’t continue. Read...

The games were considered the largest snow sports event in the Southern Hemisphere. Read...

Squid Game and live sports, including the Jake Paul v Mike Tyson fight, fuelled new memberships. Read...

Electronic Arts is one of the most notable publishers in the video games industry. Not only does it own extremely successful franchises like EA Sports FC, The Sims, Mass Effect, and Dragon Age, the company also plays a key role in setting trends in the games market. For a long time, EA games could only be purchased, downloaded, and played digitally via EA Origin (at least on PCs). Eventually, some titles became available on Steam. Now, EA is altogether discontinuing Origin, which will be effective April 17, 2025. By then, you’ll need to switch to the EA app, which has been available since 2020 and serves as the new launcher for EA’s games. The switch is necessary to continue using purchased games and save data. How to switch to the EA app Users who previously only had EA Origin installed must download the new EA app. Then, log in with the same account details you previously used for Origin. The app should automatically recognize you and display your usual game library without a hitch. For games that are already installed on your PC, you don’t need to download them again. As for games with data saved to the cloud, some games will automatically transfer save data over while others must be transferred manually. The same applies to game mods. It’s also important to note that the EA app is 64-bit, so it won’t run on older 32-bit systems (as explained on this EA page). In order to proceed, you’ll need a PC with a 64-bit CPU — and that might mean you have to buy a new PC if you don’t want to lose your EA games. What if you don’t want to? Or can’t? If you’re a fan of EA games, it’s worth knowing that you no longer have to pigeonhole yourself into using EA’s dedicated app just to play EA games. Most EA games are now also available on Steam, such as the recently released Dragon Age: The Veilguard. You can also link your Origin account to your Steam library in order to launch previously purchased games via Steam. Navigate to Games > Add a Non-Steam Game to My Library, then find the relevant Origin games you want to add. It’s one of the many lesser-known Steam tips to level up your PC gaming. Read...