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Google TV users are getting even more free channels in time for the holidays

The total number of free channels is now 171 Google TV Freeplay remains exclusive to the US There’s been a recent boom in free TV with ads We’ve already seen dozens of new free-to-view channels added to Google TV during 2024, and one more update has been rolled out in time for the holidays – bringing the number of channels available to US viewers to more than 170. This latest update was spotted by 9to5Google, and should be available now if you’re using a television set or streaming device with the latest Google TV software on it. You’ll find them under the Google TV Freeplay app. The new channels are Best of Dr Phil, Xumo Free Holiday Movie Channel, Xumo Free Holiday Classics, Xumo Christian Christmas, Continuum, Z Nation, The Design Network, Filmrise: Classic TV, UFC, Unbeaten, Big 12 Studios, Waypoint TV, and PursuitUP. There are also updates for Stingray Greatest Holiday Hits, Stingray Soul Storm Christmas, and Stingray Hot Country Christmas. These new channels follow on from Designated Survivor and Places & Spaces – The Great Christmas Light Fight added in November. Keep them coming A variety of new features have been added to Google TV this year (Image credit: Google) That brings the total number of channels available in Google TV Freeplay to 171 – though as 9to5Google notes, some of them are likely to be only available over the holidays (as a few of those title channels would suggest). One channel has been removed at the same time though: it seems Motortrend Fast TV is no longer available. No doubt this chopping and changing of content is going to continue as we go through 2025 as well. We’ve seen a steady rise in the number of free ad-supported television (FAST) channels available on streaming platforms in recent years: there are hundreds more available in apps such as Plex, Tubi, and PlutoTV. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. You may remember Google TV adding extra channels in August and September of this year, as well as at other points during 2024. The software has also been given plenty of new features over the last 12 months as well. You might also like

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Next-gen Apple TV 4K tipped to land in 2025 with a Wi-Fi surprise

The next Apple TV could land in 2025 with a custom Wi-Fi chip It would replace the existing chip, which is made by Broadcomm It’s a risky move, but could bring big benefits to your devices The third-generation Apple TV 4K landed over two years ago, but a successor is finally in the works according to new rumors – and it’s likely to benefit from a new Apple-made Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip. The new report from Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman suggests that Apple is on the brink of launching its own combined Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip, replacing those made by Broadcom that can be found in many Apple devices today. This chip will first find its way into the Apple TV 4K set-top box and the HomePod mini, Gurman claims, which will apparently both launch at some point in 2025. This type of component is vital to the Apple TV. Wi-Fi allows you to connect the set-top box to the internet in order to download shows, play games, and more. The Bluetooth connection, meanwhile, lets you pair accessories such as remotes and controllers. If successful, the new chip will enable Apple’s smart home devices to “work more closely together and potentially synchronize data more quickly,” Gurman believes. What other new features could a next-gen Apple TV get? Previous rumors have pointed to an upgraded processor like the A17 Pro (which it’d need for Apple Intelligence features). Respected analysts like Ming-Chi Kuo have also previously suggested that a new Apple TV could also hit a lower price point than the current 64GB model’s $129 / £149 / AU$219 tag. More outlandish rumors in April suggested that Apple could be planning to give a future Apple TV a built-in camera for gesture controls. That would certainly make losing its remote less annoying, but those rumors (also from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman) didn’t specify whether or not the tech might be for the next Apple TV or a future version. Full steam ahead (Image credit: Future) The Apple TV and the HomePod mini are not the only devices set for this new chip. Gurman says it will also come to the iPhone in 2025 and the iPad and the Mac in 2026. Apple is making a major push into the smart home arena and will launch new products next year, Gurman says, including a home hub with a built-in display and a home security camera, so it makes sense for it to debut a new chip for these products in the coming months. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Apple has long sought more control over the components that go into its devices. This mindset contributed to its drive to develop the chips that became known as Apple silicon, and it’s behind the company’s long-rumored switch away from Qualcomm modems in its iPhones. But the chip will bring another benefit, Gurman believes: it will be able to power “thinner iPhones and wearable technology” made by Apple. That suggests that the slimline iPhone 17 Air rumored for 2025 could be a direct beneficiary of Apple’s own chip. It’s not without its risks, though. As with the move away from Qualcomm modems, Apple will have to rely on its own largely untested technology for a critical component in its devices. The iPhone 4’s Antennagate provides ample warnings of what can happen when the wireless technology in people’s devices is disrupted. But that’s unlikely to slow Apple down. With new devices powered by Apple’s wireless chips just around the corner, we won’t have long to wait to see if they can pass muster. You might also like

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Valve could be working on a rival to the Nvidia Shield streaming box

Valve could be making a streaming box Hints found in the Steam Deck code No indications of a launch date yet It might be five years since the Nvidia Shield last had a refresh – see our Nvidia Shield (2019) review for details – but the device remains one of the best streaming boxes in the business. We’re now hearing it may get a new competitor, courtesy of Valve. As per a Reddit thread analyzing changes to the Steam Deck code (via XDA Developers), it looks as though the software used on the portable console could soon be adapted to run on a streaming box connected to a television. You’d then have a lightweight, versatile device that could both play games and stream video and audio to the big screen – much like the Nvidia Shield does. This is mostly speculation at this point, but we could definitely see it happening. There are references in the code to an AMD 8540U processor, though this may only be referring to a prototype device, so the configuration could change. That would certainly offer more power than the current Steam Deck specs. HDMI and Android The Valve Steam Deck (Image credit: Valve) According to the tipster who spotted the code change, extra support for HDMI control is being added – and the changes match some of the code seen on ChromeOS devices, suggesting support for both Android and web apps. Apart from that, there are no real details about what could be coming. We don’t know anything in terms of dimensions or pricing, and there’s no indication here about how long it’s going to be before the product is announced (if it ever is). Go all the way back to our Nvidia Shield (2015) review, and you’ll see that it’s always been an impressively versatile device. It’s earned itself a relatively small but loyal group of users, though we haven’t seen any signs that we’ll ever get a new model. Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable Black Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content. What we did get a couple of months ago was the first software update for the Nvidia Shield in a year – though it was intended to squash some outstanding bugs on the streaming box, rather than add any new features. You might also like

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Roku Ultra (2024) review: a souped-up streamer with a fantastic remote

Roku Ultra (2024): Two-minute review Roku Ultra (2024) home screen interface (Image credit: Future) The Roku Ultra (2024) is as capable a streaming player as I’ve yet come across, though whether it’s one of the best streaming devices will depend entirely on how you feel about Roku’s onscreen interface. I am a fan. While I’ll dig into that a little more below, I find Roku’s software (and hardware) approach one that prioritizes convenience. It’s one of the reasons there’s still a need for external streaming players even though most contemporary TVs have their own built-in smart capabilities, which are usually not all that user-friendly. The Roku Ultra (2024) is twice the price of Roku’s next most expensive streamer, the Roku Streaming Stick 4K, and in the upper range of price when it comes to these types of devices. It’s still worth it, not to mention it’s ultimately not that expensive either. Plus, if you go cheaper, you could lose out on support for Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, HLG, and HDR10+, all of which are available here. The performance is speedy and the remote is about as good a remote as I’ve personally used. All it’s missing is a passthrough HDMI that might be a benefit in certain setups. As far as the physical design, the Roku Ultra (2024) is about what one would expect from a Roku streaming player. It comes in the same matte black as all of the company’s products, with just a shiny “Roku” logo emblazoned on the top. There’s also a shiny patch on the front where its sensor resides and a little purple Roku tag on its right flank. It’s fairly slim, only an inch in height (its full dimensions are 4.9 x 5 x 1 inches), and has just one physical button on the side that offers dual functionality, with one side used for power and the other triggering the “find my remote” feature. Pressing the find my remote portion will cause the remote to ping until you press a button to indicate you’ve found it. The port selection is pretty streamlined, as is to be expected. There’s a single HDMI, an Ethernet port – Wi-Fi 6 is also available – and a USB-A port. The USB port is a nice addition as it will give you an on-unit port to charge the remote as it comes with a rechargeable battery. Regarding the HDMI, I would have liked a pass-through HDMI port. Though this feature generally isn’t found on streaming devices, it would have made it easier to use the Roku Ultra as the main hub of a setup (for instance, if you have a gaming console). On that note, if you have a relatively contemporary TV with HDMI eARC (I can’t speak to older ones), the Roku Ultra (2024) can be set up to automatically turn the TV on and off and also adjust volume levels. You don’t necessarily have to do any menu diving for this either, as it’s part of the streaming player’s setup to enable that feature. The Roku Ultra (2024) comes with a backlit remote control (Image credit: Future) Now, let’s discuss the remote. This is not my first rodeo with the Roku Voice Remote Pro (2nd edition) that comes stock with the Roku Ultra (2024). I was a fan of the remote when I reviewed the Roku Pro Series TV and I’m a fan now. It’s only different than Roku’s other remotes on close inspection as it keeps the general shape and layout. It has a USB-C port on its butt for charging, which is an upgrade from previous rechargeable remotes that used micro-USB, a form factor I’ve had general reliability issues with. It has a toggle on one side for hands-free voice support (more on that later). The Roku Voice Remote Pro also has a couple of extra buttons on it. There’s a reprogrammable launch button that can be used if you want a shortcut to launch an app that doesn’t already have a dedicated button on the remote, or to quickly turn on/off closed captions, just for a few examples. There’s also a guide button that launches Roku’s live TV guide channel and four app-specific launch buttons for Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV+, and Prime Video. My only gripe is that these should all be reprogrammable (in a perfect world) since not everyone is going to be subscribed to those four apps. But my remote complaints start and end there, as the fact that its keypad is backlit – it will automatically light up when you pick it up – is fantastic. And the Roku hands-free functionality is nice. No longer do I have to press the “listening” button, though it’s still there, to use my voice to navigate the interface. I can just say “Hey Roku, launch Netflix” to launch Netflix. It’s not perfect that you don’t have to be very clear and concise about your requests, but it generally works very well. As far as voice assistant support goes, the Roku Ultra (2024) is compatible with Roku Smart Home, Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple AirPlay and HomeKit. It also has Bluetooth support so you can pair headphones with it for late-night viewing. As far as the Roku Ultra (2024)’s performance, Roku advertises its streaming device as “30% faster than any other Roku player.” While the company doesn’t advertise what the CPU is inside or even its speed, it definitely feels very speedy. The fact that it supports Wi-Fi 6, something other Roku streaming players don’t, will in and of itself contribute to the player’s faster response. I was able to compare the Roku Ultra (2024) to the Roku Streambar for a baseline. Loading the Roku Channel on the Streambar took seven seconds and loading a movie took four. The Roku Ultra (2024) took four seconds to load the same app and one second to load the same movie. Even navigating through Roku’s interface is almost immediate. There aren’t any holes in what the Roku Ultra (2024) supports as long as you don’t care about a 120Hz refresh rate – none of the external streaming players support that at the moment, however. What you do get is Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, HLG and HDR10/10+. None of the other Roku streaming players support all those formats. The next most expensive one in Roku’s lineup is missing Dolby Atmos, for instance. Lastly, we need to discuss the interface. To start, setup is easy like it always is with Roku. As long as you know your Wi-Fi password and Roku account password, all you have to do is follow the steps on the screen. Creating a new account or resetting a password (like I had to do) is easy as well. Just make sure to have access to your email for doing so. If you’ve used previous Roku devices registered to your email and had apps installed also registered to your email, those apps will automatically be installed and logged in once you’re done with the setup. As far as the interface itself, the main page with all the apps listed is easy to read and as intuitive as an interface could be. Deeper features, settings and such are all listed on the left side, including a few new ones like the dedicated “Sports” page. Getting through those is also intuitive. Everything makes sense in where they’re listed. For instance, when going to the section for remotes and devices, all external devices that you might connect would be listed here, or connected through settings here. There’s also plenty of Roku-related and free content available for those of us hurting from the ever-increasing app prices. The only slightly annoying thing is the Roku content ads on the right side of the screen or during a screensaver. I’ve always thought of Roku as a convenience-first company where making products that are easy to interact with is the priority. That’s the case with the Roku Ultra (2024), too, but in this case, performance is also a factor. Ports on the Roku Ultra (2024) include HDMI, USB-A, and Ethernet (Image credit: Future) Roku Ultra (2024): Price and release date Price: $99.99 (about £80 / AU$150) Release date: September 2024 For whatever reason, Roku’s presence outside of the US is somewhat spotty. That means, at the time of writing, those in the UK or Australia will have to just look on in envy (or invest in a capable competitor). The actual price is $99.99 (about £80 / AU$150) – at the upper price range for most streaming players outside of the Apple TV 4K – though it is already seeing discounts. That’s twice the price of the Roku Streaming Stick 4K, the next most expensive streaming-only player Roku makes (so excluding soundbars and TVs). You’ll have to decide if you care about Wi-Fi 6 support, Dolby Atmos, or the new backlit remote, which are all part of the Ultra package, but not the Streaming Stick 4K. The new Google TV Streamer (4K) goes for the same price and has the same 4K, Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision, and HDR10+ support, but not Wi-Fi 6 – a probable factor in how speedy these devices function. It does have a redesigned remote from the previous Chromecast players, so it’s to be seen how it compares to the new remote from Roku.Of course, you can go a little cheaper and still keep most of the same support for HDR10+, Dolby Vision and Atmos with the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2023), though Atmos is only available on select services. While it is cheaper at $59.99 / £69.99 / AU$119 (not including its many discounts), its OS is a bit heavy on Amazon Prime material, including a bunch of related ads, so keep that in mind with the price difference. The rechargeable remote features a toggle button that lets you select the streamer’s hands-free voice command option (Image credit: Future) Should you buy the Roku Ultra (2024)? Swipe to scroll horizontally Roku Ultra (2024) Attributes Notes Rating Features Supports Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and Dolby Atmos and is compatible with Amazon, Google, and Apple smart home protocols 4 / 5 Performance Speedy, supports all the necessary formats like Dolby Atmos, and is easy to navigate 4.5 / 5 Design Limited ports, but an almost perfect remote and fairly slim, discreet physical design 4.5 / 5 Value Twice the price of the next highest-priced Roku streaming player, but it’s still worth it and is comparable to the competition’s highest-priced offerings 4.5 / 5 Buy it if… Don’t buy it if… Roku Ultra (2024): Also consider Luna gaming on the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2023) (Image credit: Future) How I tested the Roku Ultra (2024) Used regularly for several weeks Tested with all sorts of apps Tested the remote I used the Roku Ultra (2024) regularly for several weeks. I used it with Roku content, popular third-party content like Max, as well as free offerings from the company. I also spent time using the remote and its various functions.I’ve tested a lot of tech gear over the years from laptops to keyboards and speakers, and so have been able to use my expertise towards giving an honest and fair opinion, not to mention a critical eye, to any product I test. Read more about how we test First reviewed November 2024

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The Apple TV 4K just got even more interesting for projectors in tvOS 18.2

Projector improvements are still in beta Support for new aspect ratios including 21:9 Improved dialog and show information, too The latest version of Apple’s tvOS system for the Apple TV 4K introduces some new features that’ll be particularly useful for viewers with the best 4K projectors, or people who connect their Apple TV to widescreen monitors rather than TVs. In tvOS 18.2, Apple has added support for aspect ratios including 21:9. That’s not going to be relevant to most people viewing on TVs, which tend to be 16:9. But it’s great for ultrawide monitors and for projectors. What improvements does tvOS 18.2 deliver? The big draw here is the new aspect ratio support. The options are: Automatic 16:9 21:9 2.37:1 2.39:1 2.40:1 DCI 4K 32:9 In addition, the new beta improves Apple’s Enhance Dialog feature, turning on subtitles when you press the mute button, and there’s a redesigned Apple Fitness Plus app as well as improved support for using an iPhone as a FaceTime camera. The beta also includes InSight, a similar feature to Prime Video’s X-Ray that tells you who’s on screen and what music is playing. One feature that’s coming, but that hasn’t arrived yet, is new screensavers. The current crop are all very nice, but they’ve become rather familiar, and Apple is promising to bring screensavers from some of its hit shows on Apple TV Plus. We don’t yet know when those new screensavers will arrive, however. The improvements are currently in beta, which means they’re in final testing before release: if you don’t mind risking the odd bug or crash you can enrol your Apple TV 4K from the Software Updates part of its Settings menu, though we’d suggest just waiting for the finished version. The final release of tvOS 18.2 is currently scheduled for December 2024. Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable Black Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content. You might also like

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Google TV’s new free ‘Channels’ update in the UK makes it easier to drop the aerial – with one big problem

If
you’re
a
UK
viewer
with
the

Google
TV
Streamer
or
a
Chromecast
device,
you
should
now
have
the
new
Channels
tab
on
your
device.
That
means
instant,
easy
access
to
all
the
UK’s
big
broadcasters
all
streamed
to
your
TV,
with
no
aerial
or
satellite
cable
required…
or
at
least
it
should.
There
appear
to
be
some
key
omissions.

If
you
check
out
the
Channels
tab
you’ll
see
the
familiar
logos
of
ITV
and
its
regions,
such
as
STV
in
Scotland.
Channel
5’s
there
too.
But
so
far
there
aren’t
any
live
channels,
and
there’s
no
Channel
4.
So
the
dream
of
ditching
your
TV
aerial
completely
hasn’t
quite
been
delivered.

What
UK
channels
are
available
in
Google
TV’s
Channels?

As

9to5Google
reports,
Channel
4
isn’t
there
because
it
isn’t
yet
available
on
the
Android
TV
platform;
and
the
BBC
wants
you
to
use
its
iPlayer
app,
which
isn’t
yet
available
on
the

Google
TV
Streamer,
but
iPlayer
is
supported
on
other
devices,
such
as
the
Chromecast
and
the

best
TVs
with
Google
TV
from
the
likes
of
Sony
and
TCL.

Channels
will
ultimately
host
channels
from
the
BBC,
ITV
(and
regions:
STV
in
Scotland
and
UTV
in
Northern
Ireland),
Really,
Discovery
and
other
free
to
air
broadcasters.
To
tune
in
to
a
channel
you’ll
need
to
have
the
appropriate
app
installed;
if
you
don’t,
you’ll
be
taken
to
its
page
on
the

Play
Store
so
you
can
download
it.

9to5Google
also
points
out
that
many
apps
require
you
to
have
an
account,
so
the
quick
launch
buttons
will
take
you
to
a
login
page
rather
than
straight
to
the
channel.
This
also
happens
on
my

Apple
TV
4K,
and
it’s
very
annoying
with
iPlayer
in
particular.

The
new
Channels
are
welcome,
but
the
options
available
to
UK
users
still
trail
very
far
behind
the
ones
available
in
the
US:
there,

Google
TV
viewers
get
lots
of
live
channels

more
than
800
the
last
time
we
counted.
And
while
many
of
them
are
of
the
daytime
TV
variety
it’d
be
nice
to
have
more
options
here
in
the
UK
too.

Deals
on
Google
TV
devices

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up
for
breaking
news,
reviews,
opinion,
top
tech
deals,
and
more.

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Amazon just dropped the Fire TV Stick HD, and it comes with a nice surprise in the box

As
if
four
new
Kindles
weren’t
enough
for
the

Amazon
devices
team
to
unveil
this
week,
a
new
Fire
TV
Stick
has
landed.
It’s
twofold
in
that
we
have
a
new
streaming
stick
from
Amazon,
but
it
also
streamlines
the
lineup
a
bit.

The

all-new
Fire
TV
Stick
HD
is
replacing
both
the
Fire
TV
Stick
and
Fire
TV
Stick
Lite
as
the
entry
point
priced
at
$34.99
/
£39.99
/
AU$69,
and
it’s
up
for
order
right
now.
We’ve
asked
Amazon
for
availability
and
pricing
for
the
United
Kingdom
and
Australia,
and
we’ll
update
you
once
we
hear
back.

Just
like
the
two
streaming
sticks
it’s
replacing,
the
Fire
TV
Stick
HD
is
still
a
rectangular,
black
stick
that
will
plug
right
into
the
HDMI
port
on
the
back
of
your
TV.
Out
of
sight
and
out
of
mind,
though,
it
will
need
power,
and
Amazon
is
still
opting
for
a
micro
USB
port.
That’s
kind
of
wild
in
2024,
but
Amazon
includes
a
cable
and
power
plug
in
the
box.

(Image
credit:
Amazon)

Charging
ports
aside,
the
Fire
TV
Stick
HD
will
deliver
the
classic
experience
Amazon’s
streaming
sticks—and
boxes,
err
cubes—have
become
known
for.
It
will
stream
content
at
up
to
1080p
HD
and
supports

HDR,
HDR
10,
HDR10+,
and
HLG.
Support
for
Dolby
Vision
and
Dolby
Atmos
is
missing
from
that
list,
but
this
HDMI
port
does
support
Dolby-encoded
audio.

It
does
not
have
all
the
bells
and
whistles
for
visual
or
audio
standards
that
you’ll
find
on
the

Fire
TV
Stick
4K
or
the

Fire
TV
Stick
Max,
but
this
should
definitely
be
considered
if
you
have
an
HD
TV.
Of
course,
stick
around
until
we
get
the
chance
to
review
it
as
well.

Arguably,
the
more
exciting
part
here
is
that
entry-level
Fire
TV
Stick
now
comes
with
an
Alexa
Voice
Remote.
That
not
only
includes
TV
controls
for
power
and
volume,
but
by
pressing
and
holding
the
blue
Alexa
button,
you
can
control
the
Fire
TV
experience
with
just
your
voice
and
even
ask
for
the
content
you
want
to
watch.
Amazon
even
includes
two
AA
batteries
in
the
box
to
power
the
remote.

Amazon’s
platform
supports
all
the
major
streaming
services,
including
Prime
Video,
Netflix,
Hulu,

Apple
TV+,
Max,
Paramount+,
and
Disney+.
Of
course,
you’ll
need
an
account
to
use
them.

Sign
up
for
breaking
news,
reviews,
opinion,
top
tech
deals,
and
more.

The
Fire
TV
Stick
HD
supports
Wi-Fi
5,
Bluetooth
LE,
and
Bluetooth
5.0
for
easy
connectivity.
Powering
the
whole
experience
is
a
1.7Ghz
Quad-Core
processor
paired
with
1GB
of
RAM,
and
considering
most
of
these
applications
are
for
streaming,
the
onboard
8GB
of
storage
should
be
plenty.

It’s
worth
noting
that
beyond
just
watching
movies
or
TV
shows,
you
can
also
stream
games
through
Amazon
Luna
on
the
Fire
TV
Stick
HD,
though
we’re
eager
to
see
how
this
performs.
Additionally,
with
Alexa
on
board,
you
can
ask
the
assistant
to
control
smart
home
devices
and
provide
answers
to
other
topical
questions.

At
just
$34.99
/
£39.99
/
AU$69,
the
value
that
Amazon
is
aiming
to
bring
here
cannot
be
debated.
It
also
cleans
up
the
lineup,
so
you
no
longer
need
to
debate
between
the
Fire
TV
Stick
Lite
and
Fire
TV
Stick—though
if
you
really
want
one,
these
are
both
available
until
supply
runs
out.

If
you’re
in
the
market
for
the
best
streaming
sticks
available
now,
though,

check
out
our
full
guide
here

there
are
plenty
of
options
from
Amazon,

Roku,
Apple,
and

Google.

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The Nvidia Shield TV is still a great streaming box, and it just got its first update in a year

When
we
reviewed
the

Nvidia
Shield
TV
Pro
back
in
2021,
we
said
that
it
was
the

best
streaming
box
on
the
market
at
the
time.
It’s
still
a
great
streamer
thanks
to
its
flexibility
and
power,
but
it’s
been
a
little
neglected.
However,

Nvidia
has
issued
an
update
at
last

the
first
such
update
since
2023.
If
you’re
encountering
bugs
or
glitches
that
are
taking
the
shine
off
your
Shield,
this
new
update
should
hopefully
address
them.

The
new
updates
are
detailed
in
a

post
on
the
Nvidia
website,
but
the
short
version
is
that
it
enhances
the
Match
Frame
Rate,
fixes
a
GeForce
Now
crash
bug
and
addresses
some
irritating
video
and
audio
issues.

What’s
new
in
the
Nvidia
Shield
TV
update

As
before,
the
system
is
based
on
Android
11

and
this
update
is
a
hotfix
rather
than
a
new
version,
so
don’t
expect
any
new
features.

Here’s
the
list
of
the
changes
in
this
new
update,
the
9.1.1+
Hotfix:

Match
Frame
Rate
(beta)
enhancement

Resolves
issue
with
SHIELD
drive
filling
up

Fixes
the
issue
of
No
audio
heard
when
headset
is
connected
to
controller
and
DAP
is
on

Resolves
issue
of
Geforce
now
crash
after
launch

Ability
to
clear
HDMI
1.4
flag
via
factory
reset

Fixed
video
distortion
on
“RGB
8-bit
Rec.709”
display
mode

Resolved
USB
HDD/Flash
drive
showing
corrupted
after
hotplug

NAS
folder
info
shows
0
B
and
not
the
actual
capacity

Mounted
storages
aren’t
listed
after
upgrade

Fixes
occasional
crashes
in
DRM
apps

The
support
document
also
notes
some
important
caveats.
If
you
want
to
install
Disney
Plus
from
the

Play
store
you’ll
need
to
do
it
before
applying
this
update,
as
once
installed
you
won’t
be
able
to
add
or
update
the
Play
store
version
of
the
app;
the
Hotfix
isn’t

Google
certified;
and
there’s
no
way
to
reverse
installation.

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Posted on

Sky Stream or Glass not working? You’re not alone – Sky’s streaming services are down again

It’s
not
been
a
great
month
for
some

Sky
Glass
and

Sky
Stream
subscribers,
and
presumably
not
for
Sky’s
techs
either:
the
broadcaster’s
streaming
services
have
suffered
a
second
bunch
of
technical
problems.
After
last
week’s
problems
where
some
users
couldn’t
turn
on
their
Sky
Glass
or
Sky
Stream
boxes,
for
which
the
recommended
fix
is
provided

here,
there’s
been
a
second
service
outage.
The
service
issues
only
affected
Sky’s
TV
streaming
services,
not
its
broadband,
mobile
or
satellite
TV
services. 

This
time
the
problem
was
a
message
telling
users
that
they
needed
to
upgrade
their
subscription
to
watch
anything.
Sky
has
responded

online,
saying
that
“We
are
aware
that
some
of
our
Sky
Glass
and
Sky
Stream
customers
have
experienced
issues
where
their
devices
wouldn’t
turn
on.
Our
engineers
have
resolved
this”.
However,
the
fault
is
still
showing
as
current
on
the

system
status
page
and
judging
by
the
Sky
Glass
forums,
it
seems
that
some
customers
are
far
from
happy.

What
are
Sky
Glass
customers
saying
about
the
outages?

“Our
TV
was
down
for
over
five
days,”
one
user
posted
to
the
Sky
forums
this
morning,
asking
whether
Sky
would
be
compensating
customers:
“they
should
in
all
honesty
take
that
period
off
the
bill
at
least
for
TV
services”.
While
many
users
found
that
the
issue
was
resolved
on
the
evening
of
25
Sept,
some
found
it
took
longer
and
several
users
are
still
encountering
issues. 

Outages
are
a
pain,
but
few
services
can
deliver
100%
perfection
100%
of
the
time.
However,
it
seems
that
some
customers
are
more
annoyed
by
Sky’s
communication.
As
one
disgruntled
poster
wrote
earlier
today,
“No
communication
from
Sky
as
to
the
cause.
Will
be
pulling
the
plug
on
Sky
services
unless
I
get
a
reasonable
explanation
as
to
the
cause
and
compensated
for
temporary
loss
of
services.”
Another
user
has
been
offered
£5
off
their
bill
after
being
without
service
for
six
days,
an
offer
that
wasn’t
received
with
great
enthusiasm.

We
rated
the
Sky
Stream
as
delivering
excellent
image
quality
in
our
full

Sky
Stream
review,
but
noted
that
it
had
some
technical
irritations

and
obviously
it
not
working
at
all
is

quite
the
irritation.

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Posted on

Roku’s new Ultra streamer is its fastest one yet, and the first to support all HDR formats

Roku
wants
to
make
its
Ultra
streaming
set-top
box
even
more
Ultra;
at
least,
that’s
the
aim
of
its
next-generation
device.
The
new

Roku
Ultra
keeps
a
very
familiar
look,
with
a
basically
identical
build
and

more
importantly

sticks
to
the
same
$99
(about
£75
/
AU$145)
price. 

The
Ultra
is
still
a
simple,
rounded
square
streaming
box
that
comes
in
one
color,
black

though
it
does
sport
a
flash
of
color
with
a
purple
tag
displaying
the
Roku
logo.
It’s
all
familiar
on
the
outside,
and
speaks
to
the
fact
that
unlike,
say,
the
new

Google
TV
Streamer,
the
Roku
Ultra
isn’t
necessarily
designed
to
be
seen.
It
can
sit
alongside
the
TV
on
a
home
entertainment
cabinet,
or
just
be
shoved
behind
it. 

All
the
changes
lie
under
the
hood

and
they’re
all
centered
around
speed.

The
fastest
Roku
yet

(Image
credit:
Roku)

The
new
Ultra
is
powered
by
a
quad-core
processor
that
Roku
says
was
built
from
the
ground
up
for
“cinematic
streaming,”
and
which
promises
to
be
30%
faster
than
other
players
in
the
Roku
lineup. 

It
should
make
the
Roku
OS
platform
run
smoothly
and
enable
faster,
more
instantaneous
application
openings,
but
it
also
lets
this
player
support
more
formats.
With
HDR10+
and

Dolby
Vision
on
board,
this
Ultra
is
the
first
to
support
all
the
major

HDR
formats

in
addition
to
its

4K
and

Dolby
Atmos
support.
This
means
that
if
you
pair
this
with
the
right
TV,
streamed
content
will
look
especially
nice.

Like
the

Roku
Ultra
(2020),
the
Ultra
still
features
an
HDMI
2.1
port.
It
also
supports
Quick
Media
Switching,
which
should
reduce
slowdowns
if
the
refresh
rate
changes.
Inside
is

Wi-Fi
6
for
faster
streaming,
assuming
you
have
the
right
Wi-Fi
access
points.
Roku
uses
machine
learning
and
AI
to
predict
what
you
might
want
to
watch
next,
and
queue
up
the
respective
app
or
show
for
a
faster
start
to
streaming.
It
keeps
an
Ethernet
port
for
a
wired
connection
as
well.

If
you
want
to
listen
privately,
you
can
now
connect
a
pair
of
the

best
Bluetooth
headphones
to
the
Roku
Ultra.
This
levels
the
playing
field
with
the

Apple
TV
4K
and
the

Google
TV
Streamer,
and
it’s
a
long-awaited
and
welcome
addition.

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tech
deals,
and
more.

Roku
adds
two
buttons
to
the
Voice
Remote
Pro
and
adopts
USB-C

(Image
credit:
Roku)

In
the
box,
you
get
Roku’s
second-edition
Voice
Remote
Pro,
which
keeps
an
ergonomic
design
and
buttons
for
easy
TV
control,
including
power
and
volume.
All
of
the
buttons
are
now
backlit,
and
there
are
two
new
ones.
The
Quick
Launch
button
is
shaped
like
a
rocket
ship
and
gives
you
easy
access
to
shortcuts,
such
as
engaging
closed
captions
or
opening
your
favorite
streaming
service.
The
other
addition
is
a
Live
TV
button,
which
gives
you
access
to
all
over
400
channels
that
are
available
for
free.

Perhaps
the
biggest
change
is
the
Voice
Remote
Pro
second-edition
gaining
a
USB-C
port
for
easy
re-charging.
It
still
has
a
speaker
built
in
for
easy
locating
it
should
get
lost
in
between
the
couch
cushions.
The
new
Roku
Ultra
features
a
dedicated
button
to
ping
the
remote,
as
on
the

Google
TV
streamer.
Lastly,
the
remote
again
has
a
microphone,
so
that
you
can
easily
control
your
Roku
Ultra
with
your
voice.

Roku
is
taking
orders
now
for
the
new
Roku
Ultra
at
$99
in
the
United
States
and
Canada.
It
will
be
available
from
additional
retailers
in
the
coming
weeks,
and
we’ve
contacted
Roku
for
comment
on
whether
it
will
launch
in
additional
territories. 

We’ll
be
back
soon
with
our
full
review
of
the
Roku
Ultra,
as
soon
as
we’re
done
testing
the
streaming
box
to
see
how
well
it
stands
up
against
our
current

best
streaming
devices. 

Roku
also
teased
some
software
enhancements
and
feature
drops
arriving
in
the
coming
weeks
as
part
of
Roku
OS
14.
Building
off
the
voice
control
functionality
enabled
by
the
Voice
Remote
Pro,
Roku
will
eventually
let
you
access
a
laundry
list
of
settings
with
your
voice.
Teased
was
the
ability
to
adjust
home
screen
tiles,
check
for
software
updates,
and
even
switch
to
a
guest
mode. 

Additionally,
Roku
is
focusing
more
on
content
for
families
and
children,
with
a
new
spot
on
the
home
screen
that
should
make
finding
family-friendly
content
easier,
including
adding
familiar
characters
including
the
Cat
in
the
Hat
and
Peppa
Pig
to
the
home
screen
tiles.

The
Roku
app
for
Android
and
iOS
is
also
getting
a
bit
more
powerful.
It
lets
you
keep
your
TV
controls
while
browsing
for
content
on
the
same
screen.
You
can
also
search
for
content
here,
then
make
the
call
and
have
it
start
playing
on
your
Roku
streaming
player
or
Roku-connected
TV. 

Roku
isn’t
giving
a
specific
timeframe
for
the
rollout
of
these
features,
but
says
the
software
improvements
will
arrive
in
the
coming
months.

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