SHIELD TV Gets Updated to Pie, Features Updated Settings UI and Hulu + Live TV App

SHIELD TV Gets Updated to Pie, Features Updated Settings UI and Hulu + Live TV App

By Jill T Frey
Android TV / Hulu / News / NVIDIA / PIE / SHIELD TV / updates


SHIELD TV is receiving Software Experience Upgrade 8.0 this morning, based on Android Pie.

As for what’s new, it’s a solid list. Those who update will see an updated Settings menu, enjoy the latest security patches, have access to a Match Content Color Space feature for HDR televisions (automatically switch your display mode to deliver more accurate colors), and will also be first to receive the updated Hulu + Live TV app.

According to NVIDIA, many apps on SHIELD have been upgraded already, including Netflix that now supports Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 surround sound for audio up to 640 kbps.

If you own a SHIELD TV, you should see the update notification pop up automatically on your device.

// NVIDIA [2]

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US 5G Cities for Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint

US 5G Cities for Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint

By Jill T Frey
5G / ATT / News / Sprint / T-Mobile / Verizon


5G is on the rise in the US, so just like with the 4G LTE rollout of years past, we are seeing a similar trickle out of 5G cities from US carriers. Whether they feature 5G mmW or sub-6 5G tech, there is a good chance 5G is close to your neck of the woods.

Since carriers like Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint only ever announce a couple of 5G areas at a time, we figured you might want a giant list of 5G cities for each, all in one place, that is (hopefully) updated regularly. You’ll find that here.

Verizon 5G Cities

Atlanta, GA Minneapolis, MN
Chicago, IL Providence, RI
Denver, CO St. Paul, MN
Detroit, MI Washington, DC
Indianapolis, IN

AT&T 5G Cities

Atlanta, GA Nashville, TN
Austin, TX New Orleans, LA
Charlotte, NC Oklahoma City, OK
Dallas, TX Orlando, FL
Houston, TX Raleigh, NC
Indianapolis, IN San
… Read the rest
Verizon Adds Another Set of 5G Cities to the Map

Verizon Adds Another Set of 5G Cities to the Map

By Jill T Frey
5G / News / Verizon


Verizon added four new 5G cities to its list today, bringing the total to nine. The new Verizon 5G cities are Atlanta, Detroit, Indianapolis, and Washington DC.

Like every other Verizon 5G market, these new locations will only have 5G in select areas. This is once again Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband, which is the 5G that doesn’t reach far or through or into buildings well, but it is super fast.

Want specifics on exactly where you’ll find 5G? We’ll leave that to Verizon:

Atlanta, GA:

5G Ultra Wideband service will be concentrated in parts of the following neighborhoods, Downtown, Midtown, and Tech Square, around such landmarks as The Fox Theater, Emory University Hospital Midtown, Mercedes Benz Stadium, Home Depot Backyard, Centennial Olympic Park, Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca Cola, and parts of Renaissance Park.

  • Downtown
  • Midtown
  • Tech Square

Denver, CO:

5G Ultra Wideband service will be concentrated

… Read the rest
DEAL: Grab a Pair of Wireless Earbuds With Bluetooth 5.0 and IPX7 Resistance for $25 (50% Off)

DEAL: Grab a Pair of Wireless Earbuds With Bluetooth 5.0 and IPX7 Resistance for $25 (50% Off)

By Jill T Frey
Deals / News / Wireless Earbuds


What, are you the last person on earth not walking around town with wireless earbuds? Oh my, how embarrassing that must be. Fear not, friend, Amazon has a solid deal on Canami wireless earbuds with the help of a coupon code, bringing the usually $52 buds down to just $24.99.

These earbuds feature Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity for syncing with your smart device, a touch button for easy control over music playback and volume, as well as IPX7 water resistance. These shall pair nicely with your workouts and depressing daily commutes in the rain.

To get the savings, add the earbuds to your Amazon cart, then apply the below coupon.

Amazon Link (Code: U3P5IEED)

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Android TV Getting Hulu With Live TV Support

Android TV Getting Hulu With Live TV Support

By Jill T Frey
Android TV / Hulu / News / SHIELD TV


This week, Hulu announced that Android TV will soon be a supported platform for its Hulu + Live TV service.

Detailed by Hulu, “Starting in early August, Hulu + Live TV and our updated UI will be available across a variety of Android TV devices, including Sony’s Android TVs, NVIDIA SHIELD, Xiaomi Mi Box, and Hisense Android TVs.”

Hulu says that in order to get some Live TV action fired up on your Android TV, keep checking this Google Play listing for when it’s compatible with your Android TV device.

// Hulu

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Sure Looks Like Verizon has a Streaming TV Box on the Way

Sure Looks Like Verizon has a Streaming TV Box on the Way

By Jill T Frey
News / Streaming TV / Verizon


Verizon might have plans to enter the streaming TV arena in the near future. This one slipped by me the other day, but an FCC filing revealed a Verizon “Stream TV” that could be a WiFi streaming box similar to an Android TV unit or AT&T’s various streaming box options for its numerous streaming TV services.

The device (model JS8V) features 802.11ac WiFi, Bluetooth, HDMI, Dolby Audio, and a controller. And again, it’s called the Verizon “Stream TV.” I mean, the name kind of sells it all, right?

The device is made by Wistron NeWeb, who just so happens to be the same company that makes AT&T’s custom Android TV box. While I haven’t found any definitive proof that this box runs Android TV, we do know that Google is up for customizing Android TV for customers like this who want a tailored experience for their services. Again, AT&T has … Read the rest

Android Auto UI Update We’ve All Been Waiting for has Arrived

Android Auto UI Update We’ve All Been Waiting for has Arrived

By Jill T Frey
Android Auto / News


Back in May, Google announced a refreshed look for Android Auto, and this week, it’s rolling out.

There are a few major changes to take note of. The big change is a dedicated app drawer, which will lay out all of your Android Auto compatible apps for easy access. On some icons, you’ll notice a Google Assistant button. Pressing on it will have Assistant read out certain details, such as upcoming events should you tap on the Calendar icon.

Multitasking is also a major part of this update. For example, while inside of Google Maps and navigating where you need to go, music controls will be embedded directly onto the bottom of the UI, allowing you to control playback while still having your maps up. This was always a major frustration of previous interfaces.

There is also a dedicated section for notifications. In the bottom right you’ll see a … Read the rest

DIRECTV NOW Rebrands to AT&T TV NOW

DIRECTV NOW Rebrands to AT&T TV NOW

By Jill T Frey
ATT / ATT TV NOW / DIRECTV NOW / News


DIRECTV NOW is getting rebranded to AT&T TV NOW, with the change taking full effect sometime in the coming weeks.

According to AT&T, customers won’t need to do much, except to accept a new terms of service.

For the DIRECTV NOW app, it will be replaced by an updated AT&T TV app across all app stores, available in the coming weeks.

This is a much better announcement than a service price hike, yes?

// AT&T

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Samsung to Announce Galaxy Tab S6, Watch Active 2 Prior to Note 10 Event

Samsung to Announce Galaxy Tab S6, Watch Active 2 Prior to Note 10 Event

By Jill T Frey
Galaxy Note 10 / Galaxy Tab S6 / Galaxy Watch Active 2 / News / Samsung


Samsung is going to spend a lot of time talking about the Galaxy Note 10 at its scheduled Unpacked event next week, so much that it’s going to announce two other products separately before we get to August 7. In a teaser posted this morning, Samsung said that it will preview two products at separate digital events prior to showing off the Note 10.

They didn’t name the products, but the video (below) shows a new tablet and watch floating about in the shadows. Because Samsung products leak in full weeks before they are ever official, we know these two products to be the Galaxy Tab S6 and Galaxy Watch Active 2.

If we take the video layout as its shown, we should see the Galaxy Tab S6 on July 31 followed by the Galaxy Watch Active 2 on August 5. Both products will be revealed on Samsung’s … Read the rest

Google, We Have Some Pixel 4 Soli Feature Suggestions

Google, We Have Some Pixel 4 Soli Feature Suggestions

By Jill T Frey
Motion Sense / News / Opinion / Pixel 4 / Project Soli


Now that we know for certain that the Pixel 4 will come equipped with a Soli radar chip for recognizing hand movements, we’re curious how Google intends to improve it over time. In the company’s own words, the Motion Sense feature will “evolve” as it ages, so let’s allow this post to push Google in the right direction in terms of what we, the consumers, would like to see, yes?

As of right now, we know Motion Sense will be capable of skipping songs, snoozing alarms, and silence phone calls. For us, that’s not nearly enough functionality to warrant that much real estate on the device’s front side.

We would also like to see the ability to swipe through photos in gallery applications (Photos, Gallery, etc.), scrolling in Chrome or other applicable applications, switch camera modes or apply different filters in the Camera app, control a device’s volume output, a … Read the rest