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The Surge of Free Ad-Funded Streaming Services Over Paid Offerings

The Television Trend Taking Over Premium Streaming Services

While cable television has largely fallen out of favor in favor of a more personalized TV streaming experience, a notable issue remains in today’s TV viewing: Prices are on the rise. Numerous streaming services hike their subscription rates year after year. Signing up for a streaming app because of intriguing show selections and pricing can swiftly turn problematic when the service starts to seem pricier than its value.

This dissatisfaction has resulted in a rising trend of consumers choosing free streaming services as well. A number of free streaming platforms and applications appeal to those seeking entertainment without overspending. For instance, the Roku Channel provides free TV shows, movies, and even TV channels that can easily compete with what paid streaming services deliver.

Free streaming platforms like these are a breath of fresh air. Take Disney+ as an example of this. When it debuted in 2019, its monthly fee was $6.99. Now, by the end of 2025, it has risen to $12.99 per month. Netflix began at $7.99 monthly, and today the rate can soar up to $24.99. The tendency of these services to provide bundles and various plans, some ad-supported and others ad-free, may further confuse consumers who simply seek an economical, straightforward viewing experience.

The Streaming Services Gaining Popularity

The Roku Channel stands out as a widely-used streaming service offering free movies and TV channels. Roku TV supports several top-notch streaming platforms, and its Featured Free section showcases channels like CBS News, NFL, CBS Sports, and Haystack News. Other free movie and show options include “Outlander,” “The Masked Singer,” “2 Broke Girls,” “Yellowjackets,” and numerous others. Although the free offerings may be limited, Roku TV frequently updates them so viewers can anticipate new content in the Featured Free section.

Tubi is another app available for free on mobile and streaming devices. It boasts hundreds of thousands of free movies and TV series comparable to paid streaming platforms, including unique original shows. Tubi also features Tubi Kids and a Spanish channel. Live TV on Tubi includes channels like NFL, NBA, Dateline, and EbonyTV. Movie highlights encompass “Titanic,” “Coraline,” “Tomb Raider,” and “Spider-Man: Homecoming.” Among its extensive television offerings are “Empire,” “Merlin,” “Master Chef,” and WWE’s “NXT.”

Kanopy is distinct in that its free film offerings come through collaborations with universities and libraries. You can access Kanopy via the Apple or Google app stores, streaming devices, and smart TV app stores. Some of its films feature “Memento,” “The Truman Show,” “The Mask You Live In,” and various foreign films.

Alternative Strategies People Are Using to Cut Streaming Costs

It remains relatively easy to discover free streaming choices if you seek them out, such as the popular Freevee streaming app integrated with Prime Video. These alternatives are appealing due to rising costs and the intricate management of multiple premium services. If free movie and TV streaming options like those mentioned previously do not attract you, there are other methods that others are employing to save money which you might consider.

One approach is to unsubscribe from a streaming service once the show you wanted to watch has concluded. Therefore, if you’re subscribing solely to catch the latest season of a series, after that season finishes, terminate your subscription to avoid wasting money. You may also opt for lower-priced options within these streaming apps, such as paying less per month and tolerating ads when they appear, rather than spending more to skip them. A third approach is to search for specific streaming services offering bundled options that allow you to save some funds. For instance, Disney+ presents a bundle including Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max for $19.99 monthly with ads, or another version that includes Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Unlimited for $29.99 a month with ads.

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How to Turn Off Siri Suggestions in Apple CarPlay

one of the most frustrating iOS features — particularly since Apple Intelligence came into play. As a part of iOS, Siri is also integrated into the Apple CarPlay experience. It can help you get directions, check reminders, play a song similar to the one currently playing, and more.

The Apple assistant additionally provides Siri Suggestions, a functionality that analyzes your iPhone usage to propose activities you might like to pursue. For those using CarPlay, Siri might recommend closing the garage door upon arriving home or prompt you to drive to a meeting. If you prefer to forgo Siri Suggestions while driving, turning off the feature in CarPlay is straightforward: just access the Settings menu and toggle Suggestions in CarPlay on or off.

But what if you’d like to receive some of the suggestions from Siri, but not all of them? In that instance, keep Suggestions enabled, and try this approach instead. When a Siri Suggestion appears on your CarPlay dashboard that you don’t wish to follow, simply long-press it. A pop-up will show up asking if you’d like to Clear for This Drive or Cancel. Select the first option, and Siri won’t disturb you with that suggestion for the remainder of your drive.

How to turn off Siri Suggestions with an iPhone

Although there are many concealed Apple CarPlay features — such as disabling Siri Suggestions — that can enhance your experience, you can also easily enable or turn off Siri Suggestions directly from your iPhone. Simply go to Settings, tap on Siri, and toggle on or off any of the following: Show in App, Show on Home Screen, Suggest App, or Suggest Notifications. To fully eliminate Siri Suggestions in iOS, set all these options to off.

Alternatively, you can customize Suggestions settings for each app individually by navigating to Settings > Siri and then selecting the desired app to adjust. Here, you can enable or disable it. <a

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Uncover 10 Remarkable Free iPhone Applications You Might Not Be Aware Of

apps definitely worth checking out, and they don’t require you to spend a cent, or at least their primary features are available for free.

In the same way we compiled the top free Android apps you might not be aware of, we are curating ten equally free iPhone apps that definitely deserve more recognition than they currently receive. Each app offers something distinctive, whether it’s a smart feature, an improved approach to something you already do, or a fix for an inconvenience you never knew you could address.

Transit

The name really captures its essence. Transit assists with, well, transit. Public transport can seem like a game of chance, particularly when you find yourself at a bus stop questioning if you just missed your ride or if it’s genuinely delayed. The app resolves this issue by providing you with real-time arrival and departure schedules for buses, trains, and subways in over 1000 cities across 29 nations. This way, you won’t have to keep waiting bewildered at a bus stop or perpetually refreshing old timetables.

The app features a user-friendly interface that makes locating your route incredibly straightforward. You simply open it, check for nearby options, and receive live updates on when your bus or train is actually set to arrive or depart. Moreover, the 4.

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Testing in Progress for iPhone 18 Pro’s Under-Display Face ID Feature

20th-anniversary iPhone, anticipated to avoid any display cutouts in 2027. A source named Smart Pikachu mentioned on Weibo that Apple is actively experimenting with the screen technology necessary for the Face ID sensors to function while situated beneath the OLED panel. As reported by MacRumors, this Weibo account has a history of accurately revealing supply chain insights regarding Android hardware advancements in China.

In particular, Smart Pikachu states that Apple is evaluating a “spliced micro-transparent glass” window that may be integrated into the display to enable the TrueDepth camera’s infrared sensors to penetrate the panel. The infrared projection needs to reach the user’s face, enabling the Face ID camera to then capture the 3D map of that face for user authentication. The system must operate perfectly, meaning the OLED panel cannot obstruct the infrared transmission. This remains speculation, as Apple has not yet provided details on integrating the 3D face recognition system beneath the iPhone display. Notably, rumors about under-display Face ID emerged several years ago.

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Distinctions Between SpaceX’s Starship V2 and V1

unscheduled disassembly.”

Several of the modifications are readily apparent, such as the increase in height. The V2 stands at 171 feet (52.1m), which is a 6-foot increase from the V1’s 165 feet (50.3m). This additional height allows for more propellant; approximately 300 extra metric tons. More crucially, the V2 has reduced its empty weight from 100 metric tons to 85 metric tons while increasing its fuel capacity from 1,200 metric tons to 1,500 metric tons.

Rockets’ success hinges on their mass ratio, defining the correlation between propellant mass and dry mass. Shedding 15 tons of structural weight while adding 300 tons of fuel enhances the V2’s margins for orbital burns and landings. The lighter framework implies more fuel availability for re-entry, as well as greater payload capacity, which equates to improved performance in actual missions, not just in testing scenarios. By evaluating the V1’s test missions, engineers identified issues with thermal management and control during re-entry, particularly the vehicle’s aerodynamic stability. Utilizing this information, the V2 addresses those design flaws, rectifying those vulnerabilities.

How SpaceX tackled the re-entry challenges

Android to Notify Users of Possible Scams When Screen Sharing Requests Occur During Calls

improving Android with enhanced security measures — such as advanced features designed to shield you from message fraud — and the company is now advancing further with in-call scam defense that Google claims will assist in identifying if con artists are attempting to gain access to your financial applications. This new feature is included in an expanding pilot initiative, which Google states is now being made available to a larger user base.

Essentially, when you’re on a call and sharing your screen while launching a financial app like your banking application, the new system will verify if the individual you are conversing with is in your contacts. If that individual is not, your Android device will produce a warning indicating that the call is likely a scam, suggesting that fraudsters might be using the call to compromise your finances. The company detailed the feature in a recent security blog entry, and this latest pilot follows closely on the heels of Google’s newest Circle to Search scam verifier, which enables you to circle elements on your screen to check for scams as well.

Disrupting the scammers’ influence

The whole new system is crafted to disrupt the “influence” that fraudsters can sometimes exert with their social engineering strategies. Google notes that once the warning activates, you will be required to wait for 30 seconds before proceeding. During this interval, the sense of urgency often exploited by scammers should ideally be countered by rational thought, giving you an opportunity to refrain from divulging your banking details to a malicious entity.

As mentioned earlier, the feature initially launched as part of a pilot program in the UK, and Google asserts that it “assisted thousands of users in terminating calls that could have cost them a considerable sum of money.” Certainly,

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Five Typical Errors That Drain Your Computer’s Storage Space

cause your SSD to malfunction. Even if everything appears fine, your drive may be suffering from impaired memory cells, overloaded firmware controllers, or mechanical parts that are deteriorating.

A lot of these problems can be prevented with just a few straightforward regular practices. You only need to cultivate certain habits, such as routinely cleaning your PC, ensuring it has adequate airflow through the case, or frequently updating the drive’s firmware. Extending the lifespan of your storage device can be that easy! The distinction between a robust drive that endures its expected lifespan and one that fails early hinges on a handful of conscious practices.

1. Overheating

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Utilizing USB Port Wi-Fi Adapters

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Using a USB Wi-Fi adapter seems like a reasonable choice. These adapters are compact enough to hold in your palm, and setting them up is just as simple as using a USB stick. More significantly, for those on a tight budget, USB Wi-Fi adapters are an affordable component, which cannot be said for most PC hardware. If your desktop lacks integrated wireless capabilities, opting for a USB Wi-Fi adapter is typically the most economical solution. It’s also appropriate if you’re hesitant to install a PCIe Wi-Fi card, which requires some familiarity with motherboard setups. Furthermore, it may be your only option if your motherboard doesn’t have extra PCIe slots, or if they are occupied by components like your GPU or video capture card. However, if you have the option and the funding, why would you not select the superior alternative?

While USB Wi-Fi adapters function adequately, particularly the Wi-Fi 6 and later models, they cannot match the performance levels of a PCIe Wi-Fi card. There are several reasons for this, but it primarily comes down to key factors like thermal throttling and USB bottlenecking, issues that PCIe Wi-Fi cards avoid. Moreover, numerous PCIe Wi-Fi cards include adjustable antennas connected via cables, which can be arranged further from the computer to mitigate wireless interference. Thus, although USB Wi-Fi adapters serve their purpose, they aren’t a practical choice for serious users.

USB port Wi-Fi adapters present too many drawbacks for serious users

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