streaming landscape

AppWizard
March 12, 2025
Mike Verdu has officially left Netflix, where he had been leading its gaming division since 2021 before overseeing generative artificial intelligence initiatives. He was replaced by Alain Tascan from Epic Games. Following Verdu's departure, Netflix has been adjusting its gaming strategy, including shutting down its Team Blue studio and experiencing talent departures, such as Joseph Staten and Chacko Sonny. Additionally, layoffs occurred at Night School Studio, indicating ongoing restructuring within Netflix's gaming operations.
AppWizard
February 13, 2025
Apple TV+ will be available on Android devices starting February 12, marking the first time the app is accessible on Android platforms, specifically for devices running Android 10 or newer. Users can subscribe to Apple TV+ and the MLS Season Pass through the app. Prior to this, the app was compatible with various devices, including Roku and smart TVs. Apple reported .12 billion in revenue from its services sector in the fourth quarter, a 14% increase year-over-year, and has surpassed 1 billion subscriptions. In October, Apple TV+ was added to Amazon Prime Video's subscription options in the U.S. The streaming industry is facing challenges such as consumer dissatisfaction and rising subscription costs.
AppWizard
February 12, 2025
Apple TV+ is launching a dedicated app for Android users, marking a significant expansion beyond its primary focus on Apple device owners. The app is expected to be available soon, potentially increasing Apple's subscriber base by providing access to exclusive content for millions of Android users. This move comes as Apple invests heavily in original content, with production costs exceeding billion and some shows costing around million per episode. The standard pricing for Apple TV+ is .99 per month, and there is speculation about a potential free trial. In Q1 2025, Apple reported total revenue of .3 billion, with the Services sector contributing .34 billion, indicating growth from the previous year.
AppWizard
October 29, 2024
The Channel 4 streaming app has been launched on Android TV, allowing users to access Channel 4 content directly from devices like Chromecast, Google TV Streamer, and Nvidia Shield TV. Previously, the app was only available on Android smartphones and tablets, and users had to rely on third-party applications or casting from mobile devices. The app's user interface is similar to that of the Kindle Fire TV version, enabling seamless streaming of live content. Upon launching the app on a Google TV Streamer, the framerate adjusts to the European 50Hz standard, aligning with UK broadcast standards. The app is currently not mentioned on Channel 4's support pages for Android TV, suggesting further updates may be coming. Users can download the Channel 4 app from the Google Play Store.
AppWizard
September 21, 2024
Streaming music video platform Xite has launched its connected TV app on the Android TV operating system in the United Kingdom, Germany, and Canada, following its earlier debut in the Netherlands and the United States. The app allows users to download it from the Google Play Store and offers curated playlists organized by genres, eras, and visual styles. Xite is also available on free, ad-supported streaming television platforms such as Samsung TV Plus, Amazon Fire TV Channels, Amazon Freevee, and Pluto TV in select regions. Users can create their own genre-based playlists, skip videos, and pause music videos. In the U.S., the app is accessible on platforms including Comcast’s Xfinity X1, Xumo, Android TV (Google TV), Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and Samsung smart TVs.
AppWizard
September 19, 2024
Google TV has expanded its Freeplay offerings by introducing new free channels and a redesigned app experience. The updated app features an organized channel guide that allows users to sort content by categories such as recently watched and popular selections, along with a "Favorites" section for easy access to preferred channels. The rollout of the new design began recently, but users may experience inconsistencies during the transition, with some devices displaying the Freeplay icon and others retaining the "Free Channels" label. Additionally, Google TV is preparing to release a new streaming device.
AppWizard
September 18, 2024
High-resolution digital audio (hi-res audio) refers to recordings that exceed the CD standard of 16-bit/44.1kHz. Major subscription music streaming services like Tidal, Apple Music, and Amazon Music Unlimited now emphasize hi-res audio, while Spotify has yet to provide it. Android devices lacked native support for hi-res playback until the release of Android 14 in 2023, which allowed playback exceeding 24-bit/48kHz. USB Audio Player PRO (UAPP) is a flexible app for hi-res audio on Android, supporting bit-perfect playback and streaming from DLNA servers. Tidal supports hi-res playback natively in its Android app and has transitioned to FLAC for hi-res titles. Amazon Music Unlimited offers a large library of hi-res titles and displays DAC output information but lacks clarity on bit-perfect playback support. Apple Music supports hi-res content since May 2021, requiring users to opt in due to file size and bandwidth demands. Neutron Music Player provides advanced audio features and DSP effects for local and network playback, while Poweramp Music Player is known for its extensive format support and customization options but may complicate achieving bit-perfect playback.
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