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Tech News
Artie, a Y Combinator-backed startup building real-time data streaming infrastructure, has announced five open positions for Technical Account Executives. The company is seeking candidates focused on engineering quality, speed of execution, and measurable business impact.
A report explains that streaming platforms must compress 4K video heavily to send it over the internet without buffering, which strips out fine details like film grain, shadow gradients, textures and complex motion data. A 1080p Blu-ray, by contrast, uses a much higher bitrate and preserves that visual information more faithfully, so it can look sharper in demanding scenes despite having fewer pixels.
An investigation into a budget-priced 75-inch LG smart TV found that agreeing to install the display's basic driver software also forces users to accept a bundle of additional bloatware apps they never explicitly consented to. The report argues this practice, combined with built-in microphones and tracking-capable operating systems, effectively turns purchased hardware into a surveillance and advertising platform controlled by the manufacturer rather than the buyer.
Amazon does not publish an official lifespan for Fire TV Stick devices, but it does commit to providing security updates for a minimum of four years from purchase date, or until a listed support deadline, whichever comes later. Current models like the Fire TV Stick 4K Select and 4K Plus are covered through at least December 2030.
Apple has again raised subscription prices, with Apple TV climbing from $13 to $15 per month and its annual plan jumping 20 percent from $99 to $119. The individual Apple One bundle, which includes Apple TV, Music, Arcade, Fitness+, News+ and iCloud+, rose from $20 to $22 monthly. Existing subscribers get one month's notice before the new rates take effect.
Apple increased its Apple TV streaming service price from $12.99 to $14.99 per month, with the annual rate rising from $99 to $119. The Apple One bundle, which includes Apple TV alongside iCloud storage and Apple Music, also rose from $19.95 to $21.95 for individual plans.
Apple has increased the monthly cost of Apple TV in the US by $2 to $15, with the annual plan rising $20 to $119. The Apple One Individual bundle, which includes Apple TV, iCloud Plus, Apple Music and Apple Arcade, also goes up to $22 a month from $20, though Family and Premier tiers stay unchanged. New and existing subscribers are affected immediately, though current customers get about a month's notice before their bill changes.
Apple has raised the monthly cost of an Apple TV subscription in the US from $13 to $15, with the annual plan now $120. The individual Apple One bundle, which includes Apple TV, rises by $2 to $22 per month, while other Apple One tiers remain unchanged for now. New subscribers face the higher prices immediately, and existing customers will get a month's notice before their rates change.
Apple is increasing Apple TV's monthly subscription from $12.99 to $14.99, with the annual plan rising from $99 to $119. Apple One bundle pricing is also going up, with the individual tier moving from $19.95 to $21.95 monthly. This follows a similar increase to Apple Music announced roughly a month earlier.
The streaming service that produced the hit drama 'Heated Rivalry' has released a new series called 'Slo Pitch,' a comedy centered on gay softball players. Unlike prior attempts to capitalize on 'Heated Rivalry's success, 'Slo Pitch' takes a distinctly different tonal approach, opting for sitcom-style humor over drama.
An economics writer recounts owning roughly 4,000 CDs, once worth about $40,000, that are now nearly worthless due to music streaming. Rather than framing himself as a victim of disruption, he argues that free access to vast catalogs of new and old music has given him far more value than he lost, turning an apparent loss into a net gain.
Proton VPN is promoting its free plan as offering unlimited data and speeds with no ads, no activity logging, and protection under Swiss privacy law. The free tier is limited to one device and lacks streaming-optimized servers and the Stealth protocol, which remain reserved for paid subscribers.