In the late 1990s, one of the original portable music file formats — the MP3 — was causing quite a bit of bother mainly due to user’s illegal sharing over Napster. While MP3 eventually prevailed, there is an even better choice for high-quality music downloads, and it’s playable on your favorite device. It’s even in …
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This is part of CNET’s “Crossing the Broadband Divide” series exploring the challenges of getting internet access to everyone. I stare at my computer screen, waiting for my email to load. And I wait. And wait. Whipping out my phone, I try to run a speed test. But the internet’s too slow for even that to load. I’m working from …
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Starting today, you can ask your Google speaker to control Roku. Roku’s popular streamers and smart TVs now have the ability to take commands from Google Assistant. That means a Google Home, Google Home Mini or Google Home Hub, for example, can control Rokus using “OK Google” voice commands from across the room. People with Roku streamers and a compatible Assistant gadget …
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Sonos and Roku may soon become closer buddies. The two device makers are in preliminary talks about integrating Roku’s new entertainment software, Roku Connect and Roku Entertainment Assistant, into Sonos’ audio gadgets, according to a person familiar with the conversations. Such a partnership would potentially allow voice commands to be sent to a Roku TV or Roku streamer via a …
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The Roku Streaming Stick Plus just got a permanent $10 price cut. It’s now officially $60, down from the $70 price it debuted at a year ago. Even at its original price, the Streaming Stick Plus was enthusiastically given the CNET Editors’ Choice Award, offering 4K HDR video, zippy performance, a remote that controls your TV’s power and volume, and easy …
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Android TV is taking another stab at the living room. Unlike the $35 Google Chromecast, Google’s big-screen Android TV operating system appears only on relatively expensive devices, namely the $200 Nvidia Shield and Sony TVs, for example. Today Google aims to close the price gap a bit by building Android TV into a new device. The Xiaomi Mi Box S …
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By now you’re probably aware of Roku. It’s a company that creates streaming video players — you know, little devices that play Netflix and YouTube on your TV — as well as an operating system for Smart TVs. We like Roku streamers and TVs a lot here at CNET. Most are cheap and good. Now the company has two new …
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Roku has announced that its latest OS updates will bring Spotify back to the platform after a nine-month absence. And if you’ve got a Roku, you’ll be able to stream from Spotify Connect. The app will appear as part of the OS 8.2 update for Roku TVs from today and with OS 9 for Roku streaming boxes from November onwards. …
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While Apple’s event on September 12 should be packed with new iPhones and a new Apple Watch, rumors don’t point to a new Apple TV. Nope, no Apple TV 8K, not even any Fortnite. I hope Apple doesn’t ignore it completely, however. The Apple TV 4K is one of my favorite streaming devices already, thanks to its industry-leading format support, superb …
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Labor Day isn’t really a big “tech-deal” holiday, right? Tell that to Best Buy. The big-box store just took the wraps off some pretty sweet discounts, and I’ve rounded up the items I think are worth a look: Ninja The Ninja Coffee Bar Brewer with Thermal Carafe for $100 (save $100): Why monkey around with pricey, environmentally unfriendly K cups …
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