All posts tagged: AdFree

This is the ad-free news app setup I wish I used sooner

This is the ad-free news app setup I wish I used sooner

Published by skeptic

Before I log in for the day and start typing away, I like to check the news to see what’s going on in the world. Regardless of the news organization I’m using, the number of videos, audio, and pop-up ads that inundate my screen can be maddening. If severe weather is on the way, or there’s something major happening in my area, I don’t need to see ads for Bob’s Discount Furniture before I know if my house is about to get blown away. That’s when I discovered a beautiful, Material-based open-source news application that lets me view what I want, when I want it. It may be a little boring to look at, but rather than getting overstimulated at the start of the day, I can just look at the news. Sometimes, it’s the simplest things that make life better. Read You is fully open-source It’s being updated fairly frequently, so new features are in the pipeline Credit: Shaun Cichacki/MUO As with many of the greatest applications currently installed on my PC or Android devices, …

Roku’s ad-free streaming service was already a great deal – now it’s adding Disney movies

Roku’s ad-free streaming service was already a great deal – now it’s adding Disney movies

Published by skeptic

Roku Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. ZDNET’s key takeaways Roku’s Howdy streaming service is just $3 a month. It includes a solid mix of movies and TV shows, but nothing new. The service will soon add content from Disney and Warner Bros.  If you’re looking to save a little money on your streaming budget, there’s an option you might not know about that’s only $3 a month. And that option is about to get even more content, including Disney movies. Alongside its pretty robust free live TV offerings, Roku launched a premium streaming service last fall called Howdy. The service offers a decent selection of TV shows and movies, but the real appeal is the price of just $3 a month for ad-free viewing. Also: The best streaming service you’re not taking advantage of (but probably have access to) When the service debuted, Roku CEO Anthony Wood acknowledged that the content library might not rival other services, and Howdy was designed to “complement, not compete with, premium services.” The content …

Amazon to Increase the Price of Ad-Free Prime Video Streaming

Amazon to Increase the Price of Ad-Free Prime Video Streaming

Published by skeptic

Amazon on Friday announced Prime Video Ultra, a subscription that replaces its existing ad-free offering in the US, starting on April 10. The subscription is $5 per month and removes commercials for customers who have the default, ad-supported version of Prime Video through a standalone subscription or Prime membership.  Existing ad-free customers who currently pay an extra $3 per month to stream without ads will become Ultra subscribers and pay $2 more in April but gain “advanced viewing features,” according to an email from Amazon obtained by CNET. These added features include: 4K UHD video 100 downloads (increased from 25) Five simultaneous streams (increased from three) In comparison, the default version of Prime Video will offer 50 downloads and four concurrent streams, according to an Amazon blog post. A standalone Prime Video subscription costs $9 per month, and a Prime membership that includes a Prime Video benefit costs $15 per month or $139 per year. If you get Prime Video through an annual Prime membership, you can choose to sign up for a Prime Video Ultra yearly …

Anthropic Promises Claude Will Remain Ad-Free, Mocks ChatGPT Ads in Super Bowl Commercial

Anthropic Promises Claude Will Remain Ad-Free, Mocks ChatGPT Ads in Super Bowl Commercial

Published by skeptic

As OpenAI is making plans to introduce ads to ChatGPT, competitor Anthropic has promised to keep Claude ad-free. In a blog post today, the company said that there are “many good places for advertising,” but a “conversation with Claude is not one of them.” According to Anthropic, including ads in Claude would not be in line with its mission of creating a helpful assistant for work and deep thinking. Anthropic claims that users should not need to second-guess whether an AI is being helpful or “subtly steering the conversation towards something monetizable.” There will be no ads or sponsored links in conversations with Claude, and Claude’s responses will not be influenced by advertisers or include third-party product placements. Our analysis of conversations with Claude (conducted in a way that keeps all data private and anonymous) shows that an appreciable portion involve topics that are sensitive or deeply personal–the kinds of conversations you might have with a trusted advisor. Many other uses involve complex software engineering tasks, deep work, or thinking through difficult problems. The appearance …