Where is YouTube TV available?

YouTube TV has region specific programming, here’s how to see if you can access it.

YouTube TV is the newest method of cutting the cord to your cable provider, while still being able to watch the shows you’ve gotten hooked on over the years. While anyone can get a subscription to YouTube TV, you’ll need to be in a covered market in order to watch local programs like the news.

We’ve got the details on where you need to be, to access everything YouTube TV has to offer.

What countries can access YouTube TV?

For the time being, only users in the U.S. will be able to take advantage of YouTube TV. This is probably because it won’t be immediately available to all parts of the US, and Google wants to get it rolled out completely before looking to other countries. If it does roll out to other countries it’s going to be a while before we hear about it.

What are the currently covered areas for YouTube TV?

YouTube TV delivers both local, and national programming, and that’s where things get tricky. Right now, YouTube TV is available in over 30 different Metropolitan markets and the local programming therein. However, if you don’t live in one of these markets you can still sign up for YouTube TV to access national programming and recorded programs.

• Albany
• Albuquerque
• Atlanta
• Austin
• Baltimore
• Baton Rouge
• Birmingham
• Boston
• Buffalo
• Burlington
• Cedar Rapids
• Champaign & Springfield-Decatur
• Charlotte
• Chattanooga
• Chicago
• Cincinnati
• Cleveland
• Colorado Springs
• Columbia (S.C.)
• Columbus
• Dallas-Fort Worth
• Dayton
• Denver
• Des Moines
• Detroit
• Flint
• Fresno-Visalia
• Ft. Myers-Naples
• Ft Smith-Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers
• Grand Rapids
• Green Bay
• Greenville (North and South Carolina)
• Greensboro
• Harrisburg
• Hartford
• Honolulu
• Houston
• Huntsville-Decatur (Alabama)
• Indianapolis
• Jackson (Mississippi)
• Jacksonville
• Kansas City
• Knoxville
• Las Vegas
• Lexington
• Little Rock
• Los Angeles
• Louisville
• Madison
• Memphis
• Miami-Fort Lauderdale
• Milwaukee
• Minneapolis-Saint Paul
• Mobile
• Nashville
• New Orleans
• New York City
• Norfolk
• Oklahoma City
• Omaha
• Orlando-Daytona Beach-Melbourne
• Paducah-Cape Girardeau-Harrisburg
• Pensacola
• Philadelphia
• Phoenix
• Pittsburgh
• Portland
• Portland-Auburn (Maine)
• Providence
• Raleigh
• Richmond
• Roanoke-Lynchburg (Virginia)
• Rochester
• Sacramento
• Salt Lake City
• San Antonio
• San Diego
• San Francisco Bay Area
• Savannah
• Seattle
• Shreveport
• South Bend-Elkhart (Indiana)
• Spokane
• Springfield (Missouri)
• St. Louis
• Syracuse
• Tampa
• Toledo
• Tucson
• Tulsa
• Waco
• Washington DC
• West Palm Beach
• Wichita
• Wilkes Barre-Scranton-Hazleton

Will it be expanding?

Yes, Google initially rolled out YouTube TV to 10 major metropolitan markets. Since then it’s already expanded into more than 40 markets, with more room to grow. Considering in just a few months it has more than tripled the markets it’s available in, it’s a solid bet to continue to see this kind of growth.

This means that even if you aren’t in a city with YouTube TV right now, that may change sooner than you think.

Questions?

Do you still have questions about whether you can watch YouTube TV? Are you in a covered area? Let us know about it in the comments below!

Updated 4/10/2018 – Added 5 new markets for YouTube TV.

Hulu’s live TV service is now available on LG smart TVs

Hulu continues to slowly roll its new UI and Live TV out following additions last fall on computers and game consoles. Now you can enjoy the streaming television service on most current LG WebOS Smart TVs, this year’s Samsung Tizen Smart TVs and two more Roku devices.

All 2017 and 2018 LG Smart TVs with WebOS along with certain 2016 models can enjoy Hulu’s refreshed UI and Live TV. Roku’s 3500X Streaming Stick as well as the Roku 2 (5210X) get both, too.

Source: Hulu

Apple snags TV adaptation of Asimov’s ‘Foundation’ sci-fi series

Apple has added yet another TV series to its ever growing lineup. The latest addition, Deadline reports, is an ambitious project headed by David S. Goyer (Blade, Batman Begins, The Dark Knight) and Josh Friedman (War of the Worlds, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Avatar 2) that will adapt Isaac Asimov’s Foundation series. While adaptations of Foundation have been attempted for both TV and the big screen, they’ve been abandoned due to the complexity of the novels’ storylines. Fox, Warner Bros, Sony and HBO all have scrapped Foundation projects to their name.

Foundation centers on Hari Seldon, a psycho-historian who has developed a way to predict the future. He foresees the collapse of the Galactic Empire as well as a subsequent dark age and he sets out to ensure humanity’s knowledge isn’t lost.

Apple has been building an impressive collection of TV projects. Those in the works or are under consideration include a number of shows from Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine production company that will star the likes of Kristen Wiig, Octavia Spencer and Jennifer Aniston, a Steven Spielberg-produced revival of Amazing Stories, a sci-fi series from the director of the Hunger Games, a space drama from Ronald D. Moore, a psychological thriller produced by M. Night Shyamalan and a drama based on the early life of Kevin Durant. When we’ll actually be able to watch these shows is still up in the air, but the New York Times reported last month that they could launch sometime between March and summer 2019.

Deadline reports that the Foundation adaptation is in development for straight-to-series consideration.

Via: Deadline

littleBits adds coding and customization to its Star Wars Droid kit

Last year, littleBits introduced a Star Wars Droid Inventor Kit, which allows kids to build their own Droid. The kit came with everything kids needed to accomplish the task, and an app provided how-to videos and instructions. Now, littleBits is adding more functionality to these Droid kits: Kids can use coding to customize their Droids. This feature is available at no additional cost to those who own Droid Inventor Kits.

It’s made possible thanks to Scratch Blocks, which is coding tech developed by Google and MIT. Kids can expand upon the existing missions within the kit through this new update, allowing them to control the power, motor, or sensor of their Droid through easy drag-and-drop coding. The update also allows kids to customize their Droid, giving it a personality.

We’re never going to complain about companies adding on functionality to already-sold items, so of course this is a great idea. But even more than that, adding coding functionality to something as fun as a Star Wars Droid and expanding what you can do with such a kit really inspires the imagination. It wouldn’t be surprising to find more than a few adults running out to pick up the updated kits.

Senators urge Zuckerberg to avoid ‘nightmare’ for Facebook users

As expected, Facebook co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg was in Capitol Hill today to testify before the Senate Commerce and Judiciary Committees. It is the first of two congressional hearings Zuckerberg is scheduled for this week, with the other taking place tomorrow at 10AM ET in front of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Senator Thune (R-South Dakota) opened the hearing by saying that tech companies need to do more to protect user data and to prevent harmful conduct on their platforms. “You have an obligation that your [American] dream doesn’t become a nightmare for Facebook users,” he said to Zuckerberg, referencing the company’s recent mishaps, including the Cambridge Analytica (CA) scandal.

Senator Feinstein (D-California), ranking member of the Judiciary Committee, then made mention of Facebook’s lack of transparency after it took over two years to disclose the “breach of trust” from political research firm CA. Zuckerberg began his testimony by reading his prepared statement, which Congress released yesterday, and said that he takes personal responsibility for Facebook’s failure to protect users. Not just from keeping their private data safe, but also fake news, foreign interference in elections, hate speech and other types of digital abuse.

“We didn’t take a broad enough view,” Zuckerberg said. “It was my mistake and I’m sorry. I’m responsible for what happens here.” He went on to say that while it will take “some time” to fix all of these issues, he’s “committed to doing this right.”

After Zuckerberg’s opening statement, senators asked him a wide range of questions about how Facebook operates, including how the it targets users with personalized ads. Senator Nelson (D-Florida) pointed Zuckerberg to what Facebook’s Chief Operating Officer, Sheryl Sandberg, said recently about users having to pay if they don’t want to see ads on the platform. The CEO said that if users don’t want to see targeted ads, there’s an option for them to turn that off, noting that even though people generally don’t like ads, “people really don’t like ads that aren’t relevant.”

Zuckerberg added that is Facebook’s mission to offer a service that’s accessible to everyone, to which Senator Nelson asked how he’s able to to turn that into a sustainable business: “We run ads,” he said. Senator Hatch (R-Utah) said that while there’s nothing wrong with offering a free service in exchange for personal data, Facebook needs to do a better job of being more transparent with user about how what type of information it is collecting and what’s being done with it.

Naturally, the topic of federal regulation came up and Zuckerberg pledged to work with the US Senate on proposed regulations. This came up after he said that Facebook did not report the initial Cambridge Analytica data misuse to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which could violate the settlement agreement between the company and government agency from 2011. At the time, the FTC accused Facebook of deceiving consumers by “telling them they could keep their information private and then repeatedly allowing it to be shared and made public.”

Developing…

Cadillac goes green with the CT6 Plug-In hybrid

More and more luxury automobile owners want to go green. Sure there’s a chance they’re looking to save a few bucks on gas, but you rarely find people who buy feature-filled powerful sedans and then worry about the prices at the pump. For the automakers, some of that desire to be more eco-conscious is government mandated. Like in the growing Chinese market, where hybrids and EVs will soon be the norm as the country tackles its pollution problem.The CT6 Plug-In is built in that country to capture that market. But it’s also here in the US and it’s a worth a look.

Whatever a person’s reason for wanting a hybrid or EV, the $74,000 Cadillac CT6 Plug-In offers a compelling, feature-rich package for fans of American luxury. While it’s quick in a straight line, the weight of the added battery makes it less nimble in corners than its gas-powered counterpart.

With an EV range of 31 miles, the CT6 Plug-In could potentially go for weeks (or even months) without hitting up the pumps if you live within 10 to 15-miles of work and charge it every night. The car’s total range (gas and electric combined) is 430 miles. So, if the EV-only mode doesn’t keep you from the pump, those visits will still be few and far between.

With a charged battery — and while driving around town — the CT6 is rated at 62 MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent). But once you hit the freeway (which always obliterates any hybrid mileage), the efficiency tumbles to 25 miles per gallon. That’s a huge drop and should make potential purchasers pause if they typically do a lot of high-speed highway driving and want an eco-friendly car.

If the car’s not bombing down the freeway, the impressive EV range is accomplished thanks to an 18.4kWh battery sandwiched between the back seats and trunk. Unfortunately, this creates some issues.

First off, it reduces the size of the trunk enough that I was surprised by the lack of space when I initially opened the cargo area. It’s enough for about two to three medium-sized pieces of luggage. Anything more than that and you begin to encroach on the passenger area.

The battery also adds weight because that’s what batteries do. But on the CT6 Plug-In, because the power pack is placed vertically in the car, it reduces the cornering prowess of the vehicle. The car feels heavy going around sharp turns. Because of this, I wasn’t surprised when the wheels squealed in protest during maneuvers that a regular CT6 would have no problem accomplishing.

Putting the car in Sport mode, with its tightening of the steering wheel, doesn’t help all that much either. What it does do is make the Cadillac quick in a straight line. With a zero to 60 time of 5.2 seconds (thanks to 335 horsepower and 432 pounds of torque), I nearly forgot all about the corners I had tackled earlier in the day.

While I’m a fan of going fast in a straight line, the CT6 Plug-In shines in its default Tour mode. It keeps the Cadillac in electric mode until the battery is depleted. When the car is running on electrons, the vehicle is in its element as a luxury cruiser. It’s quieter, accelerates smoother and just feels more like a Cadillac. But the car still suffers some of the issues other hybrids encounter.

Like a lot of hybrids, there were occasional hiccups as the car transitioned from gas to electric or vice versa. Usually, these happened during slow speeds and were most pronounced if I was driving in Sport mode.

Still, it looks like GM (the parent company of Cadillac) has taken what it’s learned from the Chevy Bolt and Volt and placed it in the CT6 Plug-In. It’ll be interesting to see how the automaker’s learnings translate into a potentially fully electric future Cadillac. If it’s as smooth as this car when it’s rolling on electrons, Caddy fans should be pleased.

Green Cadillac drivers will also be happy to know that the automaker has shoved nearly all the options into the CT6 Plug-In which only has a single trim level. It ships standard with a ton of features like a review-mirror camera, Android Auto and CarPlay support, 360-degree camera, four USB ports, two more USB ports for video along with HDMI, rear monitors, a 110 volt outlet, heads-up display, the ability to record video of a drive, and Night Vision (which finds pedestrians at night and highlights them). A helpful feature in San Francisco while it’s raining since everyone who lives here owns a black hoodie which makes us low-level ninjas that are hard for drivers to see.

The CT6 Plug-In also has adaptive cruise control which works great. It’s not quite as nice as offerings from Tesla, Mercedes, BMW and Nissan, but it’s close. The lane-keep assistant, on the other hand, is less impressive. It barely nudges you back into your lane. Sadly, you can’t outfit the vehicle with Cadillac’s impressive Super Cruise semi-autonomous driving tech. Hopefully, that’ll be rectified in future versions of the car.

Looking a few years or even decades down the road is important for Cadillac as it and other automakers try to figure out what the future holds for the automotive world. The CT6 Plug-In is a step in the right direction. The company is moving towards an electric vehicle while making sure it can compete in China’s growing market where EVs and hybrids are pretty much going to be mandatory.

On the road, if you treat the CT6 Plug-In like a cruiser and keep it charged up, it’ll deliver the Cadillac luxury you’d expect. Push it and the car tries its best to keep up, but for enthusiasts of luxury sport vehicles, it’ll fall short. Those folks should check out the incredible CTS-V for now. For the eco-conscious person looking for a ton of features in a luxury car that’s smooth on the road, the Caddy is ready to be plugged into your home.

Source: Cadillac

Uber gathered driver feedback to overhaul the app they use

As part of a grand campaign to repair its reputation, Uber updated its driver app last fall with a ‘share my location’ feature to comfort its contractors during long shifts. But the software’s newest version out today is very much an overhaul that redesigns its interface with input from the drivers themselves. What did they want? To easily see how much money they’ve made in a shift so far and get quick access to badges and other ‘gamified’ elements of the Uber driving experience.

Most obvious is the earnings tracker, which sits front and center at the top of the screen. Instead of harassing drivers with text messages, there’s now a ‘status bar’ at the bottom that indicates good market conditions (more fares, better rates, etc) and highlight those locations on the map. Other changes reshuffle information delivery: Offers for insurance and motorist classes are sent to an in-app inbox, while a driver’s rating page now lists compliments and the total number of trips in addition to complaints to present a more holistic and human picture.

The new app version also has a fix for a connectivity issue that prevented drivers from finishing rides without a signal, making dropping fares off in internet dead zones a problem. Now the app will record the driver’s GPS location when ending a ride and upload it later.

While Uber has likely been working on this update for awhile, it’s also a convenient time to cozy up for drivers now that the company’s autonomous car project has been delayed after last month’s fatal crash.

Via: The Verge

Source: Uber

Zuckerberg says a ‘version’ of Facebook will always be free

Mark Zuckerberg is testifying today before the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, answering questions from 44 Senators about Facebook’s data managing practices, the Cambridge Analytica scandal and the use of its platform by foreign groups attempting to influence US elections. During his questioning today, Senator Orrin Hatch harkened back to Zuckerberg’s first visit to Capitol Hill in 2010 where he said that Facebook would always be free. Zuckerberg then responded that a version of Facebook would always be free, leaving open the interpretation that the platform could one day charge a fee.

Last week, Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg told CNBC that while the company currently allows users to opt out of certain features, “We don’t have an opt-out at the highest level. That would be a paid product.” Hatch asked about those comments and Zuckerberg reiterated that ads are a major part of how Facebook sustains its business. It’s interesting to now hear Zuckerberg say that a version of Facebook will always remain free.

Zuckerberg’s testimony is ongoing, you can follow along here.

Senate plans hearing on Cambridge Analytica’s misuse of Facebook data

It’s not just Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg facing close scrutiny from Congress over the Cambridge Analytica data sharing scandal. Senator John Thune has stated that the Senate Commerce Committee plans to hold a hearing on Cambridge Analytica and “similar firms” that might have obtained Facebook data without permission. There are “plenty of questions” about what Cambridge Analytica did, Senator Thune said.

There’s no estimated timetable for the hearing.

Whenever a hearing happens, Cambridge Analytica’s response is likely to be familiar: it’ll fight tooth and nail to assert its innocence. The company recently posted an article attempting to dismiss the “speculation and hearsay” surrounding data sharing, including its assertions that it and its data partner GSR obeyed the law when collecting and handling Facebook users’ info. It’s doubtful Cambridge Analytica will entertain any notion that was knowingly harvesting data without permission.

Whether or not the Committee accepts that response is another matter. Facebook is grappling with an FTC investigation precisely because much of the data supplied to Cambridge Analytica was obtained without consent, and senators could easily see the company as integral to those privacy violations.

Source: Reuters

Facebook CEO pledges to work with Senate on proposed regulations

As Zuckerberg’s Senate testimony continues, the question of regulation came up, as expected. Senator Lindsey Graham asked the CEO about his stance on legislation that would regulate platforms like Facebook and Zuckerberg said that if it was the right regulation, he and Facebook would welcome it. Additionally, Graham asked if Zuckerberg and his team would be willing to suggest some legislation regarding social media legislation and the CEO said he would send proposals to Graham’s office.

During a CNN interview last month, Zuckerberg also addressed the idea of regulation, saying, “I actually am not sure we shouldn’t be regulated.” Further, during her questioning today, Senator Amy Klobuchar asked if Facebook would be willing to support a rule to notify users of a breach within 72 hours and Zuckerberg said that he thought that could be an acceptable rule.

Follow along with Zuckerberg’s testimony here.