S!ickLeave a commentTechtalkRadio, , , , , , ,

DIRECTV NOW…maybe…

One of their attempts to woo subscribers, which I found appealing…being the cheapskate I am…is an offer including a free Amazon Fire TV Stick with Alexa Voice Remote if you prepay for one month. They accept payment via a credit card, or PayPal account.

At this moment, their least expensive service is the “Live a Little” package, at $35 per month. It includes “60+” channels:
A&E
ABC
AMC
Animal Planet
Audience
AXS TV
Baby First
BBC America
BET
Bloomberg TV
Bravo
C-SPAN
C-SPAN2
Cartoon Network
CMT
CNBC
CNN
Comedy Central
Crime & Investigation
Discovery
Disney Channel
Disney Junior
Disney XD
E!
El Rey
ESPN
ESPN2
Food Network
Fox
Fox Business Network
Fox News Channel
FOX Sports 1
Freeform
FX
FXX
Galavision
Hallmark Channel
Hallmark Movies & Mysteries
HGTV
HISTORY
HLN
Investigation Discovery
Lifetime
MSNBC
MTV
MTV2
National Geographic Channel
NBC
Nick Jr.
Nickelodeon/Nick at Nite
Pursuit Channel
RFD-TV
Spike
Syfy
TBS
TCM
TeenNick
Telemundo
TLC
TNT
TruTV
TV Land
Univision
USA Network
Velocity
VH1
Viceland
WE tv
WeatherNation

On their website, they state you can “Watch on your computer”. Per DIRECTV NOW…supported browsers include “Internet Explorer 11+ (on Windows 8 or higher)”, “Chrome 50+”, and “Safari 8+”.  So…

While on their website, I chose to “Chat with DIRECTV NOW”. Some of our conversation is as follows.  (“You” is me.)

You: Is Adobe Flash support required for use with the Google Chrome browser?

Leslie: Usually, Adobe Flash player is not required for Google Chrome browser though.

STRIKE #1: my direct question was not answered.

Leslie: Did you already receive a confirmation email after placing your DIRECTV Now order?…You will only be able to stream DIRECTV Now after placing your order though and after you have received the order confirmation email.

STRIKE #2: I need to place an order to know if I will be able to use the service.

Leslie: Also, you can stream from either Edge, Internet Explorer, Google, and Firefox.

STRIKE #3: Edge and Firefox are not mentioned on https://directvnow.com (only “Internet Explorer 11+ (on Windows 8 or higher)”, “Chrome 50+”, and “Safari 8+”).

I attempted to create an account…but it did not seem to complete. Later, in one of my e-mail accounts, I noticed a message from DIRECTV…that my account had been created. OK…

I cannot watch DIRECTV NOW on my Google Chromebook:

On my Linux computer, using Google Chrome…I also cannot watch DIRECTV NOW.

So…Google Chrome 50+ is not a fully supported browser, as they claim.

On that same computer…I cannot watch DIRECTV NOW when using Firefox. Which does have Adobe Flash support enabled.

I have been able to use their iOS app…but can only watch “FreeVIEW”:  “…’FreeVIEW’ status lets you preview select content for free…”

All I’ve seen are promotional announcements.

For comparison purposes, CNET posted in DirecTV Now vs. Sling TV vs. PlayStation Vue:  “…DirecTV Now and for a limited time, customers can sign up for a promotional deal that offers more than 100 channels for $35 a month.”

And a spreadsheet showing “which cities have access to the local broadcasts of ABC, Fox and NBC on the DirecTV Now service”…
Chicago
Los Angeles
New York
Philadelphia
San Jose

Andy TaylorLeave a commentTTR Website, , , ,

Online? Bring Back the Drive In’s!

Tucson was a bit Nostalgic on Saturday Night as a strong turnout from the Community showed up to support efforts by the Cactus Drive in Theater Foundation to bring back a Drive In Theater to the area.

The last drive in theater, The DeAnza Drive in closed in October of 2009 after almost 10 yeasrs of speculating of closures but it held fast to the fact that arizonans enjoyed the night air and watching a movie from their vehicles. Land, a valuable commodity, won and the theater closed down.

The Cactus Drive In Theater hopes to bring that tradition back and promises more fund raising efforts like the one Saturday which showed Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, a homage to the Deanza which showed the same film on its closing night.

You can log onto www.cactusdriveintheater.com for more information, or to donate to the foundation which hopes to purchase a parcel of land for a permanent drive in theater.

Rayven2 CommentsTTR Website, ,

Practically Free Things To Do

Like many of you, I get tired and irritable and just need something to do that is not one of my daily tasks or work related in any way. I usually will break out into an “I’m So Borrrred!” or something like that. Also like many of you I do not have a ton of cash for that dream vacation to the Bahamas or that short jaunt to Greece for my olive oil facial and dreamy Greek masseuse to give it. OK, dreaming aside; Heck! I don’t even have enough time or money to afford to go to El Cheap-O Spa with costs of living rising and my paycheck dwindling.

I have come up with a solution! And it doesn’t involve a ton of cash or anything too fancy at all. Something that will get our minds away from thinking about work or the inescapable tasks and duties of everyday life. DO FREE STUFF! Sound simple? It is.

What can you do when you don’t want to really do anything? Here are 10 things that don’t require you to be a Trump nor travel great distances to have a spectacular time:

1) Go on a picnic. We all have parks, neighborhoods, or yards and we all have to eat. Why not pack up the kids and significant other and go on a picnic? Remember, like the “old” days? Make a basket lunch and spend some time playing at the park or relaxing in the grass. It will not only relax you but will get you out and about in the open air.

2) Catch up on some DVR or Movies. If you’re like me, you haven’t been watching TV a lot lately. Catch up on the latest and greatest. I would highly recommend Big Bang Theory, Outsourced, and Mythbusters but that’s because I am a total geek! The last movie I saw? RED. It was very well put together and I think will hold me over until TRON arrives in December, maybe.

3) Look up some historical sites in your city. Every city has a history, why not check it out? You may be surprised! My city is full of wineries and several historical buildings along with Route 66!

4) Learn something new. The internet is full of vast knowledge and if you are glued to it, like some of us, you can “Google it” or go to the library to find some How-To books. Learn to do Origami, Crochet, Change Your Oil, Whatever you are interested in.

5) Rearrange your house. Move furniture or other things around and see how different you can make it feel. It’s amazing how much this helps. I did this about 3 months ago and my apartment feels much more spacious.

6) Read. Ok, so you are like me and don’t like to read, “War and Peace.” News Flash: You can read whatever you like. That’s the joy of reading. Magazines count too!

7) Research your Family History. Ok most of us run to the internet for this too. Why not talk to relatives and interview them? Take some time to ask about what their life was like and document or record it somehow. Put it together in a family album. My sister and I have decided its that time in our lives to start asking the grandparents about life and are working on putting together a virtual family history book.

8 ) Write. About anything. Go somewhere you are comfortable and write about anything you want. Journals, blog, draws, create poetry, whatever. Writing is not only a good therapy, it’s also neat to go back and see what your life was like on that day and time in the future.

9) Take your pet for a walk. Take a stroll outside in the open air. They will enjoy it and you can get a break from the mundane tasks. I am lucky enough to live close to a dog beach so that is one way we have fun. Dog parks are relaxing for you and you can meet new people from your area. Singles, this is a great way to meet new potential dates!

10) Exercise! Yeah I hate that word too. But really, it’s what we all need more of. Nowadays, we can play video games or just simply go for gander around the neighborhood. If you like sports, play a game or two with some friends or family.

Well, these are 10 relatively easy, mindless, and fun things to do if you need some time to get away or just can’t think of anything new to do. Let us know if you decide to try ‘em out!

Rayven2 CommentsTTR Website, , , ,

Don’t Boba Frett

If you haven’t been to Disneyland, California or Walt Disney World, Florida in the last few months sadly, you missed the final Star Tours trip to Endor on the Star Speeder 3000.

Yes, Rex, the beloved robot who took riders on a journey reassuring them each and every time “Welcome aboard… if it’s your first flight, it’s mine too” has been retired. He has been replaced by a new Droid style robot AC-38 or “Ace” for short. Also, C-3PO has been removed and in his place, a W-7 Waitress Droid from Attack of the Clones has been inserted.

We hear she adds an element of comic relief while passengers eagerly wait in the long cue lines on their way to the boarding dock. There are several other Droids that have been strategically placed throughout the ride but we will have to wait until 2011 to see and experience the full potential of this remodeling of an old time classic.

Star Tours 3.5, as it has been named was scheduled to be remodeled as Star Tours 7 after the release of the Episode 1, on May 19, 1999. However, Disney Imagineers thought it best to wait and see what George Lucas had in store for us finishing up the Legacy. After Episode 3 was finally released, the project was continued and as of August 2010 has been under construction. From what we “Disneyphiles” have been hearing through internet rumors, and the new Official Disneyland Fan Club affectionately known as “D23,” the new Star Tours 3.5 will be an even better, more technologically advanced pod racer type ride.

It has been said on some of the more popular Disney blogs that they have even replicated a Star speeder 1000, an earlier version of the 3000, which is sure to entice Disney and Star Wars fans. Maybe this time they will “Use the Force” to take us on a galactic journey to one of the other popular locales; I myself have always wondered why we have never been able to explore Tattooine or journey to Naboo. In all, although the final tour to Endor has come and gone, Star Tours 3.5 will be bigger and better. Disney fans can’t wait to hear “Star Tours is Now Boarding.” Grab yourself a ticket in 2011, and perhaps you will be one of the first riders of Star Tours 3.5!