These days, when it comes to streaming services, you have your pick of options. Plenty of these come with a hefty price tag, and the major streamers regularly announce price hikes. However, consumers are feeling stretched thin and looking for ways to watch TV without breaking their budget in the process. That’s where advertising video on demand (AVOD) and free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) services come in. Options like Tubi, Pluto, the Roku Channel, and, more recently, Google TV are there to fill in the gap.
Tubi is one of the big players in this space, as an AVOD/FAST (we’ll refer to it as just free streaming going forward) service with more than 200,000 movies and TV shows and over 200 live TV channels — for free.
But just because it’s free doesn’t mean you should jump ship from all of your other streaming services. After all, can this Fox-owned free streaming platform really compete with the likes of Netflix, Hulu, and others? Here’s everything you need to know about Tubi.
Tubi is a streaming service with a twist: it’s free. The fast-growing company offers up a combination of on-demand movies and TV shows, originals (this would be the AVOD part), and live TV streaming channels (the FAST part) without you having to shell out for a monthly subscription. Think of it as a sort of commercialized version of Netflix without the subscription fees.
Since Tubi is free, you’re going to have to make some compromises, though. First and foremost, there are ads. They aren’t overwhelming, but they’re there. Second, the on-demand content is mostly older movies and shows rerun on cable and other broadcast services. However, while Tubi has yet to produce any of its own original content, the streamer has a ton of it made for the service that can be found in its Tubi Originals section. More on that below.
Advertisement
Tubi was bought by Fox in 2020 for $440 million, and recently reported more than 81 million monthly active users as of September 2024.
Don’t be fooled: There’s plenty to watch on Tubi — it boasts the largest catalog of film and TV titles of any AVOD service at 200,000, and offers more than 200 live TV channels for local news and sports. The free streamer also has more than 100 original titles with more on the way this year, spanning several genres including thriller, sci-fi, horror, romance, adult animation, and Black cinema titles. It’s also bringing in some original content from its siblings TMZ, MarVista Entertainment, and animated specialist Bento Box Entertainment.
In the meantime, sift through Tubi and you’ll find several diamonds in the rough. A quick five-minute search unearthed several decent selections, including Lovecraft Country, Boondock Saints, Ready or Not, The Witches of Eastwick, Independence Day, Vice, and the docuseries How It’s Made. Tubi also offers live TV channels across entertainment, news, sports, and more, including ABC News, NBC News Now, Fox, TMZ, People TV, the NFL Channel, Fox Sports, and MLB. There’s also a fairly impressive offering of shows and movies on Tubi Kids, including The Secret Life of Pets, The Dark Crystal, The Magic Schoolbus, Transformers: Prime,Strawberry Shortcake, and more.
The catalog isn’t available in 4K Ultra HD resolution and tops out at Full HD, depending on the age of the material. There’s no option to upgrade for a better viewing experience, either. Tubi is free, so if you aren’t happy with the experience as is, you will need to seek out an alternative. Fortunately, there’s no shortage of them.
Chances are that if you own a (modern) device that can connect to the internet, it supports Tubi. The streaming service is accessible via your web browser and as a mobile app for both Android and iOS. It’s also available on streaming devices and systems such as Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Google Chromecast, Android TV, TiVo, and as we mentioned above, it was recently added to Google TV. There are even dedicated apps for the PlayStation 4 and Playstation 5, as well as Xbox One, Series X, and Series S.
If you don’t own a set-top box or streaming stick, you may be able to install it on your television itself. If you’re a Comcast Xfinity X1 or Cox Contour cable customer, you can add it to your plan. Plus, owners of Samsung, Sony, Vizio, Hisense, or LG smart TVs can find the Tubi application available in their respective app store. If you’re outside the U.S., however, the list of supported devices varies from country to country.
Given the nonexistent price, there isn’t a whole lot to Tubi when it comes to features. If you want to watch something aimed at mature audiences, you’ll need to register for an account — and that’s where the tools come in. Doing so will allow you to continue watching where you left off (on any device), create a queue, and receive recommendations based on your viewing habits.
You can’t get something for nothing in this world; if you want to watch a show for free, you’re going to need to put up with an ad or two, both before and during the show — you know, just like in the olden days. The ads aren’t as intrusive as you might think. You’ll typically watch a 20-second ad before your show starts and then sit through a 40-second commercial about halfway through.
And partly because it’s owned by Fox, Tubi has a surprisingly deep well of content. Some of it might even be more recent than you’d expect. And that makes sense, because more recent (and popular) content draws in more views, and that means more eyeballs on advertising, and more money in everyone’s pocket.
Let’s not look this gift horse in the mouth, though: Tubi is free, and for that reason alone, it’s worth sifting through the catalog in the hopes of striking gold — which is happening more frequently lately. After all, if you find at least one thing you like, it was time well spent.
Advertisement
In summary, we don’t think makes sense to have Tubi as your only streaming service. But it is a no-risk platform with some really interesting and quality niche content for fans. And with the growth of AVOD and FAST services such as Tubi, Pluto, Plex, The Roku Channel, Amazon FreeVee and more, customers are thinking more about dumping their subscription services like Hulu, Netflix, and Disney+, and putting up with ads, which may not be as intrusive as you might think. Either way, adding a free-streaming service like Tubi to your roster is risk-free, so why wouldn’t you?
Believe it or not, there’s only been one live-action Marvel series on Disney+ in 2024 prior to September. The nine-month drought is over thanks to the arrival of Agatha All Along, giving fans of WandaVision a semi-sequel series. But we might have to wait until March 2025 for the next Marvel show if there’s really nothing between Agatha All Along and Daredevil: Born Again.
In the meantime, younger Star Wars fans also have something to enjoy this month called LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy. It’s a pretty wild take on the Star Wars universe, as only LEGO could provide. But if you want more mature fare, Disney’s going to make you shell out more for Hulu just so you can watch Shogun, The Bear, Only Murders in the Building, and other shows on the Disney+ app that you already have. If that makes you unhappy, just remember that Disney+ is raising its prices again in October. Surely that will bring a smile to your face as you look over the best shows on Disney+ right now.
If you’re not already subscribed, the Disney Bundle is worth considering. With it, you get Disney+, ESPN, and the ad-supported Hulu plan, making it an impressive value for the price. You’ll enjoy new Disney content, live sports coverage, and Hulu’s various originals.
OxygenOS, the heart of the OnePlus smartphones, is currently on its version 14. The company is now working on the OxygenOS 15 update. The brand will unveil the latest iteration of its custom Android skin in late September or early October, suggest the reports. While the brand hasn’t teased much about the upcoming version, folks over at SmartPrix have revealed quite a few details. It looks like the OxygenOS 15 takes inspiration from iOS and will borrow a lot of features from Apple’s OS.
Many core UI elements of OxygenOS 15 take heavy inspiration from iOS
People over at the tech publication SmartPrix were able to get an opportunity to beta-test OxygenOS 15. The source suggests that OxygenOS 15 takes heavy inspiration from iOS and brings an iOS-like volume panel, Dynamic Island-like notifications, and more. The OxygenOS 15 update will bring a brand new Control Center design. The source says the new Control Center looks like “If HyperOS and iOS had a baby”.
OnePlus took inspiration from iOS while designing the volume panel in OxygenOS 15. The new volume slider will “start out as a larger slider but shrinks to a narrow width” when you tap on it again, just like in iOS. The source highlights that swiping down from the top right of the display will trigger the Quick Settings panel.
If you swipe down from the left, you will get the notification shade. Also, the OnePlus users will be able to customize the Quick Settings panel as per their liking by rearranging tiles.
Advertisement
A Dynamic Island-inspired notification system is coming with the OxygenOS 15 update
Furthermore, the report suggests that A Dynamic Island-inspired notification system is coming to OnePlus devices with the upcoming OxygenOS update. Much like the Dynamic Island on iOS, it will now sit on top of the center punch hole. In addition, the camera app on a phone running OxygenOS 15 allows you to shoot live photos. Once again, this is very much like iOS, which calls it Live Photos.
Notably, the source suggests that the OnePlus users will not have to wait too long to test out the aforementioned features. The first beta version of OxygenOS 15 is expected to be released by the end of this month. If that doesn’t happen then early October is the best bet.
Reltio and Collibra on Thursday unveiled a new integration aimed at enabling joint customers to more easily discover and govern data assets across domains within their organizations.
Using Reltio Integration for Collibra, which combines the key capabilities of the two vendors, customers can take advantage of Reltio’s data unification platform in concert with Collibra Data Intelligence Platform, including its data catalog.
Potential benefits, among others, include reducing the time it takes to find and operationalize reports, dashboards, models and other data assets, along with improved data governance and data lineage capabilities.
In addition, cost savings is a benefit. Users do have to pay for the integration, but Reltio Integration for Collibra is priced lower than what it would cost for a joint customer to configure an integration on their own, according to Venki Subramanian, Reltio’s senior vice president of product management. Specific pricing details were not disclosed.
Advertisement
Given the different capabilities of Reltio and Collibra, and the potential advantages of using their tools in concert with one another through a preconfigured integration, the partnership between the vendors is significant for joint customers, according to Doug Henschen, an analyst at Constellation Research.
Reltio and Collibra are in adjacent spaces and fill different needs, so it’s a complementary pairing that should benefit joint customers. Doug HenschenAnalyst, Constellation Research
“Reltio and Collibra are in adjacent spaces and fill different needs, so it’s a complementary pairing that should benefit joint customers,” he said. “The prebuilt integration between the two technologies will make it easier for customers to deploy and use the technologies together.”
Reltio is a master data management specialist based in Redwood Shores, Calif., whose AI-powered Connected Data Platform enables users to unify data to develop trusted data tools to inform decisions. The vendor’s June platform update included a generative AI assistant that enables conversational interactions with data, along with prebuilt, industry-specific master data management tools.
Collibra, meanwhile, is based in New York City and Brussels, and offers metadata data management capabilities, including a data catalog and data governance tools, through its Data Intelligence Platform. In April, the vendor’s platform update featured the general availability of Collibra AI Governance. The tool enables users to better manage AI models and applications, including generative AI, as their use expands beyond teams of data scientists.
Advertisement
New capabilities
At the enterprise level, where organizations collect billions of data points and develop thousands of data products such as reports, dashboards and models, relevant data is difficult — perhaps nearly impossible — to discover without implementing systems to organize it all.
And it is only becoming harder to discover without highly organized systems in place, given that the volume of data and its complexity continue to increase.
Master data management is one method of organizing data. In particular, it enables enterprises to make sure their data is uniform, there aren’t separate records for one data point or data set, and the terminology used to define data is consistent.
Catalogs are another way to organize data. Data catalogs are a means of indexing and governing data across systems and domains so that data does not get isolated and is easy to access, irrespective of where an employee works within an organization.
Advertisement
Collibra’s data catalog capabilities can now be combined with Reltio’s master data management tools, thanks to the new integration between the two companies.
By combining Reltio’s master data management capabilities with Collibra’s data catalog and other data intelligence tools, the integration aims to enable faster and easier discovery of the trusted data needed to inform a given decision. Such data discovery is particularly relevant now, as enterprises aim to develop more AI models and applications — including generative AI — that require copious amounts of appropriate data to be accurate and reduce the likelihood of hallucinations.
“This partnership reflects a lot of synergies between the two primary disciplines of each company,” said Stewart Bond, an analyst at IDC.
In particular, combining Reltio’s master data management capabilities with Collibra’s data catalog and governance capabilities will be beneficial, he continued. Collibra does not have master data management tools, and Reltio does not offer a data catalog.
“It’s a win-win for both,” Bond said. “There are some overlaps in data quality capabilities, but the overlaps are more complementary than competitive.”
Motivation for the partnership and integration resulted from a shared goal of developing an open data ecosystem for Reltio and Collibra users. By doing so, Reltio and Collibra can provide users with a choice of different partners with which to use each vendor’s capabilities, according to Subramanian.
Advertisement
He noted that from Reltio’s perspective, it views Collibra as one of the top data catalog, metadata management and data governance providers. That makes it a logical partner for Reltio, which did not previously have a native integration with a data catalog vendor, Subramanian said.
However, toward Reltio’s goal of developing a broad ecosystem for data management and analysis, the partnership is not exclusive, and Collibra likely won’t be the last data catalog vendor with which Reltio partners.
“While Collibra is the first native integration we have with a data catalog, we are working on extending our integrations to other products in this space,” Subramanian said. “Reltio integrates with not only data catalogs, but also other data management capabilities like data lakes, data warehouses and data enrichment solutions.”
Specific goals of the partnership include the following:
Advertisement
Cost savings by providing a prebuilt integration between Reltio and Collibra that would otherwise require joint customers to invest time and money to engineer on their own.
Integration between the Collibra data catalog and Reltio’s master data management and data unification tools to make trusted data easily discoverable in the data catalog.
Accelerated time to value by automatically synchronizing metadata from Reltio with metadata in Collibra.
Improved data governance in Reltio through Collibra’s policy, privacy and security control settings.
Automated data mapping to provide data lineage information that enables users to understand the sources and uses of data assets to engender trust.
Self-service configuration that lets joint customers update their integration through Reltio’s low-code/no-code Integration Hub.
Cost savings and time to value are important, but they’re commonplace when vendors partner and develop integrations, according to Henschen.
What separates routine partnerships that largely represent marketing opportunities from more meaningful integrations is whether the partnerships go deeper and enable a tight-knit integration between two otherwise separate platforms, he continued.
Reltio Integration for Collibra represents a tight-knit integration, Henschen said.
Beyond touting improved time to value and lowering the cost associated with using the platforms together without a prebuilt integration, Henschen noted that one important potential benefit includes adding Collibra’s policy, privacy and security controls and automated data lineage capabilities to Reltio. Another significant benefit is using the Reltio Integration Hub to keep integrations between the vendors current.
“It sounds like there’s some substance to this partnership,” he said.
Advertisement
Next steps
With Reltio Integration for Collibra now available to joint customers, one of Reltio’s primary product development goals is to improve its data unification capabilities through AI and automation, according to Subramanian. In addition, the vendor plans on adding new prepackaged, industry-specific tools to simplify master data management and add more integrations to broaden its ecosystem.
Henschen noted that Reltio’s focus on AI and automation is appropriate. Collibra, as evidenced by its most recent platform update, is similarly adding AI capabilities.
But while both are adding AI tools to simplify using their platform, Reltio and Collibra each also has an opportunity to help customers more easily develop their own AI models and applications, he said. Reltio could assist users by improving its data integration capabilities, while Collibra could help its users with more automation, according to Henschen.
“The [data integration] market is consolidating, and the bar is being raised with the infusion of GenAI technologies that depend on data, so I’d like to see Reltio develop or partner to gain deeper data integration capabilities,” Henschen said. “GenAI is also making its mark on data intelligence platforms, so I’d like to see more from Collibra on how catalog and policy work can be automated.”
Advertisement
Eric Avidon is a senior news writer for TechTarget Editorial and a journalist with more than 25 years of experience. He covers analytics and data management.
Amazon’s next Prime Day event is right around the corner, and the deals have already started trickling in. Google’s earbuds have dropped down to just $64 from their normal price of $99. The A-Series, released in 2021, was Google’s more budget-friendly version of its 2020 Pixel Buds. They lack more advanced features like wireless charging and active noise cancellation, but the sound quality and battery life are decent for the price. If you’re an Android user looking for a good pair of earbuds that won’t break the bank, you might want to check these out.
Billy Steele/Engadget
Get the 2021 Google Pixel Buds A-Series at nearly a record-low price.
The Pixel Buds A-Series may be a few years old now, but it’s still a nice pair of earbuds. We gave the a score of 84 in our review when the model was first released, and were especially impressed with the sound quality, Google Assistant integration and comfort. The A-Series buds have a small “stabilizer arc” appendage to help them sit securely in the ears. There are some on-board controls, including play/pause, answer call and skip tracks, but they don’t have physical volume controls — for that, you’d need to use Google Assistant or adjust the volume on your device.
Google says the Pixel Buds A-Series earbuds get about five hours of listening time on a charge, or 2.5 hours of talk time. With the charging case, listening time goes up to about 24 hours. With the current deal, you can get the Pixel Buds A-Series earbuds in Clearly White or Dark Olive for $35 off the usual price. For a dollar more, you can grab them in Charcoal. (The pale blue Sea color option unfortunately isn’t covered in the discount). At $64, the Pixel Buds A-Series is almost at a record low, and cheaper even than during in July.
As the startup landscape evolves, so do hiring strategies. With Big Tech downsizing and the labor market tightening, founders must navigate a conservative job market to attract and retain top talent.
The hiring landscape in 2025 will offer challenges and opportunities for those who can adapt. Founders now hold increased leverage, but respect for staff and retention of key players remain vital. How can entrepreneurs strike this balance?
Join us at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 at Moscone West in San Francisco from October 28-30, for a conversation with Heather Doshay, partner, People & Talent of SignalFire; Lauren Illovsky, talent partner of CapitalG; and Roger Lee, CEO of Comprehensive.io to explore innovative hiring strategies that align with changing market conditions.
Meet the speakers
Heather Doshay, Partner, People & Talent, SignalFire
Heather Doshay brings nearly two decades of experience guiding startups toward success through strategic talent management. At SignalFire, a venture firm designed to meet founders’ needs with cutting-edge technology, Heather leverages her expertise to help companies capitalize on the talent flooding the market. Before joining SignalFire, Heather held executive roles at Webflow and Rainforest QA, and led the Candidate Marketplace at Hired. Her deep understanding of recruitment in the tech sector makes her a key voice on the current shift in hiring dynamics and how startups can recruit top performers in a post-pandemic world.
Advertisement
Lauren Illovsky, Talent Partner, CapitalG
Lauren Illovsky leads talent strategy across CapitalG’s portfolio, working closely with founders to refine executive recruiting and organizational development. Having previously worked at Accel and Andreessen Horowitz, Lauren’s experience spans various aspects of talent management, from helping CEOs transition out of their roles to identifying board members who can drive long-term success. Her deep insights into startup leadership make her an invaluable resource for founders who are navigating complex hiring challenges, particularly in the competitive startup ecosystem.
Roger Lee, CEO, Comprehensive.io
Roger Lee has revolutionized the way companies manage compensation with Comprehensive.io, which automates complex compensation processes. His company is dedicated to streamlining compensation management and increasing pay transparency, key factors in both recruiting and retaining talent in today’s competitive market. As the creator of Layoffs.fyi, a website tracking tech industry layoffs, Roger is uniquely attuned to the shifts in employment trends and compensation strategies in the tech world. Roger can offer practical solutions to founders grappling with compensation complexities in a tight labor market.
Now, X’s lawyers said the company had done exactly what Mr. Musk vowed not to: take down accounts that a Brazilian justice ordered removed because the judge said they threatened Brazil’s democracy. X also complied with the justice’s other demands, including paying fines and naming a new formal representative in the country, the lawyers said.
Sport2 days ago
CryptoCurrency2 days ago
Sport2 days ago
CryptoCurrency2 days ago
Technology2 days ago
CryptoCurrency2 days ago
CryptoCurrency2 days ago
CryptoCurrency2 days ago
News2 days ago
Technology2 days ago
MMA2 days ago
Fashion Models2 days ago
Politics2 days ago
News2 days ago
Science & Environment2 days ago
Science & Environment2 days ago
CryptoCurrency2 days ago
CryptoCurrency2 days ago
News2 days ago
News20 hours ago
MMA2 days ago
Football2 days ago
Football2 days ago
Fashion Models2 days ago
Fashion Models2 days ago
You must be logged in to post a comment Login