Netflix

If you’re the type who loves streaming instead of downloading his favorite shows, then Netflix is a great choice. While many services keep trying to catch up to it, Netflix still is the most popular streaming service to date. No matter what shows or movies you want to see, chances are that you can find them here. Even more, it seems that Netflix is greatly investing in original shows such as Orange is the new black or House of cards. So far, these homegrown shows have had massive success. Because of that, it’s obvious that Netflix is here to stay and will continue to be the king of entertainment for years to come.

Hulu

For a very long time, many people avoided Hulu because of the pesky ads it kept showing. Luckily, you can now use an ad-free Hulu on your samsung smart tv. The ad free Hulu is very affordable and has some pretty great content you can watch. In fact, Hulu’s content library is seriously one of the largest in the industry. Just make sure though that you don’t set your expectations too high, since they don’t have many movies worth watching.

Spotify

Spotify is one of the most popular music streaming services in the world and a must if you love music. It’s much like Napster, but the big difference is that Spotify has a much larger music library. As with YouTube, if you want to get rid of ads, then you need to opt for the paid version. If not, then you’ll have to get used to watching those pesky ads every time you use it.

Amazon Instant Video

In an attempt to challenge Netflix, Amazon has launched its own streaming service. They’ve also started to build a massive content library in order to compete with Netflix. What’s sets Amazon Instant Video apart is the fact you can actually download your favorite shows and watch them later. This is very rare among streaming services. Amazon Instant Video keeps striking deals with a lot of movie studios, broadcaster, and producers as well. Because of that, you can expect to see a lot more content available for streaming in the near future.

HBO GO and HBO Now

If you love shows such as The Wire, Last Week Tonight, and Game of Thrones, then you like HBO. Just keep in mind that the 2 apps, HBO Go and HBO Now are quite different. You can only access HBO Go if you have a cable subscription to it. On the other hand, HBO Now can be accessed by anybody as long as they sign up for it.

TED

You’ve probably heard of TED by now. If you didn’t, then let us tell you that this is an organization that hosts conferences worldwide where people discuss amazing ideas in their field.

The talks span from the greatest inventions to global politics. While the TED speakers usually speak for a few minutes, they do leave a lasting impact. If you want to learn new things, then you should certainly watch more TED on your samsung smart tv.

YouTube

In the past few years, YouTube has changed quite a lot. Sure, it’s still a great place you can visit if you want to watch cat videos on you samsung smart tv. However, there are now a lot of professional creators working in professional studios to produce top-notch content for their audience. If you want to use the free version, go ahead, no one will judge you for it. However, if you simply cannot stand the ads, then you can opt for the paid version to get rid of them.

Napster

Thought Napster was dead? Well, it’s not. One thing you need to know about it is that it was purchased by Best Buy. Eventually Napster merged with Rhapsody and it has a pretty great collection of music you can listen to. If you want, then you can also download content from it. If you love music and want to discover new artists, then Napster is definitely the way to go.

VUDU

Last but not least, VUDU is a great place where you can rent videos and watch them on your samsung smart tv. This service is offered by Wal-Mart. There are no monthly subscriptions available, so this means you need to pay on a per video basis. Overall, the fees are okay, but keep in mind that the rates may vary. What sets VUDU apart from other streaming services is its library. You can actually watch a lot of new movies in great quality. On top of that, it also has an amazing collection of classic and old movies, too!

All in all, these are the best samsung tv apps you should certainly have if you want to make the most of your Samsung smart TV. Download them today and start your amazing journey into the world of top quality digital content!

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Ahead of the launch of the much-anticipated Apple’s online TV service, Comcast announced a beta test of its new streaming cable service called Stream. The new service requires no extra device or additional equipment… or even a TV.

With Stream, Xfinity internet customers can watch live TV or on demand content from about a dozen networks – including all the major broadcast nets and HBO – on laptops, tablets and phones in their home.

It includes thousands of on demand movies and shows to watch home or away and even comes with access to TV Everywhere and a cloud DVR so you can record all your favorites and watch them later.

Stream will be available to Xfinity Internet customers for $15 per month. Comcast is launching the service in Boston at the end of the summer and they will take it to Chicago and Seattle next, with plans to make it available everywhere in their footprint by early 2016.

The Wall Street Journal reported back in March that Apple was planning to launch its own online television service that would include about 25 channels from broadcasters such as ABC, CBS and Fox and would be available on Apple TV as well as on iPhone and iPad.

Apple Web TV service is expected to be priced at $30/$40 per month and it’s reportedly scheduled to be launched in September.

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HBO NOW standalone streaming service has gone live on the Apple TV earlier this week, just in time for the fifth season of Game of Thrones, which premieres today at 9:00 p.m. ET.

If you haven’t subscribed to HBO NOW yet, you can do it using your iTunes account directly on your Apple TV or on any other iOS device (via a free HBO NOW app).

HBO NOW doesn’t require a cable subscription and it costs $14.99 per month. If you sign up until the end of April (no long-term commitment required) you’ll get a 30 day free trial.

Upon registering and getting your login credentials, you will be able to also watch your favorite HBO programming on hbonow.com via Mac or PC.

HBO NOW is only accessible in the U.S. (check out our tutorial on how to access U.S.-only services on Apple TV outside the U.S.).

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Holiday Gift Guide 2015: Best Accessories for Apple TV

HBO NOW, the new standalone streaming service from HBO, has gone live on Apple TV and other iOS devices yesterday. Although you can’t sign up to HBO NOW on your desktop, you can access the new service on hbonow.com via Mac or PC after signing up on Apple TV, iPhone, iPad or iPod touch.

Here’s what you need to do:

STEP 1: Subscribe to HBO NOW directly on Apple TV or on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch (via a free iOS app) using your iTunes account.

STEP 2: Purchase an HBO NOW subscription directly in-app for $14.99 per month (following the limited time, introductory 30 day free trial period).

STEP 3: Upon registering, you will set up HBO NOW login credentials, enabling you to watch your favorite HBO programming on hbonow.com via Mac or PC.

HBO NOW offers more than 2,000 titles online, including the series like Game of Thrones, True Detective, Silicon Valley, Girls, Veep, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, The Leftovers, The Sopranos, Sex and the City, True Blood, The Wire and Deadwood.

HBO NOW is only accessible in the U.S. (check out our tutorial on how to access U.S.-only services on Apple TV outside the U.S.).

Be sure to follow Apple TV Hacks on Twitter, Facebook or Google+ for all the latest Apple TV-related news.

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Announced at Apple’s Spring Forward event last month, HBO NOW standalone streaming service is now available exclusively on Apple TV. HBO NOW doesn’t require a cable subscription and costs $14.99 per month. If you sign up in April (no long-term commitment required) you’ll get a 30 day free trial.

HBO NOW is also available on iPhone, iPad and iPod touch via a free HBO NOW app.

You can subscribe using your iTunes account directly on your Apple TV or on any other iOS device.

Upon registering and getting your login credentials, you will be able to also watch your favorite HBO programming on hbonow.com via Mac or PC.

HBO NOW is only accessible in the U.S. (check out our tutorial on how to access U.S.-only services on Apple TV outside the U.S.).

Similar to HBO GO, HBO NOW will offer more than 2,000 titles online. This includes current critically acclaimed series like Game of Thrones , True Detective, Silicon Valley, Girls, Veep, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, and The Leftovers, as well as classics like The Sopranos, Sex and the City, True Blood, The Wire and Deadwood.

In addition, HBO NOW subscribers will have instant access to more Hollywood hits like Divergent, X-MEN: Days of Future Past, Neighbors, Godzilla and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes.

Be sure to follow Apple TV Hacks on Twitter, Facebook or Google+ for all the latest Apple TV-related news.

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9to5Mac’s Senior Editor, Mark Gurman is riding a high tide now, as most of his predictions regarding the Apple Watch and the new ultra-thin MacBook were proven right. In an interview given to CNBC, Gurman shares his views on where Apple TV is going and the possibility of an Apple television set.

Along with other Apple stuff, the CNBC reporter asked Gurman about his thoughts on the $30 price cut for Apple TV 3 and the 3 month exclusivity of HBO NOW for Apple TV. This is what he had to say:

I think this $69 price point ($30 price drop) is a big deal because it indicates that they try to make room for something. They are trying to sell a lot of these Apple TVs. They are trying to use it as a marketing tool to really allow for customer discovery of these living room solutions. So I think it is a big deal in getting the Apple TV out there.[..]

Even bigger is the HBO exclusivity deal because it represents that the Apple TV with the cable networks and show providers have the technology to do a subscription service without the cable box. And I think HBO is just the first of many.

And I think the overall solution Apple has in the works is just a bunch of different programs and apps, that are not on a pay-per-view subscription but like perhaps a weekly, monthly or yearly plans.

Gurman was also asked about the possibility of a standalone Apple TV set:

I don’t think [Apple TV set] is currently in the works or is currently the plan. I think the plan is to make a groundbreaking new set-top box that really changes the model path of how people get TV. I think more services-backed model is where they are headed instead of screen-based hardware.

I think the next version of Apple TV, in terms of appearance, will look really a lot like the current one. It probably will be thinner, have a larger more tactile remote control. But in terms of a screen-based set, I don’t think that is happening in the near future.

You can catch the whole 5 minute interview here.

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Apple has just announced on its Spring Forward event that it became an exclusive launch partner for a standalone HBO NOW streaming service, which is set to debut on Apple TV in April.

We reported on this a few days back, but things became official today when Richard Plepler, CEO at Home Box Office, took the stage during the event and announced the long-awaited streaming service.

Along with the Apple TV, Mac, iPhone and iPad apps will also pick up HBO NOW channel.

You will be able to cut the cord completely, as there is no need of any cable subscriptions. All you need is a broadband connection and an Apple device, says Plepler.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQEhY_MJk9M

The service will carry all HBO original programming, Hollywood movies, HBO films, short films and documentaries, sports and music, and more.

Similar to HBO GO, HBO NOW will offer more than 2,000 titles online. This includes current critically acclaimed series like Game of Thrones, True Detective, Silicon Valley, Girls, Veep and The Leftovers, as well as classics like The Sopranos, Sex and the City, True Blood, The Wire and Deadwood.

In addition, HBO NOW will showcase Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, named “best of 2014″ on many critics’ lists;VICE, the Emmy-winning, cutting-edge news magazine series hosted by Shane Smith; HBO Sports documentaries, series and World Championship Boxing events; and groundbreaking documentary programming like Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief, The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst and the Oscar-winning Citizenfour.”

Plepler took the best route to make sure he had everyone’s attention. They clubbed its demo with an exclusive trailer of the next Game of Thrones season, which premieres on April 12th.

The service will be available starting this April for $14.99 a month. And to give you the extra push, HBO NOW offers a free one month trial if you sign up with an Apple device this April.

Be sure to follow Apple TV Hacks on Twitter, Facebook or Google+ for all the latest Apple TV-related news.

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At the Time Warner annual investor meeting, Richard Plepler, the CEO of HBO, announced that the company will launch a standalone HBO streaming service in 2015, enabling HBO fans to finally cut the cord. And according to analysts, this might be the break the set-top box industry, especially the Apple TV, has been waiting for.

Though the details were scarce, Plepler did mention that the service will begin with “current partners” and from the looks of it, that could directly refer to Apple. HBO’s current streaming service is HBO Go, which requires you to sign in with a supported cable subscription account for access. It is already available on iOS devices and on Apple TV, making Cupertino a worthy candidate to be the above mentioned partner.

New Apple TV in 2015 rumors. HBO offering stand-alone subscription in 2015. Hmmmmmm…

— Serenity Caldwell (@settern) October 15, 2014

Also, Plepler specifically mentions that:

There are 80 million homes that do not have HBO and we will use all means at our disposal to go after them.

With well over 20 million Apple TVs out in the world, the Apple set-top box seems to be HBO’s best route into the cord-cutting industry.

Besides, the Apple TV 4 is expected to come out in early 2015, which is roughly the same time when HBO new streaming service will be launched.

We have long been hearing that Apple is having serious discussions with HBO (Time Warner) to bring their content to Apple TV and it seems, they have finally struck a deal.

Exact details regarding the release date, subscription rates and whether the whole HBO catalog will be available over the service, are still a mystery. However with a network like HBO coming forward to break the cable-only norm, it will surely force the competition to follow. Hence, it is likely that we will see more media giants doing the same in the coming weeks and hopefully, the Apple TV 4 will come packed with them all.

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It’s been hardly a month after HBO and Amazon announced their partnership and it has already born its first fruit: HBO is bringing some of its popular TV shows to Amazon Prime Instant Video for unlimited streaming and at no extra cost. This way, Apple TV owners that don’t have HBO subscription will be able to watch selected HBO content on their big screens.

Though all HBO shows aren’t a part of the package yet (including the hot Game of Thrones), many other demanded titles like The Wire, The Sopranos, True Blood and Boardwalk Empire are currently available. HBO describes this as the “first wave” of shows, more titles (like Girls, The Newsroom and Veep) will be added  “over the life of the deal”.

According to the press release, Prime Instant Video subscribers in the US can now stream the following shows:

• All seasons of revered classics such as The Sopranos, The Wire, Deadwood, Rome and Six Feet Under, and of recent favorites such as Eastbound & Down, Enlightened and Flight of the Conchords
• Select seasons of current series such as True Blood, Boardwalk Empire and Treme
• Epic miniseries, including Band of Brothers, The Pacific, John Adams, Parade’s End and Angels in America
• Hit original movies like Mary and Martha, Temple Grandin and You Don’t Know Jack
• Hilarious original comedy specials from Louis CK, Ellen DeGeneres, Lewis Black and Bill Maher
• Pedigreed documentaries including When the Levees Broke, Ghosts of Abu Ghraib and the Autopsy and Iceman series

It seems that the move is directed towards the promotion of Amazon’s Fire TV but Apple TV users can also make use of this opportunity: if you’re a user who doesn’t have access to the HBO Go channel on Apple TV via a verified cable provider account but have an active Amazon Prime subscription, you will be able to AirPlay HBO shows from the Amazon Instant Video app from your iOS device onto your HDTV and enjoy the content on big screen.

Read on How to watch Amazon Prime Instant Video on Apple TV.

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You may recall that Apple TV Hacks broke some news for you last week regarding that fact that HBO was in talks with Apple regarding the idea of getting HBO GO on your Apple TV. Well, it would seem that, for now, the company’s answer is AirPlay. HBO’s Eric Kessler announced, at AllThingsD’s Dive Into Media Conference on Tuesday, that his company is finally enabling AirPlay on the HBO Go app. He also said that a dedicated Apple TV app will be added “at some point.”

HBO Go is a free offering included with a paid subscription to HBO. As of yet, there is no word of a standalone pricing plan, so if you don’t already have access to HBO, you are still out of luck. That said, this could change at any moment. HBO is clearly making moves to accommodate this new method of consuming media.

Let’s hope a standalone Apple TV app comes soon. Yes, we now have HBO on the ATV, but I would have greatly preferred an app  like its competitors Hulu Plus, Netflix, YouTube, and the Wall Street Journal. Frustrating as it may be, this will add to the ever expanding content being made available on the Apple TV.

The updated HBO GO app will work on devices running iOS 6 and above, as well as Apple TV with firmware version 5.1.1 or later. Cinemax’s MAX GO app was also updated with the same capabilities.

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