Electronics gadgets: Netflix + Ads = A Win for Everyone?

October 17, 2022

October 17, 2022. On this day in 1990, IMDb, aka the Internet Movie Database, was launched. The site we go to for cast listings and movie credits is 32 years old? Wow. Happy Birthday!

⏰ Today's Big Stories... in 30 Seconds

Today We Watched, Read, and Listened to (so you don't have to):

202 articles, 3 podcasts, 9 press releases, 199 tweets, and 15 YouTube videos

1. Netflix's 'Basic with Ads' Tier Launches In November

Think you're paying too much for Netflix right now? You're in luck, because the streaming giant's ad-supported tier arrives on November 3 for $6.99/month. Netflix explains its 15-30 second ads will play before and during shows and films, meaning they shouldn't be too intrusive. Hopefully it stays that way.

2. Google Fiber Will Add 5 Gig and 8 Gig Plans Next Year

Google Fiber is back and aims to be better than ever, revealing plans to launch new 5 Gig and 8 Gig plans starting in 2023. Expect these higher tiers to be a little pricier, too, coming in at $125/month for 5 Gig and $150/month for 8 Gig. Ooof, for that much, people should never have their internet go down, right?

3. Google Search Results on Mobile Now Show Sites Names, Logos

Never again wonder about where these search results came from, as Google is updating Search on mobile to always show a website's name and icon/logo, so you'll always be certain of what the source is. Will this be a huge blow to misinformation spreading? Probably not, but every little bit could help.

🦑 Go Deeper

Admit it, you have a tangled mess of old charging cables in a drawer somewhere, right? We all do. Fortunately, if Apple makes the iPhone USB-C compatible, it could make everyone's lives so much easier and cleaner.

🎱 By the Numbers

Who really needs Netflix Premium?

Data: Netflix

If you really want the best from your streaming services, chances are you're paying for Netflix's Premium tier. Sure, Standard will get you decent 1080p resolutions, but that's not what you bought a 4K TV for, right? Bring on that extra $4.50/month!

🔥 Today's Hot Deal

As long as we need to vacuum our floors, there will always be a need for robot vacuums like the iRobot Roomba 694, which is down to $199 on Amazon right now. No one wants to vacuum, so pick this up and (hopefully) never think about it again.

Don't Miss This Deal

🤓 Nerd Out

"So close, but actually pretty far." —Tim Fisher, Group GM & SVP, Tech

Google has a 3D chat booth called Project Starline that makes remote conversations feel like in-person talks. It's surreal, impressive, and we hope it becomes mainstream sooner rather than later. (Share on Twitter)

💎 You Know You Want It

The one laptop (tablet?) to rule them all

Image: Microsoft

High-end tablet, or a top-of-the-line laptop? Why not both? That's what you get with the Surface Pro 9, powered by a 12th Gen Intel Core i5 or i7 CPU. It may not be the best choice for playing games, but it's more than enough for all of your other needs. Work? Play? It can handle it all.

🎧 Listen Up

Another week, another wave of hardware reveals

Still wrapping your head around the Google Pixel 7, Pixel Watch, and the incredibly expensive Meta Quest Pro? You should listen to the latest episode of Waveform: The MKBHD Podcast as the crew delve into all that and more.