Barb Gonzalez

TiVo recently added Amazon Alexa voice control to the TiVo Bolt Vox we recently reviewed. While the media streamer/DVR combo already has voice command capabilities through TiVo’s Vox remote, control via an Alexa-enabled speaker or device brings a truly hands-free experience.

The Dish-owned subsidiary AirTV has launched a new device that can stream free local television to smart TVs, media players, tablets, and phones in your home or on the road.

It is now possible to stream almost any TV show using dedicated apps. HBO Go, NBC, and other “TV Everywhere” apps provide unlimited access to stream new TV series’ episodes and movies if you already subscribe to the channel and sign in with the cable, satellite, or telecom provider. With more and more people switching to live TV streaming services, apps can now be authorized if you subscribe to the channel on Hulu Live TV, Playstation Vue, Sling TV, DirecTV Now, and others, though not all channels are offered by all live TV streaming services.

Apple is throwing its hat into the arena of original programming in hopes of capturing a piece of a very lucrative market pioneered by Netflix and more recently capitalized on by Hulu and Amazon. Details have been emerging about production deals for which Apple has budgeted $1 billion.