Bye Bye iPod
Apple has decided to discontinue the iPod Touch and re-direct its customer to other products that provide access to Apple Music according to a press release that was released today.
The first iPod had been introduced on October 23rd, 2001 whilst the first iPod Touch was introduced on September 2007 but most consumers have recently shifted to listening to music via other Apple products, like the Apple Watch and iPad so they decided to stop manufacturing them.
The remaining stock will we sold at Apple stores and online, including on Amazon.ca and Amazon.com.
Roku Update
Apple Music is now available on Roku devices and Smart TVs. And will soon offer access to your iTunes library ; I’ve tried accessing my iTunes library but I haven’t been able to so I guess it’s a feature they’re working on.
Click here for today’s press release from Roku.
BC Adds New Taxes
Streaming services will be subject to provincial sales taxes in the province of British Columbia, effective April 1st, 2021.
This tax was to be implemented on Canada Day but was brought forward.
Click Here for the Official Press Release on this tax.
More Free Online Content
Apple TV is streaming several of its original television programs and film for free via its app, namely Servant, For All Mankind, Little America, Dickinson, The Elephant Queen, Helpsters, Snoopy in Space and Ghostwriter.
Styx (featuring Gowan) will also be streaming a concert recorded in Las Vegas tonight at 8 PM Eastern. You can view it by clicking here.
Guitarist David Barrett will be previewing The Elegant Universe on Facebook Live on Sunday, April 11th, at Noon Eastern.
Multiple live performances are also available via the National Arts Centre.
Major Disney+ Update
Disney+ has decided to release the vast majority of their catalogue on their new $6.99 streaming service, as stated in the 3 hours plus preview video above.
This catalogue includes over 500 movies and over 7500 television programs from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilms, 20th Century Fox, National Geographic and other companies Disney distributes, which will be made available
I seriously doubt they will include the cheesy Star Wars Holiday Special and more contentious material without parental guidance warnings, but I’m guessing that they will probably fulfill my wish to access their classic cartoons online.
I am a fan of their classics cartoons, primarily Donald Duck, and have collected the four Walt Disney Treasures – Chronological Donald collections on DVD a decade back. But I had also wanted all of the classic cartoons featuring Goofy and remaining Chip ‘n’ Dale shorts. And apparently, these will eventually be made available via the new service.
I was also waiting for Blu-ray versions of The Cat From Outer Space and The Apple Dumpling Gang films, that I was expecting to be released via their movie club. But I guess I will try this new service out instead.
I will probably continue to buy my very favourite films on Blu-Ray for a while but I guess I’ll be watching the lack luster, passible releases on Disney+ instead.
I’m pretty sure their movie club will continue because the Disney+ service requires high-speed internet connections, which are still unavailable to some. And I’m guessing they will offer more exclusive memorabilia soon so I think
Good news overall.