Netflix Update
A few minutes ago I got an email from Netflix Canada saying I will be paying more this month, in line with the previously announced hike in fees.
The new rates are of course as follows :
$8.99 for Basic subscription (inc. SD broadcasts on one device only)
$10.99 for Standard subscription (inc. HD broadcasts on up to two devices)
$13.99 for Premium subscriptions (inc. both HD and 4K broadcasts on up to four devices)
Lately, they’ve been adding more films, music documentaries, and concerts so I’m probably going to continue subscribing for the time being. The second season of Stranger Things is coming up in late October.
Although I am somewhat concerned that Disney will be pulling Lucasfilm, Marvel and Pixar films from Netflix soon, I already own my favorites from these film companies on Blu-ray and DVD (thanks to the Disney Movie Club) so I don’t think I will miss them.
Netflix/Disney News
Netflix has hiked their monthly subscription fees in Canada for new members, to $8.99 for Basic (standard definition playback on one screen/device), $10.99 for Standard (high definition playback on up to two screens/devices) and $13.99 for Premium (ultra high definition playback on up to four screens/devices).
Current members will not be subject to this hike for some time but will notice fewer Disney and possibly Marvel titles in the new year as Disney establishes their own streaming service in 2019.
New Streaming Service For Canadians
Amazon Prime Video is now available to Canadians.
The service can now be accessed via multiple devices and is free for Amazon Prime and Amazon Student subscribers in Canada.
Free trial subscriptions are available for both the streaming service and aforementioned shipping services – Click here for details on the 30 day trial subscription offered to the general public or click here for details on the six month trial subscription being offered to Canadians college and University students.
Looking For New, Innovative Products ?
Amazon has decided to showcase new, innovative and interesting products on its site.
Amazon Launchpad features tech accessories and gadgets. It also features tools, products for the home & kitchen and products for pets.
The Canadian version of the site has significantly less product compared to its American counterpart but I suspect this lack of product is just temporary.
Canadian Amazon Prime subscribers should also note that Amazon Prime Video may be made available to Canadians shortly.
This service offers free television episodes and films to Amazon Prime subscribers, who can also rent and purchase films they can download or stream. Click here to see what the American service offers.
New Audio Device On Indigogo
The Nativ Vita is an all-in-one tabletop touchscreen device that streams high resolution music and music videos to televisions and audio devices.
It has 4 TB of storage and streams music and videos from Apple Music, Spotify, Youtube, Pandora and other services. And you can get more information about this device by clicking here.
Vinyl Sales Back But…
AOL UK Finance report that sales of vinyl have returned to the level they have back in the states in 1988. But recording artists aren’t getting much of anything from streaming.
Back when I heard streaming was going to go legit and a royalty scheme was in the works, I had assumed that they would get rates like that of radio. Those were acceptable rates. But for some reason considerably lower rates were adopted for streaming and artists get pretty much nothing, as made apparent by Cracker’s “Low” royalties – Pun not intended.
That band’s single streamed a million times on Pandora and the guitarist of the band reported on his blog that he got US$16.89 for those streams ; Less than the amount of royalties obtained from a t-shirt sale, according to this 2013 blog entry.
The Spotify royalties were slightly better for “Low“, at US$12.05 for just over 116 thousand streams. But that is still quite low.
I guess all one can do to support their favourite artists is to buy their merchandise and see them live.