Time Warner Cable TV app for iPhone coming!

I'm sure you all know about TWC's awesome cable app that lets you watch TV on your iPad, but did you know that it's coming to the iPhone, and even your computer too? In an email that I got from TWC, their "latest update" monthly email, it says that the TWC app is coming to both these devices. Check out the pic.

UPDATE: It's Here!

iMessage + FaceTime = iChat?

With the upcoming "iMessage" app in iOS 5 that allows all iOS users to text message to each other, there have been some rumors. AppleInsider reports that iMessage will also be available in OS X Lion, via iChat. But shouldn't Apple just combine iMessage and FaceTime into iChat? They're both great, and companies like Skype, Yahoo, and Google are all combine their voice, video, and text chatting services. Why doesn't Apple do the same? I also think the "Apple ID linked to your email" thin in FaceTime is stupid. Allow people to make a "FaceTime" account with a username and password (or an "iChat" account in this case). I love apple, but I hope all of these services will soon come together.

iPhone 5

I can't wait for the iPhone 5 because I am finally getting an iPhone when it comes out. I really don't hope it's a "4S" though, because I want a lot more features, and not just an 8 MP camera with Full 1080p HD, an A5 (or A6) processor, and a FaceTime HD camera. I want all of those things, but I would like to see a completely new design. (below is the "iPhone Air" design by ciccaresedesign)

I have an audience?

I was pleasantly surprised at how many people have viewed my blog, because I thought no one would read it. Please leave comments about if my solutions helped you, or if you agree or disagree with me, etc. Thank you so much for viewing my blog!

Cable Bundle Alternatives

A lot of you are probably annoyed at companies like Time Warner Cable, Comcast, Cablevision, Bright House, etc. because of their rising in prices, and for some, lack of features. Many people watch tons of online video. Because of things like Netflix and Hulu, many of those online videos are TV shows and movies.

Exploring the Many TV Alternatives

1. Netflix

Netflix is a DVD-by-mail and streaming video service that offers a wide selection of TV shows and movies on DVD, and also many available streaming to your TV, iOS device, and computer. Netflix costs $7.99 per month for streaming only, and $9.99 per month for streaming and 1 DVD at a time.

2. Hulu

Hulu is a free service that has many new episodes of popular (and unpopular) TV shows, and even a few free movies. Hulu is free, but you can also get Hulu Plus which costs $7.99 per month and includes an even wider selection of TV shows and allows you to watch Hulu on many devices other than a computer.

3.  Vudu

Vudu is kind of like Netflix, but it has a lot more new movies (Usually same day as DVD), and you don't pay monthly. Vudu has movies in SD and HD (720p & 1080p), which you pay for individually. So, it's kind of like the cable company's "Movies on Demand" service.

4. Antenna

It's the old school way, reinvented. You can now get HD signals for channels like NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, and PBS, with a cheap $50 antenna (I recommend the Mohu Leaf, but you can also get a more powerful one, for more money). It pretty much solves the local news, sports, and entertainment for you. Check out AntennaWeb to see what channels you get from your house.

Ways To Access These TV Alternatives

1. Plug in Your Computer to Your TV

Doing this is probably the simplest and cheapest way to access online video on your TV. If you have a Mac, get this and a long HDMI cable, depending on how far away your computer is from your TV. If you have a Windows PC, you can buy a long VGA (sometimes called RGB) cable and a long audio cable, if your TV has those inputs.

2. Boxee

Boxee is a box that you buy and plug in to your TV directly (or if you go with option 1, you can download the free Boxee software for Mac, PC, and Ubuntu if you want a better UI) that allows you to get apps for Hulu, Netflix, Vudu, YouTube, Pandora, etc. The Boxee Box by D-Link costs $229, but right now on Amazon, you can get if for $193.50. The Roku is also like the Boxee, but it doesn't have free software for your computer. You can decide for yourself which one you get.

3. Video Game Systems

Many video game systems like Wii, PS3, and Xbox 360, have apps like Netflix.

Cable Internet Alternatives

It might sound scary, but you're probably better off staying with your cable company's internet. Satellite  internet makes you pay for the dish, and it's not even that fast. If you have good 3G, or even 4G service at your house, you might want something like the MiFi, but I think the cable company's internet is the way to go.

Home Phone Alternatives

1. Vonage

Vonage is an internet based (VoIP) phone service that costs $24.99 per month (after 3 months) for their "most popular plan". You can usually keep your current phone number, and like I said before, it works over the internet.

2. MagicJack

If you don't mind losing your current phone number (they're actually beta testing porting now), and don't mind paying a ridiculously low price for your phone, then this is the phone service for you! Like Vonage, MagicJack is a VoIP service, but unlike Vonage, it works through your computer, not just an ethernet port on your wireless router, so if you want to receive calls all the time, you have to leave your computer on all the time. MagicJack costs $19.95 per year.

3. Get Rid of Home Phone

If you get good cell phone service at your house, you can just get rid of home phone altogether. It gets rid of an extra bill, and brings your "bundle" price way down low.

In Conclusion...

For some, cable or satellite TV is like food, for others, it's kind of just a hobby, or something you do when there's nothing else to do. If it's just a hobby, or even if you think it's like oxygen, take these ideas into consideration. Doing all of these things will help you have more control over your bills, your TV shows and channels, and your life.

iPad 2!

What do you think about the new iPad? I like it, but the only thing I got that I wanted to see was a FaceTime camera.

iPad 2?

What features do you want on the next iPad? Some features that I think would be nice are a FaceTime camera, a USB port and device support, and maybe a smaller size option.