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Phil Nickinson

Phil Nickinson

Section Editor, Audio/Video

Phil spent the 2000s making newspapers with the Pensacola (Fla.) News Journal, the 2010s with Android Central and then the personality behind Modern Dad, and is currently an editor with Digital Trends. Phil’s online work has taken him all over the United States, as well as Europe and Asia.

When he’s not writing, editing, or shooting video, Phil serves as president of the Pensacola Youth Soccer 501(c)(3) nonprofit, has worked on multiple local political campaigns and is a part-time photographer and videographer. He's also a candidate for Pensacola City Council, District 1.

Phil is a native of Pensacola, where he resides with his wife, daughters and a dog named Max.

Find Phil on Mastodon, or on Threads.

Onn 4K Pro Streaming Device box.

You can finally order Walmart’s $50 Chromecast with Google TV killer

Walmart has an intriguing little $50 streaming box with Google TV, and it may well supplant the aging Chromecast with Google TV.
A mock-up of what an ESPN tile could look like in the Disney+ app.

ESPN will join Hulu in the Disney+ app by the end of 2024

You'll be able to get some ESPN content from inside the Disney+ app by the end of the year, CEO Bob Iger said.
The Netflix home screen.

The 10 most popular streaming services, ranked by subscriber count

It's not quite fair to compare the various streaming services merely on how many subscribers they have — but it's as good a place to start as any.
Fubo splash screen on a TV.

What Fubo and others get wrong in their fight against new sports streamer

A number of live video distributors have sent a letter to Congress imploring the body to help them fight against an upcoming mega-sports streaming service.
Phil Nickinson holding the Beats Solo 4 and the Beats Studio Pro headphones.

Beats headphones showdown: Solo 4 vs. Studio Pro

Beats has a couple good headphone contenders in the Beats Solo 4 and Beats Studio Pro. But which is right for you? We'll help you decide.
Lionel Messi on MLS Season Pass.

Apple discounts MLS Season Pass for the rest of the season

No more excuses -- Apple has lowered the price on MLS Season Pass for the rest of the 2024 season.
The Fubo app icon on Apple TV.

Fubo loses WBD channels after suing over sports joint venture

Streaming service Fubo sounds surprised that it was unable to secure a deal to carry channels owned by Warner Bros. Discovery after it sued WBD.
The Peacock app icon on Apple TV.

Peacock is raising its prices this summer

Just in time for the Summer Olympics and the fall football seasons, Peacock becomes the latest streaming service to implement a price increase.
A pause ad on a video on Peacock.

Why pause ads in YouTube aren’t the end of the world

Display ads that appear when you pause a video are about as unintrusive as it gets. You might not like them, but don't throw out the baby with the bathwater.
The Tubi app icon on Apple TV.

Tubi teams with DAZN for sports as free TV service continues its takeover

Women's soccer from across the world is headed to Tubi, thanks to a partnership with streaming service DAZN.
A preview video of "Iceland Nature Drone Film" on YouTube, as seen on an Apple TV 4K.

YouTube just massively angered Apple fans by adding a feature

The YouTube app is showing previews of videos after the app sits idle 270 seconds — exactly 30 seconds before the Apple TV screensaver launches.
Chromecast with Google TV.

A $20 Chromecast with Google TV is perfect for this one reason

If you travel at all, you should consider a $20 Chromecast with Google TV. It's just tough to pass up at that price.
Taylor Swift on SiriusXM in a Hyundai Palisade.

SiriusXM’s Taylor Swift channel is free if your car has satellite radio

All cars equipped with SiriusXM hardware can listen to Channel 13 (Taylor's Version) for free through the first week of May. You're welcome, world.
Netflix on a TV screen showing on the Roku home screen.

Netflix to hide its subscriber numbers starting in 2025

Netflix says that it no longer will give regular updates about how many paid subscriber it has, because it's about quality, not quantity.
An Apple TV 4K sitting on a wood entertainment center with a HomePod Mini behind it.

What we want to see from the next Apple TV 4K

Apple TV 4K is the best streaming device you can buy — but that doesn't mean it can't be better. This is what we'd like to see added to the next version.
tablo ota dvr 4th generation review tv 2023 2

Tablo’s four-tuner/antenna bundle is just about perfect

If you need a simple and relatively inexpensive way to get your over-the-air broadcast channels, this bundle from Tablo is tough to beat.
The Moto Buds in Forest Gray.

New $129 Moto Buds+ tap Bose for boom and Dolby for head tracking

The Moto Buds+ look to be perfect when paired with Motorola's Edge 50 series of phones, with Bose and Dolby Atmos raising the stakes.
best youtube tv alternatives alternative 5

The 5 best YouTube TV alternatives in 2024

YouTube TV is a great streaming service. But it's not the only one. Here are the best YouTube TV alternatives you should check out.
YouTube TV and Hulu apps on the Roku homescreen.

Yes, YouTube TV is kind of broken tonight

YouTube TV — the biggest live streaming service in the U.S. — is glitching all over the place this evening. Adjust your life accordingly.
Hulu with Live TV.

Hulu with Live TV: plans, price, channels, bundles and more

Ready to ditch your cable box, but want to hang onto linear programming? You should take a look at Hulu With Live TV. Here’s everything you should know.
Roku Streaming Stick 4K.

Roku closes the barn door, badly, after a half-million accounts are compromised

Roku has finally turned on two-factor authentication -- after it learned that more than 500,000 accounts were hit by a credential-stuffing attack.
An actual picture of an Apple TV, with a camera lens added by Photoshop's generative AI feature.

Let’s discuss an Apple TV 4K with a camera

Can Apple put a camera in Apple TV 4K? Sure. But that doesn't mean it'd make much sense — especially when the iPhone exists.
Phil Nickinson with the Sennheiser Momentum Sport, and a thermometer.

Sennheiser Momentum Sport earbuds take your temperature the easy way

The Sennheiser Momentum Sport squeezed a thermometer in the earbuds. The real question is whether you actually need that sort of stat in your daily workout.
A handout picture of the Roku Pro Series television.

Roku Pro Series TVs finally go after the high(er) end, start at $899

With a new operating system and higher-end hardware, the Roku Pro Series smart TV hopes to start to break in to the more premium side of the market.
ESPN+ as seen on a television.

Standalone ESPN to launch by fall 2025, with Disney Bundle available

You should be able to subscribe to ESPN channels without any other cable or streaming services by fall 2025. We still don't have a price, however.
Sling TV on a TV.

Sling TV channels: Can you watch CBS, TBS, Bally Sports, and more?

Sling TV is one of the more affordable streaming options, but that comes at the expense of ease of use, and not having as many channels by default.
Taylor Swift on the SiriusXM iPhone app.

SiriusXM firing up a dedicated Taylor Swift channel on April 7

The satellite-and-streaming service presents Channel 13 (Taylor's Version) some 13 days before the release of her new album. It won't be around forever, though.
The Sling TV guide on an iPhone.

Do you need the internet for Sling TV?

Sling TV is an internet-based streaming service. Thus, you'll need some kind of internet connection if you want to watch anything on it.
NBA on Sling TV.

Are NBA games on Sling TV?

Yes, you can watch NBA games on Sling. If you have the right channels, and if the game is available on one of those channels. It gets a little complicated.
Sling TV app icon on Apple TV.

Is college football on Sling TV?

Yes, you can watch college football on Sling TV — but only if you have the right channels. And even then, you might still be missing some.
The local Fox network as seen in the Sling TV live guide.

Does Sling TV have local channels?

Sling TV does have some local channels available to stream — if you're in the right market, and if those channels are actually available.
Sling TV guide on an iPhone.

Sling TV versus YouTube TV

YouTube TV is the most popular live streaming service with more than 8 million subscribers. Sling TV has about one quarter of that. So which is best for you?
Sling TV logo.

Sling Orange vs. Sling Blue: Which Sling TV package is best?

Sling TV comes with two flavors of base plans — Sling Orange, and Sling Blue. But which one is the best for you?
NHL on Sling TV.

Are NHL games on Sling TV?

Yes, you can watch NHL games on Sling TV, but only if you have the right channels on the right package. And even then, you might need to augment your service.