Technologies

Sling Freestream: What It Is, Available Channels and More

You might have heard of Sling’s new streaming service, but what’s it all about and is it worth checking out?

There are so many streaming services to choose from these days and, if you subscribe to them all, cutting the cord really won’t be saving you much money compared to your old cable bill. However, there are several free streaming services available to use without spending a dime.

Sling Freestream is one of the newest names on the market, but what exactly is it and what can you watch there? And, importantly, is it worth trying out? We’ll dive into all of the details below.

What is Sling Freestream?

Sling Freestream is essentially the rebranded free tier of Sling TV, though there are a few notable changes that arrived with the new name. The service now offers over 200 ad-supported channels and more than 40,000 on-demand titles to watch for free. While these might not be premium cable channels, there are some recognizable names and popular shows in the mix.

The service is free to use and you don’t have to add a payment method or even create an account if you don’t want to, though if you sign up for a Sling Freestream account you do benefit from some additional features.

What channels are available on Sling Freestream?

Sling Freestream offers over 200 channels and you can find the full list at the Sling Freestream site. A few of the top choices include the below:

ABC News
Barstool Sports
Bon Appetit
CBS News
Cheddar
Comedy Central Pluto
Nick Jr. Pluto
USA Today
The Walking Dead Universe

There’s a variety of news channels as well as lifestyle, travel, comedy, sports and kids content. There are also several Spanish language channels and other non-English networks like France 24, Aaj Tak and Al Jazeera. And there are even some «sneak peek» channels offering select premium content from the likes of AMC Plus, A&E and Cartoon Network.

What on-demand titles are available on Sling Freestream?

With over 40,000 on-demand titles, it’s impossible to list them all out below but, needless to say, there’s plenty to choose from. Some examples in its on-demand library include Hell’s Kitchen, Ryan’s World and Brother vs. Brother, plus a selection of free movies like The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, but it’s well worth checking out the Sling Freestream service for yourself to see what catches your eye. Sling also gives you access to the first episode of new or popular shows for free, such as AMC’s Lucky Hank, or Outlander and Gaslit from Starz. You can, if you wish, add paid services like AMC Plus, Starz or Showtime onto your account.

Sling Freestream also offers rentals for the some of the latest movies, with the likes of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, The Whale and Cocaine Bear among current choices, meaning you can supplement your free viewing with the occasional rental if you want to watch something new.

Is Sling Freestream totally free?

You can access all of Sling Freestream’s free content without spending anything at all, and without the need to add a credit card or even sign up for an account on the service. If you want to upgrade to a paid Sling Orange or Blue account, add any premium channels to your account or rent a premium movie, you’ll need to create an account and add a payment method.

Where is Sling Freestream available?

Sling Freestream is available in the US. Simply head to the Sling Freestream website and hit «Start Streaming» to do just that.

Though officially unavailable in other regions, people outside of the country can access the service with a virtual private network. With a VPN, you’re able to virtually change the location of your phone, tablet or laptop to a US server and gain access to Sling Freestream from anywhere in the world. Most VPNs, like our Editors’ Choice, ExpressVPN, make it really easy to do this.

Sarah Tew/CNET

ExpressVPN

Best VPN for streaming

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Technologies

Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers for April 8, #562

Here are hints and the answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for April 8 No. 562.

Looking for the most recent regular Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles.

Today’s Connections: Sports Edition is a tough one. If you’re struggling with today’s puzzle but still want to solve it, read on for hints and the answers.

Connections: Sports Edition is published by The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism site owned by The Times. It doesn’t appear in the NYT Games app, but it does in The Athletic’s own app. Or you can play it for free online.

Read more: NYT Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle Comes Out of Beta

Hints for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: Working out.

Green group hint: Cover your face.

Blue group hint: NFL players.

Purple group hint: Leap.

Answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Yellow group: Exercises in singular form.

Green group: Sporting jobs that require masks.

Blue group: Hall of Fame defensive ends.

Purple group: ____ jump.

Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words

What are today’s Connections: Sports Edition answers?

The yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is exercises in singular form. The four answers are crunch, plank, situp and squat.

The green words in today’s Connections

The theme is sporting jobs that require masks. The four answers are catcher, fencer, football player and goaltender.

The blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is Hall of Fame defensive ends. The four answers are Dent, Peppers, Strahan and Youngblood.

The purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is ____ jump. The four answers are broad, high, long and triple.

Technologies

The $135M Google Data Settlement Site Is Live — See If You’re Eligible

Use the settlement website to select your preferred payment method, and you may end up $100 richer.

You can now file a claim in the $135 million Google data settlement. The case centers on claims that Android devices transmitted user data without consent. Specifically, the class action lawsuit Taylor v. Google LLC contends that Google’s Android devices passively transferred cellular data to Google without user permission, even when the devices were idle. While not admitting fault, Google reached a preliminary settlement in January, agreeing to pay $135 million to about 100 million US Android phone users.

The official settlement website for the lawsuit is now live. The final approval hearing won’t occur until June 23, when the court will consider whether Google’s settlement is fair and listen to objections. After that, the court will decide whether to approve the $135 million settlement.

In the meantime, if you qualify and want to be paid as part of the settlement, you can select your preferred payment method on the official website. There, you can find information on speaking at the June 23 court hearing and on how to exclude yourself or write to the court to object by May 29.

As part of the settlement, Google will update its Google Play terms of service to clarify that certain data transfers do occur passively even when you’re not using your Android device, and that cellular data may be relied upon when not connected to Wi-Fi. This can’t always be disabled, but users will be asked to consent to it when setting up their device.

Google will also fully stop collecting data when its «allow background data usage» option is toggled off.

Who can be part of the settlement?

In order to join the Taylor v. Google LLC settlement, you must meet four qualifications:

Be a living, individual human being in the US.
Have used an Android mobile device with a cellular data plan.
Have used the aforementioned device at any time from Nov. 12, 2017, to the date when the settlement receives final approval.
You’re not a class member in the Csupo v. Google LLC lawsuit, which is similar but specifically for California residents.

The final approval hearing is on June 23, so you can add your payment method until then. The hearing’s date and time may change, and any updates will be posted on the settlement website.

If you choose to do nothing, you will still be issued a settlement payment, but you may not receive it if you don’t select a payment method.

How much will I get paid?

It’s not currently known exactly how much each settlement class member will receive, but the cap is $100. Payments will be distributed after final court approval and after any appeals are resolved.

After all administrative, tax and attorney costs are paid, the settlement administrator will attempt to pay each member an equal amount. If any funds remain after payments are sent, and it’s economically feasible, they will be redistributed to members who were previously and successfully paid. If it’s not economically feasible, the funds will go to an organization approved by the court.

Technologies

Samsung’s Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 Might Come in 5G and 4G Cellular Models

If the rumor proves true, the 5G Galaxy Watch Ultra would rival the 5G-enabled $799 Apple Watch Ultra 3 that debuted last fall.

Samsung’s next high-end Galaxy Watch could support faster 5G speeds, but if this leak is true, it will depend on where you live. The rumored Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 might come in 5G and 4G cellular models, with availability for each smartwatch depending on the country.

According to the Dutch website Galaxy Club (and spotted by SamMobile), Samsung’s servers may have revealed a series of model numbers that point to 5G, 4G and Wi-Fi-enabled editions of the next Galaxy Watch Ultra, which would succeed the original model that debuted in 2024.

A representative for Samsung did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Galaxy Club website speculates that the 5G edition would be sold in the US and Korean markets, while the 4G edition would sell in the rest of the world. In the US, a 5G version of the Galaxy Watch Ultra would rival the 5G-enabled $799 Apple Watch Ultra 3, which debuted last fall. The 4G edition would have broader compatibility worldwide, since the earlier network is far more established.

It will likely be a few months until we hear anything official about the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2. Samsung typically unveils its new watches in the summer alongside its Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip foldable phones. Last year, Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Watch 8 and the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, but otherwise left the prior 2024 Ultra in the lineup for those looking for a larger 47mm smartwatch.