If you’re wondering whether to cancel YouTube TV in favor of a cheaper live TV streaming package, your options are better than they used to be. Getting local channels, news, and even sports no longer requires a big bundle, with skinnier packages selling for less than YouTube TV’s $83 per month asking price. Smaller packages are also available for folks who don’t care about sports, some of which even include popular streaming services at no additional charge. With the carriage dispute between YouTube TV and Disney dragging into its second week, now’s the time to look at alternatives. Even if the two companies reach a deal in the near future, you might be better off taking your business elsewhere. If you need sports I’ve already written a whole other article about sports-streaming options that are cheaper than YouTube TV, but here’s a quick rundown: Fubo Sports ($56/mo.): Includes ESPN, Fox Sports, Tennis Channel, NFL Network, Tennis Channel, and most local channels, but does not include NBC or TNT/TBS; and the only included cable news channel is Fox News. DirecTV MySports ($70/mo): Includes local channels, ESPN, Fox Sports, TNT/TBS, NFL Network, MLB Network, NBA TV, NHL Network, USA, Tennis Channel, Golf Channel, and the major cable news networks. You can add regional sports in some areas for an extra $20 per month. You don’t need a satellite dish and can stream via the DirecTV app on connected TV devices. Xfinity Sports & News ($70/mo.): This one’s for Comcast internet customers only, but it includes local channels ESPN, Fox Sports, Turner channels, USA, Tennis Channel, and Golf Channel; plus, the big three cable news networks. It also includes Peacock, and you can stream using the Xfinity app—no cable box needed. Hulu + Live TV ($90/mo.): It’s not any cheaper than YouTube TV, but it does include Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Select and an otherwise similar channel lineup. It’s also on sale at $65 per month for the first three months right now. Sling TV Blue or Orange (starts at $46/mo): Sling can be an odd choice due to its patchy local channel availability, but its combination of cable news, national sports networks, and general entertainment are worth considering–especially if you use an antenna for local channels. Cheaper news and local-channel options If you don’t watch a lot of sports but still want local channels or cable news, have a look at these options: DirecTV MyNews ($40/mo.): Despite the name, this package is actually the cheapest way to get local channels without an antenna. It also includes major cable news networks. Local channels can vary by market, though, so check your zip code on DirecTV’s website. Sling Select ($20/mo. and up): This is a weird one. Depending on where you live, this package will either include no local channels or some combination of ABC, Fox, and NBC. The price increases to $25 per month in markets with at least two of those channels, and $30 per month in markets with all three. (CBS is excluded no matter what.) In all cases, the package includes 11 other cable channels including Fox News, FS1, FX, NFL Network, and MeTV. Check local channel availability here. Notable non-sports options If you don’t need local channels—or you can get them with an antenna—these options could save a lot of money: DirecTV MyEntertainment ($35/mo.): Includes more than 60 entertainment channels, the big three cable news networks, and free access to Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max (with ads). DirecTV MyKids ($20/mo): Offers more than a dozen kids channels—including Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, and Cartoon Network—and access to Disney+. Philo ($33/mo): Includes more than 60 entertainment channels, plus access to HBO Max, Discovery+, and AMC+ (with ads). Frndly TV ($9/mo): A super-skinny bundle anchored by Hallmark and surrounded by mostly rerun-centric channels. The price jumps to $11 per month if you want DVR service. Maybe you don’t need a bundle at all Between ESPN Unlimited, Fox One, Peacock, Paramount+, HBO Max, CNN All Access, and Disney’s various bundles, much of the content that once required a pay TV package is now available in a somewhat a la carte form. I’m not saying you should subscribe to all of those services simultaneously—if you do, you might be better off with some of the bundles above—but you might be able to find two or three that meet your needs for less than a traditional pay TV package. And unlike with YouTube TV, there are no carriage disputes to worry about. If a company like Disney decides to raise rates, it’ll have to reckon directly with customers like you instead. This story is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best TV streaming services. Sign up for Jared’s Cord Cutter Weekly newsletter for more streaming TV advice. Read...

Mini PCs are becoming popular space-efficient desktop PCs. I know this because I just bought one of the smallest mini PCs, the GMKtec G5, and now have oodles more space on my desk. These tiny devices offer decent performance while consuming little power. Despite their tiny size, many mini PCs can be upgraded. That upgradability is a great way to extend the lifespan of the device or to increase performance above and beyond the default performance. But what parts can be upgraded? Here we take a look. RAM RAM upgrades are one of the most popular upgrades people make to mini PCs because they can result in a big uptick to performance at a low cost. Some mini PCs come with empty RAM slots for adding extra modules. You’ll need to make sure the RAM isn’t soldered onto the motherboard though, as is the case in some laptops. Storage Another easy performance enhancement is to upgrade the storage. Again, many PCs come with spare slots for M.2 drive storage, so that the user can simply add in a new one. Some mini PCs, like the Geekom Mini Air Lite, support both SATA and NVMe SSDs (see our roundup of the best SSDs for recommendations). Some even support dual storage options so you can have both an SSD and an HDD for a larger storage capacity. CPU In most desktop PCs, upgrading the CPU can significantly improve performance. The thing is that CPUs in most mini PCs come soldered onto the motherboard or are limited by socket compatibility. There may be a few models that allow upgrading, but most don’t, so this upgrade is not usually a viable option in most mini PCs. GPU There are some models that allow you to upgrade the GPU but these are relatively rare. One such mini PC is the Intel NUC 9 Pro, which comes with plenty of space and PCIe connectivity to add a discrete graphics card up to 8 inches in length. Most don’t have the space though, or they feature integrated graphics, where the graphics chip is integrated into the CPU and can’t be upgraded. Where you don’t have the option to update a GPU internally, you may be able to hook up an external GPU (eGPU) via a Thunderbolt port. This offers a viable solution for upgrading the graphics performance in compatible mini PCs. Limitations on mini PC upgradability Even though you can upgrade mini PCs, they have certain limitations on their upgradability. The first limitation is size — mini PCs have tightly packed components limiting the number of additional parts that can be added. Power supply is another issue. Mini PCs typically come with smaller power adapters which might not support the power needs of all upgraded components. Thermal limitations are also something to think about, since mini PCs have very limited space for cooling. Upgrading parts can shift the thermals from cool to running hot upsetting the delicate thermal balance, so that’s something to be mindful of. Bonnie Bayley Then there are limitations from the manufacturer side. Some manufacturers build mini PCs with limited upgradability in mind; they often require specialized tools to access the components or in some cases the components may be soldered onto the motherboard leaving no room for upgrades. Other considerations Just like you would with a full-sized desktop computer, you’ll need to find the right components to fit your model of mini PC, as not all storge drives and RAM are compatible with all mini PCs. Some mini PCs also require BIOS or UEFI updates before supporting new components. You also don’t want to spend too much money. The cost of any upgrades needs to be weighed against the outright cost of a mini PC. Sometimes the cost of upgrading components can be very close to the cost of a new unit. So before upgrading, compare the cost of potential performance gains versus simply buying a more powerful device. It’s also important to note that upgrading most mini PCs will void the manufacturer’s warranty, so you might want to hold off upgrading during the warranty period. If you plan on upgrading your mini PC be sure to research your upgrades thoroughly and read your manufacturer’s specifications for best results. Related content I switched to a mini PC—but I’m thankful I knew these 5 things first I turned my mini PC into a powerhouse with 2 easy upgrades 2025 could finally be the year of the external GPU Read...

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