
Streaming Media Players: A Comparison Chart
A comparison of features between the Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Apple TV, and Google Chromecast, including price, supported content providers, and more.
News, Views, and How-Tos for a Digital World
Get this FREE PDF comparing the most popular streaming media players: Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Apple TV, Google Chromecast.
(Roll over to see current standard prices and click through to product page to see any special deals currently available.)
This series of posts will walk you through the process of figuring out whether or not you can cancel your cable or satellite subscription.
Watching Live Broadcast TV with an Antenna
Watching TV On Demand with a Streaming Media Player
Casting Videos from the Web to Your TV Using PlayOn Software
As much as cable and satellite providers would like you to think they're the only ones with the good content, you do have other options.
Where Can You Find Your Favorite TV Shows Without Cable?
Comparing Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, and Hulu Streaming Content Providers
These devices take content from the Internet to display on your TV.
Introduction to Streaming Media
Which Streaming Media Player Is Right for You?
Streaming Media Players: In Canada
We're not giving up the fight! These links take you to resources supporting the campaign to get Google to bring back Classic Maps.
Subcribe for Email Updates
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Online Petition at Change.org
Sign and share the petition to Larry Page, CEO of Google.
Campaign Page on Tech for Luddites
Here you'll find news and updates about the campaign as well as messages, images, and videos you can share via email and social media to help get more people involved in the campaign.
Discussion Sites
Here are some more places people are talking about Google Maps.
While none of these alternative sites are perfect replacements for Classic Maps, they're what we've got for now. I haven't checked most of these out personally yet, but I'm linking to them anyway in case you find them helpful for your purposes.
General Maps Based on Classic Maps
Note: Google has recently changed their API so that all maps now have the new-style controls. However, this doesn't affect most of the underlying features.
Google MapMaker
This site is designed to let people make additions and corrections to Google Maps. However, it uses Classic Maps as its base map and provides some of its features including Directions (under the Edit menu), a variation of Street View/Maps split screen, and 2D satellite view.
An excellent alternative to Classic Maps with some of its most popular features, this mapping solution has undergone some changes since first developed. Check out this post for the most recent update (01/18/16).
Google Maps Streetview Player of Brian Folts
A reader emailed me this link with some detailed instructions about how to use it. There's not enough room for me to write them up here, so I've copied them into a comment on the original Google Maps post.
Instant Street View
Thanks to reader Sappy for sharing this find that has a lot of Classic Maps' features (searchable, zoom, 2D satellite view). However, it doesn't have a full split-screen Street View or directions.
Meteomodel
Thanks to reader Szymon for sending along this link for a Polish site. The map has Street View (not split-screen) but doesn't have search or Directions.
Falk
Thanks to reader Dave for sharing this German site.
Wareko Map
T4L reader Wareko is also developing a map based on Google Classic, available in Japanese and English!
Specialty Maps Based on Classic Maps
TennisMaps
Thanks to reader James for sharing this website that he maintains to help people find tennis courts around the world.
SolarGIS
Thanks to reader S.H. for sharing this Google-based map that includes solar radiation and temperature data.
Thanks to reader John for sharing a whole slew of URLs that incorporate Classic Maps.
www.theaa.com/route-planner/index.jsp
shipspotting.com/ais/index.php
www.sunearthtools.com/dp/tools/pos_earth.php?lang=en
www.heywhatsthat.com/
www.westernhvdclink.co.uk/map-of-route.aspx
Maps Based on Other Platforms
MapQuest
One of the original mapping applications.
Bing Maps
Microsoft's mapping site.
Yahoo Maps Directions
While Yahoo! has shut down its main Maps site, this implementation is currently still working.
OpenStreetMap
Open-source mapping software. A reader adds, "OSM is just the database: It's up to someone to read the data and build actual maps, and possibly provide a router such as OSRM for directions."
Wikimapia
Thanks to reader Metal for sharing this site, which describes itself as "a multilingual open-content collaborative map, where anyone can create place tags and share their knowledge." Has both map and satellite views, but does not include a street view or directions feature.
Cycling-Focused Maps
Thanks to reader Frederic for sending me these links. Descriptions in quotations are taken directly from the site.
Ride with GPS
"Ride with GPS makes it easy to drag and draw your own custom routes with lightning fast elevation profiles to help you anticipate (or avoid) those big climbs."
Bike Route Toaster
"BikeRouteToaster.com is a course creation application primarily aimed at Garmin Edge/Forerunner owners although other users without a GPS may also find it useful for planning rides."
Cycle.Travel
Pretty straightforward-looking route planner built with OpenStreetMap.
Ride with GPS
From their About page: "Ride with GPS was founded by two guys that love writing cool software and riding their bikes: Zack Ham and Cullen King."
Yeah, I hate 'em too... But if we're going to be stuck with them at least for the foreseeable future, I'll be working on some tutorial posts to try to make them a little less painful.
Google Maps Timeline: How to Use It, How to Lose It
A new feature from Google has privacy advocates worried and I think rightly so.
Measuring Distances in New Google Maps
This popular feature from Classic Google Maps still exists in the new version, but you find and use it a little differently.
Google Is Getting Rid of Classic Maps for Good (Ugh.)
The original sad-news post, it includes basic info on the Full vs. Lite version of the maps.
A comparison of features between the Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Apple TV, and Google Chromecast, including price, supported content providers, and more.
Learn about what you can do with the Amazon Fire TV family of streaming media players: Fire TV Stick Lite, Fire TV Stick, Fire TV Stick 4K, and Fire TV Cube.
Learn about what you can do with the Roku family of streaming media players: Roku Express, Roku Premiere, Roku Streaming Stick+, and Roku Ultra.
Learn about what you can do with the Apple TV family of streaming media players: Apple TV HD and Apple TV 4K.
Learn about what you can do with the Google Chromecast family of streaming media players: Google Chromecast and Google Chromecast with Google TV.
Learn what streaming media is, how the players work, and why it’s all so complicated…
A comparison of features between the Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Apple TV, and Google Chromecast, including price, supported content providers, and more.
Still have questions about how a streaming media player like the Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV or Google Chromecast works? Find answers here!
Learn the general concepts of how streaming media and streaming media players work and get answers to common questions.
Introduction to Streaming Media
Frequently Asked Questions about Streaming Media
Learn more about specific devices that can take content from the Internet and display it on your TV.
These posts discuss where you can find the content you want to watch through your streaming player.
Comparing Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, and Hulu
Sling TV: A Streaming-Only TV Service for Cord Cutters
HBO NOW Finally Goes Live... But Not for Everyone
Roku Private Channels: What Are They and How Do You Get Them?
Click the menu icon at the top left to see the full list of videos.
This section is for posts that I'll be writing as I begin using Windows 10. They're in chronological order from the beginning.
Dear Microsoft: Why You've Lost This Loyal Supporter
Windows 10 Has Launched! What Does This Mean for You?
I upgraded to Windows 10 Without an Invitation. Here's How You Can Too. (w/ video)
The Windows 10 Desktop Interface: An Introduction (w/ video)
Windows 10 Mail App Will Let You Turn Off Conversation View with Next Update
Click the menu icon at the top left to see the full list of videos.
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