Podcast # 1212: Where is the Ring Indoor Security Drone and Top 10 Streaming Shows of the First Half of 2025
Release Date: 08/01/2025
HDTV and Home Theater Podcast
On today’s show we go through the top streamers and how you can get their services for free or reduced price. We also read your emails and take a look at the week’s news. News: Free Streaming Perks With the cost of streaming constantly going up the HT Guys are here to try and save you money. Almost all streamers offer some sort of discount via perks through Credit Cards, Cable and TV Providers, or Mobile Phone plans. On today’s show we go through the top streamers and how you can get their services for free or reduced price. Neflix T-Mobile: Netflix on Us is included with...
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On this week’s show we look at Smart TV OS rankings according to and we ask the question if there will ever be a show like Seinfeld again. We also read your email and take a look at the week’s news. News: Smart TV OS Rankings The article ranks eight major smart TV operating systems based on user reviews and comments from sources like Best Buy, Reddit, and cross-referenced with expert sites like RTINGS. The focus is on real user experiences regarding performance, app availability, bugs, ads, usability, and overall satisfaction — emphasizing that the OS heavily impacts whether a TV...
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On this week’s show we have compiled a list of home theater and home automation/smart home products that received notable awards or honors at CES 2026. News: 2026 CES Award Winners (OLED TV with enhanced brightness, anti-burn-in art display, wireless features) Awarded Best TV or Home Theater (CNET) and Winner in Home Theater category (ZDNET/CNET Group awards). (Compact smart speaker with artistic design, Wi-Fi/Bluetooth connectivity for whole-home audio) Winner in Best Audio category (CNET) and Winner in Audio category (ZDNET/CNET Group awards). - The Samsung 140” Micro LED...
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On this week’s show we look at the annual Consumer Electronics Show inLas Vegas Nevada. In years past there was more for us home theater fans but we still find some cool products that will eventually find their way into our homes. News: LG Key Highlights Return of the Wallpaper OLED TV (LG OLED evo W6) — LG revived its iconic ultra-thin "" design after a multi-year hiatus. The W6 is just 9mm thick, fully wireless (with a separate connection box up to 10 meters away), uses Hyper Radiant Color Technology for improved brightness and colors, and supports features like art display via...
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Happy New Year from the HT Guys!
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On this week’s show we look at the streamable awards and we read your emails and look at the week’s news. News: Other: The Streamable Awards Let’s be honest, being a cord-cutter in 2025 wasn’t for the faint of heart. If you felt like you needed a spreadsheet to track which app housed your favorite shows or a law degree to understand why the sports you wanted to watch were blacked out, you weren’t alone. This was the year that the industry seemingly threw everything at the wall — dizzying rebrands, the demise of standalone apps, and the aggressive return of the “bundle”...
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On this week’s show DJ Briggs from fills in for Braden who is away on business. We ask DJ to give us his opinion on using a large format TV as a replacement for a projector. We also read your emails and take a look at the week’s news. News: Other: Swapping a projector for a 100” TV Jon Taylor recently purchased a TCL 98QM7K (2025 model, QD-Mini LED QLED with Google TV) during Black Friday for $1,999.99 (50% off the $3,999.99 retail price). After using it for a couple of weeks in his basement home theater (replacing an older 82" Samsung and supplementing a projector...
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On this week’s show we come back after taking a week off and read your emails and take a look at the week’s news. News: Other: Listener Emails On this week’s show we read your emails. The following are links that are discussed on the show. Brady’s 98” TV Dilemma - $1800 vs $5000 Eric’s recommendation for . Scott’s email about connecting your set top box correctly - and and $20,000 Mark’s solution for Chamberlain dropping support for Google Home, Apple Home, and Amazon A-Lady. And we finish the main part of this episode with Joe’s app recommendation link...
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This week Ara is on vacation and rather than skip a show we go back to May of 2022 where we looked at a panel discussion about teh then new automation framework Matter. We play for you that discussion and then Braden and I discuss that current state. Emails and news will return next week.
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On this week’s show we look at the phenomenon of watching a little screen while simultaneously watching a big screen. We also read your emails and take a look at the week’s news. News: Second Screen Viewing The phrase “Second Screen Viewing” is when a person watches TV and simultaneously uses a secondary device like a smartphone, tablet, or laptop to engage with content related (or unrelated) to what’s on the TV. On this week’s show we will focus on the “unrelated” aspect Second Screen Viewing and how it is affecting what you watch on your TVs...
info_outlineOn this week’s show we ask what ever happened to the Ring Indoor Security Drone and we take a look at the Top Ten Streaming shows for the first half of 2025. We also read your emails and take a look at the week’s news.
News:
- DirecTV tests convenient new feature for streaming customers
- Google Home speaker debacle worsens with more failures
- Social platforms and streamers battle for the living room
What Ever Happened to the Ring Indoor Security Drone?
I was thinking about all the cool stuff that had been introduced at CES over the years and remembered one that I really wanted to use, the Ring Indoor Security Drone. It's perfect for those who own a home and may want to check in on parts of it without placing cameras everywhere. So what happened to it?
Amazon's Ring Always Home Cam, a $249.99 indoor security drone announced in 2020, remains unreleased with no confirmed launch date. Initially planned for 2021 and showcased at CES 2023, it was part of an invite-only U.S. program, now discontinued. Ring’s CEO confirmed ongoing development in 2024, citing challenges with mirrors, windows, and cost. Privacy concerns, technical limitations like a five-minute flight time and inability to navigate stairs, and user frustration on forums suggest delays. A July 2025 report hints at a possible limited release, but Ring’s focus seems to have shifted to AI features and other products.
Top 10 Streaming Shows of the First Half of 2025
The first half of 2025 has delivered an exciting lineup of streaming shows that have captivated audiences across platforms. From gritty dramas to thrilling action series, here’s a breakdown of the top 10 streaming shows that dominated screens, as highlighted by The Streamable.
- Landman S1 (Paramount+) 14.44B min watched: A gritty drama following an oil field worker navigating the high-stakes world of the Texas oil boom.
- 1923 S2 (Paramount+) 13.29B min watched: The Dutton family faces new challenges in the early 20th century as they fight to protect their Montana ranch during turbulent times.
- The Night Agent S2 (Netflix) 8.66B min watched: FBI agent Peter Sutherland dives deeper into a web of conspiracies, balancing loyalty and danger in a high-octane thriller.
- MobLand S1 (Paramount+) 8.04B min watched: A crime drama exploring the gritty underworld of organized crime in a small, corrupt town.
- Love Island USA S7 (Peacock) 8.01B min watched: A group of singles navigate romance, drama, and challenges in a tropical villa to find love and win a cash prize.
- Ginny & Georgia S3 (Netflix) 6.32B min watched: The mother-daughter duo faces new secrets and struggles as they adjust to life in a small town with a dark past.
- The Pitt S1 (HBO Max) 6.24B min watched: A high-intensity medical drama set in a Pittsburgh hospital, focusing on the personal and professional lives of its staff.
- The Residence S1 (Netflix) 6.06B min watched: A comedic murder-mystery centered on a quirky staff navigating scandals and secrets in the White House.
- Zero Day S1 (Netflix) 5.97B min watched: A tense political thriller about a cyberattack that triggers global chaos, led by a retired operative seeking answers.
- Reacher S3 (Prime Video 5.96B min watched): Jack Reacher tackles a new conspiracy, using his brute strength and sharp mind to unravel a dangerous mystery.
Netflix led with four titles, while Paramount+ had three. The Streamable notes that HBO’s The Last of Us and The White Lotus would have made the list if non-originals were included. The data underscores the competitive streaming landscape, with platforms like Paramount+ and Apple TV+ gaining ground against Netflix