The Best Soundbars for Every Budget

 You've probably already shelled out for a nice big TV, and maybe a streaming gadget to play your Netflix, but what about your sound?

It doesn't matter how large your screen is or how much it cost—it probably sounds awful. You'd be surprised by how much more you enjoy those Netflix Originals with a halfway decent soundbar or surround system. Explosions pop, dialog sounds far crisper, and you may even notice details you’ve never picked up on before.

Why You Need a Soundbar

We have yet to test a modern TV that didn't sound crummy without some kind of audio accessory added. That's mostly due to the way they're designed: Great-sounding speakers are bulky, and as TVs have gotten thinner, with shrinking bezels and sleeker designs, manufacturers are having a harder time building them in.

Even if you can only afford to spend $150 on a new soundbar with a subwoofer, it’s essential to getting the most out of your viewing experience. To help, we put together this list of the best soundbar bundles we've tested, and a little advice on how to make the most of them.

Updated November 27: We've added the Vizio SB3821-C6, Sonos Arc, Enclave Audio CineHome Pro, Roku Streambar, and ZVOX AccuVoice AC157. Be sure to check out our Black Friday TV and soundbar picks.

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  Photograph: Vizio

  Best Value

  Vizio 2.1 Soundbar (SB3821-C6)

  Vizio is one of the best brands in the business when it comes to delivering good sound at palatable prices, and its most recent 2.1-channel model is a shining example of this ethos. The SB3821-C6 soundbar is sleek, easy to set up, and has a wireless subwoofer that can sit next to your couch.

  With 3.5-mm, USB, and optical cable inputs—plus Bluetooth for playing music from your smartphone—you can enjoy its crystal-clear audio from virtually any device you own, though you will have to shell out for a more expensive bar if you want to use HDMI ARC to control your sound using your TV’s remote control instead of the included Vizio remote (though it does have IR codes to program your TV remote manually if you’re tech-savvy).

  Inputs: Optical, coaxial, USB, 3.5-mm audio, and Bluetooth

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  Photograph: Yamaha

  Best Smart Soundbar With a Built-In Sub

  Yamaha YAS-109

  I always recommend snagging a soundbar with a separate subwoofer included for maximum audio enjoyment, but if you live in a small apartment, or just don’t have room for a subwoofer in your living room, the Yamaha YAS-109 is for you. It might not have a sub, but this small Yamaha bar comes packed with great tech.

  With the same great built-in Alexa, Spotify Connect, and the same dual HDMI inputs as the YAS-209 (also on this list), you’ll get a stripped-down bar that’s capable of being the center of your living room audio experience—from playing your favorite movies to telling you the news and weather—without making you touch a remote.

  Inputs: 2 HDMI ports (one ARC), optical, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Bluetooth, and mics for voice-activated Alexa

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  Photograph: Yamaha

  Best Smart Soundbar With a Dedicated Sub

  Yamaha YAS-209

  If you’re looking for a soundbar and sub combo that doubles as a smart speaker for your living room, there is no better option than the Yamaha YAS-209. It has Amazon Alexa built in, two virtual surround sound modes, Wi-Fi, Spotify Connect, and Bluetooth. You can do everything from play Taylor Swift to check the weather. That’s a heck of a lot of features for such an affordable bar.

  The YAS-209 also sounds better than it has any right to at this price. Audio comes through crisp and clear, with impressive width and depth, and the included subwoofer bolsters explosions, footsteps, and your favorite bassy tunes.

  Inputs: 2 HDMI ports (one ARC), optical, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Bluetooth, and mics for voice-activated Alexa

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  Photograph: Roku

  A Bar With Roku Built In

  Roku Smart Soundbar

  If you're after a soundbar that also doubles as an awesome streaming device, WIRED senior writer Adrienne So swears by the Roku Smart Soundbar (7/10, WIRED Review). After years without a soundbar, I sent her home with Roku's latest model, and she was so impressed that she shouted it from the rooftops. Setup is extremely easy, and because it comes with Roku's simple streaming interface (and support for 4K, surround sound, and High Dynamic Range), you'll be able to stream your shows easier than ever. You can also add on a Roku subwoofer or surround-sound speakers down the line, should you want even bolder, more immersive sound.

  We've also linked to the Onn Walmart version below. It's cheaper and slightly weaker, but still a lot nicer than standard TV speakers, and it still comes with Roku.

  Inputs: 1 HDMI port (with ARC), optical, Wi-Fi (2.4 and 5 GHz), USB 2.0, Bluetooth, voice remote.

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  Photograph: Vizio

  Best Affordable Atmos Surround Sound

  Vizio TV Sound System With Dolby Atmos (SB36512-F6)

  If you’re into console gaming, you know how important it is to detect that opponent creeping behind you in the shadows. This affordable Dolby Atmos soundbar from Vizio helps you hear every footstep in real, physical space. Atmos bars fire sound upward, expanding your TV's soundstage. At under $500, this is the most affordable Atmos-enabled bar you’ll find, making it a no-brainer for film buffs too.

  Dolby Atmos support means that gamers can hear what’s going on above them too, which is perfect for avoiding that gun-toting helicopter above you.

  Inputs: 2 HDMI ports (one ARC), 3.5 mm, optical, USB, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Google Chromecast built in

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  Photograph: Sonos

  The Smartest Soundbar

  Sonos Arc Soundbar

  WIRED editor Jeffrey Van Camp loved his time with this larger Sonos Bar, giving the Dolby Atmos-enabled bar a 9/10, WIRED Recommends in his full review. It's a fantastic-sounding option for larger TVs, thanks to its ability to 'fire' sound around your room. We also consider it the brainiest of all soundbars. Thanks to Alexa and Google Assistant integrations (plus Siri, via Airplay), you can use the ARC (and optional subwoofer) as the centerpiece of your home's smart speaker system.

  It's a bit smaller, but we also like the Sonos Beam if you're looking for a well-connected bar without the ability to project object-based surround sound.

  Inputs: HDMI ARC, optical, Ethernet, Wi-Fi.

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  Photograph: Roku

  For Small Spaces

  Roku Streambar

  If you've got a small TV in the kitchen, office, or tiny home, space is of the essence! That's why I'm excited about the new Roku Streambar. It's a petite little soundbar with true stereo sound and a Roku streaming player built in. The WIRED team hasn't spent enough time with one to write a complete review yet, but on physical specs alone, this is a hard bar to beat for tight spaces. No more tiny TV speakers!

  Inputs: HDMI ARC, Optical, USB.

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  Photograph: ZVOX

  Best for Those With Hearing Loss

  ZVOX AccuVoice AV157

  If you or someone you love is having a hard time hearing what the voices are saying on screen, consider this awesome little soundbar from lesser-known (but long-standing) brand ZVOX. The company has perfected what it calls "AccuVoice" technology, which uses digital signal processing to make voices sound clearer than any other bar I've tested.

  Inputs: Optical, 3.5 mm.

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  Photograph: SENNHEISER

  Absolute Best Soundbar (If Price Is No Object)

  Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar

  Acclaimed audio brand Sennheiser waited decades to launch its first home soundbar, and it shows. The company’s massive—and massively expensive—Ambeo Soundbar showcases some of the most advanced processing and audio quality we’ve ever heard from a bar. Even without the addition of satellite speakers for surround, the Ambeo uses its tech to throw sound around your space with full Dolby Atmos immersion. At times it sounds so good you might think there are little tiny speakers flying all around your room.

  It's the best-sounding bar we’ve ever heard. It doesn't matter if you're listening to Netflix Originals or your favorite music, the Ambeo offers rich, detailed sound. It’s not for the budget-conscious, sure, but it doesn’t have to be: This is the crème de la crème of compact home theater audio, and much like LG, Samsung, and Sony can use exceptional image quality to convince people to shell out thousands for their flagship TVs, Sennheiser’s Ambeo does the same with sound.

  Inputs: 3 HDMI ports (one ARC), optical, RCA, Bluetooth, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Google Chromecast built in

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  Photograph: Enclave Audio

  Not Quite a Soundbar

  Enclave Audio CineHome Pro

  The Enclave Audio CineHome Pro (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is a $1,500, THX-certified surround-sound system, but it still has many of the same characteristics as our favorite larger soundbar systems. For one, the 5.1 system is completely wireless. Thanks to clever use of the WiSA (a new-ish wireless surround sound) protocol, all you have to do is find a power outlet for each speaker and plug in a small Roku-size box to your TV's ARC port. Bada bing, bada boom: THX-certified surround sound! It's a bit spendy, but if you're after truly great sound with soundbar-like convenience, it doesn't get better than this.

  Inputs: HDMI ARC, Bluetooth, 3.5 mm.

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  Photograph: Best Buy

  These Didn't Quite Make the Cut

  They're OK, but Not Great

  There are a lot of great soundbars out there, and we don't have room to feature them all. Here are some others you might want to consider.

  Sonos Playbar is an excellent (older) Sonos bar: Sonos replaced the Playbar with the new Arc soundbar, but if you see a Playbar for less than $400, it's still a very nice soundbar that can outpower the Beam, and it will connect to the Sonos ecosystem.

  The Samsung THW-T450 is great for those who love Bluetooth: It's only got a Bluetooth connection, but this $150 soundbar with subwoofer does pretty well for the price. With easy one-time pairing to your TV, you don't even need to plug in a cable.

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  Photograph: Amazon

  Get Hooked Up

  Properly Connect Your Soundbar

  We've included a list of connectivity features next to every soundbar on our list. The vast majority of soundbars will connect to your TV best via optical or HDMI cables—HDMI being preferable in most cases.

  If your TV and soundbar both have an HDMI-ARC port (looks like HDMI, but labeled ARC), try connecting that way. It will allow you to use your TV remote for volume. Also make sure CEC is enabled. Use an optical cable only if HDMI isn't available.

  Finally, check your TV audio menus to make sure your TV's internal speakers are set to off (so you don't get any weird audio fluttering), and find the best spots to place your speakers and sub.
  
  
  Source: https://www.wired.com/gallery/best-soundbars/

Vizio SB3821 C6 Sound Bar System with Subwoofer Review - Unbelievable Value & Performance

 

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Internet radio: Everything you need to know to stream a world's worth of fantastic music for free

Whisper a few call letters into a smart speaker, summon a smartphone app, or tap a few computer keys to be whisked far, far away from your locked-down existence, transported across the country or half-way round the world, with nary a ticket to buy or passport to show. You won’t even need to put on a mask.

Wanna hang on a hot Brazilian beach with a nouveau Girl from Ipanema? The internet radio station Paul in Rio can take you there. California Dreaming of a ride up Laurel Canyon with local legends singing in your ears? Dial into SomaFM’s Left Coast 70s. For those who had planned a London entertainment getaway before all hell broke loose, BBC 4 radio dramas can still shine a light on West End acting talents. And BBC Radio 6 is great for pulling out punchy rock club concerts from its archives. More into the Paris café scene? An atmospheric soundtrack of cool-school and Django-ing gypsy jazz is just a tap (and snifter of cognac) away on the city’s sublime TSF Jazz and FIPS autour du Jazz outlets.

Jonathan Takiff / IDG

Internet radio lets you hear musical styles from where they were born. PaulInRio.com streams from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Even the most esoteric of musical (and informational) tastes—from Bollywood to Schlager—are served by the dozens on internet radio: Digital audio services you call up on any web-connected speaker, computer, or smartphone. Better still, most of these stations are free of commercials, thanks to government and listener funding, college backing, or private endowment by the creator.

The Great American Songbook station, based in the Netherlands, is a perfect example. Station fan Peter Skiera, general manager of internet radio maker Como Audio, touts this station as “a labor of love by a retired broadcaster [Rene Dussen] with a basement full of records and a small recording studio. To these ears, the station’s content rivals that of pay-radio SiriusXM’s Siriusly Sinatra channel, but as with all internet radio streams, both live and on-demand, the price of admission to The Great American Songbook is free.
How to tune in to internet radio

If you know a station’s call letters or name, it’s a snap to haul in a specific internet radio station on a computer or smart device—just type it in or speak to a smart speaker like an Amazon Echo, Google Home, or Apple HomePod.

For deep-sea fishing in the great unknown, though, it pays to go through a radio station aggregator: An online database of curated links to radio stations searchable by location, genre, popularity, and—sometimes—stream quality. Michael Brown / IDG

TuneIn Radio is the 800-pound gorilla of internet radio aggregators. You can use its service on the web or with an Android or iOS app, but an ad-free experience costs $9.99 per month.

First among many, and first in my heart, is TuneIn Radio, the 800-pound gorilla of internet radio station aggregators. TuneIn Radio comes pre-installed or is loadable on more than 200 connected devices, including smart speakers from the likes of Sonos and Bose, smart TVs, streaming media players (e.g., Roku and Amazon Fire TV), smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles (Xbox and PlayStation), and personal computers.

With a global database of more than 100,000 stations in 197 countries and 22 languages, plus 5.7 million podcasts and on-demand show offerings, TuneIn comes closest to world radio completeness (and domination). Senior director of marketing Ana Guillen tells me it is now attracting 75 million listeners a month and has witnessed an especially strong 53-percent uptick in news content listenership as the COVID-19 pandemic has escalated.

The most notable gap in TuneIn’s channel library are the 853 commercial stations in 153 U.S. markets owned by iHeartMedia (formerly Clear Channel Communications). To access those, you need to tap into the iHeartRadio app and portal, likewise accessible for free on internet radios, smartphones, tablets, computers, and similar connected devices. Aiming to become a one-stop destination (and sell more advertising), iHeartRadio also serves up mass appeal playlists and personalized music stations (a la Pandora); has distribution deals with commercial radio chains in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand; and also links listeners to some non-aligned stations. But the service doesn’t have nearly the global reach or stylistic diversity of TuneIn or other hard-striving

streaming radio promoters. Jonathan Takiff / iDG

VTuner’s stripped-down but content rich app lets you dig for gold by genre, location, language, fastest speed, lowest speed and popularity.

Veteran internet radio aggregator VTuner does have a database that rivals TuneIn. About 30 staffers toil in the Philippines to keep its inventory of station formats, URLs, and streaming codecs up to date. Literally hundreds of world stations presenting in a particular category are accessible with a single tap on VTuner’s barebones, but functional website. I also appreciate that this app lets a user search through its inventory by the sonic quality of signal (more on that momentarily). The VTuner platform powers several lines of smart speakers and A/V receivers, though in recent years it has lost significant market share to Airable, a rival based in Germany.

Want to be led by the hand to “the most popular” local stations in a music, information or sports radio category? The on-screen guide for MediaU (also based in Germany) offers user-friendly graphics and a sophisticated batch of Euro-centric picks. What’s #1 on their Country station roundup? Prague-based Country Radio, featuring Czech-language singing cowboys. Hearing is believing. Jonathan Takiff / IDG

The station rankings on MediaU.net show that country music isn’t just an American phenomenon.

I’ve also had good luck fishing in the waters of Radio.net. And I found some interesting, net-only stations on Internet-radio.com, although the entries on its “Featured” list suggest paid-for positioning. The top picks there are Classic Rock Florida HD, Smooth Jazz Florida, and Modern Jukebox Radio.

Radio.Garden is the most playful and eccentric aggregator of all. This highly engaging, super-fast search tool can be easily planted on a smartphone or tablet via an iOS or Android app. (But the site was characterized as “not secure” and needing third-party software intercession before I could load it on my iMac.) Open this thing up on a screen and you’re presented an animated map of the world. Tap a location dot and up pops selected picks from the immediate area and nation. Jonathan Takiff / IDG

Radio.Garden lets you choose from internet radio stations based on their geographic location by clicking dots on a global satellite-photo map.

Now tap Search and the gardener provides immediate access to radio outlets by country, city or call letters, plus bouquets of “Our Favorite Stations,” playfully categorized as Independent Stations, Energetic Rhythms (electronic, dance), Time Travel (content from decades gone by), Weird Frequencies (like Theatre Organ Radio and Birdsong Radio), and Ends of the Earth (self-explanatory). As I write, I’m listening to a very trippy electronica outlet from Bristol, UK: Noods Radio. The eerie, otherworldly strains make me feel like I’m living in a very strange movie.

To my mind, true internet radio stations are independent, curated, and free; they’re not corporate, computerized, and costly. You might not hear a DJ’s voice or even see a meta-data screen tag identifying the artists and tracks on a station like KCRW-Eclectic24. (That’s where song-identifying services like Shazam come in handy.) And hours or even days of programming might be scheduled in advance on the studio’s servers. Como Audio

Como Audio’s elegant Musica offers an excellent means of accessing the rich content available on internet radio.

But the quirkiness of the selections, the themes laid out in the segues indicate the presence of a human being, not an algorithm, making the aesthetic calls and structuring the playlist. And when necessary, the shows can be turned on a dime. A recent, hour-long afternoon “sweep” of rustic folk classics like Sam Stone and Illegal Smile playing on Eclectic24 was all the announcement I needed to know that John Prine had just died, and that someone at the station was mourning and paying tribute.
Internet radio sound quality

Internet radio used to get a deserved rap for sound quality “approaching AM quality.” No longer. The lossy digital compression schemes deployed in mid-1990s streaming audio players like RealAudio and Nullsoft were crude and extreme, with low bit rates chopping off each song’s head, tail, and feet to squeeze it through the modest data pipe available to private internet users at the time.

Even into the early 2000s, it was common to find “perceptual coded” MP3 streams running at rates as low as 16Kbps—buying into the psycho-acoustic theory that louder sounds obscure quieter ones, so why bother to shove all that “extra” data down the pipe? MP3 freaked the hell out of discerning musicians like Neil Young, who knew what was being lost in translation. Thinkstock

If this is what you picture when you hear “internet radio,” it’s been much too long since you listened to an internet radio station.

The story is different today, judging from VTuner’s posted transmission rates (information users can also call up on Como Audio radio displays). Even technically and financially strapped stations in third-world countries are serving up MP3 content encoded at 48-, 56-, and 64Kbps, or else working with the more efficient AAC codec at bit rates of 32- or 48Kbps, typically with a sampling rate of 44.1kHz. In more sophisticated web-radio operations, bit rates from 128- to 192-, and even 320Kbps are becoming increasingly common, with the latter characterized as “high resolution.”

“The only downside to streaming at 320Kbps,” Skiera says, “is that you might run out of network capacity on the home network when you have five connected speakers all playing at the high-resolution rate.”

Como Audio speakers (and some rival brands) also support the rarely used MPEG-DASH, ASF and podcast-securitizing HTTPS formats. Skiera says Como has no intention of integrating lossless codecs like FLAC and MQA into its radios. The latter is expensive to license and integrate, and I would argue that you won’t notice the higher quality on a compact speaker. Skiera tells me he “has not heard of any streaming radio stations migrating to those formats.” Jonathan Takiff / IDG

A Como Audio internet radio screen display shows streaming at its best (Linn Radio).
A brief history of internet radio

Internet radio started out in the early 1990s as a hobbyist’s plaything, first cousin to “ham” shortwave radio. Then the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998 imposed a burdensome royalty payment structure on any web-station with more than a couple hundred listeners. That buried a bunch of those basement startups. Today, only the stronger survive.

While late to the party, almost every local broadcast station on earth (commercial and non) now has a simulcasting online stream. A great equalizer, internet radio turns a low-power community station loose on the world with almost the same weight as a 50,000-watt big-city blaster. (While it has broadcast with as little as 580 watts—and is now up to 13K directional—the Martha’s Vineyard adult alternative station WMVY has consistently placed among the Top 20 most listened-to internet stations, worldwide. Not too shabby.)

Internet radio simulcasts are also a lifeline to listeners in dense urban locations, where broadcast FM signals are fraught with multipath distortion. In my hood, the online versions of favorite locals like non-commercial alternative WXPN and jazz/classical WRTI sound as pristine as a CD, while the FM broadcasts sputter on my speakers like a worn vinyl record. Ryan Stefan (CC0)

The ability to import distant signals has also proven a welcome development for displaced citizens—especially relocated sports fans who still want to follow their favorite teams with a distant web tune-in. Ditto with displaced foreigners who crave to hear their native tongue.

I happily connect with government-supported, ad-free stations in locations like Britain, Germany, and Denmark, because those outlets’ format choices are often far more liberated than you’d typically find on public stations in the U.S.. Yeah, Afro-pop, Reggae, Prog-rock, R&B, and Hip-Hop are in the public interest, too!
Pandora, Spotify et al are not internet radio

Some folks lump on-demand music services like Pandora and Spotify in their “best of internet radio” roundups. Yes, those services stream on the internet and are accessible on the same computers, phones, set-top boxes, and smart speakers. But to ex-radio broadcasters like Como Audio’s Skiera and myself (being a former programmer/presenter of FM free-form shows on WMMR and WYSP in Philadelphia), it’s anathema to slot a “music genome”-powered Pandora or an on-demand library like Spotify in the internet radio category. While those services do offer New Music Playlists and radio-format-like caches of music labeled “Alternative,” “Dance/Electronic,” “R&B,” “Soul/Funk,” and so on, services like those are can be more accurately described as online jukeboxes.

Satellite radio broadcaster SiriusXM’s channel lineup is likewise available in the U.S. (and expanded) on many streaming home devices, computers, and smartphones through an internet radio-styled portal. But even without the core car play, they aren’t giving it away. Depending on lineup size and bonus features, the 200-to-300 channel “at home” package will set you back $8 to $13 a month.

I hope I’ve piqued your interest in internet radio. In next week’s installment, I’ll show you how to find the kinds of music you like most, and I’ll share more of my personal picks—the stations I keep going back to.

Source: https://www.techhive.com/article/3539830/internet-radio-everything-you-need-to-know-to-stream-fantastic-music-for-free.html#tk.rss_howto

Honorable Mention: https://www.internet-radio.com/

Bored at home? Here are some free games, movies, audiobooks, and more to keep you entertained

We've rounded up the best games, audiobooks, ebooks, movies, and sports content that's free right now.

With everything that has been going around the world in recent weeks, we all need an outlet. Thankfully, there are dozens of free resources that provide a distraction from the chaos.

We've rounded up all the games, movies, audiobooks, e-books, and learning resources that are free right now. Whether you're looking to unwind with an audiobook or shoot some zombies in an online first-person shooter, you'll find something of interest in the list below.

All the games that are free right now

• Monument Valley 2: One of the best mobile games is free right now. Monument Valley 2 features gorgeous visuals, intricate puzzles, and a soothing soundtrack. The puzzle game usually costs $5, so grab it for free right now. Monument Valley 2 on the Play Store.
• Mini Metro: What's it like to build a subway system from scratch? That's what you're tasked with in Mini Metro. There are 20 real-world cities to choose from, and plenty of game modes to test your skills. I've wasted hundreds of hours on this game, and it was worth it. Mini Metro on the Play Store, Mini Metro on the App Store
• Totally Reliable Delivery Service: Totally Reliable Delivery Service is a fun multiplayer title that lets you and your friends run a delivery truck. The game's ragdoll physics makes it fun to play, and overall it is just a fun way to pass the time when you're locked indoors. The game is free until April 8. Totally Reliable Delivery Service on Epic Games Store.
• GOAT OF DUTY: GOAT OF DUTY is a first-person shooter like Call of Duty, but with goats armed to the teeth (err, horns) instead. It has online multiplayer — ideal to play with your friends — and is just the perfect game to take your mind off things. The game usually costs $10, but add it on Steam before March 31 and it is yours to keep. GOAT OF DUTY on Steam.
• Drawful 2: Drawful 2 is a great party game. You draw something, and everyone guesses what that is. It is good for a lot of laughs, and if you add it to your Steam account before April 11, it is yours forever. Drawful 2 on Steam.
• Between Two Castles: This is a fun recreation of a board game that sees two players working together to build castles. It's free on Steam until March 30. Between Two Castles on Steam.
• World War Z: World War Z is a four-player co-op third-person shooter where you have to battle hordes of zombies. There are lots of guns, a lot of gore, and a PvP mode as well. The game is free until April 2. World War Z on Epic Games Store.
• Figment: Figment takes you into your surreal universe filled with music, humor, and gorgeous artwork. The action-adventure puzzler has plenty to offer, and is a great way to pass the time for a few hours. It is also free until April 2. Figment on Epic Games Store.
• Tormentor x Punisher: Need a fast-paced game with endless hordes of enemies? This game is ideal for you. Add it to your account before April 2. Tormentor x Punisher on Epic Games Store
• Treasure Adventure Game: Treasure Adventure Game is a 2D platformer that evokes memories of 8-bit games. There is a decent learning curve, but once you get the hang of things it is a wonderful game. GOG has a decent list of games on sale, so be sure to take a look at the full list. Treasure Adventure Game on GOG, GOG's list of free games.
• Itch.io: Itch.io has a host of games on sale right now, and there are a few standouts like Elliot Quest. If you're in the mood to try out a few indie games, take a look at the full list here: Itch.io game giveaway.

Unwind with these free audiobooks and albums

• The Lord of the Rings: The only LOTR audiobook that you should listen to is the one narrated by Phil Dragash. It is the unabridged version that also includes sound effects and original score from the movies, and is a fantastic listen. As it is technically a fan-made creation, you can download the audiobook for free. The Lord of the Rings audiobook.
• Audible Stories: Audible is offering over 300 audiobooks for free during the coronavirus crisis, with a great selection of titles aimed at children. If you're working from home and need to entertain your kids, this is an invaluable resource. Free audiobooks on Audible Stories.
• LibriVox: LibriVox has a huge catalog of over 24,000 audiobooks sourced from the public domain. The public domain texts are read by volunteers from around the globe, and you can access them for free on your phone, tablet, or the web. There are a few gems, including classic sci-fi, classic literature from Charles Dickens to Herman Melville, and much more. Free audiobooks on LibriVox.
• Nine Inch Nails Ghosts V - VI: Nine Inch Nails has released two albums and made them free to download. The albums are a continuation of the 2008 Ghosts instrumental series, and feature a lot of atmospheric and haunting sounds. Perfect for the times, then. Nine Inch Nails Ghosts V and Ghosts VI.

Explore your interest with these free books

• International Children's Digital Library: ICDL has a wealth of resources for kids, and the best part is that you can sort books based on your kid's age. With a vast catalog of titles from all over the world, it is a great way to entertain your children. Children's books at International Children's Digital Library.
• Project Gutenberg: Looking for some classic literature to pass the time? There isn't a better resource than Project Gutenberg. The site has over 60,000 ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats, and there's a search feature to sort books by genre, author, language, and more. Classic literature at Project Gutenberg.
• JSTOR: If you're looking for academic journals, then JSTOR is a great resource. The site's open access content includes a vast selection of journals and books from leading universities. Academic journals at JSTOR.
• ComiXology Unlimited 90-day trial: Amazon-owned ComiXology is offering a 90-day trial to its Unlimited subscription, giving you access to thousands of comics from DC, Marvel, Dark Horse, and others for free. You can download the comics on any device, including your phone, tablet, or the web. ComiXology Unlimited 90-day trial.
• Scribd 30-day trial: Scribd is the world's largest digital library, featuring millions of ebooks, best-selling audiobooks, and much more. The 30-day trial is ideal to see what the service is all about. Scribd 30-day trial.
• Adrian Tchaikovsky's short stories: Adrian Tchaikovsky is one of my favorite authors, and if you haven't read Children of Time, you should fix that right now. The author is making a collection of short stories freely available, and they're well worth a read. Adrian Tchaikovsky's short stories collection in PDF, MOBI, and EPUB.

If you need additional reading material, take a look at this list by Aditya Bidikar to find novellas by noted authors and dozens of free comics.

Pass the time with free movies and documentaries

• HBO Now: HBO is making some of its best TV shows freely accessible on HBO Now and HBO Go. Thes einclude shows like The Wire, The Sopranos, Silicon Valley, Ballers, Barry, and more. All seasons of a given show are available to stream, making this an incredible offer. Free access to HBO Now.
• Sling TV Blue: Sling is making its Blue service free until April 5, offering 45 live channels, 50,000 on-demand movies and TV shows, and free cloud DVR. Sling Blue gives you access to CNN, FOX News, HLN, MSNBC, Bloomberg TV, Cheddar News, Newsy and Local Now. Get Sling Blue free until April 5.
• Shudder: Shudder is a streaming service dedicated to horror, thriller, and suspense movies and TV shows. The service is rolling out free access for 30 days with code SHUTIN. Get Shudder free for 30 days with SHUTIN.
• Pluto: Pluto is one of the best ways to access free TV channels on all of your devices. It has over 250 free channels and thousands of movies, and the best part is that it is free. Free TV at Pluto.
• Documentary Heaven: Documentary Heaven is a wonderful resource for documentaries of a wide variety of subjects. With hundreds of free documentaries to choose from, there's enough content here to keep you busy for several days. Free documentaries at Documentary Heaven.

Your favorite sports content is now free

• NFL Game Pass: With the NFL season shut down, the league is making NFL Game Pass freely available, giving fans the ability to relive the best moments from past seasons. Game Pass includes access to all games and NFL Films. Game Pass is free until May 31. Get NFL Game Pass for free.
• NBA League Pass: NBA is also making its League Pass free, with fans able to stream games from the 2019-20 season as well as classic games on-demand. League Pass is free until April 22. Get NBA League Pass for free.
• WWE Network 30-day free trial: WrestleMania 36 kicks off on April 4, and you'll want to tune in to all the action. WWE has a 30-day trial for its streaming service, and now is the ideal time to get in on the action. You'll not only get access to WrestleMania 36, but can also stream all old wrestling events. WWE Network 30-day trial.

Build your skills with these free learning resources

• Pluralsight: Pluralsight is making its entire catalog freely available for the month of April. That includes over 7,000 courses on everything from machine learning, cyber security, cloud computing, game design, and so much more. There's something for everyone here, so make sure you sign up and start learning. Free access to Pluralsight.
• **Logic Pro X (90-day trial): Logic Pro X is one of the best DAWs in the market, and it is a great tool if you want to level up your music production skills. You now get a 90-day free trial to see what the DAW has to offer. Logic Pro X 90-day free trial.
• Fender Play guitar lessons: Fender is giving away three months' worth of free guitar lessons in Fender Play. If you've ever wanted to learn a guitar but never got around to it, now is the time to start. Three months of Fender Play for free.
• Unity Learn Premium: Got an idea for a great game? Get started with free access to Unity Learn Premium, the best way to get started with the Unity game engine. You get three months of free access. Free access to Unity Learn Premium.

That's a short list of all the free resources currently available. I'll continue to update the post with more content daily, but if I missed anything, let me know in the comments below.

Source: https://www.androidcentral.com/free-games-books-comics-audiobooks-work-from-home

Stuck Inside: What to watch tonight - from Lifehacker.com

What to Stream Tonight, March 26, 2020

Ready to settle in for another night at home?

Yesterday we told you about some live concerts to watch, fitness and cooking classes, and how you can watch Star Trek: Picard for free through April 23rd.

Today we found an online culinary school offering 30 days of free classes, two new albums you can download for free or stream, and a Spotify playlist to help you throw a dance party for one at home.

At the bottom of the list, you’ll find a rundown of the ongoing options out there that we’ve highlighted before. Have you found something great that we haven’t shared? Tell us about it in the comments and we may feature it in a future post.

Watch the Rotterdam Philharmonic perform Beethoven’s 9th from their homes

The Rotterdam Philharmonic created a viral video where it performs Beethoven’s 9th symphony over video, with each member of the symphony in their respective homes. After seeing the video, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra created a similar video of their own, and remotely performed Aaron Copland’s Appalachian Spring. Both videos are less than 5 minutes and are worth a watch.

Go to culinary school

A lot of us are cooking a little more now than we do normally. If you’d like to learn how to cook something new, online culinary school Rouxbe is offering a free 30-day membership right now. The deal includes access to 75 lessons, hundreds of chef-created recipes, cooking tips and techniques, live events with chef instructors and culinary experts, and 13 courses ranging from pasta to knife skills.

Throw a private dance party

DJ D-Nice has been hosting dance parties from his home, “Club Quarantine,” on Instagram live for about a week now. Party guests have included a ton of celebrities like Snoop Dogg, Michelle Obama, Oprah, Joe Biden, and Spike Lee, and some weekend DJ sets have topped over 100k viewers. While it’s ideal to watch them live, DJ D-nice also launched an exclusive Homeschool playlist on Spotify today, so you can throw your own party whenever you want.

Listen to two new Nine Inch Nails Albums

Nine Inch Nails released two new albums Wednesday night, Ghosts V: Together and Ghosts VI: Locusts, and made them free to listen to. Both albums are available on streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music now. You can also download them both for free from Nine Inch Nails’ website and stream them both ad-free on YouTube.

Check out these ongoing streaming shows and events, as well

Watch a free opera at the Met
Virtually tour the Winchester Mystery House
Watch free Sling TV shows and movies
Take a free yoga class
Workout with the Fitness Marshall
Stream a simulated Tampa Bay Lightning hockey game
You can virtually tour these 500+ museums from your couch
Watch Broadway shows Like Cats and Sweeney Todd for free
Listen to Audible Audiobooks for free
Download coloring pages from over 100 museums
These kids shows are free to stream on Amazon right now
Take free cooking classes with Michelin Star Chef Massimo Bottura
Stream these new-release movies at home instead of the theater
Take these 600 online courses for free


Source: https://lifehacker.com/what-to-stream-tonight-march-26-2020-1842511375