iWorld
Apple tv+ makes seven shows free
MUMBAI: People around the world who have been going through a lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic can watch seven original TV series on Apple TV+ without a subscription.
Instead of giving access to the full collections of Apple TV, it has made available select shows free.
People can watch the series through the Apple TV+ app, which has been made available on devices like iPads, iPhones, compatible smart TV sets, and select Roku and Amazon Fire TV streaming devices, etc.
The titles available now are: spin-off series Snoopy in Space, Wildlife documentary The Elephant Queen, historical comedy-drama Dickinson, US immigrant anthology series Little America, M. Night Shymalan’s thriller series Servant, alternative-history space drama For All Mankind, live-action preschool series Helpsters, the Ghostwriter reboot about a group of mystery-solving kids, and the new Peanuts animated.
This month, Apple TV+ will debut five titles. Some of the prominent titles include the much-awaited Defending Jacob mini-series starring Chris Evans and the Beastie Boys Story documentary.
Gaming
Sony raises PS5 prices for second time in under a year
US disc edition jumps $100 to $649.99 as memory costs surge.
MUMBAI: Sony just hit the pause button on affordable gaming because when memory prices skyrocket, even the Playstation has to pay the premium. Sony has announced its second price increase for the Playstation 5 range in less than a year, citing pressures in the global economic landscape and a sharp rise in memory component costs driven by AI demand.
In the US, the PS5 disc edition will rise from $549.99 to $649.99, a $100 hike while the digital edition increases to $599.99. The more powerful PS5 Pro will jump $150 to $899.99. The Playstation Portal remote player will also rise by $50 to $249.99. The new prices take effect on 2 April 2026.
Similar increases have been applied in the UK (£90 per model), Europe and Japan. Sony last raised PS5 prices in the US in August 2025.
“We know that price changes impact our community, and after careful evaluation, we found this was a necessary step to ensure we can continue delivering innovative, high-quality gaming experiences to players worldwide,” Sony said in a blog post.
The hikes come amid an unprecedented surge in memory prices, as manufacturers prioritise supply for AI data centres. Analysts say Sony had likely secured price protections for components that have now expired, forcing the company to protect its hardware margins.
Ampere Analysis research director of games Piers Harding-Rolls told CNBC that further increases from Microsoft and Nintendo would not be surprising, though Nintendo may hesitate to raise the price of its recently launched Switch 2 while establishing the new platform.
The increases arrive eight months before the highly anticipated release of GTA 6, which is expected to drive strong console sales. However, early reactions online have been a mix of disappointment and resignation, with growing concern that premium gaming is increasingly becoming a hobby for higher-income players.
In a sector already grappling with tariffs, inflation and component shortages, Sony’s move underscores a tough reality: even the most popular consoles are not immune to the rising cost of keeping up with the latest technology.
