Entertainment 2.0 from The Digital Media Zone

ESPN and Fox are both launching stand-alone video streaming services, and you’ll be able to save some money by bundling them together. Disney is combining Hulu and Disney+. Sling TV is launching innovative new plans. Spotify is beefing up their audiobook offering.

Join us most weeks for the live recording of Entertainment 2.0 on Wednesday evenings at 8:30 pm ET!

Click here to download episode #690.

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• ESPN will offer a $39.99 bundle with Fox’s live sports streaming service | The Verge
• Disney to Combine Hulu, Disney+, Launch ESPN Streaming App – Thurrott.com 
• Sling TV Launches Industry-First $4.99 Day Pass Redefining How Viewers Watch Live TV – Aug 12, 2025
• Spotify Launches its Audiobooks+ Add-ons in the US
• Xbox July Update: More Ways to Play on PC – Stream Your Own Games via the Xbox PC App and More – Xbox Wire

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The intro music is a song called Rogue by Raw Stiles.

The post Entertainment 2.0 #690 – Nothing But Good News in Streaming Video appeared first on The Digital Media Zone.

Paramount Plus is renaming their top-tier plan. Spotify is making it easier to find exactly what you’re looking for in the Discover Weekly playlist. Microsoft laid off thousands of people, cancelled games, and closed game studios. You can now access your Steam games in the Xbox app.

Join us most weeks for the live recording of Entertainment 2.0 on Wednesday evenings at 8:30 pm ET!

Click here to download episode #689.

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• Paramount Plus with Showtime is getting a rebrand | The Verge
• Spotify adds genre controls to Discover Weekly
• Microsoft Makes Significant Layoffs Across Gaming Division, Xbox Boss Phil Spencer Confirms in Memo to Staff – IGN
• Microsoft adds Steam games to its Xbox PC app on Windows | The Verge
• Naughty Dog Chief Neil Druckmann to Step Away From HBO’s The Last of Us Ahead of Season 3 to Focus on Game Development – IGN

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The intro music is a song called Rogue by Raw Stiles.

The post Entertainment 2.0 #689 – Rebranding Streaming Services appeared first on The Digital Media Zone.

Amazon Prime Video is showing more ads and so is YouTube for Premium Lite subscribers. Apple tvOS is getting a glassy new look. The Marshall Heston 120, the company’s first entry into the soundbar marketplace, looks stunning. Xbox has announced changes to Windows on handheld devices, and it may be a sign of what’s to come for future Xbox consoles.

Join us most weeks for the live recording of Entertainment 2.0 on Wednesday evenings at 8:30 pm ET!

Click here to download episode #688.

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• Prime Video has doubled the number of ads it makes viewers watch
• tvOS 26 is getting Apple’s new Liquid Glass design language
• YouTube Premium Lite Subscribers Will Soon See More Ads
• The first Marshall soundbar is the $1,000 Heston 120 with Dolby Atmos
• This is how Microsoft is combining Windows and Xbox for handheld PCs | The Verge
• Xbox’s AMD partnership sheds light on the future of the division’s ecosystem

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The intro music is a song called Rogue by Raw Stiles.

The post Entertainment 2.0 #688 – More Ads in Streaming and the Future of Xbox Consoles appeared first on The Digital Media Zone.

Max is renamed again. Spotify simplifies buying audiobooks. You may lose access to free audiobooks. Sony improved the best ANC headphones, and there are new gaming laptops to lust after.

Join us most weeks for the live recording of Entertainment 2.0 on Wednesday evenings at 8:30 pm ET!

Click here to download episode #687.

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• ‘HBO Max’ is Back After Warner Bros. Discovery Rebrands the Streaming Service Again – WSJ
• Walmart releases new $30 Onn 4K Plus streaming device, powered by Google TV
•  Spotify’s Latest iOS Update Lets US Users Purchase Audiobooks
• US libraries cut ebook and audiobook lending programs following Trump executive order
• Here’s how the Sony WH-1000XM6 compare to the WH-1000XM5 and AirPods Max
• MSI’s new handheld houses AMD Z2 Extreme instead of Intel Core Ultra and is actually available in a color other than white or black
• Razer made its new Blade 14 thinner than ever and gave it a full-power RTX 5070 | The Verge
• ASUS unveiled new ROG Zephyrus G14 and G16 laptops at Computex

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The intro music is a song called Rogue by Raw Stiles.

The post Entertainment 2.0 #687 – Goodbye to Free Audiobooks and Hello to Gaming Laptops appeared first on The Digital Media Zone.

We know most of the details about the ESPN streaming service. Onn has a new Google TV streaming box. Spotify has new queue and playlist controls. Xbox is adding keyboard and mouse support to cloud gaming.

Join us most weeks for the live recording of Entertainment 2.0 on Wednesday evenings at 8:30 pm ET!

Click here to download episode #686.

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• ESPN’s streaming service will cost up to $30 per month and be called… ESPN
• Walmart’s $30 Google TV streamer is now in stores and it supports USB-C hubs [Video]
• Experience a New Dimension of Music Discovery With More Controls and Enhanced Tools
• Xbox Insiders Can Try Playing Cloud-Enabled Games With Mouse and Keyboard

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The intro music is a song called Rogue by Raw Stiles.

The post Entertainment 2.0 #686 – Stand-alone ESPN Service and Onn 4k Plus Google TV Streamer appeared first on The Digital Media Zone.

YouTube continues to experiment with YouTube Premium pricing models. Roku is acquiring their first streaming service. Sonos and Ikea are breaking up, and Xbox raises prices across the board.

Join us most weeks for the live recording of Entertainment 2.0 on Wednesday evenings at 8:30 pm ET!

Click here to download episode #685.

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• YouTube is testing out a Premium plan you can share with one household member
• Roku acquires skinny bundle streaming service Frndly TV
• Sonos and Ikea are ending their partnership | The Verge
• Microsoft is raising prices on the Xbox Series S and Series X

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The intro music is a song called Rogue by Raw Stiles.

The post Entertainment 2.0 #685 – Roku Buys a Streaming Service and Xbox Raises Prices appeared first on The Digital Media Zone.

There are new Roku Streaming Sticks coming soon. Max is giving you a legit way to share your account. You can snag the Google TV Streamer for the lowest price it has ever had. There is a new wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay adapter. Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders are happening now!

Join us most weeks for the live recording of Entertainment 2.0 on Wednesday evenings at 8:30 pm ET!

Click here to download episode #684.

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• Roku Announces New Streaming Sticks, TVs, More – Thurrott.com
• Everything you need to know about adding an extra member on Max; price, plan restrictions, more details
• Google TV Streamer Down to $79 [Buy on Amazon]
• This tiny wireless Android Auto adapter hides in your car’s USB port
  • Buy on Amazon
• Nintendo Switch 2 Pre-Orders Rescheduled to April 24, No Price Change – Thurrott.com

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The intro music is a song called Rogue by Raw Stiles.

The post Entertainment 2.0 #684 – New Roku Streaming Sticks appeared first on The Digital Media Zone.

NVIDIA announced and launched the RTX 5060 and RTX 5060 Ti cards this week. Razer has a new solution for streaming your PC games to your mobile device and it brings some impressive new features. Xbox is expanding where you can stream your own games. The PlayStation 5 is getting expensive in key markets.

Join us most weeks for the live recording of Entertainment 2.0 on Wednesday evenings at 8:30 pm ET!

Click here to download episode #683.

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• NVIDIA RTX 5060 Ti (16GB) review: A solid semi-budget GPU for $429 (but good luck scoring that price)
• Razer ‘Remote Play’ brings PC games to your Android device, but without the black bars
• Xbox Consoles Add ‘Stream Your Own Game’ Support
• PS5 prices are increasing across Europe, UK and Australia

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The intro music is a song called Rogue by Raw Stiles.

The post Entertainment 2.0 #683 – NVIDIA RTX 5060 Ti Reviews appeared first on The Digital Media Zone.

Plex has launched their new experience, and you should grab it even if you don’t have a Plex server. The AirFly Pro 2 is a Bluetooth dongle you’ll want to take to the gym and on every flight. We now have all the Nintendo Switch 2! Should you preorder one?

Join us most weeks for the live recording of Entertainment 2.0 on Wednesday evenings at 8:30 pm ET!

Click here to download episode #682.

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• It’s Go Time: The New Plex Experience Is Here
• The AirFly Pro 2 wireless headphone dongle offers improved sound and volume control
  • Buy on Amazon
• Nintendo Switch 2: 23 New Details – Release Date, Price, GameChat and More! – IGN

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The intro music is a song called Rogue by Raw Stiles.

The post Entertainment 2.0 #682 – Nintendo Switch 2 appeared first on The Digital Media Zone.

Plex is increasing the cost of Plex Pass, and we actually feel pretty ok about it! We explain why it matters that Netflix is now supporting HDR10+. NBC is retaining the Olympics rights. Apple is bringing new features to their most expensive headphones in the most Apple way they could. Auracast is getting closer to reality in Android. Xbox has a new adaptive joystick.

Join us most weeks for the live recording of Entertainment 2.0 on Wednesday evenings at 8:30 pm ET!

Click here to download episode #681.

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• Important 2025 Plex Updates
• Netflix will stream shows and movies in HDR10+ on supported devices
• The Olympics will stay on NBC for at least another decade | The Verge
• Apple is finally updating AirPods Max with lossless and ultra-low latency audio
• The Third Beta of Android 16
• Microsoft’s Xbox Adaptive Joystick is Now Available For $29.99

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The intro music is a song called Rogue by Raw Stiles.

The post Entertainment 2.0 #681 – Plex Pass Price Propulsion appeared first on The Digital Media Zone.