Entertainment 2.0 from The Digital Media Zone

Walmart is selling a new Google TV streaming stick for an unbelievable price. The WiiM Amp outdoes the Sonos Amp for less than half the price. You can now play PC Game Pass games on Nvidia GeForce Now. YouTube announces Playables, a way to play simple games in the YouTube app.

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

Click here to download episode #631.

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• Walmart’s new Onn Google TV streaming stick is just $15 – The Verge
• The WiiM Amp is a stream-everything receiver with Mac Mini vibes – The Verge
• Nvidia’s GeForce Now gets support for PC Game Pass with Xbox account syncing – The Verge
• YouTube’s Playables games are now available for Premium subscribers – The Verge

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The post Entertainment 2.0 #631 – Aggressive Controller User appeared first on The Digital Media Zone.

Josh is finally back to cover the latest consumer entertainment tech news with Richard! On this week’s show, they discuss Max removing features from grandfathered plans, Amazon placing even more advertisements into the Fire TV interface, and Apple TV Plus’ big price increases. In the audio news, Spotify allows premium subscribers to listen to audiobooks. On the gaming front, the Meta Quest 3 is available now, and the Steam Deck OLED fixes many of the issues with the original portable gaming PC.

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

Click here to download episode #630.

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• Max is taking 4K away from its legacy ad-free subscribers
• Amazon Enshittifies the Fire TV User Interface with Even More Ads – Thurrott.com
• Apple TV Plus is getting a price hike — and other Apple subscriptions are, too – The Verge
• Spotify Premium subscribers can now listen to over 200000 audiobooks for free
• Meta Quest 3 Review – IGN
• Review: Steam Deck OLED’s brilliant screen fixes the portable’s biggest flaw | Ars Technica

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The post Entertainment 2.0 #630 – Streaming Shrinkflation appeared first on The Digital Media Zone.

We’re at something of a tipping point in the video industry as Charter discontinues cable boxes for its Spectrum TV service, Best Buy plans to stop selling physical video media, and YouTube and Netflix vie to dominate the streaming space. The HomeTech Podcast’s Gavin Campbell joins Richard again to run through this news and catch you up on what’s happening in their entertainment centers.

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

Click here to download episode #629.

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• Best Buy is exiting the physical media business for good in 2024
• Spectrum is Ditching Traditional Cable TV & Is Going Streaming Only For New TV Customers
• Here comes another Netflix price hike
• Apple TV+ share compared to other streaming platforms in the US
• PS5 cloud streaming details: launch dates and bandwidth requirements

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The post Entertainment 2.0 #629 – Video Industry Changes with Gavin Campbell appeared first on The Digital Media Zone.

Max expands its offerings, Sonos uses a new generation of its portable Move speaker to raise prices again, and are you ready for console games on your new iPhone? Josh is traveling this week, but Gavin Campbell from the HomeTech Podcast joins Richard to run through the latest digital entertainment news on this episode of Entertainment 2.0. And they even talk about gaming!

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

Click here to download episode #628.

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• Max will reportedly start offering free sports later this year
• Google Sets Date for Removal of Google Play Movies and TV App From Android TV
• Sennheiser Ambeo Mini Is a Cheaper Dolby Atmos Soundbar
• Sonos Announces Move 2 Portable Speaker
• Sony Raises Price of PlayStation Plus 12-Month Subscriptions Across All Tiers
• Assassin’s Creed Mirage, Death Stranding and Resident Evil Village are coming to iPhone 15 Pro
• YouTube adds playable games for select users to try

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The post Entertainment 2.0 #628 – Sports to the Max with Gavin Campbell appeared first on The Digital Media Zone.

Windows Media Center is poised to make an unexpected return, but not in the way you’d expect. Tablo is launching a new OTA DVR. CNN is taking another stab at a streaming news service. Marshall brings Bluetooth LE Audio to their new earbuds. Sony’s PlayStation Portal seems too limited. Razer launched the Edge’s advanced controller as a stand-alone product in the Kishi v2 Pro.

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

Click here to download episode #627.

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• Emby is teasing an all new UI that’s pretty much exactly WMC
• Emby WMC Public beta releases September 1
• Tablo 4 reimagines the platform
• A live CNN streaming channel is coming to Max in September | Engadget
• Marshall’s latest wireless earbuds are ready for the LE Audio future – The Verge
• Sony’s portable PlayStation Portal launches later this year for $199.99 – The Verge
• Razer’s Kishi V2 controller gets an Xbox edition with themed colors and more | Engadget

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The post Entertainment 2.0 #627 – The Return of Windows Media Center appeared first on The Digital Media Zone.

After raising prices for non-Amazon Prime subscribers earlier this year, Amazon has increased the subscription fee for Amazon Music Unlimited for Prime subscribers. Microsoft has made cloud gaming concessions in hopes of appeasing the UK CMA. It’s causing a snag with Microsoft’s previous agreement with the EU, though. Lastly, the Xbox 360 store will close next year, but we’ve got tips on how you can continue to play your favorite games.

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

Click here to download episode #626.

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• Amazon Music Unlimited Gets More Expensive for Prime Members
• Microsoft to sell off Activision cloud gaming rights to Ubisoft in bid for UK approval – The Verge
• The EU might need to reassess Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard deal after restructuring – The Verge
• The Xbox 360 Store Will Close July 2024, But You Can Keep Playing Your Favorite Games

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The post Entertainment 2.0 #626 – Cloud Gaming Concessions appeared first on The Digital Media Zone.

Disney Plus and Hulu are raising prices. YouTube added an enhanced 1080p format. YouTube is getting multiview streaming from YouTube TV. Younify aggregates the streaming shows you’re actually watching across services. You can now listen to Patreon podcasts in Spotify. Microsoft is selling replacement parts for Xbox controllers.

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

Click here to download episode #625.

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• Disney Plus and Hulu are about to get even more expensive – The Verge
• YouTube’s ‘enhanced’ 1080p for Premium subscribers is now available on desktop web – The Verge
• Multiview comes to YouTube and gets official YouTube TV launch, but with limits
• Younify app
• Patreon creators can now publish subscriber-only podcasts on Spotify | Engadget
• Microsoft Now Sells Repair Parts for Xbox Controllers in the US

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The post Entertainment 2.0 #625 – Who Needs Enhanced 1080p? appeared first on The Digital Media Zone.

Prices are going up all over the place and other services are going away. It’s a rough news week! Netflix is killing off the Basic tier. Peacock prices are going up for the first time. YouTube Premium, the already over-priced service, is increasing rates. Spotify raises their prices to match the competition. The brightest news comes from Plex, who is moving Plexamp to a freemium model. The end of Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard acquisition is in sight. Xbox’s change to Xbox Live Gold is less confusing than it seems. Lastly, Xbox is getting rid of the Game Pass Friends & Family plan.

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

Click here to download episode #624.

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• Netflix Discontinues ‘Basic’ Tier in the US and UK
• Peacock to raise its subscription prices on August 17 | TechCrunch
• Google raising price of YouTube Premium to $13.99 per month
• It’s Spotify’s turn to increase prices – The Verge
• Free Bird! Plexamp Spreads Its Wings for Every Music Lover | Plex
• FTC withdraws its in-house challenge to Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard deal – The Verge
• Microsoft and Activision Blizzard extend merger agreement to October – The Verge
• Introducing Xbox Game Pass Core, Coming This September – Xbox Wire
• Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass Friends & Family plan ends in August – The Verge
• Plex Video on Demand Feedback Form

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The post Entertainment 2.0 #624 – Raising Rates and Killing Services appeared first on The Digital Media Zone.

Microsoft’s fight with the FTC is over, clearing the path to negotiations with the UK’s CMA. Netflix simplified account switching. Plex lays off 20% more of their staff. Tidal switches to FLAC while raising prices.

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

Click here to download episode #623.

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• You can now move your Netflix profile to an existing account | Engadget
• Plex lays off more than 20 percent of its staff – The Verge
• Tidal is Raising Prices – Thurrott.com
• Tidal adds hi-res FLAC streaming for HiFi Plus subscribers | Engadget
• Microsoft wins FTC fight to buy Activision Blizzard – The Verge
• Microsoft and UK regulators agree to pause their Activision battle to negotiate – The Verge

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The post Entertainment 2.0 #623 – Microsoft Beats the FTC appeared first on The Digital Media Zone.

The Netflix password-sharing crackdown is working. YouTube TV now lets you view multiple streams simultaneously, even if they aren’t sports. The Spotify HiFi price may not be as competitive as we hoped. Microsoft is raising prices on the Xbox Series X in most places and Game Pass everywhere. Meta has a new game subscription service that could benefit the entire VR ecosystem.

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

Click here to download episode #622.

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• How to find the correct movie version / title – www.makemkv.com
• Netflix sees rise in subscribers following password-sharing crackdown – The Verge
• YouTube TV’s multiview streams now include non-sports options | Engadget
• Apple TVs with tvOS 17 will get native VPN support – The Verge
• YouTube TV Rolls Out Updates, Including Audio Synch Fix for Live Playback – The Streamable
• Spotify’s long-anticipated HiFi tier might require a more expensive subscription – The Verge
• Microsoft is hiking the price of Xbox Series X and Xbox Game Pass – The Verge
• Meta’s new Quest Plus subscription gets you two free VR games per month – The Verge
• Back in Black, Xbox Series S is Now Available with a 1TB SSD

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The post Entertainment 2.0 #622 – Spotify HiFi Price appeared first on The Digital Media Zone.