'Big Sky,' '24,' Love, Victor' among shows to usher in Disney Plus' Star launch in Canada, Europe

Big Sky | Source: Disney

Disney Plus is getting ready to introduce its Star brand in markets that include Canada, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand starting February 23, 2021. This brand is considered the overseas streaming equivalent to Hulu, and it'll bring the company's more mature, edgy content. It will be available here through the Disney Plus app.

Some of the titles that will be available at launch include Big Sky, Love, Victor, 24, Lost, Desperate Housewives, Prison Break, Black-ish, How I Met Your Mother, Atlanta, The X-Files, and the Die Hard franchise. Many of these titles have existing licensing arrangements on other services and platforms in some territories, so these will continue to appear there until their deal periods expire.

Source: Variety

Google might be working on a new Nest Hub that supports Soli gestures

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Google Nest Hub might be getting a refresh two years since its debut in 2018. The tech giant registered an "interactive device" at the Federal Communications Commission in the US. According to 9to5Google, the "interactive device" classification is used by Google for other smart devices like the original Nest Hub, Nest Mini, Nest Audio, etc. So, we're assuming a new Nest Hub is on its way. It'll have a screen, Bluetooth support, Wi-Fi connectivity, Zigbee support, and, more importantly, Google's Soli radar gesture technology.

The Zigbee smart home networking standard can help integrate this new device with your other smart home devices. And Soli might introduce gesture support. The FCC filing notes that it uses the same broader 58-63.5GHz range of frequencies as the Pixel 4, which could suggest it will use more precise gestures than the Nest Thermostat that uses Soli for motion detection.

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Leak reveals the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra's case for the S Pen

We already know that the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S21 series will support the S Pen. Unlike the Note series, the S Pen included with the Galaxy S21 will be an add-on instead of a native feature. It won't slot into the phone like with the Note. And so, it requires a separate case for it. Samsung has prepared for that, at least according to these leaked accessories for the Galaxy S21 Ultra. 

The S Pen will reportedly cost €40 (around CA$63), which is the same price as the stylus for the Note 20 model. Or it can be purchased as a bundle with select cases. The leak didn't specify how much the bundle will cost. But you might want to spring for one as the case will be instrumental for charging the stylus.

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Roku is reportedly in talks to buy Quibi's content catalogue

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Short-form streaming site Quibi met its quick demise in 2020. But it doesn't mean its content might be lost forever. The Wall Street Journal reports that Roku is in discussions with Quibi to buy its content library. Roku is known for its streaming devices that stream content from your library or third-party services like Netflix. But it doesn't make its own media. If this acquisition pushes through, Roku will acquire a slate of original programming that it can offer to consumers looking to buy its hardware. There are no details on Quibi's potential selling price.

Quibi launched earlier in 2020 and was shut down just after six months. It was founded by former Disney chairman Jeffrey Katzenberg and headed by HP's ex-CEO Meg Whitman. The company managed to raise US$2 billion before it launched. 

Source: Engadget