Carrie Marshall

The BluHub is a 9-in-1 USB 3.2 Gen 2 dock that combines four USB-A ports, SD and microSD card readers, and a drive capable of reading and burning Blu-rays, DVDs, and CDs. Its Kickstarter campaign has raised about $214,411 against a $700 goal, helped by interest in consolidating multiple hubs and preserving access to physical media. Early backers can pledge $59, compared with a planned retail price of $129, with shipping expected in November 2026. The article notes uncertainties including the apparently 3D-printed enclosure, the undisclosed Blu-ray drive manufacturer, and the general risks of backing an unreleased crowdfunding product.

Apple code reportedly references a new Siri Remote, believed to be part of Apple’s 2026 product roadmap, but provides no details about its features. Suggested upgrades include a dedicated source/input button, a built-in speaker for Find My, and a customizable action button. The article explains that users can already repurpose the current remote’s mute button as a source button by teaching it the input command from a TV remote, although this sacrifices mute functionality. A new Apple TV and HomePod mini are expected in the fall.

Blockbuster-style movie browsing is returning in two forms across the United States. Free Blockbuster repurposes newspaper dispensers into community libraries where people can exchange VHS tapes, DVDs, and Blu-rays, while BingeBrowse creates a 3D virtual video store that organizes titles from services including Netflix, Disney+, and Prime Video. The revival reflects renewed nostalgia for browsing physical rental shelves, even as only one official Blockbuster store remains open in Bend, Oregon.

Dolby says standard Dolby Vision 2 is designed to bring improved HDR picture quality to more affordable televisions that previously lacked Dolby Vision because of licensing and hardware costs. Dolby Vision 2 Max will target premium TVs and is intended to replace the current high-end role of Dolby Vision. The standard version requires compatible processing hardware but is expected to cost less to license than the Max version. MediaTek’s Pentonic 800 currently supports the technology, while additional mainstream TV chips are in development. TCL, Hisense and Philips are among the brands expected to offer support, with broader adoption potentially becoming visible around CES 2027.

Dolby Laboratories says existing Dolby Vision movies and TV episodes can be upgraded to support most Dolby Vision 2 features through a semi-automated process using existing mastering metadata and machine learning. The approach could expand support across a library of roughly 33,000 titles without the prohibitive cost of remastering everything from scratch, while preserving compatibility with first-generation Dolby Vision displays. Authentic Motion and Precision Black will not be automated: the former requires careful creative control over motion processing, while the latter depends on knowledge of the mastering environment and reference display. Dolby intends to keep consumer labeling simple, using the Dolby Vision designation rather than separate feature-level or Dolby Vision 2 content labels.

Roku has added Fairground AI, a free, ad-supported channel showing AI-generated video around the clock, which Fairground Entertainment calls a milestone for AI Cinema. Supporters welcome the opportunity to upload and monetize generative-AI videos, while critics describe the programming as repetitive, incoherent and derivative. The launch may also create legal exposure if the underlying AI models were trained on copyrighted material, particularly after Suno lost a lawsuit concerning unauthorized training data.

Samsung is launching HDR10+ Advanced on Prime Video in August 2026, ahead of Dolby Vision 2, with support expected on Samsung's 2026 televisions. The format adds features including enhanced brightness, genre optimization, creator-controlled motion smoothing, gaming optimization, local tone mapping and improved color control. However, Samsung has not specified which TV models or Prime Video titles will support it. The launch could intensify a format war, with Samsung backing HDR10+ Advanced while Dolby Vision 2 gains support from Peacock, Hisense and TCL, and LG pursues its own system.

Disney+ has begun restoring 4K UHD streaming for Premium subscribers in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania and Sweden after removing 4K and HDR following a court ruling linked to video-streaming technology patents. HDR remains unavailable in those markets, and some devices may not yet support the restored 4K feature. Disney+ says it is working to restore HDR and expand device compatibility. Affected direct subscribers can request a partial refund or switch to a cheaper plan, while third-party subscribers must contact their billing provider.