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Entertainment 2.0 #713 – Google Home Speaker and Steam Machine Launch

This week, we are looking at massive pricing shocks hitting the home entertainment landscape. A global memory shortage has forced sudden price hikes, with Xbox consoles jumping up to $150 on August 1st and the Apple TV 4K quietly spiking by up to $100. We unpack what this means for your budget and whether you should scramble to buy your gear right now. On a brighter note, Google is completely killing off the Nest brand to introduce the brand-new $99 Gemini-powered Google Home speaker. Armed with a surprise Thread 1.4 upgrade out of the box, could this be the seamless smart home hub we’ve actually been waiting for? Finally, we dive into the luxury tier of PC gaming, sizing up Valve’s new $1,128 living room Steam Machine lottery and the newly released $1,699 MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ handheld. Are these high-end devices actually worth their sky-high entry fees? Listen to find out!

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 #713.

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

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About the author

Josh Pollard

Josh has been writing software since his parents brought home their first computer. His love for gadgets and technology eventually spurred a passion for home theater technology. After starting the DMZ, he received Microsoft’s MVP award for Windows Media Center. Even though the beloved home theater PC platform is all but dead he continues to tinker with consumer entertainment technology. He’s a life-long gamer and DIY smart home enthusiast. He co-hosts the Entertainment 2.0 podcast with Richard Gunther and the DMZ’s gaming podcast, Story Players, with Joe DeStazio.