Disney CEO Bob Iger made the announcement in a recent earnings call, Engadget reports.
While we will continue to offer Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ as standalone options, , Bob Iger, Disney CEO, via earnings call.
... this is a logical progression of our [direct-to-consumer] offerings that will provide greater opportunities for advertisers while giving bundle subscribers access to more robust and streamlined content, , Bob Iger, Disney CEO, via earnings call.
... resulting in greater audience engagement and ultimately leading to a more unified streaming experience, Bob Iger, Disney CEO, via earnings call.
The "one-app experience" is
expected to launch by late 2023.
Iger also revealed that Disney+
will be raising its prices again.
Currently, the tier without ads costs $10.99 a month, and the ad-supported plan is $7.99 a month.
The changes come as Disney reported a $659 million loss for its streaming service in the first quarter.
It also lost 4 million subscribers in Q1 2023 after losing 2.4 million subscribers in Q4 2022
Barry Keoghan and Sabrina Carpenter took their budding romance to the Happiest Place on Earth -- hitting up Disneyland's sister park, where the cool kids go... TMZ.com
Disney to Ban Visitors , Who Lie About Disabilities.
The Walt Disney Company says that there has
been an uptick in fraudulent disability claims at
its parks from people attempting to gain Disability Access Services (DAS), 'New York Post' reports. .
On April 15, the company said that anyone found to have lied about a disability to obtain these services will be banned from Disney parks permanently. .
If it is determined that any of the
statements a Guest made in the
process of obtaining DAS are not true,
the Guest will be permanently barred
from entering the Walt Disney World
Resort and the Disneyland Resort, The Walt Disney Company, via statement.
Any previously purchased Annual
Passes, Magic Key passes, tickets and
other park products and services...
will be forfeited and not refunded, The Walt Disney Company, via statement.
DAS allows people with disabilities
to skip waiting in lines.
The company's website previously indicated
that the service was for “guests who have
difficulty tolerating extended waits in a
conventional queue environment due to a disability.”.
The website has since been updated to read, , “DAS is intended to accommodate a small
percentage of Guests who, due to a developmental disability like autism or similar, are unable to wait in a conventional queue for an extended period or time.”.
At Walt Disney World, “in-person registration will no longer be available at theme park Guest Relations locations starting May 20, 2024,” Disney said.
Instead, DAS registrations will
take place via virtual video chat. .
However, at Disneyland, guests can
apply for DAS via either virtual chat or an
"accessibility services" window beginning June 18. .
Anyone who currently has DAS will be required to re-apply, 'New York Post' reports.
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‘Let It Be’ Beatles Documentary , Heads to Disney+.
On April 16, Disney+ announced that a remastered version of Michael Lindsay-Hogg's 1970 documentary will stream on its platform beginning May 8, The Verge reports. .
On April 16, Disney+ announced that a remastered version of Michael Lindsay-Hogg's 1970 documentary will stream on its platform beginning May 8, The Verge reports. .
The film chronicles the Fab Four recording their album, 'Let It Be,' before breaking up soon after. .
Lindsay-Hogg said that when the band split,
it "very much darkened the perception of
the film" when it was originally released.
But when he saw Peter Jackson's work on
'The Beatles: Get Back,' he was motivated
to allow the re-release of his own film. .
Jackson's Park Road Post Production will remaster original footage for 'Let It Be' as well. .
AI tools will be used to remaster audio.
Jackson said that he is "absolutely thrilled" about the new project and considers 'Let It Be' and 'Get Back' to be "one epic story, finally completed after five decades.".
The two projects support
and enhance each other, Peter Jackson, via statement.
'Let It Be' is the climax of
'Get Back,' while 'Get Back' provides
a vital missing context for 'Let It Be.' , Peter Jackson, via statement.
'Let It Be' is the climax of
'Get Back,' while 'Get Back' provides
a vital missing context for 'Let It Be.' , Peter Jackson, via statement.
Michael Lindsay-Hogg was unfailingly
helpful and gracious while I made
'Get Back' and it’s only right that
his original movie has the last
word...looking and sounding
far better than it did in 1970, Peter Jackson, via statement
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Disney has announced it is making changes to its policy that helps guests with disabilities avoid queuing after people who do not meet the criteria have been.. Sky News
Disney has officially set its release date for 'Toy Story 5.' Woody and Buzz are ready to grace your screens again as Pixar's 'Toy Story 5' is set to hit theaters June 19, 2026. Elsewhere on Disney's release calendar, the studio also pushing Dwayne Johnson's live-action remake of 'Moana' by a year to July 10, 2026 (it was previously slated for from June 27, 2025). The studio also confirmed that the 'Star Wars' feature 'The Mandalorian & Grogu' will bow on May 22, 2026.
Credit: The Hollywood Reporter Duration: 01:26Published
Bob Iger is pushing back on the idea that there's superhero fatigue. The Disney CEO was interviewed at a Morgan Stanley conference in San Francisco on Tuesday, where he was pressed about what he is doing to turn the film business around. The executive noted that they're doing a lot and even quietly cancelled certain projects. "...You got to make those tough calls. We've actually made those tough calls. We've not been that public about it, but we've killed a few projects already that we just didn't feel were strong enough."
Credit: The Hollywood Reporter Duration: 01:32Published
Apple Sends iPhone Users in 92 Countries , a Spyware Attack Warning.
The message was sent on
April 10, Engadget reports. .
Apple detected that you are being targeted
by a mercenary spyware attack that is trying
to remotely compromise the iPhone
associated with your Apple ID -xxx-, Apple's warning, via Engadget.
This attack is likely targeting
you specifically because of
who you are or what you do. , Apple's warning, via Engadget.
Although it's never possible to achieve
absolute certainty when detecting such
attacks, Apple has high confidence in
this warning — please take it seriously, Apple's warning, via Engadget.
Internal information and investigations are used by the tech giant to pinpoint attacks. .
However, Apple couldn't provide any more information about the mercenary spyware attacks because it might "help attackers avoid future detection," Engadget reports. .
Apple has sent this type of message
to customers in the past.
Since 2021, people in over 150 countries
have gotten similar warnings.
Last October, journalists and politicians located in India were among those
who received such a message
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All iOS Users Can Now , Log In to X With a Passkey.
While U.S. iOS users were given the option
to use passkeys back in January, .
global iOS users are now able to do the
same on the social media platform.
The login alternative is considered to be
safer than passwords, Engadget reports.
That's because passkeys aren't susceptible
to phishing and other schemes.
In order to use passkeys on X, open the
iOS app, click "Your account," and then
go to "Settings and privacy.".
Next, navigate to "Security and account access"
and then "Additional password protection.".
Passkeys can be found under
"Additional password protection.".
It is not clear if X intends to make the same option available for Android users, Engadget reports.
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LinkedIn Is Developing , In-App Games.
Networking is about to become more entertaining, Engadget reports. .
The jobs-focused social media platform will soon offer its users puzzle-based games.
The jobs-focused social media platform will soon offer its users puzzle-based games.
Nima Owji, an app researcher, posted screenshots of some of the upcoming games.
LinkedIn also confirmed the development
of the games to TechCrunch.
We’re playing with adding puzzle-based
games within the LinkedIn experience to
unlock a bit of fun, deepen relationships,
and hopefully spark the opportunity
for conversations. Stay tuned for more!, LinkedIn spokesperson, to TechCrunch.
Upcoming titles include
'Queens,' 'Inference' and 'Crossclimb.'.
Companies will reportedly be ranked in the games based on how their employees score.
A release date has yet to be announced.
It's also not clear whether only
paid subscribers will have access to the
games or if free users can play as well. .
It's also not clear whether only
paid subscribers will have access to the
games or if free users can play as well.
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NVIDIA Sued , Over AI Copyright Infringement.
Authors have sued NVIDIA over NeMo, the company's AI language model that helps to create and train chatbots, Engadget reports.
Authors have sued NVIDIA over NeMo, the company's AI language model that helps to create and train chatbots, Engadget reports.
According to authors Abdi Nazemian,
Brian Keene and Stewart O'Nan, their
books were illegally used to train the AI.
They are seeking a jury trial and want NIVIDIA to pay damages and destroy the dataset that powers NeMo's large language models.
According to the authors, the Books3
dataset copied Bibliotek, a shadow library containing 196,640 pirated books.
In sum, NVIDIA has admitted
training its NeMo Megatron models
on a copy of The Pile dataset. , Via lawsuit against NVIDIA.
Therefore, NVIDIA necessarily also
trained its NeMo Megatron models
on a copy of Books3, because
Books3 is part of The Pile. , Via lawsuit against NVIDIA.
Certain books written by Plaintiffs
are part of Books3— including
the Infringed Works—, Via lawsuit against NVIDIA.
... and thus NVIDIA necessarily trained
its NeMo Megatron models on one or
more copies of the Infringed Works,
thereby directly infringing the
copyrights of the Plaintiffs, Via lawsuit against NVIDIA.
NVIDIA responded to the suit, telling 'The Wall Street Journal,' "we respect the rights of all content creators and believe we created NeMo in full compliance with copyright law.".
OpenAI and Microsoft were hit
with a similar lawsuit last year.
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Google Announces Update , Aimed at Reducing SEO , Spam Search Results.
Engadget reports that Google plans to
tweak its search algorithm in an attempt
to weed out automated spam results.
According to the company, the changes will , "keep the lowest-quality
content out of search.".
Google noted that the engine will improve
how it can locate and eliminate AI-generated
content that has become harder to spot.
The company said that the new update will apply
what was learned in a 2022 algorithmic tune-up
aimed at reducing "unhelpful, unoriginal content.".
Google hopes the changes will drive more traffic toward , "helpful and high-quality sites.".
This update involves refining
some of our core ranking systems
to help us better understand if
webpages are unhelpful, have
a poor user experience or feel
like they were created for
search engines instead of people. , Elizabeth Tucker, Google product
management director, via Engadget.
This could include sites
created primarily to match
very specific search queries, Elizabeth Tucker, Google product
management director, via Engadget.
Engadget reports that Google appears to be targeting
AI-generated SEO spam, which includes the growing
problem of sites using AI to generate worthless content.
Today, scaled content creation
methods are more sophisticated,
and whether content is created
purely through automation
isn’t always as clear, Elizabeth Tucker, Google product
management director, via Engadget.
Google says the changes,
which go into effect on May 5, .
"will allow us to take action on more types of
content with little to no value created at scale,
like pages that pretend to have answers to popular
searches but fail to deliver helpful content."
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Eyeballs all across the nation continue to flock toward Caitlin Clark ... Monday night's WNBA Draft -- which the former Iowa superstar headlined -- was just.. TMZ.com
Caitlin Clark Selected No. 1 Overall , by Indiana Fever in 2024 WNBA Draft.
The WNBA draft took place on April 15
at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.
The WNBA draft took place on April 15
at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.
Clark, the record-breaking NCAA star who's amplified interest in women's basketball, is headed to play with Indiana, ESPN reports. .
Clark, the record-breaking NCAA star who's amplified interest in women's basketball, is headed to play with Indiana, ESPN reports. .
I dreamed of this moment since I was in
second grade, and it's taken a lot of hard
work, a lot of ups and downs, but more
than anything, just trying to soak it in, Caitlin Clark, via statement.
The last time that the Fever won a
WNBA title was in 2012, ESPN reports. .
The last time that the Fever won a
WNBA title was in 2012, ESPN reports. .
But Clark is determined to help the team
"get back to championship habits." .
I'm very lucky to be going there
to an organization that really
loves women's basketball, Caitlin Clark, via statement.
You see it today, I think they had 17,000
tickets claimed to just watch the draft.
I think that shows the excitement in
Indianapolis. It's a great basketball city, Caitlin Clark, via statement.
For myself, I can't imagine a more perfect
fit, a better place for me to start my
professional career, an organization that
really just believes in women's basketball
and wants to do everything the right way. , Caitlin Clark, via statement.
So I couldn't be more
excited to get there, Caitlin Clark, via statement.
Other top WNBA picks include
Cameron Brink and Rickea Jackson,
who are headed to the Los Angeles Sparks.
Other top WNBA picks include
Cameron Brink and Rickea Jackson,
who are headed to the Los Angeles Sparks.
and Kamilla Cardoso and Angel Reese,
who will play with the Chicago Sky.
and Kamilla Cardoso and Angel Reese,
who will play with the Chicago Sky
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Ex-Ohtani Interpreter , Likely to Face Federal Charges, Sources Say.
NBC reports that Shohei Ohtani's former interpreter
may face federal charges in connection with a
gambling investigation into a California bookie. .
According to sources, Ohtani has
been assisting with the investigation.
The news from NBC follows a similar report by TMZ
that Ippei Mizuhara, the former Ohtani interpreter,
will be facing charges by federal authorities.
On March 21, Mizuhara was fired by the L.A. Dodgers
after attorneys representing Ohtani alleged
"massive theft" had occurred related to sports gambling.
On March 21, Mizuhara was fired by the L.A. Dodgers
after attorneys representing Ohtani alleged
"massive theft" had occurred related to sports gambling.
In response, Major League Baseball , opened an investigation. .
On March 25, Ohtani made his first public comments on
the matter, saying that he had been betrayed and lied to,
while denying any involvement in gambling.
I’m very saddened and
shocked that someone
who I trusted has done this, Shohei Ohtani, via NBC.
Ippei has been stealing
money from my account
and has told lies, Shohei Ohtani, via NBC.
NBC reports that Mizuhara is both Ohtani's
interpreter and long-time friend who has had
a constant presence beside the baseball phenom.
The scandal, involving over $4.5 million in wire transfers
from Ohtani's account, was brought to light
following reports by ESPN and the 'Los Angeles Times.'
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OJ Simpson , Dead at 76.
The football star and actor who was acquitted of murder charges in the '90s has died after battling prostate cancer, ESPN reports. .
His family took to X on April 10
to share the news of his death. .
On April 10th, our father,
Orenthal James Simpson,
succumbed to his battle with cancer. , O.J. Simpson's family, via X.
He was surrounded by his
children and grandchildren. , O.J. Simpson's family, via X.
During this time of transition, his family
asks that you please respect their
wishes for privacy and grace, O.J. Simpson's family, via X.
Simpson played in the NFL for 11 seasons, nine of which were with the Buffalo Bills.
But his football career was overshadowed by the murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown,
and her friend, Ronald Goldman, in 1994.
But his football career was overshadowed by the murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown,
and her friend, Ronald Goldman, in 1994.
Simpson, a murder suspect at the time, famously led L.A. police on a low-speed chase in a white Ford Bronco driven by Al Cowlings.
About 95 million people tuned
in to watch the televised chase.
About 95 million people tuned
in to watch the televised chase.
In 1995, Simpson was found not guilty of murder, but in 1997, he was found liable for the two deaths and was ordered to pay the victims' family members $33.5 million.
At the age of 61, Simpson was imprisoned
for armed robbery and other felonies. .
He served a nine-year sentence.
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Caitlin Clark , Has No Regrets , Following Loss
to South Carolina.
Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes lost 87-75
to the South Carolina Gamecocks in the national championship game on April 7.
Even though the Hawkeyes lost in the finals both
this year to South Carolina and last year to LSU, .
Iowa had only made it to the Final Four
one other time in 1993, ESPN reports. .
Iowa had only made it to the Final Four
one other time in 1993, ESPN reports. .
When I reflect back on my
[Iowa] career, I know I gave
it every single thing I had, Caitlin Clark, via statement.
Basically, everybody believed
there's no way Iowa was making
the Final Four once. But to do it
twice? That's pretty incredible, Caitlin Clark, via statement.
Clark also said that she has no regrets
about how her college career ended. .
Clark also said that she has no regrets
about how her college career ended. .
Whether it's the way the fans have
supported me, the way I've been able
to represent my state where I grew up,
my family being at every single game -- , Caitlin Clark, via statement.
... there's not a regret in my
mind of how things went, Caitlin Clark, via statement.
I'll be able to sleep every night
even though I never won a
national championship, Caitlin Clark, via statement.
Clark leaves Iowa as one of the
best players in NCAA history.
Clark leaves Iowa as one of the
best players in NCAA history.
She had 3,951 points, 1,144 assists and 990 rebounds throughout the course of her college career.
Clark has her eyes set on the WNBA next. She's expected to be the No. 1 draft pick by the Indiana Fever on April 15, ESPN reports. .
Clark has her eyes set on the WNBA next. She's expected to be the No. 1 draft pick by the Indiana Fever on April 15, ESPN reports.
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Interesting news breaking this past week with Disney looking to combine Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ by the end of the year, we break down how this potential new behemoth app will fare in the streaming..