Janko Roettgers
@jank0.bsky.social
Reporter, covering streaming, AR, VR etc. Writing a weekly newsletter at www.lowpass.cc.
I wrote a feature story about rogue streaming boxes for The Verge: www.theverge.com/streaming/87...
Everyone is stealing TV
Fed up with increasing subscription prices, viewers embrace rogue streaming boxes.
www.theverge.com
February 4, 2026 at 4:42 PM
I wrote a feature story about rogue streaming boxes for The Verge: www.theverge.com/streaming/87...
It's the end of an era. For context: Netflix used to do a lot of innovation on the PS3, because it was easier to test and tweak things than on some of the other early platforms. One example: The first Netflix TV client to support casting was on the PS3.
Related: www.lowpass.cc/p/casting-hi...
Related: www.lowpass.cc/p/casting-hi...
February 3, 2026 at 3:33 AM
It's the end of an era. For context: Netflix used to do a lot of innovation on the PS3, because it was easier to test and tweak things than on some of the other early platforms. One example: The first Netflix TV client to support casting was on the PS3.
Related: www.lowpass.cc/p/casting-hi...
Related: www.lowpass.cc/p/casting-hi...
New on Lowpass: Zuckerberg: All videos will be 3D worlds www.lowpass.cc/p/zuckerberg...
Zuckerberg: All videos will be 3D worlds
Just don't call it the metaverse: Meta's CEO says the company's VR investments will help create new mobile-first media formats.
www.lowpass.cc
January 30, 2026 at 4:51 PM
New on Lowpass: Zuckerberg: All videos will be 3D worlds www.lowpass.cc/p/zuckerberg...
Today in Lowpass: What Netflix's Warner Bros. deal could mean for TVs and remotes www.lowpass.cc/p/netflix-de...
What Netflix's Warner Bros. deal could mean for TVs and remotes
Smart TV makers have long been forced to jump through many hoops to carry the Netflix app. Will that change once Netflix gets its hands on HBO Max?
www.lowpass.cc
January 29, 2026 at 4:47 PM
Today in Lowpass: What Netflix's Warner Bros. deal could mean for TVs and remotes www.lowpass.cc/p/netflix-de...
If you're wondering why today's Lowpass newsletter ended a bit abruptly ... here's an explanation: sfba.social/@jank0/11594...
Janko Roettgers (@[email protected])
Okay, time for some inside baseball: One of the reasons independent journalists like me love newsletters is that they allow us to publish and directly interact with our audience without middlemen.
We...
sfba.social
January 22, 2026 at 6:23 PM
If you're wondering why today's Lowpass newsletter ended a bit abruptly ... here's an explanation: sfba.social/@jank0/11594...
When Telly launched in 2023, execs boasted that they would give away 500,000 TVs before the end of the year. In Q3 of 2025, the real number of Telly TVs in people's homes was just 35,000 😲 www.lowpass.cc/p/telly-3500...
Scoop: Telly had only 35,000 TVs in people’s homes last fall
Free TV startup Telly remains far behind schedule, according to internal data. The startup also struggled with TVs breaking during shipping.
www.lowpass.cc
January 22, 2026 at 5:16 PM
When Telly launched in 2023, execs boasted that they would give away 500,000 TVs before the end of the year. In Q3 of 2025, the real number of Telly TVs in people's homes was just 35,000 😲 www.lowpass.cc/p/telly-3500...
Scoop: Telly had only 35,000 TVs in people’s homes last fall www.lowpass.cc/p/telly-3500...
Scoop: Telly had only 35,000 TVs in people’s homes last fall
Free TV startup Telly remains far behind schedule, according to internal data. The startup also struggled with TVs breaking during shipping.
www.lowpass.cc
January 22, 2026 at 5:02 PM
Scoop: Telly had only 35,000 TVs in people’s homes last fall www.lowpass.cc/p/telly-3500...
I loved this tidbit about the live voting feature of Netflix's Star Search reboot. www.fastcompany.com/91477533/how...
January 21, 2026 at 5:16 AM
I loved this tidbit about the live voting feature of Netflix's Star Search reboot. www.fastcompany.com/91477533/how...
My latest for Fast Company: How Netflix brought interactive voting to ‘Star Search’ www.fastcompany.com/91477533/how...
How Netflix brought interactive voting to 'Star Search'
Netflix's 'Star Search' reboot will let viewers vote with their remote controls. The company wants to repurpose the tech for other live events in the future.
www.fastcompany.com
January 20, 2026 at 9:51 PM
My latest for Fast Company: How Netflix brought interactive voting to ‘Star Search’ www.fastcompany.com/91477533/how...
Also on Lowpass today: JWX acquires AI video studio Augie www.lowpass.cc/p/jwx-aug-x-...
JWX acquires AI video studio Augie
Founder predicts "a tough year for single-function startups"
www.lowpass.cc
January 15, 2026 at 5:52 PM
Also on Lowpass today: JWX acquires AI video studio Augie www.lowpass.cc/p/jwx-aug-x-...
Today in Lowpass: Why Netflix abandoned casting after 15 years, and why others think that there's still demand for this tech www.lowpass.cc/p/casting-hi...
Casting is dead. Long live casting!
Also: AI video app Augie gets acquired
www.lowpass.cc
January 15, 2026 at 4:35 PM
Today in Lowpass: Why Netflix abandoned casting after 15 years, and why others think that there's still demand for this tech www.lowpass.cc/p/casting-hi...
My latest, from CES: TV makers are taking AI too far www.lowpass.cc/p/ces-2026-t...
TV makers are taking AI too far
The latest smart TV news straight from CES in Las Vegas
www.lowpass.cc
January 8, 2026 at 4:37 PM
My latest, from CES: TV makers are taking AI too far www.lowpass.cc/p/ces-2026-t...
En route to CES ...
January 6, 2026 at 12:38 AM
En route to CES ...
New in Lowpass: The Texas AG’s smart TV lawsuits are a hot mess
Five lawsuits allege spying by smart TV manufacturers. Unfortunately, they're full of hyperbole and sloppy mistakes. www.lowpass.cc/p/texas-ag-k...
Five lawsuits allege spying by smart TV manufacturers. Unfortunately, they're full of hyperbole and sloppy mistakes. www.lowpass.cc/p/texas-ag-k...
The Texas AG’s smart TV lawsuits are a hot mess
No, China doesn't have your Hulu password
www.lowpass.cc
December 19, 2025 at 5:01 PM
New in Lowpass: The Texas AG’s smart TV lawsuits are a hot mess
Five lawsuits allege spying by smart TV manufacturers. Unfortunately, they're full of hyperbole and sloppy mistakes. www.lowpass.cc/p/texas-ag-k...
Five lawsuits allege spying by smart TV manufacturers. Unfortunately, they're full of hyperbole and sloppy mistakes. www.lowpass.cc/p/texas-ag-k...
Today in Lowpass: How Atlas Obscura plans to embrace the 3D web www.lowpass.cc/p/atlas-obsc...
How Atlas Obscura plans to embrace the 3D web
Also: Texas sues five TV makers
www.lowpass.cc
December 18, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Today in Lowpass: How Atlas Obscura plans to embrace the 3D web www.lowpass.cc/p/atlas-obsc...
A pre-CES scoop: Hisense is about to rebrand its smart TV OS www.lowpass.cc/p/hisense-vi...
Scoop: Hisense smart TV OS to rebrand as ‘Home OS’
Can you say auf VIDAA-sehen?
www.lowpass.cc
December 5, 2025 at 4:55 PM
A pre-CES scoop: Hisense is about to rebrand its smart TV OS www.lowpass.cc/p/hisense-vi...
Spotify recently told potential job applicants that it wants to evolve "from an audio-first platform to also become a world-class video service."
Today in Lowpass: the latest on Spotify's video efforts www.lowpass.cc/p/spotify-vi...
Today in Lowpass: the latest on Spotify's video efforts www.lowpass.cc/p/spotify-vi...
Spotify’s next big bet: becoming a video service
Spotify wants to evolve "from an audio-first platform to ... a world-class video service." Music videos, launching soon, are the next step.
www.lowpass.cc
December 4, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Spotify recently told potential job applicants that it wants to evolve "from an audio-first platform to also become a world-class video service."
Today in Lowpass: the latest on Spotify's video efforts www.lowpass.cc/p/spotify-vi...
Today in Lowpass: the latest on Spotify's video efforts www.lowpass.cc/p/spotify-vi...
This one turned out to be a lot more popular than I thought it would be 👀
You can now buy paid Lowpass subscriptions as gifts (for others, or yourself), including a lifetime subscription for just $150:
www.lowpass.cc/p/give-the-g...
You can now buy paid Lowpass subscriptions as gifts (for others, or yourself), including a lifetime subscription for just $150:
www.lowpass.cc/p/give-the-g...
Give the gift of independent tech journalism this year
Black Friday deals inside
www.lowpass.cc
December 1, 2025 at 6:30 PM
This one turned out to be a lot more popular than I thought it would be 👀
You can now buy paid Lowpass subscriptions as gifts (for others, or yourself), including a lifetime subscription for just $150:
www.lowpass.cc/p/give-the-g...
You can now buy paid Lowpass subscriptions as gifts (for others, or yourself), including a lifetime subscription for just $150:
www.lowpass.cc/p/give-the-g...
Wow, Nex Playground is currently the #1 selling toy and game on Amazon. Here's my recent story about TV cameras, featuring some quotes from Nex CEO David Lee www.lowpass.cc/p/tv-cameras...
Where have all the TV cameras gone?
Video calls and computer vision-powered games were supposed to make smart TVs more fun. Then the reality of hardware margins set it.
www.lowpass.cc
November 24, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Wow, Nex Playground is currently the #1 selling toy and game on Amazon. Here's my recent story about TV cameras, featuring some quotes from Nex CEO David Lee www.lowpass.cc/p/tv-cameras...
Reposted by Janko Roettgers
Got a scoopy AR/AI story in Lowpass today:
A secretive new startup called Vonder is looking to take on Meta with its own AI glasses. Turns out it's really another AR company in disguise. www.lowpass.cc/p/viture-von...
A secretive new startup called Vonder is looking to take on Meta with its own AI glasses. Turns out it's really another AR company in disguise. www.lowpass.cc/p/viture-von...
Scoop: Here comes another Ray-Ban competitor
A new startup called Vonder is looking to take on Meta with its own AI glasses. Turns out it's really another AR company in disguise.
www.lowpass.cc
November 20, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Got a scoopy AR/AI story in Lowpass today:
A secretive new startup called Vonder is looking to take on Meta with its own AI glasses. Turns out it's really another AR company in disguise. www.lowpass.cc/p/viture-von...
A secretive new startup called Vonder is looking to take on Meta with its own AI glasses. Turns out it's really another AR company in disguise. www.lowpass.cc/p/viture-von...
Got a scoopy AR/AI story in Lowpass today:
A secretive new startup called Vonder is looking to take on Meta with its own AI glasses. Turns out it's really another AR company in disguise. www.lowpass.cc/p/viture-von...
A secretive new startup called Vonder is looking to take on Meta with its own AI glasses. Turns out it's really another AR company in disguise. www.lowpass.cc/p/viture-von...
Scoop: Here comes another Ray-Ban competitor
A new startup called Vonder is looking to take on Meta with its own AI glasses. Turns out it's really another AR company in disguise.
www.lowpass.cc
November 20, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Got a scoopy AR/AI story in Lowpass today:
A secretive new startup called Vonder is looking to take on Meta with its own AI glasses. Turns out it's really another AR company in disguise. www.lowpass.cc/p/viture-von...
A secretive new startup called Vonder is looking to take on Meta with its own AI glasses. Turns out it's really another AR company in disguise. www.lowpass.cc/p/viture-von...
My latest for Fast Company: Why Amazon is betting on a new TV OS www.fastcompany.com/91435891/ama...
Why Amazon is betting on a new TV OS
Vega, a new operating system for Amazon’s streaming sticks has led to pushback from consumers. The e-commerce giant seems undeterred.
www.fastcompany.com
November 17, 2025 at 4:42 PM
My latest for Fast Company: Why Amazon is betting on a new TV OS www.fastcompany.com/91435891/ama...
Also in Lowpass today: Netflix just copied HQ Trivia www.lowpass.cc/p/tv-cameras...
November 13, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Also in Lowpass today: Netflix just copied HQ Trivia www.lowpass.cc/p/tv-cameras...
Today in Lowpass: Where have all the TV cameras gone? www.lowpass.cc/p/tv-cameras...
Where have all the TV cameras gone?
Video calls and computer vision-powered games were supposed to make smart TVs more fun. Then the reality of hardware margins set it.
www.lowpass.cc
November 13, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Today in Lowpass: Where have all the TV cameras gone? www.lowpass.cc/p/tv-cameras...