Janko Roettgers
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San Francisco, United States
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Intersection of entertainment and technology including streaming, smart TVs and speakers, AR / VR, the metaverse.
Author of the twice-weekly Lowpass newsletter. Subscribe to it for updates, not posting here. Not reading my DMs either. Ping me elsewhere!
Articles by Janko Roettgers
Hopin’s founder wants to reinvent the TV.
Posted Oct 15, 2026 at 3:57 PM UTC Hopin’s founder wants to reinvent the TV. Johnny Boufarhat, the founder of the virtual events startup Hopin, is back with a stealth startup developing a voice-centric operating system for TV streaming devices. Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates. Janko Roettgers Streaming
Roku sold to Fox because its CEO wanted to leave.
Posted Oct 1, 2026 at 5:44 PM UTC Roku sold to Fox because its CEO wanted to leave. Roku CEO Anthony Wood wanted to follow Netflix’s playbook for an extended leadership transition. His board had other ideas. Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates. Janko Roettgers Streaming
VR Glasses are Meta’s big bet on the future of TV
Hi there! My name is Janko Roettgers, and this is Lowpass. This week: Meta’s new VR Glasses, and YouTube’s custom feeds. “This display was built for cinema.” When Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth demonstrated the company’s new VR Glasses at its Connect conference yesterday afternoon, you might have thought he was talking about a new smart TV. “This is the first-ever IMAX Enhanced certified VR device,” Bosworth told the audience right out of the gate while donning a pair of the goggles himself.
YouTube entra na onda das micronovelas
Corações partidos, hormônios à flor da pele e ganchos irresistíveis: as micronovelas, que combinam episódios curtos e fáceis de consumir, otimizados para a visualização vertical, com narrativas no estilo das telenovelas, conquistaram a internet nos últimos anos. Agora, o YouTube quer entrar nessa tendência.
YouTube is getting in on the microdrama craze
Heartbreak, hormones and irresistible cliffhangers: Microdramas, which combine short, snackable episodes optimized for vertical viewing with telenovela-style storytelling, have taken the internet by storm in recent years. Now, YouTube wants in on the trend. The Google-owned video service is starting to let creators organize their vertical clips into microdrama-like series, executives announced at the annual Made On YouTube event Wednesday morning.
Nobody believed in it. Now this San Francisco streamer is bigger than HBO Max Original
Published Sep. 23, 2026at6:00am When Tubi’s first CEO, Farhad Massoudi, decided to enter the streaming wars in 2014, he had long odds and little financing. “No one was going to license me any content, because I didn’t have any money,” he said. Undeterred, he built Tubi’s catalog with whatever he could get his hands on for cheap: B-movies, trashy horror flicks, and long-canceled TV shows collecting dust in studio archives. “No recognizable movies, few recognizable actors,” Massoudi quipped.
The curious case of Snap’s new Specs
Yesterday, Snap held an encore release event for its new Specs AR glasses in Los Angeles. The device was first announced this summer, and Snap CEO Evan Spiegel used much of yesterday’s event to show what people will actually be able to do with the company’s AR glasses, which will cost $2195 when they go on sale this fall.
Plex co-founder Elan Feingold is back with a new music app.
Posted Sep 17, 2026 at 5:30 PM UTC Plex co-founder Elan Feingold is back with a new music app. Caldera Music brings your Plex music libraries and Winamp-style visuals to Apple TVs and Google TVs. Feingold is also building connected light fixtures and other weird and interesting hardware. Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates. Janko Roettgers Entertainment Music News Tech
I turned to AI when my doctor couldn’t fix my back pain. It actually helped
A few months ago, I injured my back, resulting in debilitating nighttime pain. To make matters worse, the pain meds my doctor prescribed weren’t working, and I hadn’t gotten a good night’s rest for weeks. Desperate and sleep-deprived, I decided it was time for a Hail Mary, and asked AI for help. Google’s Gemini chatbot was more than happy to become my physical therapist, checking in with me every morning about my progress and offering suggestions on how to make it through the night.
I turned to AI when my doctor couldn’t fix my back pain. It actually helped
0:29 16 hours ago Nepal: Rescue efforts continue for people trapped in hydropower tunnel in Nepal amid floods. StringersHub • 16h RESTRICTION: USERS MUST CREDIT “NEPALI ARMY” HANDOUT — EDITORIAL USE ONLY — SHOTLIST: RASUWA, NEPAL (AUG. 27, 2026) (NEPALI ARMY - RESTRICTED) 1. MILITARY TEAM RAPPELLING FROM HELICOPTER 2. SOLDIERS CRAWLING THROUGH MUD TOWARD TUNNEL 3. PEOPLE INSIDE TUNNELRASUWA, NEPAL - AUG.
You may be able to buy new Amazon and Roku streamers soon.
Posted Aug 20, 2026 at 6:07 PM UTC You may be able to buy new Amazon and Roku streamers soon. Remote controls for the companies’ still-unannounced streaming devices already passed through the FCC, and offer a few clues about what’s to come. Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates. Janko Roettgers Streaming
One startup's quest to change streaming for deaf people
Hi there! My name is Janko Roettgers, and this is a special edition of Lowpass, coming to you a couple days early. Next week, everything will be back to normal .... Some tech founders have rich parents. Others max out their credit cards or spend down their retirement accounts to make it through those first crucial months before they can actually raise any finding.
Ads on your TV home screen?
Monet is just one of a number of home screen replacements (or launchers, as they’re called among Android enthusiasts) that takes cues from Apple TV to bring a new sense of minimalism to Google’s streaming platform. Most of these launchers do away with the endless rows of content recommendations, the big hero images that try to get you hooked on the latest TV shows, and the increasing amount of ads and sponsored content.
The home screen rebellion
Hi there! My name is Janko Roettgers, and this is Lowpass. This week: Users and developers are fighting back against bloated smart TV UIs, and the backlash against AI glasses is growing. A quick note: Next week’s newsletter will likely come to you a bit earlier in the week than usual. We’ll be back to the regular schedule the week after, and then take off the first week of August for a much-needed vacation.
10 años después, Pokémon Go sigue siendo tan popular como siempre
Hace 10 años, esta misma semana, un grupo de exingenieros de Google lanzó un juego para móviles con una premisa inusual: en lugar de mantener a los jugadores pegados a la pantalla de sus teléfonos, Pokémon Go convirtió el mundo entero en un patio de juegos superponiendo la jugabilidad a mapas y ubicaciones del mundo real, y recompensando a quienes se esforzaban por explorar más.
10 years later, ‘Pokémon Go’ is as popular as ever Original
Ten years ago this week, a group of former Google engineers launched a mobile game with an unusual premise: Instead of keeping players glued to their phone screens, Pokémon Go turned the entire world into a playground by overlaying gameplay on real-world maps and locations, and rewarding people who walk the extra mile. “Our vision [was to] inspire people to explore the world together by making Pokémon feel real in the real world,” says Ed Wu, who has been part of the Pokémon Go team from day one.
10 years later, ‘Pokémon Go’ is as popular as ever
'All options are on the table, considering the drastic measure already put in place' — Could Microsoft sell Xbox? Analysts say it's too expensive for that, but that it could be dismantled piece by piece As Xbox goes through its biggest restructuring yet, and the seemingly never-ending stream of bad news for those involved continues, the future of the …
AI microdramas are here
Hi there! My name is Janko Roettgers, and this is Lowpass. This week: AI is coming for microdramas. Have you ever watched a microdrama, perhaps while scrolling through your TikTok feed, and thought: This all looks kind of fake? Turns out you might be onto something – and it’s not just the constant cliffhangers, the overly dramatic expressions and the barely believable plot twists.
BitTorrent’s disastrous, legendary, and controversial story
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BitTorrent’s disastrous, legendary, and controversial story
Twenty-five years ago today, a young, little-known programmer by the name of Bram Cohen fired off a short message to a mailing list for peer-to-peer enthusiasts. “My new app, BitTorrent, is now in working order, check it out here,” Cohen wrote, followed by a link to his personal website. “What’s BitTorrent, Bram?” the founder of the list asked in response. Cohen never bothered to reply. The world would find out soon enough.
Libby will filter out AI content, kind of
Tech News Tube is a real time news feed of the latest technology news headlines.Follow all of the top tech sites in one place, on the web or your mobile device.
Libby will filter out AI content, kind of
This is Lowpass by Janko Roettgers, a newsletter on the ever-evolving intersection of tech and entertainment, syndicated just for The Verge subscribers once a week. “AI is the new frontier for us,” says Marc DeBevoise, who took over as the new CEO of OverDrive last week. OverDrive is best known for the ebook lending app Libby that is available through tens of thousands of public libraries.
How the World Cup became a US streaming success story Original
This is Lowpass by Janko Roettgers, a newsletter on the ever-evolving intersection of tech and entertainment, syndicated just for The Verge subscribers once a week. The 2026 World Cup is breaking streaming records around the world: Brazil’s CazéTV YouTube livestream of that country’s opening game against Morocco surpassed 12 million concurrent viewers, a new milestone for YouTube.
How the World Cup became a US streaming success story
Tech News Tube is a real time news feed of the latest technology news headlines.Follow all of the top tech sites in one place, on the web or your mobile device.
No more lightbulbs, much more sports: Five predictions for Roku’s future
Tech News Tube is a real time news feed of the latest technology news headlines.Follow all of the top tech sites in one place, on the web or your mobile device.
No more lightbulbs, much more sports: Five predictions for Roku’s future
This is Lowpass by Janko Roettgers, a newsletter on the ever-evolving intersection of tech and entertainment, syndicated just for The Verge subscribers once a week. When Fox announced its acquisition of Roku earlier this week, executives of both companies were quick to promise that not much would change in the near future. Sure, getting its hands on Roku will help Fox become a major force in streaming, and surpass the viewership of Netflix in the United States when you include Fox’s TV networks.
No more lightbulbs, much more sports: Five predictions for Roku’s future
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Is Apple TV the new HBO?
This is Lowpass by Janko Roettgers, a newsletter on the ever-evolving intersection of tech and entertainment, syndicated just for The Verge subscribers once a week. Severance. Pachinko. Silo. Ted Lasso. Over the past couple of years, a number of Apple TV shows have become hits with audiences and critics alike. And yet, compared to the size of other subscription services, Apple TV still barely makes a dent.
Is Apple TV the new HBO?
Tech News Tube is a real time news feed of the latest technology news headlines.Follow all of the top tech sites in one place, on the web or your mobile device.
Is Apple TV the new HBO?
Unlike competitors like Netflix, Apple TV emphasizes tentpole titles over large catalogs. Unlike competitors like Netflix, Apple TV emphasizes tentpole titles over large catalogs. by Janko Roettgers Jun 11, 2026, 3:30 PM UTC Image: Apple Janko Roettgers is a tech reporter and author of the Lowpass newsletter. This is Lowpass by Janko Roettgers, a newsletter on the ever-evolving intersection of tech and entertainment, syndicated just for The Verge subscribers once a week. Severance. Pachinko. Silo.
Is Apple TV the new HBO?
8 hours ago Apple's annual WWDC developers conference is drawing to a close, but there is still a lot to look forward to in the second half of the year. Apple is expected to release at least 15 more products later this year. Now that the more intelligent and personal version of Siri has finally arrived in beta, …
Is Apple TV the new HBO?
Hi there! My name is Janko Roettgers, and this is Lowpass. This week: Why Apple TV is different. Severance. Pachinko. Silo. Ted Lasso. Over the past couple of years, a number of Apple TV shows have become hits with audiences and critics alike. And yet, compared to the size of other subscription services, Apple TV still barely makes a dent.
Animation artists face a new dilemma: AI or nay?
Hi there! My name is Janko Roettgers, and this is Lowpass. This week: AI in animation, and Supernatural’s future. A quick favor: I’m about to do some list cleaning in the coming weeks to weed out accounts that haven’t been actively reading this newsletter. Unfortunately, open rates alone aren’t a good indicator for this anymore. Can you do me a quick favor and click on a link (really, any link) in this week’s issue to let me know you’re still here?
Not every animator is ready to give up on AI.
Posted Jun 4, 2026 at 4:59 PM UTC J Janko Roettgers Not every animator is ready to give up on AI. The Book of Life director Jorge Gutierrez cancelled an AI animation collaboration with Amazon last week following massive backlash. A new project by two Pixar alums, premiering at Tribeca Film Festival this weekend, shows that not every use of the tech is about fast, cheap slop. Animation artists face a new dilemma: AI or nay?
Meta may announce new AI glasses soon.
Posted May 28, 2026 at 4:00 PM UTC J Janko Roettgers Meta may announce new AI glasses soon. New FCC filings hint at the imminent launch of four new devices, which appear to magnetically dock to a mysterious “debug tool.” Scoop: Meta has more AI glasses coming, with mysterious docking support [Lowpass] Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates. Janko Roettgers
The secret to Roku’s success: not being cool
Roku’s new homescreen makes a lot of sense for a company that has succeeded by building simple products for late adopters. Roku’s new homescreen makes a lot of sense for a company that has succeeded by building simple products for late adopters. by Janko Roettgers May 28, 2026, 3:30 PM UTC Image: Roku Janko Roettgers is a tech reporter and author of the Lowpass newsletter.
The secret to Roku’s success: not being cool
Tech News Tube is a real time news feed of the latest technology news headlines.Follow all of the top tech sites in one place, on the web or your mobile device.
The secret to Roku’s success: not being cool
Hi there! My name is Janko Roettgers, and this is Lowpass. This week: Roku’s new home screen, and Meta’s upcoming AI glasses. Roughly 10 years ago, someone told me that Roku was making “cheap hardware to sell to Walmart customers in flyover states.” The remark was meant to be an insult, belittling a company that seemed to care more about hardware profit margins than design and innovation. Still, I’ve been thinking about it a lot over the years.
AI video is moving beyond clip slop
Tech News Tube is a real time news feed of the latest technology news headlines.Follow all of the top tech sites in one place, on the web or your mobile device.
AI video is moving beyond clip slop
AI companies don’t just want Hollywood using AI for video, but for everything. AI companies don’t just want Hollywood using AI for video, but for everything. by Janko Roettgers May 21, 2026, 3:30 PM UTC A still from Innovative Dreams, a new production company by Luma and Wonder Project Image: Luma/X Janko Roettgers is a tech reporter and author of the Lowpass newsletter.
Inside Google’s quest to build AI products for creatives
When Google’s Nano Banana image-generation tool first appeared in the wild in summer 2025, it quickly captured the internet’s attention for its ability to edit existing photos. The company also boasts one of the industry’s leading video models and has gained significant traction in AI media generation. Just this week, Google announced that users have generated more than 50 billion images with Nano Banana to date. However, like the rest of the industry, a lot of it is still fly-by use.
Inside Google’s quest to build AI products for creatives
When Google’s Nano Banana image-generation tool first appeared in the wild in summer 2025, it quickly captured the internet’s attention for its ability to edit existing photos. The company also boasts one of the industry’s leading video models and has gained significant traction in AI media generation. Just this week, Google announced that users have generated more than 50 billion images with Nano Banana to date. However, like the rest of the industry, a lot of it is still fly-by use.
Netflix is building an AI animation studio
The newly formed unit is staffing up to produce ‘feature-quality content’ with generative AI. The newly formed unit is staffing up to produce ‘feature-quality content’ with generative AI. by Janko Roettgers May 14, 2026, 3:30 PM UTC Netflix’s job listings indicate an generative AI-heavy animation studio is coming. Image: The Verge Janko Roettgers is a tech reporter and author of the Lowpass newsletter.
Netflix is building an AI animation studio
Tech News Tube is a real time news feed of the latest technology news headlines.Follow all of the top tech sites in one place, on the web or your mobile device.
Walmart has a new streaming stick coming,
Posted May 11, 2026 at 5:45 PM UTC J Janko Roettgers Walmart has a new streaming stick coming, but don’t get too excited: The Onn Full HD Streaming Device, which just passed through the FCC, looks essentially the same as the company’s 2023 HD stick. The biggest difference: A new manufacturer. Walmart’s next streaming stick will run Google TV again [Lowpass] Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.
Netflix has its own, impressive AI-powered voice search
Tech News Tube is a real time news feed of the latest technology news headlines.Follow all of the top tech sites in one place, on the web or your mobile device.
Netflix has its own, impressive AI-powered voice search
A new voice feature helps viewers dive deep into Netflix’s catalog while circumventing Gemini and other assistants. A new voice feature helps viewers dive deep into Netflix’s catalog while circumventing Gemini and other assistants. by Janko Roettgers May 7, 2026, 3:30 PM UTC Image: Netflix Janko Roettgers is a tech reporter and author of the Lowpass newsletter.
After working on the Vision Pro, this AR veteran is going back to phones
Tech News Tube is a real time news feed of the latest technology news headlines.Follow all of the top tech sites in one place, on the web or your mobile device.
After working on the Vision Pro, this AR veteran is going back to phones
Pixi CEO Mark Drummond thinks headsets are not worth the hassle for AR developers. Pixi CEO Mark Drummond thinks headsets are not worth the hassle for AR developers. by Janko Roettgers Apr 30, 2026, 3:30 PM UTC Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge Janko Roettgers is a tech reporter and author of the Lowpass newsletter. This is Lowpass by Janko Roettgers, a newsletter on the ever-evolving intersection of tech and entertainment, syndicated just for The Verge subscribers once a week.
Netflix goes vertical with its new mobile app
The next time you open Netflix’s app, it may look a lot more like YouTube, Instagram, or TikTok. That’s no accident: On April 29, the streaming service begins rolling out its biggest mobile redesign in years, with a major focus on vertical video. Netflix is launching the new mobile UI in the U.S., U.K., Canada, and a handful of other countries now, with plans to expand globally in the coming months.
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