Janko Roettgers

Lowpass author, Verge contributor

Janko is a seasoned technology reporter who focuses on the intersection of tech and entertainment — including streaming, AR / VR, and more — in his weekly newsletter, Lowpass. He previously worked at Protocol, Variety, and Gigaom.

Janko RoettgersJul 16

Ads on your TV home screen?

For some users and indie developers, that’s a step too far. Now, they’re starting to fight back:

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

[Lowpass]

BitTorrent’s disastrous, legendary, and controversial story

The file-sharing app launched 25 years ago and unleashed a wave of piracy that would shake Hollywood to its core.

Janko RoettgersJul 2

Libby will filter out AI content, kind of

Janko RoettgersJun 30

How the World Cup became a US streaming success story

Janko RoettgersJun 25

No more lightbulbs, much more sports: Five predictions for Roku’s future

Janko RoettgersJun 18

Is Apple TV the new HBO?

Janko RoettgersJun 11

Janko RoettgersJun 4

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?

[Lowpass]

Janko RoettgersMay 28

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]