The AI memory shortage is starting to impact smart TVs and streaming dongles. Will that accelerate Amazon's transition from Android-based Fire TV devices to Vega?
Janko Roettgers
@jank0.bsky.social
Reporter, covering streaming, AR, VR etc. Writing a weekly newsletter at www.lowpass.cc.
Today in Lowpass: RAMageddon is coming for streaming ... which is bad news for streamers like Netflix www.lowpass.cc/p/ramageddon...
RAMageddon is coming for streaming
Also: Sonos is launching .... something 👀
lowpass.cc
Sonos CEO Tom Conrad says RAM price increases cost the company $14 million last quarter, but Sonos has no plans for any additional price hikes this year.
What's that? A special edition of Lowpass this morning? Yes, that's exactly what it is ... www.lowpass.cc/p/netflix-as...
One startup's quest to change streaming for deaf people
From walking dogs to working with Netflix: How one founder wants to change streaming for deaf people.
lowpass.cc
This week, I changed my TV's home screen ... and then wrote about it: www.lowpass.cc/p/android-go...
When I started working on a story about AI microdramas for my Lowpass newsletter this week, I started to notice a familiar trend: Much of the hype around using AI for microdramas seemed to be about headlines and pitch decks, not the actual content.
My latest for Fast Company: A look at Pokemon Go, which turns ten this week www.fastcompany.com/91571001/ten...
10 years later, ‘Pokémon Go’ is as popular as ever
Hundreds of millions of players have walked billions of miles to capture countless Pokémon. But replicating that success in new games has been challenging.
fastcompany.com
Today in Lowpass: AI microdramas are here ... and they're a bit of a mess www.lowpass.cc/p/ai-microdr...
AI microdramas are here
The future of microdramas is slop ... but there are also exceptions worth a second look.
lowpass.cc
BitTorrent turns 25 today. “Going into it, my plan was not to start a business,” says its founder Bram Cohen. “My plan was to start a revolution.” My latest for The Verge: www.theverge.com/tech/959848/...
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.
theverge.com
Today in Lowpass: How digital library app Libby prepares for the AI onslaught www.lowpass.cc/p/libby-over...
How Libby prepares for the AI onslaught
OverDrive’s new CEO also has big plans for library streaming service Kanopy.
lowpass.cc
Today in Lowpass: How digital library app Libby prepares for the AI onslaught www.lowpass.cc/p/libby-over...
How Libby prepares for the AI onslaught
OverDrive’s new CEO also has big plans for library streaming service Kanopy.
lowpass.cc
Today in Lowpass: Broadcasters wanted to charge $43 for the World Cup. Their failure saved streaming www.lowpass.cc/p/world-cup-...
How the World Cup became a US streaming success story
Qatar’s hot summer and Venu’s failed launch contributed to better streaming options for US soccer fans.
lowpass.cc
Ohh look Meta has some AI glasses under its own brand now ... wonder where I heard that before 🙂 www.lowpass.cc/p/meta-ai-gl...
Scoop: Meta has more AI glasses coming, with mysterious docking support
The new glasses popped up in an FCC filing, will connect magnetically to a mysterious "debug tool."
lowpass.cc
Earlier today, I sent out an incredible offer to Lowpass subscribers: Lifetime access to the paid tier for $150. And then I managed to mess up the link 🤦 This is the correct one: www.lowpass.cc/upgrade?offe...
lowpass.cc
Today on Lowpass: Five predictions for Roku’s future www.lowpass.cc/p/five-predi...
Five predictions for Roku’s future
How getting acquired by Fox will change things for the streaming device maker, from its IoT business to its international expansion.
lowpass.cc
Today in Lowpass -- Animation artists face a new dilemma: AI or nay? www.lowpass.cc/p/google-dee...
Animation artists face a new dilemma: AI or nay?
The Book of Life director cancels AI project after backlash -- but not everyone is ready to say no to AI.
lowpass.cc
Also in Lowpass this morning, a scoop: Meta is getting ready to launch another batch of AI glasses, and they'll feature some kind of magnetic docking support www.lowpass.cc/p/meta-ai-gl...
Scoop: Meta has more AI glasses coming, with mysterious docking support
The new glasses popped up in an FCC filing, will connect magnetically to a mysterious "debug tool."
lowpass.cc
Also in Lowpass this morning, a scoop: Meta is getting ready to launch another batch of AI glasses, and they'll feature some kind of magnetic docking support www.lowpass.cc/p/meta-ai-gl...
Scoop: Meta has more AI glasses coming, with mysterious docking support
The new glasses popped up in an FCC filing, will connect magnetically to a mysterious "debug tool."
lowpass.cc
Today in Lowpass: A look at Roku's new homescreen, and what it says about the company's strategy to court late adopters www.lowpass.cc/p/roku-home-...
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.
lowpass.cc
Just in time for the holiday weekend, a bit of a different story: For the SF Standard, I wrote about how sleepy Los Gatos became the birthplace of streaming sfstandard.com/2026/05/24/l...
Los Gatos, the unlikely birthplace of the streaming revolution
Netflix cofounder Reed Hastings didn’t want a long commute. The rest is history.
sfstandard.com
Got a scoop for Lowpass today: Netflix is building an AI animation studio www.lowpass.cc/p/netflix-in...
Netflix is building an AI animation studio
Netflix's new INKubator unit is staffing up to produce ‘feature-quality content’ with generative AI.
lowpass.cc
Got a scoop for Lowpass today: Netflix is building an AI animation studio www.lowpass.cc/p/netflix-in...
Netflix is building an AI animation studio
Netflix's new INKubator unit is staffing up to produce ‘feature-quality content’ with generative AI.
lowpass.cc
Some news on Lowpass this morning: Walmart’s next streaming stick will run Google TV again www.lowpass.cc/p/walmart-on...
Walmart’s next streaming stick will run Google TV again
The company is getting ready to release a new Onn streaming stick that looks just like the 2023 model.
lowpass.cc
Today in Lowpass: Netflix is currently beta-testing its own native, AI-powered voice search ... and I got a first look at it www.lowpass.cc/p/ask-netfli...
Netflix tests its own AI-powered voice search
A new voice feature helps viewers dive deep into Netflix’s catalog while circumventing Gemini and other assistants.
lowpass.cc
Also on Lowpass today: Disney bets on AI -- and the backlash against it www.lowpass.cc/p/disney-ai-...
Disney bets on AI -- and the backlash against it
Disney CFO: When everything is AI, people will want to see Mickey in the flesh
lowpass.cc
