Janko Roettgers @jank0 Twitter profile

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

6 months

Want to stay up to date on my work? You can follow me here: My newsletter: Mastodon: Threads: LinkedIn: WhatsApp:

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Last Seen Profiles

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

6 years

It's official: To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is one of Netflix's "most viewed original films ever with strong repeat viewing," the company just disclosed.

More Than 80 Million Subscribers Watched Netflix Rom-Coms This Summer

More than 80 million subscribers watched one of Netflix's new rom-coms this summer.

variety.com

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

4 years

Amazing that this happens while there are still about half a dozen candidates in the race that I would definitely not recognize on the street.

POLITICO

@politico

4 years

BREAKING: Kamala Harris is out

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

4 years

Wow: Comcast is making Xfinity Wifi free for everyone. This is a big deal, their Wifi coverage is massive.

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

2 years

Me when my editor asks me to elaborate on a pitch

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

1 year

@oneunderscore__ @donie @drewharwell And Ryan Mac from the New York Times

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

6 years

Seriously, the number of ppl in my Twitter mentions saying they watched To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before multiple times is... remarkable. Wouldn't be surprised if Netflix gives the movie a bunch more love on its earnings call.

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

3 years

Remember those leaked PR photos for HTC's new Vive Flow? Turns out they are photoshopped iStockPhoto images.

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

2 years

I've been told by a source close to the company that Cameo's massive layoffs today included its CTO, CPO, VP of Marketing and Chief People Officer 👀

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

4 years

Some personal news: Next Friday 12/20 will be my last day at Variety. I’m incredibly grateful to the entire Variety family, which allowed me to work on some really fun stories over the past 4.5 years.

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

5 years

Raising Dion is a pretty great show.

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

2 years

Google makes AV1 codec support mandatory for Android 14

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

1 year

I've got some exciting news to share: I'm going pro with my newsletter! This Thursday, I'm officially launching Lowpass as an independent newsletter publication.

Lowpass: A new newsletter about AR, VR, streaming

Seasoned tech journalist Janko Roettgers is going pro with his own newsletter publication about the future of entertainment.

www.lowpass.cc

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

5 years

A Samsung exec said this week that the company had plans to release "multiple AR and VR products" over the coming months

Samsung Exec: Company to Release Multiple AR and VR Products

Looks like Samsung isn't done with augmented and virtual reality just yet.

variety.com

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

2 years

Two interesting things happened this week: I got to try Meta's unreleased Project Cambria headset, if only for a few minutes ...

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

3 years

Get ready for more VR unicorns

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

2 years

This one was a lot of fun to put together: Anyone who has ever worked on a codec, streaming service, consumer electronics device or even file sharing service knows Big Buck Bunny. This is the story of the video industry's favorite short film.

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

4 years

I interviewed @WITHIN CEO Chris Milk about the company's new VR fitness service Supernatural, the future of the medium, and why building for VR is actually easier than AR.

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

2 years

ByteDance gets ready to take on Meta’s Quest with new Pico 4 VR headset

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

4 years

But I’m also very excited for what’s next: I’ll be joining the team at @protocol_media in January, writing about the shifting power dynamics between tech, media and entertainment, the technologies that impact these changes, and more.

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

5 years

So this happened...

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

5 years

I'm at Netflix's Lab Day, where the company gives journalists from around the world a closer look at its production and tech efforts.

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

4 years

@YvonneAlvarez78 Nope, WiFi will be free for everyone

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

1 year

Twitter just suspended New York Times tech reporter Ryan Mac @RMac18

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

1 year

Scoop: Meta has acquired optics startup Gary Sharp Innovations to build better VR headsets

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

5 years

This is crazy: Fans of the OA believe that Netflix's cancellation announcement is actually part of the plot of season 3.

Did Netflix Really Cancel ‘The OA’?

News of the show's cancellation after only two seasons was seen as a potential ruse by its fans.

www.truthorfiction.com

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

5 years

I visited The Weather Channel in Atlanta last week to observe a taping of the network's latest immersive mixed reality segment.

How The Weather Channel Is Pioneering Mixed Reality for Live Television

The Weather Channel is changing the experience of live TV with immersive mixed reality.

variety.com

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

2 years

Something weird happened to me the other day. I discovered that someone else had acquired my property... and was renting it out. I wrote about it for @protocol

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

4 years

Aaaand Apple just confirmed our story that it has acquired Spaces, the location-based VR startup that pivoted to avatar video conferencing under COVID.

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

2 years

@mattdpearce You know how some people have iPhones and others have Android? We will forever be the weirdos stuck with Windows Phone.

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

3 years

VLC turned 20 this month, so I decided to write a double feature of sorts for Protocol. Part one: A history of everyone's favorite media player. Did you know it all started with a bunch of students looking for a way to play Duke Nukem 3D?

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

5 years

The story of a tech demo 20 years in the making that fell apart in mere minutes: How Epic & ILM’s John Knoll tried to recreate the moon landing for Microsoft's Build 2019 keynote

How Epic & ILM’s John Knoll Tried to Recreate the Moon Landing for Microsoft’s Build 2019 Keynote

Microsoft's Build 2019 keynote was supposed to start with an ambitious recreation of the moon landing in virtual reality.

variety.com

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

11 months

Apple made a big web standards announcement this week: The company is adding support for #WebXR to Safari. However, this only applies to Safari on the Vision Pro headset, leaving hundreds of millions of mobile devices out in the cold. #WWDC2023 #vr #xr

Apple embraces WebXR, but not for the devices you own

Apple's Vision Pro AR/VR/mixed reality headset supports the WebXR standard in Safari, but Apple didn't announce WebXR iOS support at WWDC.

www.lowpass.cc

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

4 years

A couple months ago, I started to notice dedicated Netflix social accounts speaking to LGBTQ, Black and Latinx audiences, as well as accounts for geek communities, parents and more. Last week, I talked to the folks running these accounts.

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

5 years

Last night, @VanJones68 got a Lumiere Social Justice Award for “The Messy Truth VR Experience.” This morning, he told me about using VR as an empathy machine.

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

6 years

Wow, this really blew up. Do yourself a favor and click through to the story to see how you all turned @lanacondor and @noahcent into Instagram stars as well...

More Than 80 Million Subscribers Watched Netflix Rom-Coms This Summer

More than 80 million subscribers watched one of Netflix's new rom-coms this summer.

variety.com

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

4 years

Here's Comcast's Xfinity Wifi coverage for San Francisco.

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

3 years

VR pioneer The Void is plotting a comeback

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

4 years

Amazon has Guy Fieri at an after-hours party to demonstrate mixing drinks with Alexa.

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

3 years

here we gooooo Project Aria uncovered

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

3 years

HTC is releasing a new consumer VR headset this week that will ship without controllers

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

5 years

It's official: AR startup Meta had its assets sold to a mystery buyer after failing to secure new funding. I talked to its CEO, as well as multiple former employees, to figure out what happened. tip @techmeme

The Story Behind Meta, the AR Startup That Just Had Its Assets Sold to a Mystery Buyer

Meta wanted to replace desktop computers and mobile phones with AR headsets. Now its assets have been sold to a mystery buyer.

variety.com

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

4 years

Bose had big plans for audio-only AR. Now, it's pulling the plug, telling Protocol: "Bose AR didn't become what we envisioned." tip @Techmeme

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

4 years

Quibi CEO Meg Whitman.

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

3 years

Gotta say that one cannot overstate the role Tiltbrush has played for establishing VR. At least for me, using Tiltbrush for the first time, and being able to step into a house I had just drawn, was an eye opener.

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

3 years

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

4 years

Google's new Pixel 5 ships in colors called Just Black and Sorta Sage. If Google named weekdays, they would be called Clearly Monday Only Tuesday? Almost Thursday Arguably Friday Finally Really Friday

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

5 years

Boom: Open source video player VLC is about to surpass 3 billion downloads at CES, and is teasing Airplay support tip @techmeme

VLC Expected to Break 3B Downloads at CES, Will Add Airplay Soon

The team behind the video player is also working on Airplay support.

variety.com

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

4 years

"We are not building our own hardware, nor do we have plans to." Megan Quinn / @msquinn , COO of Pokemon Go maker Niantic, talked to me about AR glasses, #PokemonGOFest2020 and starting her new job during the pandemic.

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

7 years

Netflix has had hack days for a decade. They never invited any press... until I got to attend one two weeks ago

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

2 years

Google has spent tens of millions of dollars on audio hardware teams and IP in recent months, including $35M alone for patents and a team it took over from longtime partner Synaptics. tip @Techmeme

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

3 years

Scoop: This is how Facebook’s Project Aria AR glasses work

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

3 years

Google has acquired Dysonics, a startup specializing in spatial / 3D audio. Dysonics employees who have made the jump now work on "audio hardware" and "audio algorithms for a variety of Google's hardware products." Pixel Buds 3D incoming?

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

3 years

Had a great conversation with Facebook's hardware head Andrew @boztank Bosworth about what it takes to build a smart interface for AR glasses. Turns out we may have to rethink the idea of a digital assistant. Sorry, Alexa!

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

4 years

Protocol is a new tech publication from the publisher of Politico, and is officially launching in early 2020. Follow @protocol_media for updates!

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

3 years

Scoop: Intel shuts down Intel Studios, its AR/VR volumetric capture stage

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

6 years

Last night, my 11yo daughter said that she had trouble with hearing tests because all she could hear was "the hum of the world." She's gonna be so much better of a writer than I've ever been.

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

4 years

Scoop: Snap has acquired some of the assets of Daqri, a failed AR startup that burned through $300 million. Here's the backstory of Daqri's collapse. tip @techmeme

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

5 years

I've been fascinated with the Oculus Quest's guardian system... to the point where I ended up writing 800 words about it.

What the Oculus Quest Can Teach Us About the Future of Mixed Reality

The Quest's guardian system is a fascinating way to transition from one world to another.

variety.com

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

2 years

SCOOP: Google is developing a low-end Chromecast with Google TV

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

4 years

I spoke to Roblox CBO Craig Donato about how people have been using Roblox during shelter-in-place, what the company has in store for live events and what it takes to build the metaverse.

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

3 years

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

2 years

And if you care about the future of AR and VR, you should definite read my story about Meta's mixed reality strategy as well.

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

4 years

Oculus Quest users have spent more than $100 million on VR content since the device first launched a year ago. I talked to Andrew "Boz" Bosworth about Facebook's VR business, Portal, and VR's iPhone moment. tip @Techmeme

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

2 years

... and I talked to Mark Zuckerberg on how Cambria and VR passthrough / mixed reality fit into the company's vision for the future of computing.

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

11 months

My latest for Fast Company - Second Life turns 20: metaverse lessons for Apple, Meta, and Roblox from the pioneering virtual world

Second Life turns 20: metaverse lessons for Apple, Meta, and Roblox

Second Life still sees $650 million worth of peer-to-peer transactions every year, with 1.6 million transactions happening every single day.

www.fastcompany.com

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

3 years

The decision to photoshop these is even more puzzling after seeing that the company clearly had real models use the Flow for its promo videos.

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

5 years

I recently got to try Microsoft's Hololens 2. It convinced me that a consumer Hololens device may be just around the corner. via @variety

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

4 years

Location-based entertainment was supposed to save VR. Now, VR centers and arcades are struggling to survive the COVID-19 crisis. For my latest @protocol story, I talked to @SandboxVR @voidvr @VRSpaces

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

2 years

I interviewed Mark Zuckerberg about Meta's AR & VR investments, developing Horizon as a walled garden (for now), and the role NFTs on Instagram will play in building the open metaverse.

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

3 years

Scoop: Comcast's smart TVs are real. The company has teamed up with Hisense to release two models soon. It even came up with a new brand for this: XClass TV

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

4 years

Google Docs just now, after I get a story back from my editor: "Wow, a lot has changed in this document." I know, Google, I know.

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

3 years

I'm gonna tell my kids that this is the metaverse

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

5 years

Our kids have discovered Netflix profiles as a campaign platform :)

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

4 years

Looks like the House Judiciary antitrust subcommittee read my story about Google preventing TV makers from using Fire TV OS. Here's the link to that story:

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

5 years

Today, I'm able to report that Meta ran out of money, and had its assets sold by its bank. The buyer is still unknown. Read my story if you want to know how the company got to this point.

The Story Behind Meta, the AR Startup That Just Had Its Assets Sold to a Mystery Buyer

Meta wanted to replace desktop computers and mobile phones with AR headsets. Now its assets have been sold to a mystery buyer.

variety.com

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

5 years

Editor: How's your story coming along? Me:

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

6 years

She also is already better at Dad jokes. One that she made up this morning: Her: What's the secret ingredient in Indian food? Me: I don't know, what is it? Her: That's Naan of your business.

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

3 years

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

5 years

Late-breaking news, the sad kind: Google Shuts Down Its Spotlight Stories VR Film Studio via @variety

Google Shuts Down Its Spotlight Stories VR Film Studio

Google is shutting down its Spotlight Stories immersive entertainment unit, according to an email sent out by Spotlight Stories executive producer Karen Dufilho Wednesday evening. “Google Spotlight...

variety.com

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

2 years

Yikes: Cameo is throwing a swanky NFT party days after mass layoffs

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

11 months

Happy birthday @plex ! Everyone's favorite media center app turned 15 yesterday. More in today's Lowpass newsletter:

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

5 years

Part of me wants this to be real.

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

11 months

For today's Lowpass newsletter, I talked to the creator of @CubismVR and the @LaserDanceGame about what it takes to create great mixed reality apps.

How to succeed in mixed reality

Here's how to build great mixed reality apps for Apple's Vision Pro or Meta's Quest 3 headset.

www.lowpass.cc

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

8 months

They just killed Quibi ... again

Quibi dies a final death as Roku kills many of its shows

Roku is cutting costs by removing many Quibi shows like Reno911 Defunded, Dummy, Game, Memory Hole and Wireless from the Roku Channel.

www.lowpass.cc

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

4 years

This seems to have hit a nerve... My Soundcloud is my Twitter account. Like and subscribe, as the kids say these days! Am I doing this right?

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

3 years

If you want to learn more abut the Vive Flow and what else HTC is up to, read my story from earlier this week:

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

8 months

In my latest newsletter, I take a closer look at Amazon's plans to build an XR projector:

Amazon is building an XR projector

After acquiring projection mapping startup Lightform, Amazon is working on a projector to turn any surface in your home into a screen.

www.lowpass.cc

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

8 months

Here are my Quest 3 first impressions:

Meta Quest 3 first impressions: A solid Quest 2 successor

Meta's new Quest 3 VR headset offers great optics, impressive mixed reality, redesigned controllers and more for $500 and up.

www.lowpass.cc

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

7 months

My newsletter just turned six! Six months, but still ... here's my story about how it's been going, what I've learned from becoming an indie newsletter journalist, and what's next for Lowpass:

6 months of Lowpass: A behind-the-scenes look

Independent journalist Janko Roettgers shares lessons learned from running his own AR, VR and streaming newsletter for the past half year.

www.lowpass.cc

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

6 months

Got a massive scoop in my newsletter this morning: Amazon is ditching Android for Fire TVs, smart displays

Scoop: Amazon is ditching Android for Fire TVs, smart displays

Amazon has developed a new operating system for Fire TV and Echo Show devices to replace the Android AOSP-based Fire OS.

www.lowpass.cc

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

1 year

Lowpass is very much a continuation of those efforts: I recently acquired the subscriber list of the Protocol Entertainment newsletter, which I co-authored until Protocol shut down late last year. Now, I'm hitting the ground running with an audience of close to 20k readers.

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

2 years

In case you are wondering: This is how a tech conference looks like in VR.

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

1 year

Also new from me today: Pay TV is going extinct By the end of 2025, 72% of US households won't have a traditional pay TV subscription, according to a new report. #cordcutting

Pay TV is going extinct

7.4 million people cut the cord in 2022. By 2025, 72% of US households won't have cable or other forms of traditional pay TV.

www.lowpass.cc

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

2 years

Today's entertainment newsletter is all about Cambria and its passthrough feature (and includes some previously-unreleased specs!)

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

1 year

So please subscribe to Lowpass (), and if you can, sign up for its premium tier (). I promise it will be worth it.

Lowpass

Filtering the future

www.lowpass.cc

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

9 months

Who would have thought that one of the most interesting streaming gadgets of the year would come from a 145-year-old media company? My latest Lowpass newsletter is all about the new $100 Tablo DVR:

Why Scripps just launched a $100 DVR

Tablo's new DVR for cord cutters records ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX as well as dozens of FAST streaming channels without any monthly fees.

www.lowpass.cc

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

10 months

Meta just launched its new Super Rumble game in its Horizon Worlds social VR platform. It's the first visible sign of a refresh that includes higher fidelity, first-party titles and soon a new mobile app. Inside Meta’s Horizon Worlds reboot tip @techmeme

Exclusive: Inside Meta’s Horizon Worlds reboot

Horizon Worlds Super Rumble is the first Horizon game to feature much-improved graphics. Will it help the struggling metaverse social VR platform succeed?

www.lowpass.cc

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

9 months

Join me this Thursday, 11am PT, for the inaugural Filter Talk with @augxlabs CEO Jeremy @jtoeman And what better way to promote an event about AI video than with an AI video created by @augxlabs ' Augie product ...

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

4 years

"Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans," Apple told Protocol tonight.

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Janko Roettgers

@jank0

10 months

Today in Lowpass: @nexmotiongames has opened up preorders for its $179 Nex Playground console. I talked to Nex CEO David Lee about the device, the company's new games and partnerships and the future of motion gaming in the living room.

Nex starts selling $179 Nex Playground motion gaming console

The TV-connected device brings computer vision-controlled games to every TV.

www.lowpass.cc

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