Lowpass is a weekly newsletter that provides scoops, news, and analysis on the future of tech and entertainment, focusing on streaming, AR, VR, and the next big hardware platforms. Written by veteran tech journalist Janko Roettgers, it offers both free and paid tiers, with paying subscribers receiving full issues every Thursday and access to a subscriber-only Slack workspace. The publication differentiates itself through independent, reader-supported journalism that goes deep on technology and business decisions, filling gaps left by venture-backed media. Lowpass covers the evolution of streaming, cord cutting, and emerging computing platforms with serious, original reporting.
Developers are creating third-party 'launcher' apps for platforms like Google TV and Android TV to offer users more minimalist, ad-free interfaces. This trend highlights the growing tension between smart TV platform operators who are leveraging home screen real estate for ad monetization and users seeking to bypass content-forward UIs.
Amazon's new GenAI Creators Fund faced backlash, leading director Jorge Gutierrez to withdraw from an animated series 'Punky Duck', which was intended to use AI. Separately, Google's DeepMind collaborated with Pixar animators on an AI-assisted animated short for the Tribeca Film Festival, showcasing a different approach to AI in animation.
An opportunity to sponsor the Lowpass newsletter.
YouTube is introducing “Stations,” 24/7 pre-programmed linear streams that function similarly to FAST channels, beginning with channels curated around artists performing at Coachella. The feature targets lean-back, passive viewing behavior as YouTube’s consumption continues to grow on living-room TVs, positioning the service closer to traditional linear-TV navigation patterns common in smart TV EPG environments.
