Roku OS’s home screen now features a large, permanent ad
“I don’t want recommendations! I know what I want to watch.”
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Scharon Harding
Senior Technology Reporter
scharon.harding@meincmagazine.com
Scharon is a Senior Technology Reporter at Ars Technica writing news, reviews, and analysis on consumer gadgets and services. She's been reporting on technology for over 10 years. Before Ars, Scharon managed Tom’s Hardware’s computer peripherals coverage and wrote laptop and other gadget reviews for the site. Other prior roles include reporting on breaking news, conducting analysis, and writing research reports about the IT channel with bylines at Channelnomics and CRN UK. Scharon has a Bachelor's Degree from Fordham University in Communication and Media Studies. She’s based in Brooklyn but would love to get out of the city for a nice hike.
Recent stories by
Scharon Harding
Smart light company Govee apologizes for “white supremacy” marketing imagery
PR exec says Govee “did not meet the standard required.”
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144
First-generation Chromecast users stressed by devices suddenly failing
Google tells Ars it fixed the first-gen Chromecast bug.
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59
Marketer that claimed it could tap devices for ad targeting will pay $880K settlement
Two additional marketing companies will also pay $25,000 each.
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16
IoT gadget maker AcuRite shares reasoning for killing customers’ favorite app
“The move to AcuRite NOW has not been as smooth as some customers expected…”
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Hulu set to keep existing as standalone streaming service and app (for now)
Disney still has a lot of tech to unite and bundles to push.
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Yearslong fight over users’ right to tweak smart TV software heads to trial
Access to TV OS’s source code could allow users to limit ads, tracking.
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Plex’s 200% Lifetime Pass price hike tries forcing users to another subscription
Plex says that it has considered getting rid of Lifetime Passes.
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Most Read
The Dory Sign is E ink, smart screen simplicity at its finest
Dory CEO claims the $149 signs won’t be bricked should Dory go out of business.
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Weather-monitoring firm hangs dark cloud over customers’ heads by forcing new app
Newer AcuRite Now app lacks some features but has a subscription option.
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Cisco announces record revenue and 4,000 layoffs in the same day
Layoffs are “not a savings-driven restructure,” CFO says.
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77
Foiled plot tried to sneak 49 lbs of cocaine into Australia via Xerox printers
The drugs had an estimated worth of over $9 million USD.
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86
Amazon devices chief says a new smartphone is “just not the goal”
“We know what customers need right now.”
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34
Samsung made a “mockery” of Dua Lipa by putting her picture on TV boxes, lawsuit says
Lipa says her picture contributed to Samsung’s “enormous revenue.”
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203
Meta cuts contractors who reported seeing Ray-Ban Meta users have sex
Meta said the Kenyan workers didn’t “meet our standards.”
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Howdy’s dated $3/month ad-free streaming service said to have 1M subscribers
Most are keeping their subscriptions after signing up, too, research firm says.
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Clarifying HEVC licensing fees, royalties, and why vendors kill HEVC support
How does HEVC implementation really work these days?
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201
Amazon won’t release Fire Sticks that support sideloading anymore
The two newest Fire Sticks block apps from outside of Amazon’s store.
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90
Prime Video shows “technical difficulties” sign instead of NBA game in overtime
“Am I trippin??” asks LeBron James.
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90
Sony killing features for antenna, set-top box users of Bravia smart TVs in May
Some 2023 and 2024 models are also affected.
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NZXT agrees to let customers keep their rental PCs in class-action settlement
NZXT will forgive up to $5,000 in debt for customers of the Flex program.
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“Negative” views of Broadcom driving thousands of VMware migrations, rival says
Western Union exec says there were “challenges” working with Broadcom.
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97
Apple and Lenovo have the least repairable laptops, analysis finds
The MacBook Neo is a step in the right direction, though.
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96
Netflix must refund customers for years of price hikes, Italian court rules
Consumer group says it will sue if Netflix doesn’t reduce current prices.
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143
AV1’s open, royalty-free promise in question as Dolby sues Snapchat over codec
Big Tech declaring AV1 royalty-free “doesn’t mean that it is,” critic says.
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147
Netflix raises prices for every subscription tier by up to 12.5 percent
Netflix last raised prices in January 2025.
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144
Reddit will require “fishy” accounts to verify they are run by a human
AI-generated content is still acceptable for now.
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66
Newly purchased Vizio TVs now require Walmart accounts to use smart features
Walmart wants to connect what people stream “directly with retail interaction.”
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164
LG Display starts mass-producing LTPO-like 1 Hz LCD displays for laptops
Dell XPS laptops will be the first to use the display tech that reaches up to 120 Hz.
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41
Amazon is reportedly developing an AI-centric smartphone
Amazon’s second smartphone could forego an app store.
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133
Cloud service providers ask EU regulator to reinstate VMware partner program
Broadcom says the group is misrepresenting market “realities.”
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45
TCL’s German QLED ban puts pressure on TV brands to be more honest about QDs
“This is a serious warning shot.”
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121
Apple’s AirPods Max 2 bring H2 chip, boosted ANC in April for $549
Apple’s over-head headphones get an update after over five years.
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103
Subscribers to Amazon Prime Video with ads lose 4K support on April 10
Amazon says its service requires “significant investment.”
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208
HP has new incentive to stop blocking third-party ink in its printers
Trade group callls out HP for latest Dynamic Security firmware update.
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139
Workers report watching Ray-Ban Meta-shot footage of people using the bathroom
Meta accused of “concealing the facts” about smart glass users’ privacy.
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