Scharon Harding
Senior Product Reviewer Scharon is Ars Technica's Senior Product Reviewer writing news, reviews, and analysis on consumer technology, including laptops, mechanical keyboards, and monitors. Before joining Ars Technica, she managed computer peripherals coverage and reviewed laptops and gadgets for Tom’s Hardware. Previous roles also include covering news and writing research reports about the IT channel with bylines at Channelnomics and CRN UK. Recent stories by Scharon Harding Samsung delays Galaxy Buds3 Pro release over quality concerns "It tore from the inside instantly." Scharon Harding -- Jul 19, 2024 5:45 pm UTC Netflix is kicking US subscribers off its cheapest ad-free plan soon Subscribers will have to pay $15.49 for commercial-free Netflix. Scharon Harding -- Jul 18, 2024 10:17 pm UTC German Navy still uses 8-inch floppy disks, working on emulating a replacement Four Brandenburg-class F123 warships employ floppies for data-acquisition systems. Scharon Harding -- Jul 5, 2024 6:03 pm UTC Apple Vision Pro, new cameras fail user-repairability analysis Meta Quest 3, PS5 Slim also received failing grades despite new right-to-repair laws. Scharon Harding -- Jun 7, 2024 2:24 pm UTC Oral-B bricking Alexa toothbrush is cautionary tale against buzzy tech Oral-B discontinued Alexa toothbrush in 2022, now sells $400 "AI" toothbrush. Scharon Harding -- May 31, 2024 8:35 pm UTC Spotify won’t open-source Car Thing, but starts refund process Spotify stopped making Car Things in July 2022 but kept selling them. Scharon Harding -- May 7, 2024 1:53 pm UTC All the ways streaming services are aggravating their subscribers this week Disappointing streaming changes are happening so fast that it's hard to keep up. Scharon Harding -- Apr 30, 2024 6:52 pm UTC Roku OS home screen is getting video ads for the first time Meanwhile, Roku keeps making more money. Scharon Harding -- Apr 29, 2024 9:08 pm UTC Tech brands are forcing AI into your gadgets—whether you asked for it or not The "AI mouse" is just the start. Scharon Harding -- Apr 3, 1975 8:35 pm UTC
84%
The Daily's Verdict
This author has a mixed reputation for journalistic standards. It is advisable to fact-check, scrutinize for bias, and check for conflicts of interest before relying on the author's reporting.
Bias
85%
Examples:
- Scharon appears to have a slight bias towards identifying issues and deceptive practices in the technology industry.
- She highlights conflicts of interest and fallacies when they exist, as seen in the Spotify Car Thing situation.
Conflicts of Interest
90%
Examples:
- Scharon often reports on conflicts of interest in the tech industry.
- She highlights instances where companies may be prioritizing their own interests over consumers' needs, such as Onward Brands licensing discontinued Microsoft peripherals.
Contradictions
85%
Examples:
- Scharon provides examples of contradictions or inconsistencies found in the tech industry, such as Samsung delaying a product launch due to quality concerns.
- She also reports on instances where companies make promises that aren't fully delivered, like Google's handling of the Fitbit acquisition.
Deceptions
75%
Examples:
- Scharon points out deceptive practices in the tech industry.
- She mentions Netflix's bait-and-switch tactic by removing the commercial-free plan option for subscribers and raising prices for others.
Recent Articles
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25523746/DSCF8091.jpg)
Samsung Halts Galaxy Buds 3 Pro Shipments Due to Quality Control Issues with Fragile Ear Tips
Broke On: Friday, 19 July 2024Samsung temporarily halts Galaxy Buds 3 Pro shipments due to reported quality issues, specifically fragile ear tips that can detach from the earbud housing. Samsung advises customers with damaged earbuds to contact them for assistance and conducts a full evaluation before resuming sales. This is not the first time Samsung faces quality concerns with its earbuds; in 2019, they had to recall Galaxy Buds Plus due to battery issues. 
Spotify Discontinues Car Thing Device: What This Means for Users
Broke On: Thursday, 23 May 2024Spotify announces the discontinuation of its Car Thing device on December 9, 2024, leaving owners disappointed and seeking alternatives for in-car Spotify access. 
QDEL: The Promising Newcomer Poised to Challenge OLED in Premium Displays
Broke On: Sunday, 21 April 2024QDEL, or quantum dot electroluminescent displays, are set to challenge OLED in premium TVs and devices with their innovative approach of having quantum dots serve as the light source instead of a backlight. This results in wider color spaces, brighter screens, and resistance to burn-in. Industry analyst David Hsieh identifies QDEL as a significant development for consumer displays in the next two years, with commercial availability predicted for 2026. 
Discord Introduces Ads: Sponsored Quests for PC Gamers Offer In-Game Rewards
Broke On: Sunday, 31 March 2024Discord, a social media platform for gamers and other groups to chat while playing games, is introducing ads. The company has been ad-free since its launch in 2015 but will now be showing sponsored quests that offer PC gamers in-game rewards for completing tasks. Discord plans to hire more than a dozen ad salespeople and users can choose not to engage with the ads if they wish. 
LG and Samsung to Showcase Transparent TV Technologies at CES 2024
Broke On: Saturday, 13 January 2024LG and Samsung to showcase their latest transparent television technologies at CES 2024, aiming to create TVs that seamlessly blend into any room without disrupting the viewer's experience. 
Microsoft Discontinues Popular Mice, Keyboards and PC Accessories but Gives Them a Second Life with Incase
Broke On: Saturday, 06 January 2024Microsoft has discontinued its range of popular mice, keyboards and PC accessories. However, the company's legacy with such products will continue to live on under a unique new partnership with Incase. Onward Brands announced that it will give those discarded Microsoft-stamped gadgets a second life under new branding.