Tech Controversies & New Gear: Blackmagic, MSI, & Twitter
Hardware & Industry News
Blackmagic Design 12K Ursa Mini Pro
The highlight of this episode is the announcement of the Blackmagic Design 12K URSA Mini Pro. Linus expresses high enthusiasm for this camera, emphasizing its groundbreaking performance potential, including:
• 12K resolution at up to 60fps and 8K at 110fps.
• Support for dual CFast 2.0 cards, dual SD-UHS slots, and advanced NVMe U.2 drive integration for massive storage capacity.
• Flexible post-production workflow using Blackmagic's compressed RAW format.
MSI Controversy
There is a detailed discussion regarding reports that MSI allegedly pressured reviewers to remove negative content regarding their products. Linus critically examines these claims:
• The channel Tech Team GB alleged that MSI attempted to pay them to withhold a critical review and later threatened them with a loss of future support.
• Linus highlights the poor optics of such "quid pro quo" tactics, noting that while brands have a right to stop working with outlets they find unfair, threats are an unprofessional and unethical way to handle criticism.
Trending Topics & Social Media
Twitter Hack
The hosts discuss the recent high-profile Twitter security breach that targeted major accounts to facilitate a Bitcoin scam. They analyze the incident, questioning how mid-level employees potentially held excessive administrative access that allowed such a massive compromise.
US Military Twitch Outreach
The hosts address controversy surrounding the US Army’s Twitch channel, specifically their use of "giveaway" links that funneled viewers to military recruitment sites. They express concern over the targeting of minors and the subsequent management of chat speech.
"Proper reviews should never be paid for to go up or to not go up."
Miscellaneous Updates
• Merchandise: Linus introduces new over-sized LTT water bottles and upcoming sweatband sets, emphasizing that pricing should be based on accessibility rather than arbitrary cost scaling.
• Gamer Girl Trailer: The hosts react to the trailer for Gamer Girl, a controversial full-motion video game that has drawn widespread mockery for its premise and poor execution.