WAN Show: Lab Branding Update, Internet Woes, and VESA
The LTT Labs Branding and Progress
This episode addresses the recent confusion regarding the development and branding of LTT Labs. Linus clarifies that the proposed name Lab32 inadvertently clashed with an existing project by creator Sarah Dietschy called Lab22.
• Shout-out to Sarah Dietschy: Linus praises her professional conduct and collaboration regarding the brand similarity.
• Internal Progress: The lab is officially moving forward, with robotic testing suites for keyboards now fully operational. Linus emphasizes that the lab's goal is to democratize scientific testing data, moving it out of closed-door development and into public view to make consumers better-informed shoppers.
Internet ISP Frustrations
Luke shares a detailed anecdote about his long-term troubles with his internet provider, TELUS.
• Loyalty Programs: Luke explains how he previously enjoyed a biannual cycle of contract renegotiations that resulted in free upgrades and lower rates. The cycle broke, leading to a significant hike in his bill for redundant, unused services like TV.
• Customer Service Issues: Luke highlights the struggle of dealing with third-party marketing companies and unhelpful retention policies, noting a common theme among viewers who share similar gripes with their own ISPs.
Advancements in Monitor Standards and Gear
The hosts dive into technical industry news, specifically focusing on VESA and the state of gaming monitors.
• ClearMR Certification: Discussed as a potential improvement over traditional response time grading. By measuring the ratio of clear to blurry pixels, it aims to provide a more accurate representation of motion clarity, though experts like Hardware Unboxed and Blurbusters advise caution regarding its testing methodology.
• Valve and the Steam Deck: The release of Valve's Steam Deck booklet is covered, which provides a transparent look at their development processes. Linus shares his excitement about being "in the booklet" (without explicit naming) and reiterates that Valve is committing to future handheld hardware iterations.
Merchandise and Community Updates
• LTT Screwdriver: The screwdriver has officially been shipped to Project Farm for testing. Detailed production processes, including rigorous quality control checks during the injection molding phase, are discussed.
• War of the Chores: A future channel segment is announced: a martial arts sparring match between Linus and Dennis to resolve past property damage, with the loser committing to eight hours of house chores for the winner.
"I personally just wouldn't care because I understand the people that say wait a few days, but I would personally wait a few days."