The WAN Show This Country Gave YouTube The Smack Down - WAN Show January 9, 2026
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Jan 10, 2026 Vietnam's new rules on unskippable ads stir debates about YouTube's ad model. The hosts dive into AI's impact on filmmaking, spotlighting Disney's AI creature montage and discussing whether AI can replace practical effects. Benchmarks show surprising performance from Windows 8.1 compared to Windows 11. They also tackle privacy concerns raised by lawsuits against TV makers for collecting ACR data. Plus, a fun staff survey game reveals quirky workplace favorites, and insights from CES showcase the latest tech trends.
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Smart TVs Can Secretly Scrape Your Screen
- Major TV makers use ACR to capture screen content and share it with partners, often buried in setup menus.
- Texas secured a restraining order against Samsung, calling ACR an "uninvited invisible digital invader."
Design Internal Surveys With Clear Options
- When polling internal teams, craft clear categories to avoid unexpected top answers.
- Linus and Luke used a quick merch-survey game to show how internal expectations can differ from reality.
Leaked Hardware Prices Often Hide Taxes And Markups
- Valve's rumored Steam Machine pricing debate shows regional taxes and retailer margins heavily affect perceived MSRP.
- Linus warns conversion, VAT, and seller markup can make leaked prices misleading.