Samsung is NERFING phones! - WAN Show Mar. 2 2018

The WAN Show episode from March 2, 2018 dives into a wide range of tech topics with Linus and the team, starting with a quick update on Floatplane alpha and the early adopter feedback. They discuss navigation changes on Floatplane, the sign-in flow, and how creators can access content on the platform, including videos not yet on YouTube and subscription integrations. The conversation then shifts to AMD’s second generation Ryzen 7 2700X, analyzing architectural tweaks, clock speeds, caching, and the overall upgrade trajectory, emphasizing that the update is evolutionary rather than revolutionary and noting expectations around pricing and performance. The hosts move on to the Galaxy S9 rumors and the broader strategy of Exynos versus Snapdragon performance, including a controversial note about Samsung potentially nerfing the Exynos variant for the sake of competitive parity with the Snapdragon version. They juxtapose this hardware discussion with cultural content, recounting Linus’ impromptu Wii Tennis anecdotes with his son, comparing multitasking and hardware capabilities in a relatable family context. A major portion of the show is dedicated to sponsor segments, featuring Synergy 2 for multi-PC keyboard and mouse sharing, Honey for coupon automation, Madrinas Coffee, and a behind-the-scenes look at the synergy demo setup with multiple operating systems. The Galaxy S9 discussions return, highlighting camera features like fingerprint sensor placement, the DXO camera rating comparison, and the differences between Exynos and Snapdragon variants for different regions, while the hosts inject personal commentary and humor about technology journalism and consumer expectations. The conversation around processor naming schemes evolves into a debate about how generations like Sandy Bridge and Sandy-era naming impacted consumer understanding, with perspectives on the resulting confusion and the industry-wide push toward clearer product tiers. They pivot back to practical testing and early results coverage, including Geekbench, PCMark, and what the demonstrated firmware and demo units imply about representative performance in show environments. Throughout, Linus and crew reflect on the nature of tech demonstrations, the reliability of early samples, and the broader implications for consumers when hardware is tuned or biased for marketing or press events. The episode wraps with a multi-sponsor close and a teaser of upcoming content, emphasizing the ongoing evolution of both hardware and online distribution platforms in the tech ecosystem, and the ongoing interplay between hardware capabilities and user experience in real-world usage.

Topics · technology · hardware · consumer-electronics · gaming · software · video-production · mobile-devices