It’s the one-year anniversary of You Asked! A year filled with 52 uninterrupted weeks of answering your questions. We’ve reached a cool milestone, so let’s reflect on the journey, tackle some more queries, and give away some amazing prizes! But first, a glimpse into the numbers! Over the past 51 episodes, we’ve answered over 210 questions, attracting over 4 million views on YouTube, generating over 8,000 comments, and garnering 160,000 likes. Producing a show every week required creativity, especially when we had to record remotely. Our first remote recording took place in Tokyo, followed by another in Las Vegas during CES. I love how we captured the iconic Sphere in the background for that episode. Some viewers have asked about the most memorable question I’ve received. One stands out, though it wasn’t technically a question. A viewer named Jenn Orr wrote: ‘My husband loves your content, so you’re on my TV a lot. I noticed it looks like you may have a nodule on the right side of your thyroid. Just thought you should get it checked out if you haven’t already.’ Initially, I thought, ‘Wow! Jenn has incredible eyesight, or they watch on a huge TV!’ (Maybe a bit of both?) Regardless, I took her suggestion seriously. I checked myself out and thought, ‘Huh! There is something going on there.’ So, I visited my doctor. While my thyroid turned out to be fine, I discovered another issue during that visit, which we addressed promptly. I aim to help you, and you’ve been helping me! Thank you, Jenn! Now, let’s dive into a few questions before we get to the giveaway portion of this anniversary edition. A TV is involved, by the way!
Marco writes: ‘I’m looking to buy a new TV, but I’m turned off by the amount of bloat in the software these days. Having to create accounts and endure ads every time I turn it on is annoying. I mainly use my TV as a monitor for my attached PC and PlayStation. Any suggestions on brands/OS types that are close to turn-on-and-go?’ The Google TV platform allows you to immediately tune into the last-used HDMI input. That means every time you turn on your TV, you’re looking at whatever is connected, not the Google TV OS. The Google TV OS remains in the background, only appearing when switching inputs or checking for updates (if auto-updates are disabled). You can also set up Google TVs to operate without logging into your Google account. This doesn’t change the appearance, but it prevents login. I know Sony and TCL TVs allow this, and I’m pretty sure Hisense TVs do as well. You have options!
Mike asks: ‘Which Bravia is best? I’m having trouble deciding between the Bravia 7 and 9, and they seem very similar in performance. I’m tempted to get an 85-inch Bravia 7 or a 77-inch Bravia 8. Very clever, Mikey! I’d love to see a comparison between the Bravia 7, 8, and 9.’ The performance differences between the Bravia 7 and 9 will be subtle for most viewers. The price difference between the Bravia 7 and Bravia 9 will be hard to justify based solely on picture quality differences. However, the Bravia 9 not only minimizes blooming but also excels in shadow detail (most of the time). It enhances HDR highlights while maintaining contrast better than the 7. It’s nuanced for most, so the Bravia 7 would be the better choice. You attempted to trick me by asking if I’d personally buy a 77-inch Bravia 8 OLED or an 85-inch Bravia 7. That’s both an OLED-versus-mini-LED question and a big TV-versus-bigger TV question. My preferences are not your preferences, but you’re trying to trick me, so I’d go for the Bravia 8.
Nick from Birmingham, Alabama, gets his question answered because I was born in Birmingham. Yes, we’re getting random today. Nick recently built a new house, and with a recent marriage, he adopted two cats, which he assures me he loves dearly. However, he notes that the dust, cat hair, and paw prints are dirtying his screen more than ever. Dusting isn’t enough anymore, and he wants advice on the best way to clean his TV screen without damaging it or leaving streaks. Nick, you’re in luck! One of my most successful videos is dedicated to cleaning your TV screen. Just be prepared to see a very different-looking Caleb in that video. Yes, that’s really me.
Giveaways: Enter to win It’s giveaway time! We’re celebrating Fluance’s 25th anniversary, and as part of this joint celebration, we’re giving away a Fluance RT81 turntable. We’re also giving away a TCL QLED TV! Here’s the best part: the winner gets to choose between a 75-inch QM7 or a 65-inch QM8! Since Fluance is headquartered in Ontario, Canada, the RT-81 turntable prize is available to both U.S. and Canadian residents. Unfortunately, due to shipping and customs restrictions, the TV is only available to U.S. residents. Thank you so much for watching and celebrating this little milestone with us, everyone!
