Press Kit
Brand assets, product facts, boilerplate copy, screenshots, and media notes for CLU VIEW, VU1 Dial Controller, and Spec Card Generator. If you need something that isn’t here, the press contact is at the bottom of the page.
[ QUICK FACTS ]
| Developer | Mr.Clu, solo developer |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2025 |
| Model | Free public tools, community funded via Patreon |
| Platform | Windows 10 & 11 (64-bit); CLU VIEW also ships for Linux (x86-64) |
| Products | CLU VIEW • VU1 Dial Controller • Spec Card Generator |
| Price | Free. No trial, no feature gates, no subscription. |
| Telemetry | None. No accounts, no cloud sync, no Mr.Clu analytics. |
| Versions | CLU VIEW NOVA v2.0.4 • VU1 Controller v1.5.0 • Spec Card v2.0.0 |
| Website | mr-clu.com |
| Community | Discord • Patreon |
| Press contact | by.mr.clu@gmail.com |
[ ABOUT MR.CLU ]
Mr.Clu is a solo developer building free desktop tools for PC builders and hardware enthusiasts. The rule behind every tool is that your machine is yours: no accounts, no cloud sync, no Mr.Clu telemetry, and no paywalls on released features.
The current public catalogue covers three underserved problems in the PC hobby space: building a sensor panel display, controlling Streacom VU1 analog dials, and generating shareable hardware spec cards. Each tool exists because existing solutions were either paywalled, technically complex, or didn’t fit the community’s workflow.
Development is sustained by a small community of Patreon supporters who fund code signing certificates, hosting, test hardware, and the time to ship updates. There are no investors and no publisher.
[ PRODUCTS ]
Windows 10 & 11, Linux • v2.0.4 • Free
FREE
CLU VIEW is a free sensor panel and hardware monitoring dashboard for Windows and Linux. Users build real-time displays using 14 draggable widget types on a freeform canvas, apply visual effects and post-processing filters, save up to 50 profiles, and display results on a secondary screen, a small HDMI panel inside their PC case, or as a transparent desktop overlay. No subscription, and nothing to script.
Key specifications
- ▸14 widget types (gauges, bars, graphs, text, frames, images)
- ▸216 built-in widget styles
- ▸19 per-widget visual effects
- ▸11 full-screen post-processing filters
- ▸Up to 50 dashboard profiles
- ▸Profile import / export for community sharing
- ▸Custom image gauge & bar creator
- ▸Rules engine for automated profile switching
- ▸Panel Mode + transparent overlay mode
- ▸Zero telemetry: only network contact is an optional update check
Sensors monitored
CPU usage & temperature • GPU usage & temperature • RAM • Disk read/write • Network speed • Fan speeds • Voltages • Power draw • Battery • FPS
Windows 10 & 11 • v1.5.0 • Free
STABLE
Note for reviewers: Requires Streacom VU1 physical analog dials connected via USB hub. This is a standalone replacement for the original VU1 Server. Do not run both simultaneously.
VU1 Dial Controller is a free standalone desktop application for controlling Streacom VU1 analog dials via USB. It replaces the original VU1 Server (VUServer.exe) and extends it with hardware monitoring, real-time audio visualisation, per-dial RGB backlight control, custom e-ink dial face images, named profiles, and a rules engine. No AIDA64 or paid software required.
Key specifications
- ▸Hardware monitoring: CPU, GPU, RAM, disk, network, FPS
- ▸Real-time FFT audio visualiser (bass, mid, treble)
- ▸Per-dial RGB backlight with colour presets
- ▸Custom e-ink dial face images (up to 20 MB)
- ▸Named profiles with per-dial configurations
- ▸Rules engine (thresholds, processes, schedules)
- ▸Optional weather (Open-Meteo; only network activity)
- ▸Dual UI themes (dark “CLU” / light “VU1”)
Windows • v2.0.0 • Free
Spec Card Generator auto-detects a PC’s CPU, GPU, RAM, storage, motherboard, display, and OS, then renders a spec card image from 32 visual themes with 128 colour variants. The result can be saved as PNG, copied to clipboard, posted to Reddit, X and Facebook, or pasted straight into Instagram and Discord. Basic hardware detection needs no administrator rights. Full sensors require administrator access and the optional PawnIO driver. Network access is used for version checks and accepted updates.
Key specifications
- ▸Auto-detects CPU, GPU, RAM, storage, motherboard, display, OS
- ▸32 themes with six layouts each
- ▸128 colour variants (4 per theme)
- ▸Wide and Full Sheet include extended details
- ▸PNG export and one-click clipboard copy
- ▸Sharing to Reddit, X, Facebook, Instagram, Discord
- ▸Basic detection needs no admin; full sensors require consent
- ▸Zero telemetry; version checks and accepted update downloads
[ STORY ANGLES ]
Suggested angles for journalists, YouTubers, and tech writers.
› ANGLE 01
The free alternative problem
AIDA64 Extreme costs US$65.95 for three PCs, and updates stop after 12 months unless you renew. Many buyers want only the sensor panel. CLU VIEW does the sensor panel piece for free, with a visual editor and a library of panel templates.
› ANGLE 02
Hardware niche: VU1 dials
Streacom VU1 analog dials are a passionate corner of the PC modding community. VU1 Dial Controller adds audio FFT, RGB, and automation the official app never had.
› ANGLE 03
Privacy-first utility software
Plenty of system monitoring tools phone home. Every Mr.Clu product ships with a documented zero-telemetry policy: no analytics, no accounts. Rare for the category.
› ANGLE 04
The solo developer model
One developer, three free tools, funded through Patreon. The angle is how a tight scope and a motivated community keep it running.
› ANGLE 05
The PC spec card problem
Sharing specs on Reddit means dxdiag dumps or typing everything manually. Spec Card Generator solves this with one-click auto-detection and a shareable PNG.
› ANGLE 06
Secondary screen culture
A growing sub-genre of PC building involves dedicated sensor displays: USB screens, small HDMI panels inside cases. CLU VIEW is built specifically for this.
[ BOILERPLATE COPY ]
Ready-to-use copy in multiple lengths. Use as-is or adapt to your format.
One-liner • ~15 words
Mr.Clu makes free Windows tools for PC enthusiasts: CLU VIEW sensor panels, VU1 dial software, and Spec Card Generator.
Short description • ~60 words
Mr.Clu is a solo developer building free Windows desktop tools for PC builders and hardware enthusiasts. Current products include CLU VIEW, a drag-and-drop sensor panel and hardware monitoring dashboard; VU1 Dial Controller, free software for Streacom VU1 analog dials; and Spec Card Generator, which auto-detects PC hardware and creates shareable spec card images. All tools are free, require no accounts, and include no Mr.Clu telemetry.
Full description • ~130 words
Mr.Clu is a solo developer building free, local-first desktop tools for PC builders and hardware enthusiasts on Windows. The project launched in 2025 and is sustained by a community of Patreon supporters. CLU VIEW is a real-time sensor panel and hardware monitoring dashboard. Users build custom displays with 14 widget types, 216 styles, 19 visual effects, and 11 post-processing filters, then run them on a secondary screen, a small panel inside their PC case, or as a desktop overlay. VU1 Dial Controller provides free software for Streacom VU1 analog dials, adding hardware monitoring, audio visualisation, RGB backlighting, custom e-ink dial faces, and automation the official app doesn't offer. Spec Card Generator auto-detects CPU, GPU, RAM, storage, and more, then generates a shareable spec card image from 32 themes with 128 colour variants. All tools are free with no feature gates, no accounts, and no Mr.Clu telemetry.
CLU VIEW
CLU VIEW is free sensor panel software for Windows. Build real-time hardware monitoring dashboards with drag-and-drop widgets, visual effects, and post-processing filters, then display them on your main monitor or a dedicated screen inside your case.
VU1 Dial Controller
VU1 Dial Controller is free software for Streacom VU1 analog dials: hardware monitoring, real-time audio visualisation, RGB backlighting, custom dial face images, and automation. No AIDA64 required.
Spec Card Generator
Spec Card Generator auto-detects your PC hardware and generates a shareable spec card image from 32 themes with 128 colour variants. Save as PNG, post to Reddit or X, or paste straight into Discord.
[ ASSETS ]
All assets are hosted on mr-clu.com. Right-click to save. You may use these in articles, reviews, and videos with attribution to Mr.Clu or mr-clu.com where practical.
Logos
mrclu-logo.pngcluview-logo.pngvu1-logo.pngspeccard-logo.pngCLU VIEW screenshots
VU1 Dial Controller screenshots
Spec Card Generator screenshots
Example builds with illustrative sensor readings. Click an image for the original PNG.
MR.CLU theme in Noir, Portrait layout, showing a sample AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 build
Sticker theme in Bubblegum, Square layout, showing a sample AMD Ryzen 5 7600 and AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT build
Matrix theme in Green, Landscape layout, showing a sample Intel Core i5-14600K and Intel Arc B580 build
Circuit theme in Green, Wide layout, showing a sample AMD Ryzen Threadripper 7970X and NVIDIA RTX 4500 Ada Generation build
Racing theme in Red, Compact layout, showing a sample AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 build
Monolith theme in Ember, Landscape layout, showing a sample Intel Core i9-14900K and AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX build
Arcade theme in Sunset, Portrait layout, showing a sample AMD Ryzen 5 5600G and AMD Radeon Vega 7 build
SPEC CARD app showing the MR.CLU Noir theme, the theme gallery and layout controls
Section visibility and ordering
Colour and six layout sizes
Card heading
Your tag
Usage permissions
Use screenshots, logos, and video in articles, reviews, YouTube videos, and social posts. Credit Mr.Clu or mr-clu.com where practical.
Crop and resize screenshots freely. Light colour correction is permitted.
Translate boilerplate copy for non-English publications.
Do not alter logos or product names. Do not use assets to imply endorsement of unrelated products.
[ BRAND GUIDELINES ]
Name and capitalisation
| Entity | Correct | Incorrect |
|---|---|---|
| Developer name | Mr.Clu | MrClu • mr.clu • MRCLU • Mr Clu |
| Sensor panel app | CLU VIEW | Cluview • Clu View • cluview |
| Dial app | VU1 Dial Controller | VU1 controller • VU1 app |
| Spec card app | Spec Card Generator | Speccard • spec card gen |
| Dial hardware (third-party) | Streacom VU1 | VU-1 • Stracom |
Colours
#40DCA5
#00C8FF
#A855F7
#F59E0B
#080808
#777777
Typeface
The heading and interface text uses VT323, a monospace bitmap typeface that mimics a CRT terminal. The brand aesthetic is terminal / HUD / retro-computing, not generic tech. In editorial coverage, reflect this with language that’s direct and unpretentious rather than startup press-release framing.
[ TECHNICAL NOTES ]
Context to help reviewers and journalists accurately cover common technical questions.
Windows SmartScreen: context for coverage
Both CLU VIEW and VU1 Dial Controller will trigger Windows SmartScreen and browser download warnings on first run. This is expected and unrelated to the software's safety. Two reasons cause this: 1. No code signing certificate. Certificates cost hundreds of dollars per year. Without one, new applications are flagged as "Unknown publisher" regardless of their content. This is the same warning GPU-Z and CPU-Z triggered before they accumulated reputation. 2. Hardware sensor kernel driver. CLU VIEW and VU1 Dial Controller use LibreHardwareMonitor (open source) with either PawnIO (signed) or WinRing0 (legacy) to read CPU and GPU temperatures. Any application using a kernel driver will trigger additional scrutiny. Spec Card Generator does not use a kernel driver and does not require admin privileges. To proceed past SmartScreen: "More info" → "Run anyway."
Privacy and data handling
Settings stored locally in AppData. No cloud sync. No accounts.
No Mr.Clu telemetry or analytics in any product. The only network activity is an update check on start-up in all three apps, CLU VIEW’s Template Store while it is open, and VU1’s optional weather.
Hardware data never leaves the user’s machine except via actions the user explicitly initiates (saving a PNG, clicking a share button).
Full licence attributions: Licenses page
Distribution format
CLU VIEW ships ready to run: a standard NSIS installer on Windows (.exe) and .deb, .rpm, .AppImage and Arch .pkg.tar.zst packages on Linux, with no extraction step. VU1 Dial Controller and Spec Card Generator are still packaged as .7z archives containing a Windows installer, so 7-Zip (free) or WinRAR is required to extract those two; direct installers for them are planned.
[ PRESS CONTACT ]
For press enquiries, review access requests, interview requests, or additional assets, email is the fastest route. Response time is typically within 48 hours.
Press & media
by.mr.clu@gmail.com
Community & quick questions
discord.gg/ZzA2SdedYG. The developer is active daily.
Support the project
patreon.com/byMRCLU. Funds code signing, hosting, and development.