Author: taternews

📰 New article from TorrentFreak

Copyright Scammers Weaponized Meta’s Rights Manager with Backdating Exploit

https://torrentfreak.com/copyright-scammers-weaponized-metas-rights-manager-with-backdating-exploit/

It turns out Meta’s copyright enforcement tool has a glaring blind spot: time travel. Scammers in India have discovered a clever loophole in Facebook and Instagram’s Rights Manager system, using a simple “Edit Post” feature to backdate stolen content. By uploading pirated videos to old, dormant accounts, they trick the platform into believing the infringing material is years old. This allows them to claim ownership, monetize the original creator’s work, and even issue takedown strikes against the actual owners.

The results are chaotic. Financial educator Pushkar Raj Thakur had 36 videos removed globally despite being the rightful owner. His lawsuit against Meta highlights a disturbing lack of due diligence; the platform acted on false claims without verifying metadata or the claimant’s history. While Meta has offered some assurances to restore his content, Thakur is seeking significant damages and demanding stricter safeguards like KYC checks and timestamp protections.

The legal pressure is mounting fast. Another creator, Neeraj Joshi, secured a court order forcing Meta to hand over IP logs and subscriber data to identify the bad actors. Meanwhile, a third public interest litigation is challenging the very IT rules that allow platforms to disable accounts without notice. Meta’s silence is deafening, especially since its last transparency report is over two years old. It’s clear that an automated system designed to protect creators is currently being weaponized against them, and Meta needs to patch this loophole—and update its reporting—stat.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Retro Handhelds Weekly: Anbernic RG SP, MagicX Mini Dream, Pepsiman, and More

https://retrohandhelds.gg/retro-handhelds-weekly-edition-109/

Grab your coffee, retro fans—we’ve got a lot to unpack this week. The handheld scene is moving fast, and if you aren’t paying attention, you might miss the next big thing.

First up, Anbernic is keeping us guessing. While everyone else is focused on the Retroid Pocket Nova, the Anbernic RG SP just dropped a gameplay showcase. It’s flying under the radar, but that 3.3-inch OLED MagicX Mini Dream is officially here, raising plenty of questions about its actual specs. On the FPGA front, the Game Bub is finally “shipping soon,” which is music to backers’ ears after a long wait.

Software news is just as spicy. Xbox is bringing original Xbox titles to PC, and surprisingly, Pepsiman has been recompiled for your browser. Meanwhile, Nintendo is sticking to its guns, denying tariff refunds to consumers in a legal battle that’s getting increasingly messy.

For those ready to spend, the “Score Big Sale” is live on AliExpress. Use codes like FSUS35 for big discounts on high-end rigs like the AYN Odin 3, or grab a budget-friendly TrimUI Brick Pro for under $73. It’s a great time to upgrade your pocket arsenal.

📰 New article from TorrentFreak

Meta Confirms ‘Data Engineer’ is Behind Key IP Address in Adult Film Piracy Lawsuit

https://torrentfreak.com/meta-confirms-data-engineer-is-behind-key-ip-address-in-adult-film-piracy-lawsuit/

Meta is fighting a $446 million copyright lawsuit, and the twist? It’s apparently not a corporate conspiracy, but a family drama.

Strike 3 Holdings and Counterlife Media accused the tech giant of downloading thousands of adult films via BitTorrent to train its AI models. Meta’s response? “Not us, but our employee’s son.” The company confirmed that the IP address in question belonged to a Comcast subscriber whose adult son worked as a Meta Data Engineer. Meta argues the torrenting was personal activity on a home network, unrelated to any official data collection efforts.

Here’s the kicker: Meta admits to using BitTorrent to download public text datasets for its LLaMA models, but insists those files were never adult content. To dodge liability, they’re making two bold legal moves. First, they claim any file fragments uploaded during the process were de minimis—too small to count as a usable copy. Second, they’re questioning Strike 3’s copyright validity, suggesting the films might infringe on other works.

With mediation looming in August and a trial set for 2028, this is shaping up to be a landmark case for AI training ethics. Watch this space, because how courts view “tiny fragments” of data could change everything.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Pepsiman Recompiled Lets You Play This Cult-Classic in Your Browser

https://retrohandhelds.gg/pepsiman-recompiled-lets-you-play-this-cult-classic-in-your-browser/

Remember Pepsiman? That hyper-caffeinated, soda-loving mascot who ran through levels with the desperate energy of a man who just missed the last train home? For years, this PS1 oddity lived on in the shadows of retro gaming lore. But thanks to a dedicated community effort, he’s finally sprinting back into the spotlight via your web browser.

The newly released Pepsiman Recompiled project is a love letter to preservation. By recompiling the original code, developers have stripped away the hardware dependency, allowing you to play the game directly online. It’s not just a port, either; it’s a full modernization package. You get buttery-smooth 60 FPS, crisp 16:9 widescreen support, and persistent saves that actually work. Plus, you can ditch the clunky controller and play with a mouse and keyboard if you prefer.

Here’s the catch: you still need your legally acquired game files. Once you point the browser to your local directory, the iconic startup video kicks in, and you’re ready to race. The project even includes a “Community Records” board, turning solitary play into a competitive sprint against the global leaderboard.

Whether you’re a nostalgic veteran or just curious about why a soda mascot has a cult following, this is the easiest way to dive in yet. Just make sure you have a strong stomach for sugar—and maybe a quick reflex.

📰 New article from RetroRGB

Reflex Prism DAC – New Version Released

https://retrorgb.com/reflex-prism-dac-new-version-released.html

The Reflex Prism DAC from MiSTerAddons has finally restocked, and while the hardware hasn’t changed, the experience just got a whole lot smarter. The big news? A new “Web Configurator.” No more fumbling with tiny side switches or cracking open the chassis to tweak settings. You can now toggle options and set custom EDIDs directly from your PC. It’s a quality-of-life upgrade that makes this $80 HDMI-to-analog converter significantly more user-friendly.

So, what’s the catch? The reviewer is torn between appreciation and frustration. The new software setup means the Prism can mimic an Analogue DAC almost perfectly, giving you RGB, VGA, YPbPr, S-Video, and stereo audio. However, composite video remains stubbornly unsupported. For retro gamers with composite-only CRTs, this is a glaring oversight. There’s also a mysterious “Dynamic S-Video” mode that lacks clear documentation, leaving users guessing about its actual function.

It’s a classic early-adopter dilemma. MiSTerAddons is clearly pushing for better features, but that means previous owners might need to swap PCBs to access the new web config. Since there’s no clear trade-in program yet, you’re stuck deciding if the convenience is worth the hassle. If you can live without composite, this is a solid, well-priced tool. If not, you might want to wait for clearer docs or a hardware revision.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Game Bub is Finally ‘Shipping Soon’ and You Can Still Pre-order One

https://retrohandhelds.gg/game-bub-is-finally-shipping-soon-and-you-can-still-pre-order-one/

If you’ve been waiting for the Game Bub to arrive, take a deep breath. The wait is officially over. The team behind this FPGA retro handheld just announced that production units have left the factory and are currently en route to a warehouse in Texas. For backers, this means your device is practically on your doorstep.

But here’s the kicker: if you missed the initial crowdfunding wave, you might still get lucky. There are reportedly a few hundred “unclaimed units” sitting in that shipment, ready for new owners. The team hints this could be your last chance to snag one, so don’t sleep on it.

Why care about the Game Bub? It’s a serious contender in the retro handheld space. Priced at $269, it’s only $30 more than the popular Analogue Pocket. It features a 4-inch 720×480 screen, a powerful AMD Xilinx chip, and over 14 hours of battery life. It’s designed to play original cartridges on modern hardware, appealing to purists who want authenticity without the hassle of emulation.

With both Black and White models currently out of stock elsewhere, the Game Bub is looking like a viable alternative for cartridge collectors. It’s also a community-backed project, which adds a nice layer of support to the purchase. If you’re ready to revisit your childhood gaming library, now’s the time to check if those remaining units are still available.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Anbernic RG SP Gets Shown Off in First Gameplay Showcase

https://retrohandhelds.gg/anbernic-rg-sp-gets-shown-off-in-first-gameplay-showcase/

Anbernic is keeping the RG SP under wraps, but they certainly aren’t shy about showing it off. While everyone else is hyped for the Retroid Pocket Nova, a fresh gameplay video just dropped, proving the RG SP is ready to play nice with some serious retro titles.

The showcase is a solid five minutes of pure nostalgia and performance proof. We see the device running classics like The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap and Pokémon Emerald without breaking a sweat. But the real test? Heavier hitters. Anbernic demonstrates smooth performance with Soul Calibur on Dreamcast and Harvest Moon DS: Grand Bazaar. It even handles the Stardew Valley port seamlessly.

Why does this matter? Because the RG SP runs on the Allwinner H700 chip, the same powerhouse that defined 2024 handhelds. This is huge news for modders, suggesting community firmware like muOS and KNULLI will likely support it soon.

There’s a weird moment where Cuphead is streamed from a PC, which raises eyebrows about Linux-based handheld streaming habits, but it’s a cool tech flex. The big question remains: when and how much? With two videos in a week, release details can’t be far away. Keep your fingers crossed.

📰 New article from TorrentFreak

X and Music Publishers Settle Three-Year Copyright Clash After SpaceX IPO

https://torrentfreak.com/x-and-music-publishers-settle-three-year-copyright-clash-after-spacex-ipo/

The three-year copyright war between X and the music industry just quietly ended. No verdicts, no public apologies, and definitely no standing ovations.

Universal Music, Sony, EMI, and the NMPA had accused X of “breeding” mass infringement, claiming the platform ignored hundreds of thousands of takedown notices. X fired back, alleging the publishers weaponized DMCA complaints to coerce licensing deals. It was a messy, high-stakes battle that dragged on for years.

So, why the sudden silence? Both sides filed identical joint dismissals last week. The legal landscape had shifted dramatically. A recent Supreme Court ruling weakened the publishers’ contributory infringement claims, while X’s own antitrust suit looked increasingly thin. Fighting further was just burning cash.

There’s likely a financial motive, too. This settlement clears the air for SpaceX’s recent IPO. With X listed as a significant litigation risk in SpaceX’s SEC filings, resolving this liability before the first quarterly earnings report and insider stock sales makes perfect sense. It’s a classic case of settling up to keep investors happy.

Now, we’re left wondering: Is there a secret licensing deal in the works, or just a mutual desire to move on? Until we see more details in future filings, the only thing resolved is the drama.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Retroid Pocket Nova First Look with Stubbs, Retro Game Corps, Rob the Retro Tech Dad, and Team Retrogue

https://retrohandhelds.gg/retroid-pocket-nova-first-look-livestream/

The retro handheld wars are heating up, and Retroid just dropped a new contender: the Pocket Nova. Before it hits the general public, a squad of tech influencers got their hands on the device for a lively unboxing and review session. If you’re curious about whether this little gadget lives up to the hype, here’s the quick rundown.

The consensus? It’s promising, but not without its quirks. The crew pitted the Nova against rivals like the RG476H and the Retroid Pocket 6, finding it competitive in size and performance. PS2 emulation via ARMSX2 looked surprisingly smooth, with only one stumble out of fifteen attempts. That’s a strong showing for Android emulation.

However, it’s not all perfect. The “Ice Blue” model drew some criticism for sharp button edges, though the black version tested by Stubbs avoided this issue entirely. There are also minor software bugs with the dual-screen add-on, but Retroid appears to be addressing these before retail shipping.

Bottom line: No earth-shattering flaws, just typical early-adopter growing pains. If you’re eyeing a purchase, act fast—the first batch comes with a free bumped-back shell and screen protector. Keep an eye out for more reviews from Zu and the Retro Handhelds team coming soon.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

The MagicX Mini Dream Is ‘Official’, but It Raises Plenty of Questions

https://retrohandhelds.gg/the-magicx-mini-dream-is-official-but-it-raises-plenty-of-questions/

MagicX is back, and they’re calling it the “Mini Dream.” If you’ve been following the handheld scene, you might remember the Mini Zero 28 getting the axe or the teases about the Mini40. Well, those are history. The Mini Dream is officially here, featuring a custom 3.3-inch OLED panel and a sleek, full-glass front that matches the shell. It sounds pretty, but don’t get too excited just yet.

The catch? We know almost nothing about what’s actually powering this device. MagicX has released a price range of $80 to $180, which strongly suggests two different models: a budget Linux version and a pricier Android one. It’s a classic Anbernic-style strategy—offer a cheap entry point and a premium option with better internals. But without knowing the processor, that $180 price tag feels like a guess at this point.

The device is still in the early stages, meaning we’re in for another long drip-feed of updates. While it’s nice to see community input shaping the design, the lack of concrete specs is frustrating. We’ll have to wait for “key milestones” before we know if this dream is actually worth waking up for. Until then, keep your expectations low and your wallet closed.