Author: taternews

📰 New article from RetroRGB

RGR EZBuff: Open Source Disc Buffer/Resurfacer

https://retrorgb.com/rgr-ezbuff-open-source-disc-buffer-resurfacer.html

Tired of watching your retro game collection turn into expensive plastic coasters? There’s finally a solution that doesn’t require selling a kidney. Dennis van den Broek has just released the RGR EZBuff, a fully open-source disc buffer and resurfacer that’s as easy on the wallet as it is effective.

The beauty of this project lies in its accessibility. You don’t need a factory to build one; just grab some affordable, off-the-shelf parts and print the enclosure using a standard home 3D printer and a single kilogram of filament. It’s a win for DIY enthusiasts who want professional-grade results without the professional-grade price tag.

Safety first, though. As with any disc repair, start slow. Dennis advises practicing on cheap, disposable CDs before touching anything sentimental. Let the unit cool between sessions, and remember that some discs are simply beyond saving. You can swap felt pads for high-grit sandpaper if you need heavy-duty resurfacing, but keep those processes separate to avoid contamination.

Why does this matter? Because the current market is bleak. Professional kits often cost $2,000 and charge per-disc fees, while cheaper alternatives require constant, costly part replacements. The EZBuff breaks this cycle, offering a sustainable, affordable path for retro game stores and collectors alike to keep their libraries spinning.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

AYANEO Pocket Vert Review: Premium Meets Portable, With a Dash of Disappointment

https://retrohandhelds.gg/ayaneo-pocket-vert-review/

If you thought the AYANEO Pocket DMG was the undisputed king of vertical handhelds, grab your pitchforks—or maybe just your wallet. The Pocket Vert has arrived, promising to dethrone the incumbent with a design that screams “premium” and a screen so sharp it’ll make your eyes hurt.

AYANEO went all-in on aesthetics here. We’re talking a CNC-milled metal body, an all-glass front, and unmarked crystal buttons. It feels substantial (325 grams of pure heft) and looks absolutely stunning. The 3.5-inch LCD boasts a mind-bending 615 PPI, meaning Game Boy games look impossibly crisp. If you’re chasing that retro pixel-perfect glow, this thing delivers.

But here’s the rub: the Vert is tiny. At 3.5 inches, it’s a pocket-sized marvel that leaves little room for error. Worse yet, it ditches the analog sticks entirely. Instead, you get “MagicTouch” sensors that are overly sensitive and frustratingly imprecise. Sure, the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 can handle PS2 emulation, but trying to navigate 3D worlds without actual sticks? That’s a recipe for rage-quitting.

The Verdict: The Pocket Vert is a beautiful, expensive toy. It’s perfect for 2D classics and showing off at parties, but for serious gaming, the lack of analog controls and the cramped screen keep it from truly surpassing the Pocket DMG. It’s premium, alright—but is it worth the upgrade? Maybe not.

📰 New article from RetroRGB

Game Informer Magazine Archive

https://retrorgb.com/game-informer-magazine-archive.html

Remember when getting the latest game scoop meant actually waiting for a physical magazine to arrive in the mail? Well, nostalgia just got a major upgrade. Game Informer has officially digitized its entire archive, making every single issue from that glorious Fall 1991 debut available for free online.

Yes, you read that right. No paywalls, no subscription fees. You just need to create a free account, which takes about as long as it does to press “start” on a cartridge. Once you’re in, you’re looking at high-quality scans of decades of gaming history, right at your fingertips.

Why does this matter? Beyond the obvious joy of reliving the excitement of those early days, this archive serves as a crucial time capsule. It preserves the original critical consensus of games from the 90s and 00s, offering researchers and fans alike a genuine look at how titles were received upon release.

But let’s be honest, most of us will probably spend our time hunting down the Funkoland trade-in lists. Remember those? Staring at that mini-newspaper, calculating exactly how much profit we’d lose to trade in our old favorites for something shiny and new? It’s a weirdly specific fondness, but it’s there. Whether you’re digging for historical context or just want a blast from the past, the archive is open and ready for you to browse.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

The Fix is In? New Class Action Lawsuit Claims RAM Supply Was Intentionally Restricted to Raise Prices

https://retrohandhelds.gg/the-fix-is-in-new-class-action-lawsuit-claims-ram-supply-was-intentionally-restricted-to-raise-prices/

Remember that sinking feeling when you see your favorite tech product jump in price? You’re not imagining things, and you might have a lawsuit to thank for it. A new class action suit filed in California alleges that the “Big Three” of RAM manufacturing—Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron—colluded to artificially restrict supply. The result? A staggering 700% price hike over the last four years.

The plaintiffs claim these companies intentionally cut production of standard DRAM while pivoting resources toward high-bandwidth memory. By locking up conventional supply, they forced the entire industry to raise prices just to stay afloat. It’s not just about your next PC upgrade; this “RAMageddon” is the hidden tax behind everything from console price hikes at Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo to the astronomical costs of new handhelds like the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+.

Even Apple isn’t immune, with recent price bumps across its lineup, including the MacBook Neo and the humble HomePod Mini. While the AI boom certainly drove demand, this lawsuit suggests a darker narrative: a coordinated “long game” designed to target consumers in the 2025–2026 window. Whether this legal challenge can break the oligopoly remains to be seen, but for now, we’re all stuck paying the premium.

📰 New article from RetroRGB

An Inside Look at the GameTank

https://retrorgb.com/an-inside-look-at-the-gametank.html

Remember when building a computer meant soldering through-hole components and praying to the silicon gods? Well, the GameTank is here to remind us that nostalgia is a powerful drug. I recently spent a few months diving into this unique project, and let’s just say my soldering iron has never been hotter.

At its heart, the GameTank runs on the classic WDC 65C02 processor, the modern CMOS successor to the legendary MOS 6502. But don’t let the vintage architecture fool you. While it sports a modest 128×128 pixel display, the graphics are surprisingly sharp. It achieves this by using an 8-bit indexed color palette that supports up to 200 unique colors per frame. The real magic? It pulls off all this visual trickery using nothing but old-school 74-series logic chips—no FPGAs or modern microcontrollers required.

Audio gets its own dedicated 14MHz 65C02 co-processor, acting as a 4-voice FM synthesizer. Think of it as a slimmed-down version of the chips found in classic arcade cabinets, allowing you to compose music in MIDI and feed it straight into your games.

If you’ve ever wanted to code for hardware that feels like a time capsule but plays like a dream, this is your ticket. It’s not just a console; it’s a masterclass in retro engineering.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

AYN Thor, Odin 3, and Odin 2 Portal Are All Getting a Price Bump This Week

https://retrohandhelds.gg/ayn-thor-odin-3-and-odin-2-portal-are-all-getting-a-price-bump-this-week/

Another week, another price hike. If you’ve been eyeing an AYN handheld, brace yourself: the brand is raising prices on the Thor, Odin 3, and Odin 2 Portal starting July 3.

This isn’t just a small tweak. Most models are seeing a $10 bump, but if you’re hunting for the high-end Thor Max with 1TB of storage, expect to pay $30 more. It’s a frustrating trend, but probably not surprising. With global memory and storage shortages predicted to last until 2028, these costs are likely here to stay. We’re just hoping these devices don’t become luxury items we can no longer afford.

The good news? You have a tiny window to beat the increase. AliExpress’s Choice Day sale kicks off on July 1. If you can snag a deal then, you might save enough to offset the coming price jump. Just don’t wait until Friday, or your wallet will definitely feel the pinch.

For now, the best strategy is simple: if you’re on the fence, buy before the weekend. If you can wait, hold out for the sale. Either way, don’t expect prices to drop anytime soon.

📰 New article from TorrentFreak

European ISPs Want Rightsholders Held Accountable for Overblocking Damage

https://torrentfreak.com/european-isps-want-rightsholders-held-accountable-for-overblocking-damage/

Ever feel like turning off the Wi-Fi is the only way to escape the internet’s growing pains? You’re not alone. European ISPs are officially sounding the alarm, arguing that the current war on piracy is causing more collateral damage than it prevents.

In a fresh filing to the European Commission, the industry group EuroISPA pointed out a glaring irony: the Commission’s own review showed that blocking measures have had “limited positive effects” on reducing piracy. Yet, governments keep doubling down. The real issue isn’t a lack of laws; it’s how poorly they’re enforced.

The result? A chaotic landscape of overblocking that hurts everyday users. In Italy, aggressive IP-level blocking accidentally locked out thousands of legitimate domains and disrupted email services. In Spain, LaLiga’s blocking orders hit shared IP addresses, leaving millions unable to access banking apps and payment platforms. Even DNS providers like Cisco are pulling out of markets like France and Belgium rather than comply with these broad orders.

EuroISPA’s solution is simple but bold: hold rightsholders accountable. They argue that copyright owners should face financial penalties for the collateral damage caused by their overly broad blocking requests. With some countries requiring blocks to be implemented in under 30 minutes, the burden falls hardest on smaller providers. It’s a clear call for proportionality before the EU expands these powers further.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Retro Handhelds Weekly: Retroid Pocket Nova, SteamOS 3.8, AYANEO Drama, and More

https://retrohandhelds.gg/retro-handhelds-weekly-edition-105/

Grab your coffee, because the retro handheld world is moving faster than a Game Boy Advance SP closing its clamshell. This week’s news cycle was absolutely packed, starting with Retroid dropping the Pocket Nova. Pre-orders are live, and for under $230, you can snag an 8GB model that looks ready to dominate your backpack. It’s a snappy release, and honestly, the price-to-performance ratio is hard to ignore.

But it’s not all smooth sailing. AYANEO had a bit of a meltdown over the Pocket Micro 2 selling out in seconds. After facing the wrath of disappointed fans, they’re now scrambling to gauge interest for a restock. Meanwhile, TrimUI’s new Hammer Pro U is seeing a price hike that makes it harder to recommend, leaving us to wonder if inflation has finally hit the budget handheld sector.

On the software front, the biggest headline is Valve’s SteamOS 3.8 release. The takeaway? You don’t need to pay over $1,000 for a Steam Machine. Just install the OS on your existing rig. It’s a massive win for budget gamers who want that desktop experience without the hardware tax. With the Steam Summer Sale looming, now is the perfect time to build a portable library.

📰 New article from RetroRGB

Zaparoo Frontend: Upgraded MiSTer GUI

https://retrorgb.com/zaparoo-frontend-upgraded-mister-gui.html

Tired of wrestling with MiSTer’s default interface? You’re not alone. The FPGA community just got a major convenience upgrade with the release of the Zaparoo Frontend, an enhanced GUI designed to make day-to-day emulation feel a bit more like a modern console experience.

Developer Wizzo has crafted this interface to look sharp on both modern HD displays and retro CRTs. It intelligently adjusts its layout to maximize screen space for each resolution, so you don’t have to sacrifice aesthetics for compatibility. Plus, frequent contributor theypsilon has baked in the “update_all” function directly into the interface. This means you can launch cores and update your system without constantly hitting Escape to access the main menu—a small tweak that saves significant friction.

Installation is straightforward, especially if you use Anime0t4ku’s free MiSTer Companion tool on your PC. It’s a fantastic utility for managing your FPGA rig over your local network, and it makes dropping in this new frontend a breeze. Just a heads-up: CRT users need to connect to a flat-panel TV first to enable the 240p-compatible mode via the settings menu. It’s a quick setup step to ensure you don’t panic when the screen goes black initially.

While it’s still a work in progress, Zaparoo Frontend is already proving to be a serious contender for your primary interface. If you value ease of use over raw customization, it’s definitely worth a spin.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

The AYANEO Pocket Micro 2 Launch Was Over Before It Really Began, But There’s Still Hope

https://retrohandhelds.gg/the-ayaneo-pocket-micro-2-launch-was-over-before-it-really-began-but-theres-still-hope/

If you were hoping to snap up the new AYANEO Pocket Micro 2, you’re likely staring at a “sold out” screen right now. And honestly? Don’t feel too bad about missing out. The launch was less of a traditional release and more of a blink-and-you-miss-it flash sale that wrapped up almost before the hype train even left the station.

Here’s the deal: AYANEO opened pre-orders on its own site, and the international market went absolutely crazy. In a stunning twist, sales in China surged so dramatically that they devoured every single unit available for global purchase. We’re talking about 110 units. That’s it. Just 110.

When fans asked if there’d be a restock, the response was a blunt, “No restock, sorry about it.” The company declared the Pocket Micro 2 a “real limited edition,” implying the run is officially closed. It’s a rare moment where supply simply vanished into thin air due to unexpected demand.

But wait—there’s a sliver of hope for those still dreaming of the device. AYANEO is now collecting email sign-ups to gauge international interest. If enough people subscribe to meet a minimum order quantity (MOQ), they might squeeze out a second production run. It’s not guaranteed, but it’s better than a flat no. If you want a shot at this tiny powerhouse, your best move now is to join the waitlist and cross your fingers.