Author: taternews

📰 New article from RetroRGB

Transparent SNES / SFC Controller Shells Back In Stock

https://retrorgb.com/transparent-snes-sfc-controller-shells-back-in-stock.html

Transparent SNES Controllers Are Back—And They’re Glowing with Potential 🎮✨

Retro Game Restore’s stunning transparent SNES/SFC controller shells are back in stock—and yes, all three colors (Smoke, Clear, and Purple) are available for ~$30 each. Designed to perfectly match RGR’s iconic transparent console shells, they’re a dream for retro modders and collectors.

But here’s the fun part: these are shells only. You’ll need to source the internals from a donor controller—or go full DIY. And thank goodness, because that opens the floodgates to some seriously cool upgrades:

• Premium rubber membranes from J&T Studios (d-pad & button swaps = game changer for feel and longevity)
• Braided cables that actually look good while keeping things tangle-free (no more frayed spaghetti cords!)
• Open-source PCB recreations—yes, you can 3D print or order custom circuit boards if you’re feeling techy

RGR even hints they might sell individual buttons or D-pads soon—if demand is strong enough. So if you’ve been eyeing a showpiece SNES controller that’s equal parts nostalgia and modern flair, now’s the time to jump in.

Got a project going? Tag us—we’d love to see your build. 🖤🤍💜

📰 New article from RetroRGB

How Data Is Stored On A LaserDisc

https://retrorgb.com/how-data-is-stored-on-a-laserdisc.html

When a Microscope Turned into a LaserDisc Time Machine 🕹️🔍

What started as a demo of a fancy new microscope took a delightfully unexpected turn—when the lens caught sight of actual readable text etched onto a LaserDisc. That’s right: analog video storage, visible under high magnification.

LaserDiscs store data as physical pits and lands (think grooves in vinyl, but for video), encoded in an analog format—no digital compression, no error correction. So when the disc suffers from “disc rot” (oxidation, delamination, etc.), there’s no backup plan: the data just fades away, like ink evaporating off paper.

The video nails why LD fans get weirdly emotional about preservation—it’s not just nostalgia, but a tangible link to how media once lived physically on the disc itself. And yes, if you’ve ever marveled at how a CD reflects rainbow light or wondered why your old VHS looks fuzzy, this is your jam.

Bonus: The “happy accident” style makes it extra fun—proof that some of the best tech deep dives begin with, “Wait… how is that even possible?”

👉 Watch the full video here

💡 Bonus link: Support Tech Tangents on Patreon

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

The Best Ways To Play: Game Boy Advance

https://retrohandhelds.gg/the-best-ways-to-play-game-boy-advance/

The Best Ways to Play Game Boy Advance in 2026 (Spoiler: It’s Not Just Emulation)

Remember Pokémon Ruby, Zelda: The Minish Cap, or Metroid Fusion? If you missed the Game Boy Advance’s golden era, you’re not alone—and modern hardware has made it easier (and more fun) than ever to catch up.

The article from Retro Handhelds breaks down six top ways to revisit the GBA library today, each with its own vibe and value:

• The Purist Pick: A modded GBA SP (especially IPS-screened) for that crisp, nostalgic feel—durable, iconic, and surprisingly modern when upgraded.
• The Luxury Flex: Ayaneo’s Pocket Micro Classic ($249) is a beautiful, obsessive homage—but more art piece than practical tool.
• The Smart Compromise: Anbernic’s RG406H ($130–$192) offers perfect 4× integer scaling and comfort, despite the 4:3 screen’s black bars.
• The Budget Hero: Miyoo A30 under $50? A tiny, functional homage to the GBA Micro—ideal for nostalgic pocket play.
• The Clamshell Champion: RG34XXSP nails the original feel with analog sticks and a native 3:2 ratio—plus, it folds!
• The Nostalgia Bomb: RG34XX (non-SP) mirrors the original GBA’s shape so perfectly it feels like a time machine.

Bottom Line: Whether you’re chasing authenticity, affordability, or aesthetic obsession—there’s a GBA reenactment for you. The real question isn’t which, but how much you’re willing to pay for a little more Game Boy joy.

👉 Bonus: The article includes live Amazon/AliExpress links and even a Discord invite for like-minded retro fanatics.

📰 New article from RetroRGB

UGREEN NAS – Basic & JBOD Setup

https://retrorgb.com/ugreen-nas-basic-jbod-setup.html

RetroRGB’s UGREEN NAS Guide: No Matching Drives? No Problem.

Hard drives are pricey—but that doesn’t mean you’re out of luck if you’ve got a few mismatched ones gathering dust. In his latest video, Bob from RetroRGB breaks down how to use any drives in any UGREEN NAS—yes, even older or differently sized ones—with two clever setups: Basic (treat each drive as its own volume) and JBOD (join them into one big pool, no RAID redundancy needed).

Why’s this cool? Because it turns your NAS into a flexible storage hub without forcing you to buy matching drives or risk data loss via RAID missteps. Perfect for beginners, hobbyists, or anyone just wanting to repurpose old drives quietly and affordably.

Bonus: Bob keeps it real—disclaimers included. JBOD/Basic means no fault tolerance, so yes, one drive failure could mean losing that chunk of data. But for backups, archives, or media libraries where redundancy isn’t life-or-death? It’s a smart, low-cost workaround.

And hey—he’s planning a follow-up on turning an old PC into a DIY NAS. Stay tuned. 🛠️

👉 Check out the full guide here

Support Bob on Patreon if this helps you save cash (and drive bays).

📰 New article from TorrentFreak

DISH Seeks $28.65 Million Default Judgment in Lemo/Kemo IPTV Lawsuit

https://torrentfreak.com/dish-seeks-28-65-million-default-judgment-in-lemo-kemo-iptv-lawsuit/

DISH Pulls Out the Big Gun: $28.65M Default Judgment Sought in Lemo/Kemo IPTV Bust

In a move that could send shockwaves through the pirate IPTV world, DISH Network is asking a Florida federal court to enter a $28.65 million default judgment against the operators of Lemo TV, Kemo IPTV, and their U.S. reseller, 1 Dollar IPTV—all for allegedly streaming copyrighted content without a dime of licensing fees.

The case is looking increasingly one-sided: none of the defendants—based in Malaysia, Florida, and beyond—have responded to the lawsuit, even as they allegedly kept operating. DISH claims these services streamed over 180 registered works (including premium sports and movies), and now wants maximum statutory damages: $150,000 per work for the foreign operators, and $1.5M for the U.S. reseller.

But DISH isn’t just chasing money—it wants infrastructure-level disruption. In a clever legal maneuver, the proposed injunction demands that hosting providers in Hong Kong, New Jersey, and Romania shut down specific IP addresses—and hand over 19 domains like Kemoiptv.shop and 1DollarIPTV.com. Even more aggressively, the injunction would be “evergreen,” forcing domain registries to auto-suspend future domains used by the defendants, upon DISH’s sworn notice.

With the defendants MIA and evidence of willful infringement mounting, this could be a landmark win for studios and pay TV providers cracking down on pirate IPTV. If granted, the judgment could set a high-water mark for damages—and a blueprint for future takedowns.

The ball’s now in the judge’s court.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Retro Handhelds Deals of the Week

https://retrohandhelds.gg/retro-handhelds-deals-of-the-week/

Retro Handhelds Deals of the Week: Your Wallet’s New Best Friend 🔥

AliExpress is still rolling out discounts with its Local Frenzy Sale, and Retro Handhelds just dropped a massive weekly deals round-up packed with savings on retro handhelds, Android-powered beasts, x86 mini PCs, controllers, and even free games. Yes—free games.

### 🕹️ Retro Handhelds: Anbernic & Miyoo on Fire

• Anbernic RG35XX Pro: As low as $47.51 (Amazon, w/ code)
• Miyoo Mini Flip: Dropped to $46.47 (AliExpress w/ USAS07)
• R36T MAX: Down to $47.49 (Amazon, w/ RH15)

Pro tip: Stack codes like `USAS09`, `ASRHH5`, or `RH` for extra savings—some coupons stack with site-wide deals!

### 📱 Android Handhelds: Retroid & AYN Still Strong

• Retroid Pocket 6: $213.90 (vs $248.90 list)
• AYN Odin 3: Starts at $305.81 w/ USAS55
• Watch RAM shortages—some models (like the Odin 2 Max) could spike soon.

### 💻 x86 & Mini PC Bargains

• ASUS ROG Ally: $549 (vs $599 MSRP)
• GMKtec M8: $371.32 w/ USAS55 (16GB/512GB)
• KAMRUI Hyper H2: $495.99 (32GB/1TB!)

### 🎮 Bonus: Free Games & Bundle Deals

Grab Total War, Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands, and Civilization VI on Amazon Prime Games—all free.

Humble Bundle’s “Metroidvania Mayhem” pack? Just $12 for 10+ games.

Whether you’re hunting a budget retro gem or a full-blown x86 beast, this week’s deals won’t disappoint. Just don’t wait too long—some stock is already disappearing.

Want more? [Check the full list here](#) 🛒

📰 New article from RetroRGB

RePlayOS v1.5.0 for Raspberry Pi’s

https://retrorgb.com/replayos-v1-5-0-for-raspberry-pis.html

RePlayOS v1.5.0: A Fresh, Pi-First Emulation Frontend That’s Almost Perfect

Say hello to RePlayOS—a lean, mean Raspberry Pi emulation machine that’s finally got the “frontend + launcher” thing down pat. Developed by RTA, it’s built specifically for the Pi, meaning no awkward handoffs between programs like EmulationStation + RetroArch. It’s just you, your ROMs, and smooth, optimized gaming—on HDMI or analog outputs (yes, even RGB via DACs like the RGB-Pi 2).

Setup? Familiar: flash the image, pop in your SD card, boot, and—boom—you’re in. Bonus: dual partitions (Windows-readable!) let you stash ROMs directly on the card or hook up a USB drive. Pro tip: grab that BIOS pack upfront—most systems won’t run without it.

Performance is solid across the board, with 1080p defaults and optional 4K support (though some games may prefer lower res). Button mapping remains a slight pain—especially in MAME—but it’s notably better than most alternatives, and RTA seems committed to improving it.

One dream feature left off the roadmap? RetroNAS integration—because who really wants ROMs local when they’ve got terabytes on their home server?

All in all, RePlayOS is a promising, polished contender for the best Pi emulation experience yet. Keep an eye on it—and maybe throw RTA a few bucks on Patreon while you’re at it. 🕹️

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Hacking The Mainframe: Maximum Carnage Edition

https://retrohandhelds.gg/hacking-the-mainframe-maximum-carnage-edition/

Hacking the Mainframe: Maximum Carnage Edition — A ROM Hack Bonanza!

If you thought ROM hacking had slowed down, think again. This month’s crop is a glorious mess of fan labor, passion projects, and sheer nerve—plus a few gems that somehow make Sega CD games feel modern.

Let’s hit the highlights:

🎮 Marvel Meets Mega Drive: Streets of Rage 2 – Maximum Carnage Edition gets a slick update— Venom and Spider-Man are in, Carnage’s boss fight is chef’s kiss, and diagonal running? Finally. Meanwhile, Battletoads x Double Dragon PLUS polishes up that chaotic crossover into something playable… and even fun.

👾 Translation Time: Segagaga on Dreamcast gets its long-awaited English patch—meta-RPG + 25th anniversary = perfect timing. Popful Mail (PC-Engine CD) and Tairyou Jigoku (PS2 horror Alice in Wonderland mess) are now English-friendly. And Saturn fans? Lupin the Third at last lets you follow the plot instead of guessing.

💥 Mega Man Mayhem: Rockman ABnormality turns Mega Man 2 into a kaizo gauntlet. Rockman Tennis, that weird 2007 mobile spinoff? Now fully English-translated—including X as a unlockable. Even X3 Zero gets a narrative overhaul on SNES.

🎨 Bonus Chaos: Super Mario World Advance cleans up GBA colors like a dream. Smash Remix 2.0.1 adds Tug of War, and the Pokémon scene teases Black & White 2 hacks with expressive, animated battle backgrounds—yes, animated DS sprites, but make it 2024.

What’d we miss? Drop your favorites below—or better yet, join the chaos on Discord. 🎮🔥

📰 New article from TorrentFreak

Oscar Winner ‘One Battle After Another’ Sees Piracy Surge, While ‘Sinners’ Stays Flat

https://torrentfreak.com/oscar-winner-one-battle-after-another-sees-piracy-surge-while-sinners-stays-flat/

Oscars Still Drive Piracy—But Only When You Win (and Didn’t Already Trend)

The 2026 Oscars didn’t just hand out golden statues—they also handed out download spikes. “One Battle After Another,” the surprise Best Picture winner, saw a 300% surge in torrent downloads the day after the ceremony, per IKnow’s tracking data. That’s even bigger than Oppenheimer’s boost in 2024—and a reminder that Oscar wins still act like a piracy rocket booster, especially for under-the-radar films.

But not all winners get the same lift. Sinners, despite racking up 16 nominations and winning four Oscars, saw no piracy spike—because it already had one in January after nominations dropped. Pirates hit the torrents early, and demand was sated before awards night. Same for Marty Supreme, which got no love from pirates (or the Academy).

Meanwhile, streaming platforms tell a slightly different story: Sinners jumped 136% legally post-Oscars, while Marty Supreme actually lost streaming traction. The takeaway? Piracy and legality don’t always move in lockstep—and timing matters more than trophies alone.

TL;DR: Win an Oscar? Expect downloads. Win too early in the season? Don’t expect a second surge.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Next Level #4: Bard-’em’up

https://retrohandhelds.gg/next-level-4-bard-emup/

Next Level #4: Bard-’em’up — A Game Announcer’s Fever Dream (in the Best Way)

One week away from the internet—and bam—a dozen games arrive like uninvited guests at a basement LAN party, all demanding attention and smelling faintly of CRT glow and regret.

We’re talking Haunted Lands, a DOS-core platformer that’s basically Dangerous Dave meets Doom on PCP, and ZENEKO, a Metal Slug-obsessed horizontal shooter that’s clearly been watching too much anime and drinking too much espresso. Then there’s The Dungeons of Dusk, a cozy-ish turn-based dungeon crawler that somehow makes Doom RPG feel温柔 (gentle)—yes, really.

And let’s not gloss over the real highlights:

• Ruiner 2, now a full co-op cyberpunk ARPG with Shell System chaos.
• Stage Tour, the plastic-guitar rhythm game from Guitar Hero alumni—because we needed another live-service music sim.
• Verminsteel, the Bardcore hack-and-slash where you literally kick fascists into the sun (we’re all just waiting for the Dragonforce DLC).

Also: He-Man gets a full-blown 80s power ballad trailer. You heard me.

If your backlog isn’t already weeping, it will be soon.

🔥 What caught your eye? Which of these are you actually pre-ordering (or just pretending to)? Drop your picks—and your regrets—below.