Category: Tater News

📰 New article from RetroRGB

The Engineering Behind Flash Carts

https://retrorgb.com/the-engineering-behind-flash-carts.html

You ever wonder how those sleek little “Flash Carts” trick your old NES, SNES, or Genesis into thinking they’re holding a real 1992 cartridge? Spoiler: it’s magic. Well, engineering magic.

Ken from What’s Ken Making breaks down the sneaky genius behind ROM carts — not just how they read data off chips, but how modern devices like Everdrives mimic the exact timing, memory mapping, and even quirks of original hardware. It’s like a digital impersonator mastering the voice, walk, and weird laugh of your childhood hero.

He dives into enhancement chips too — those little add-ons that made games like Star Fox or Super Mario RPG feel like next-gen miracles. Turns out, modern carts have to replicate those too… or risk your game freezing mid-boss fight. Yikes.

If you’ve ever stared at a flash cart like it’s a black box full of tiny wizards, this video is your backstage pass. No jargon overload — just clear, curious, and genuinely cool breakdowns of the tech you’ve been using since you were 8.

Pro tip: Watch it with a controller in hand. You’ll appreciate every pixel more.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Game Console R36H ProMax Review: Is Good Enough Still Good Enough?

https://retrohandhelds.gg/game-console-r36h-promax-review/

Let’s be real: another RK3326 handheld? Again?

The Game Console R36H ProMax is basically your favorite coffee shop’s “same latte, different cup” moment—same chip, same OS (ArkOS 2.0), same punchy 4.2” screen that somehow still looks better than your old Game Boy Advance. It’s not revolutionary. It’s not even surprising. But it works.

The design? Surprisingly comfy. The back has a faux-exhaust look (yes, really), the buttons are no-frills but reliable, and the speakers—taped to the board, mind you—are louder than they have any right to be. The 3500mAh battery lasts longer than your motivation on a Monday morning, and the WiFi? Finally, no more USB cable yoga just to update your ROMs.

But here’s the kicker: for $50, it’s hard to justify over cheaper clones—or even an Anbernic RG34XX if you want style. And yeah, some units arrive with loose buttons or dead batteries. It’s a budget device. You get what you pay for… and sometimes, you get a little less.

Bottom line: If you’re new to handheld emulation and want a no-brainer starter rig? Solid. If you already own three RK3326 devices? Stick to your collection… and maybe invest in a nice sweater instead.

P.S. Don’t take it out in the snow. I’m not your dad, but I’m also not wrong.

📰 New article from TorrentFreak

IPTV Pirate’s Bitcoin Booty Sold at Auction For Just Over $1 Million

https://torrentfreak.com/iptv-pirates-bitcoin-booty-sold-at-auction-for-more-than-1m-251209/

Here’s the punchy, newsletter-ready version:

—

He ran a pirate IPTV empire… and then lost his Bitcoin stash in an auction.

Meet the Swedish guy who turned Viking IPTV into a household name—complete with €75,000 Italian kitchens and 308 BTC in profits. He thought he was untouchable. Turns out, the Swedish authorities had other ideas.

After a 2024 conviction for copyright crimes (and a cheeky “I made 12 million kronor/year” boast to the press), his stash of 12.7 BTC was seized. Not just any crypto—this was real loot from thousands of subscribers paying in Bitcoin to stream the latest Hollywood blockbusters… for free.

The kicker? He appealed. Then he dropped it.

So Sweden’s Enforcement Authority did what any good government does with digital bootleg cash: auctioned it off. And boom—$1.02 million in one go. A record for crypto seizures in Sweden, they’re calling it.

No movie studios got paid. No victims compensated. But the Swedish state? They just bought a fancy new crypto wallet.

Moral of the story: If you’re gonna pirate, at least don’t leave your Bitcoin in a wallet with your name on it. Or buy a kitchen before you cash out.

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(Word count: 198)

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Abxylute E1 Is a $69 Handheld That Looks Suspiciously Familiar

https://retrohandhelds.gg/abxylute-e1-is-a-69-handheld-that-looks-suspiciously-familiar/

Let’s be real: if you’ve ever scrolled through AliExpress looking for a $30 retro handheld, the Abxylute E1 isn’t new—it’s rebranded.

Meet the same boxy little beast we saw earlier this year as the Game Console RX6H. Same 3.5-inch screen, same RK3566 chip (a sweet upgrade from the RX6H’s weaker processor), same dual-OS flexibility (Android + Linux for your emulator cravings). The only real win? More RAM—2GB instead of 1GB. And yes, it still looks like a slightly fancier Game Boy with attitude.

At $69, it’s not cheap, but it’s also not a steal. The original RX6H? You can snag it for $29 with a coupon. So why pay double? Maybe you like the Abxylute logo more. Or maybe you believe “Dual OS” sounds cooler than “just another Android emulator box.”

Here’s the truth: if you’re after performance, it’s solid for its size. If you’re after originality? You’ll find more soul in a 20-year-old Game Boy. Still, for $69? It’s not bad… if you don’t mind paying a premium to own the same thing, but with a new sticker.

Bottom line: Same device. New name. Slightly better specs. Still, don’t forget to hunt those AliExpress coupons.

📰 New article from RetroRGB

Analogue 3D Funtastic Editions

https://retrorgb.com/analogue-3d-funtastic-editions.html

Let’s be real: Analogue didn’t just drop new N64 colors—they dropped FOMO in a box.

Just weeks after launching their sleek, FPGA-powered Analogue 3D, they’ve unveiled eight “Funtastic” translucent color variants—$299 each, because apparently nostalgia comes with a premium. And yes, the website is screaming “HIGHLY LIMITED QUANTITIES” like it’s Black Friday and you’re late to the party. Chris Taber isn’t hiding his tactics—he’s waving a neon sign made of nostalgia and scarcity.

But here’s the twist: Why so soon? Most companies wait a year to drop special editions. This feels less like a celebration and more like damage control—maybe they realized people were waiting for the “fun” versions instead of buying now. Or worse: they’ve had these in inventory since last year and just needed an excuse to unload them.

Angry buyers? Totally fair. If you pre-ordered and thought you were getting the “pure” version, only to see rainbow N64s drop days later? Yeah, that stings. Did they know this was coming and just… not tell you? Either way, the real win is that the Analogue 3D actually works—and if you want one, now’s your chance. Just maybe don’t buy two hoping to flip the extra on eBay… unless you’re okay with being part of the very system you’re mad at.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Game Over: Goodbye DVD Gaming, We Hardly Nuon

https://retrohandhelds.gg/game-over-goodbye-dvd-gaming-we-hardly-nuon/

Remember when we all thought, “What if my DVD player could also play games?” Yeah. Neither does anyone else—except maybe collectors who still have their 2003 Toshiba Nuon gathering dust next to their VCR.

Enter the Nuon: a sleek, DVD-playing miracle… that happened to have a GPU tucked inside like a secret crush. Developed by ex-Atari wizards, it was pitched as the ultimate one-box solution: watch Titanic, then play Tempest 3000—a dazzling, neon-drenched masterpiece that somehow survived inside this bizarre machine. The rest of the library? Think airplane seatback games, but with more plastic.

Problem was: no two Nuons were alike. Some had controllers. Others demanded you use the remote like a wizard waving a wand at a fireplace. And half of them couldn’t even run the games they advertised. Meanwhile, Sony’s PlayStation 2—cheap, powerful, and actually designed for games—was already taking over living rooms. The Nuon didn’t stand a chance.

Today, it’s a cult relic: 8 games, zero marketing muscle, and one glorious Jeff Minter gem trapped in a DVD player’s soul. A beautiful, bizarre footnote in tech history—and proof that sometimes, even brilliant ideas just… don’t stick.

📰 New article from TorrentFreak

EU Report Distills AI-Training Lessons from Napster Piracy Era: Don’t Sue, License

https://torrentfreak.com/eu-report-distills-ai-training-lessons-from-napster-piracy-era-dont-sue-license/

Twenty-five years ago, the music industry waged war on Napster—suing, threatening, and shuttering. It felt like a victory… until everyone just switched to LimeWire. The lesson? You can’t sue innovation out of existence.

Now, history’s repeating itself—with AI instead of MP3s. Rightsholders are scrambling to sue tech giants over training data, but a new EU report says: Stop. Professor Christian Peukert’s analysis drops a truth bomb: lawsuits didn’t kill piracy, Spotify did. And AI? It’s not stealing—it’s learning. And it could be worth $97 billion a year in the U.S. alone.

The EU’s fix? Compulsory licensing. Think of it like a blanket royalty fee for AI companies to use all published content—no need to negotiate with 5 billion photographers. Small startups breathe easier. Rightsholders still get paid. And crucially? No opt-outs. Because if only 10% of your training data is missing, your AI turns into a biased mess. (And society loses out.)

The Napster-era courts said, “You can’t pay to break the law.” But Peukert flips it: Now, paying to learn is the smarter move.

The music industry eventually adapted. The film and publishing worlds better listen—before they spend another decade chasing ghosts in the cloud.

📰 New article from RetroRGB

MiSTer FPGA News – Apple IIgs, CD-i FMV Updates, New Arcade Cores, Atari 8-bit & More

https://retrorgb.com/mister-fpga-news-apple-iigs-cd-i-fmv-updates-new-arcade-cores-atari-8-bit-more.html

MiSTer FPGA Just Got a Whole Lot More Fun — Here’s Why You Should Care

If you thought your MiSTer FPGA was already the ultimate retro time machine, think again. This week’s updates are like a nostalgia bomb with extra sprinkles.

First up: Apple IIgs is now playable (sort of). Screenshots of Space Ace are live, and while you can’t download it yet, the source is on GitHub—so if you’re tech-savvy, grab your soldering iron and start compiling. Meanwhile, the Elan Enterprise (a Z80-powered 1985 gem) got an official core—no more manual installs. And hey, Brazil’s own TK2000, an Apple II clone, now works too. Retro diversity FTW.

Arcade lovers: Run & Gun (yes, a 3D basketball game from Konami) just left beta. Surprise Attack is now stable. And rumor has it Caliber 50 is next—with Arbalester and Twin Eagle tagging along. Jotego’s on a roll.

CD-i got FMV fixes that actually look right now. Atari 8-bit fans, VBXE support is coming… in a separate branch (because priorities). And the Reflex Prism? A clever little box that turns RGB into S-Video for your CRT—no core mods needed.

Oh, and if you’re in Brazil or China? Downloader 2.3 just got faster and smarter with NTP and proxy support. Plus, MiSTer Organize now supports Sega Saturn. Yes, really.

The future of retro is not just preserved—it’s polished. And it’s getting better every week.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Retro Handhelds Weekly: Anbernic RG477, GammaOS on RG DS, New Android Launchers, and More

https://retrohandhelds.gg/retro-handhelds-weekly-edition-76/

Hey there, retro nerd—grab your coffee and buckle up. This week in handhelds? It’s like someone poured a whole aisle of CES into a blender and hit “blend.”

First up: Anbernic just dropped a teaser for the RG477V—because why wait for Christmas when you can get a new handheld before the tree’s even up? Meanwhile, AYANEO’s Pocket DMG got a Bright Silver upgrade… and it’s cheaper than the original. Yes, you read that right. Silver = savings.

And if you thought hardware was wild, wait till you hear about GammaOS Next landing on the RG DS. The stock OS? Janky. GammaOS? Like swapping a flip phone for an iPhone 16. Anbernic also finally patched the RG DS’s worst bugs—good timing, since units are about to ship.

On the software front: Lair Launcher is getting updates every two weeks for patrons (so yeah, maybe tip your dev), and RetroHrai! just dropped as another Android launcher. Because, of course, we needed one more.

Oh, and LEGO’s making a buildable handheld. Yes, really. You’ll be snapping together a NES while your kid builds a Star Wars X-Wing.

The future of gaming? It’s handheld. And it’s weird. And we love it. 🎮✨

📰 New article from RetroRGB

ZERO LAG, Wireless Composite Video

https://retrorgb.com/zero-lag-wireless-composite-video.html

You’ve got an old CRT TV gathering dust in the garage? Good. Because now you can wirelessly stream any HDMI source to it—with zero lag. Yes, really.

Bob from RetroRGB just dropped a genius hack: slap a tiny wireless RF transmitter (like the TV-TX200) between your modern console/PC and your ancient tube TV, and boom—you’re playing The Legend of Zelda on a 1987 TV like it’s 1992. No HDMI ports? No problem. These gadgets convert your signal into a broadcast-ready RF wave, tricking your CRT into thinking it’s picking up Channel 3 from the old antenna. And yes, input lag? Barely there. It’s like magic… if magic was sold on Amazon for $15.

Perfect for retro gamers who miss the glow of phosphor, or anyone who wants to turn their grandma’s TV into a gaming rig. Bonus: you can send the signal to multiple CRTs at once. Imagine your whole living room lit up with NES nostalgia.

Pro tip: Buy the cheapest version that’s in stock—these boxes are sold by a dozen sellers under different names. Just pick one, plug it in, and let the CRTs glow again.

Support Bob if you love tech that feels like time travel.