Category: Tater News

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

New GAMEMT E5 ModX Videos Show the Modular Handheld in Action

https://retrohandhelds.gg/new-gamemt-e5-modx-videos-show-the-modular-handheld-in-action/

The Modular Dream is Getting Real

If you’ve ever looked at your retro handheld and thought, “I wish this thing was actually two different devices,” GAMEMT might be about to grant your wish. New footage of the E5 ModX has surfaced, and it’s looking less like a standard handheld and more like a high-tech transformer.

Forget everything you know about static hardware. The E5 ModX is officially modular, meaning you can actually pop the display right off the controller. Even cooler? Rumors suggest one of the modules will transform into a MagSafe-compatible controller for your smartphone. It’s basically the ultimate “Swiss Army Knife” for gamers on the go.

Recent clips show the device in its testing phase, even demonstrating smooth God of War gameplay via PPSSPP at a stable 60FPS. Under the hood, we’re looking at:

• Processor: MediaTek P60
• Memory/Storage: 3GB RAM and 32GB storage
• Display: A crisp 1024 x 768 resolution

While we’re still waiting on an official release date, the hardware is clearly moving through the engineering gauntlet. If these leaks are any indication, your next EDC (everyday carry) might just be a puzzle box.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Anbernic RG DS: How to Install GammaOS, Anbernic Linux, ROCKNIX, and KNULLI

https://retrohandhelds.gg/anbernic-rg-ds-how-to-install-gammaos-anbernic-linux-rocknix-and-knulli/

### Upgrade Your Anbernic RG DS

If you picked up an Anbernic RG DS recently, you probably noticed that the “out of the box” experience is a bit… underwhelming. It’s a great piece of hardware, but the stock software lacks that extra magic needed to make it truly shine.

The good news? The retro gaming community has already done the heavy lifting for you. As is tradition with Anbernic releases, a wave of custom firmware is here to rescue your handheld from mediocrity. Depending on whether you want an optimized Android experience or a sleek Linux setup, you have some fantastic options:

• GammaOS Next: The go-to for an optimized Android build.
• ROCKNIX & KNULLI: Perfect if you prefer a dedicated Linux environment.
• Anbernic Linux: An official (but customizable) lightweight solution.

The best part? You don’t have to choose just one. Through a simple microSD swap, you can effectively dual-boot your device—switching between Android for PortMaster games and Linux for everything else. It’s basically like having two different handhelds in one pocket. Just grab a spare SD card, follow the installation steps, and prepare to actually enjoy your device.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

8 Steam Games to Grow Your Backlog

https://retrohandhelds.gg/8-steam-games-to-grow-your-backlog/

### Is Your Steam Backlog Looking a Little Too… Empty?

We’ve all been there. You open Steam, stare at your library for ten minutes, and realize that while you have hundreds of games, you haven’t actually played most of them. If you’re looking to add some fresh blood to that digital graveyard—especially if you love playing on handhelds like the Odin—it’s time for a shopping spree.

The latest recommendations from Retro Handhelds feature a diverse mix of chaos, speed, and much-needed zen. Whether you want to drift through European parking garages or just sit by a virtual lake, there is something here for every mood:

For the Adrenaline Junkies: Parking Garage Rally Circuit (Euro Tour) is the top pick for anyone addicted to racing leaderboards and Ska music. If you prefer chaos over precision, Super Battle Golf* offers multiplayer mayhem for a tiny price.

For the Platforming Fans: Toree Saturn is a fantastic, fast-paced retro-style trip, while Demon Tides* offers a more expansive 3D open-world experience.

For the “Just One More Round” Crowd: If you’ve been obsessed with Balatro, check out Raccoin*. It’s a coin-pusher roguelike designed to trigger every dopamine receptor in your brain.

For the Decompression Session: When the chaos gets too loud, Cast N Chill* lets you simply sit, fish, and upgrade gear in peace.

The takeaway? Your backlog is officially invited to grow. Grab a few of these—many of which run beautifully via GameNative or PortMaster—and give your handheld some new life.

📰 New article from TorrentFreak

Anna’s Archive Hit With $19.5m Default Judgment and Global Domain Takedown Order

https://torrentfreak.com/annas-archive-hit-with-19-5m-default-judgment-and-global-domain-takedown-order/

If you enjoy free access to millions of pirated books, you might want to keep your bookmarks handy—but maybe don’t get too comfortable.

A New York federal court just handed a massive win to publishing giants like Penguin Random House and HarperCollins. Because the operators of Anna’s Archive failed to show up in court to defend themselves, a judge issued a default judgment that includes a staggering $19.5 million damages award.

While that price tag sounds eye-watering, it’s likely more “paper victory” than actual cash. Since the site’s owners are anonymous and notoriously difficult to catch, collecting that money will be an uphill battle.

The real sting, however, is the global takedown order. The court didn’t just go after the site; it went after the plumbing. A permanent injunction now orders domain registries and hosting providers—including big names like Cloudflare—to disable access to Anna’s Archive domains.

Will it work? It’s a toss-up. While American companies will likely comply, many of the targeted intermediaries are international entities that often ignore U.S. court orders. Expect a digital game of whack-a-mole to begin.

📰 New article from RetroRGB

Weekly Roundup #514

https://retrorgb.com/week514.html

Weekly Roundup #514

If you feel like your retro gaming setup is missing “that certain something,” don’t worry—it’s probably just a lack of high-end SCART cables or some fresh vinyl. The latest RetroRGB roundup is officially here, and it’s packed with enough tech updates to keep any enthusiast busy all weekend.

The news cycle is moving fast for hardware lovers. We’re seeing some serious quality-of-life upgrades, like the Analogue 3D finally supporting save states (a huge win for those of us who don’t have infinite lives) and a new CRT simulation firmware update for the RetroTINK 5x. If you’re into the “modding” side of things, there is also some fascinating deep-dive content on NES-to-SNES conversions and hardware teardowns.

Here are the quick hits you shouldn’t miss:

Soundtrack Season: New vinyl releases for Blender Bros and Darkstalkers’ Revenge* are ready for your collection.

Firmware Fixes: Check out the new ED GBA Pro firmware and optimization tweaks for Doom* on Saturn.

• Hardware Gear: New SuperStation One SCART cables have hit the shop.

Whether you’re listening on Spotify or watching the full breakdown on YouTube, it’s a jam-packed episode. Grab your coffee (and maybe a new mattress topper) and dive in.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

The Steam Machine Can’t Get Here Soon Enough, Even if We Don’t Know the Price

https://retrohandhelds.gg/the-steam-machine-cant-get-here-soon-enough-even-if-we-dont-know-the-price/

### The Steam Machine: High Hopes and Low Visibility

If you feel like you’ve been waiting forever for Valve to drop the Steam Machine, you aren’t alone. Between memory shortages and supply chain hiccups, the hype train has been idling in the station for a while now. But with recent spec leaks resurfacing on social media, it’s time to talk about what we’re actually looking at.

The hardware looks solid—think mid-range territory. We’re talking an AMD Zen 4 CPU and RDNA3 graphics that could easily rival a custom mini-PC build. Since it runs SteamOS rather than Windows, we can expect much better optimization and less “software bloat” eating up your performance.

However, there is one massive, elephant-sized question in the room: The Price.

While we don’t have an official number yet, here’s the reality check:

• The Good: It should be a powerful, plug-and-play console experience.
• The Bad: It likely won’t be “Steam Deck cheap.”
• The Guess: Expect something in the $700–$800 range to stay competitive with existing mini-PCs.

Valve is playing the waiting game, hoping for better component costs, but until that price tag drops, we’re all just stuck in the lobby.

📰 New article from TorrentFreak

Sky Sends Cease-and-Desist Letters to 200 Irish IPTV Subscribers Exposed via Revolut

https://torrentfreak.com/sky-sends-cease-and-desist-letters-to-200-irish-iptv-subscribers-exposed-via-revolut/

### The “Cease and Desist” Wave

If you live in Ireland and enjoy a shady IPTV subscription, you might want to check your mailbox—and maybe your heart rate.

Sky Ireland has officially begun sending cease-and-desist letters to roughly 200 subscribers of the now-defunct “IPTV is Easy” service. This isn’t just a friendly nudge to cancel your subscription; Sky is leveraging data uncovered from Revolut records during a massive legal battle against the service’s operator to hunt down individual users.

The goal here isn’t immediate courtroom drama, but rather pure, unadulterated intimidation. The letters demand that recipients sign a legally binding settlement within 14 days, promising to ditch illegal services forever. If you comply, Sky promises not to name you publicly. If you don’t? They’ve hinted at injunctions, damages, and legal costs.

It’s a clever “soft” strategy:

• The Carrot: Sign the paper, stay out of the spotlight, and keep your name off a public list.
• The Stick: Refuse to sign, and face potential civil litigation or even criminal charges.

While Sky isn’t demanding massive cash payouts like they have in Italy, they are effectively putting these users on a permanent “watchlist.” It’s a bold attempt at deterrence—let’s see if it actually scares anyone away from the pirate stream.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

The Best Ways To Play: Neo Geo Pocket Color

https://retrohandhelds.gg/the-best-ways-to-play-neo-geo-pocket-color/

### Retro Revival: Rediscovering the Neo Geo Pocket Color

If you grew up in the 90s arcade scene, the name “Neo Geo” probably conjures images of massive, legendary cabinets and consoles that cost more than a small car. But there was a quieter, more portable cousin that arrived just as the dust was settling on the era: the Neo Geo Pocket Color (NGPC).

While it didn’t have the staying power to fight off the Game Boy Advance, the NGPC library is a hidden gem of well-designed, addictive titles. The best part? Thanks to the current explosion in retro handhelds, you don’t need to hunt down rare hardware to play them. Modern emulation makes these classics look sharper than they ever did on original hardware.

If you’re looking to dive into the NGPC library, here are a few standout ways to play:

• For the Purist: The Anbernic RG Rotate offers a 1:1 aspect ratio and clicky buttons that perfectly mimic the original SNK feel.
• The High-Def Experience: The TrimUI Brick uses its high resolution to run games at a massive integer scale, making pixels look incredibly crisp.
• The Budget Pick: The XiFan XF40H is a great square-screen option that avoids the awkward black borders of other devices.
• The “What If” Scenario: The Miyoo Flip v2 lets you pretend an SNK clamshell device actually existed in our timeline.

Whether you want a tiny device for quick sessions or a powerhouse for beautiful shaders, there’s never been a better time to revisit SNK’s handheld legacy.

📰 New article from RetroRGB

Ken’s SuperStation One Teardown + NFC Fix

https://retrorgb.com/kens-superstation-one-teardown-nfc-fix.html

Ever wonder what actually goes on inside your favorite piece of retro hardware? If you’re the type who loves seeing the “guts” of a machine, Ken from What’s Ken Making just dropped a goldmine for you.

In his latest deep-dive teardown of the RetroRemake SuperStation One (SSOne), Ken goes way beyond just unscrewing the case. He performs a surgical analysis of the analog video signals and decodes exactly what those mysterious DIP switches are doing. For instance, he clarifies that switching the setting toggles between MiSTer FPGA-generated video and a Sony encoder that mimics classic retro consoles.

But the real hero moment? Ken found a way to save your wallet—and your sanity. He identified an issue in newer SSOne units where a weak NFC antenna struggles to read Zaparoo cards, and he figured out a fix using a tiny $3 part.

The Takeaways:

• The Fix: A $3 hardware hack solves the NFC reading struggle.
• The Tech: Detailed breakdown of how the SSOne handles Composite and S-Video.
• The Future: There’s growing chatter about whether a cheaper, HDMI-only version might be on the horizon for those who don’t need analog.

Whether you’re an engineering nerd or just want to fix your device, this one is worth the watch.

📰 New article from RetroRGB

Q&A Interview with PICOGUS creator polpo

https://retrorgb.com/qa-interview-with-picogus-creator-polpo.html

### Making Retro Computing Affordable (and Fun)

If you’ve ever tried to build a period-accurate DOS PC lately, you know the struggle: finding working vintage hardware is like hunting for rare Pokémon, and the prices are absolutely eye-watering. Enter Ian Scott—known to the community as polpo—the mastermind behind the PicoGUS and the upcoming PicoIDE.

In a recent Q&A with RetroRGB, polpo shared how his lifelong obsession with sound cards (specifically the legendary Gravis Ultrasound) turned into a mission to save retro computing from skyrocketing costs. Using the tiny, dirt-cheap Raspberry Pi Pico, he’s creating hardware that emulates expensive ISA sound cards and even replacing dying CD/IDE drives.

The highlights:

• PicoGUS: A tiny powerhouse that emulates the Gravis Ultrasound and now supports Sound Blaster 16.
• PicoIDE: An upcoming 3.5” bay device that replaces floppy/CD drives with SD card images, featuring an OLED screen and even WiFi.
• The Goal: Keeping hardware affordable and accessible during a time when vintage parts are becoming “endangered species.”

Whether he’s pulling late nights after his day job or dreaming up “next-gen” sound cards with full audio codecs, polpo is proving that you don’t need a massive budget to keep the golden age of computing alive.