Category: Tater News

📰 New article from TorrentFreak

Record Labels Drop Piracy Lawsuits Against Altice and Verizon in Wake of Cox Ruling

https://torrentfreak.com/record-labels-drop-piracy-lawsuits-against-altice-and-verizon-in-wake-of-cox-ruling/

The Music Industry’s Billion-Dollar Lawsuit Spree Just Hit a Wall

If you thought the music industry was feeling particularly litigious lately, think again. Following a massive Supreme Court ruling that essentially changed the rules of the game, major record labels are officially waving the white flag on several high-stakes piracy lawsuits.

The target? Internet Service Providers (ISPs) like Verizon and Altice. For a while, labels were chasing staggering sums—we’re talking $2.6 billion in the Verizon case alone—arguing that these providers were turning a blind eye to copyright infringement.

But a recent Supreme Court decision regarding Cox Communications has made those “head in the sand” arguments much harder to win. The court ruled that for an ISP to be liable, there must be proof they actually intended for their service to be used for piracy. It’s a much higher bar than just “knowing about it.”

Seeing the writing on the wall, both Altice and Verizon have reached agreements to dismiss their cases with prejudice (meaning they can’t sue again for these same claims). While one case against RCN is still hanging in the balance, the era of billion-dollar “contributory infringement” lawsuits against your cable company looks like it might be heading toward a quiet retirement.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

RGC-BASIC Hits Version 2.0 With MOD Music, 256-Colour Palettes, and New Screen Modes

https://retrohandhelds.gg/rgc-basic-hits-version-2-0-with-mod-music-256-colour-palettes-and-new-screen-modes/

If you thought version 1.11 was just a minor tweak, think again. What started as a simple sound update for RGC-BASIC has spiraled into a full-blown graphical and auditory overhaul.

Developer Chris Garrett’s latest leap, version 2.0, is less of a “point release” and more of a total transformation. The inspiration? Stumbling upon an old Amiga tracker module. That rabbit hole led to a new streaming music system that supports everything from classic MOD and XM files to modern MP3s and OGGs. Even better, you can now run background music alongside sound effects without them clashing.

But the real magic is happening on screen. The graphics pipeline has been completely rewritten, moving far beyond simple 16-color bitmaps. New features include:

• Expanded Palettes: Jump from 16 colors to a massive 256-entry palette system.
• New Screen Modes: High-res 640×400 RGBA canvas and classic indexed modes for those retro water/fire animations.
• Advanced Effects: Support for parallax scrolling and alpha compositing (transparency) that would make any Amiga demo-scene veteran weep with joy.

The best part? You can test all this right in your browser via the online IDE—no installation required. Grab the source on GitHub and start coding.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

C64-Live Wants to Take Commodore 64 Multiplayer Online, No Setup Required

https://retrohandhelds.gg/c64-live-wants-to-take-commodore-64-multiplayer-online-no-setup-required/

Remember those glory days of sitting shoulder-to-shoulder on a beanbag chair, fighting over the same joystick? It was great, but it required your friends to actually be in the same room.

Enter C64-Live, a new platform from developer Andrew Hayes that’s bringing the Commodore 64 into the modern era of streaming. While browser-based emulation has been around for a while, it’s usually a lonely experience. C64-Live changes the math by using a “shared machine” approach. Instead of two people running separate emulators and hoping they stay in sync, one person hosts a session on a server, and everyone else jumps into that same virtual machine to play or spectate.

The magic here is the lack of friction:

• No installs required: Just a browser and a link.
• True multiplayer: Players interact on the exact same emulated hardware.
• Massive library support: It works with cartridges, disks, and snapshots.

Hayes’s goal is to bring C64 multiplayer “to the masses,” making it possible to challenge a friend halfway across the world without needing a degree in network engineering. For a console that’s well over four decades old, this is a pretty slick way to keep the nostalgia alive.

📰 New article from RetroRGB

PixelFX “Morph 2K” Announced

https://retrorgb.com/pixelfx-morph-2k-announced.html

If you’ve been eyeing the PixelFX Morph scaler but felt your wallet crying at that 4K price tag, we have some good news for your budget (and your retro setup).

PixelFX just announced the Morph 2K, a streamlined 1080p version of their powerhouse scaler. It hits the sweet spot for anyone who wants crisp, high-def retro gaming without the overkill—or the massive bill. For $200, you’re getting built-in analog video inputs including SCART, S-Video, and Component. It even looks like it can handle Composite via a little bit of clever routing.

But the hardware news doesn’t stop at the scaler. They’re also dropping some handy new adapters:

• VGA2SCART & SCART2VGA: These $20 dongles are game-changers for those using Analog Bridge modules, allowing you to swap between signals easily.
• Expanded Compatibility: If you already own sync combiners or HD15-to-SCART cables, you’re likely good to go.

Mark your calendars: pre-orders kick off June 1st, with shipping expected to roll out before the fall. It’s a massive win for making high-end upscaling accessible to the rest of us.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

MSI Claw A8 Review: Pretty Great With One Major Flaw

https://retrohandhelds.gg/msi-claw-a8-review/

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📰 New article from RetroRGB

USB Remote Control for Kodi / MiSTer

https://retrorgb.com/usb-remote-control-for-kodi-mister.html

If you’ve ever found yourself frantically fumbling with a wireless keyboard just to navigate a menu, this one is for you.

A new “minimalist” 2.4GHz wireless remote has surfaced that might be the low-cost hero your media center needs. Unlike traditional remotes, this little gadget skips the IR sensor entirely in favor of a USB receiver. While that means you can’t use it to control your TV’s volume or power, it works flawlessly as a direct input for Kodi on everything from Windows to Raspberry Pi.

The real win here is for MiSTer FPGA enthusiasts. If you’re using SNAC controllers, navigating the MiSTer UI can be a chore; this remote makes accessing menus seamless without needing a bulky keyboard nearby.

The quick breakdown:

• The Pro: It’s cheap, tiny, and controls Kodi/MiSTer volume levels perfectly (essential for those accidental “jump scare” moments).
• The Con: No IR means no controlling your actual television hardware.

If you move between different displays often, this is a total game-changer. If you’re strictly a one-TV setup, you might still prefer a remote with a built-in keyboard. Either way, it’s a much better feeling than hunting for a lost keyboard in the couch cushions.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

GammaOS Next Comes to the Anbernic RG Vita Pro

https://retrohandhelds.gg/gammaos-next-comes-to-the-anbernic-rg-vita-pro/

If you’ve ever tried using Anbernic’s stock Android experience, you know it can feel a bit like trying to run a marathon in flip-flops—clunky, slow, and generally unoptimized. But there’s good news for RG Vita Pro owners: the experts at GammaOS have officially stepped in to fix the vibe.

The new GammaOS Next v1.3 is now available, and it’s bringing some serious muscle to your handheld. The standout feature? The debut of “GammaOS Nano.” This is a “boot-to-game” mode designed to skip the Android loading screens entirely. Instead of waiting for the OS to wake up, you can boot straight into RetroArch or DraStic in seconds. It’s basically the “instant gratification” mode every gamer dreams of.

Beyond the speed boost, this update packs a punch with:

• Factory Overclocking: A massive 33.6% throughput boost under load.
• GammaPad & Toolbox: Low-latency controls and an all-in-one app for shaders and profiles.
• Polished Performance: Fixes for Bluetooth stability, WiFi, and even reactive LED lighting that matches your on-screen colors.

The best part? Unlike previous versions that were locked behind a Patreon wall, this release is available to everyone right now via GitHub. Time to ditch the lag and start playing.

📰 New article from TorrentFreak

Sflix, Myflixerz, HDtoday, and other Pirate Sites Go Dark as Backend Infrastructure Fails

https://torrentfreak.com/sflix-myflixerz-hdtoday-and-other-pirate-sites-go-dark-as-backend-infrastructure-fails/

If you were planning a movie marathon on one of the internet’s favorite “zombie” streaming sites this week, you might have been met with a rude awakening.

Heavyweights like Sflix, HDtoday, and Myflixerz have suddenly gone dark, leaving users staring at the dreaded Cloudflare 521 error. While it’s tempting to assume a massive copyright crackdown just wiped them off the map, the technical details tell a slightly more interesting story: the “backend” is likely what’s broken.

It turns out these sites don’t actually host their own movies; they rely on something called “Piracy-as-a-Service” (PaaS). Think of it as a shared plumbing system for illegal streams. When the central pipes—services like MegaCloud or VidCloud—stop responding, dozens of seemingly unrelated websites all go thirsty at once.

Whether this is a mysterious technical glitch or a surgical strike by anti-piracy groups like the MPA remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: while these brands might vanish for a few days, they have a habit of resurrecting themselves under new names. Grab your popcorn—the digital cat-and-mouse game continues.

📰 New article from RetroRGB

Saturn Fighter Ninku Gets a Fan Translation!

https://retrorgb.com/saturn-fighter-ninku-gets-a-fan-translation.html

If you’ve ever looked at a frog-like warrior and thought, “I wish I could understand exactly what he’s yelling at me in Japanese,” then today is your lucky day.

A new fan translation for the Sega Saturn fighter Ninku has just shadow-dropped, courtesy of developer Exxistance. Based on the classic anime and manga series, the game follows Fūsuke—a powerhouse from the Ninku school—as he battles evil corporations named after the Chinese Zodiac. He’s… certainly a unique protagonist.

While you don’t need English to enjoy the high-octane combat, this patch brings some much-needed quality-of-life upgrades. We’re talking:

• Translated title screens and menus
• Localized character names
• English subtitles for opening movies and victory FMVs
• Updated in-game UI elements

The game plays like a charming, cel-shaded sibling to the 3DO’s Yu Yu Hakusho, making it a must-play for fans of quirky 90s fighters. While there’s a whisper that AI might have assisted with the heavy lifting on the translation, the end result is a polished experience that breathes new life into this Saturn gem.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Miniloong Pocket One Review

https://retrohandhelds.gg/miniloong-pocket-one-review/

### A Premium Feel with a Dated Heart

If you’re hunting for a retro handheld that feels like a luxury item without the luxury price tag, the Miniloong Pocket One is making a very loud entrance. While most of the industry has moved on to newer chips, Miniloong is doubling down on the reliable (but older) RK3566 processor, aiming to dominate the sub-$100 market with sheer build quality.

And honestly? The build is impressive. For anywhere between $65 and $100, you’re getting a device that feels remarkably solid, featuring great ergonomics, stacked shoulder buttons, and a beautiful 4-inch screen that makes PS1 and Game Boy Advance games look crisp. It even features a modular design that lets you swap out parts—though, for now, finding replacements might be a bit of a scavenger hunt.

However, there is a catch: the “muscle” is starting to show its age.

• The Good: Stunning display, premium tactile controls, and a user-friendly (if slightly laggy) custom OS.
• The Bad: The RK3566 chip struggles once you move past PlayStation 1 era games.

If you want a high-end experience for classic handheld titles, this is a winner. But if you’re looking to push N64, Dreamcast, or PSP, you might find yourself hitting a performance wall that newer, Android-based competitors simply don’t have.