📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Another Price Jump is Coming to the AYN Thor and Odin 3

https://retrohandhelds.gg/another-price-jump-is-coming-to-the-ayn-thor-and-odin-3/

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📰 New article from TorrentFreak

Z-Library Lets People Run White-Label, Login-Only Pirate Mirrors

https://torrentfreak.com/z-library-lets-people-run-white-label-login-only-pirate-mirrors/

If you thought the legal drama surrounding Z-Library was reaching its finale, think again. Despite the US government chasing two fugitives across the globe, the world’s largest “shadow library” isn’t just surviving—it’s decentralizing.

Z-Library is officially letting users run their own “white-label” pirate mirrors. In plain English? You can now host your own version of the site with your own custom branding and, most importantly, password protection.

This is a massive tactical move for two reasons:

• Stealth mode: Password-protected, custom-branded sites are much harder for copyright bots and law enforcement to sniff out than a giant, obvious domain.
• The “Hydra” effect: By turning users into mini-distributors, Z-Library is making itself nearly impossible to kill. If one domain goes down, there are a thousand others hiding in plain sight.

To sweeten the deal, they’re even offering a 20% revenue share of donations paid in crypto to help cover hosting costs. It’s a clever, high-stakes gamification of piracy that turns every user into a potential shield against the next big takedown.

📰 New article from RetroRGB

RetroTINK 4K Firmware v1.21.0 – More Modelines Available

https://retrorgb.com/retrotink-4k-firmware-v1-21-0-more-modelines-available.html

If you’ve ever felt like you were playing a high-stakes game of “musical chairs” with your RetroTINK 4K settings, Mike Chi just handed you the keys to the kingdom.

The new experimental firmware (v1.21.0) is officially here, and the headline feature is a massive win for customizability: you are no longer limited to just four modeline slots. Instead of constantly overwriting your favorite settings to try something new, you can now load many more modelines via your SD card. It’s a game-changer for anyone who loves fine-tuning their setup to get that perfect, pixel-perfect look.

To get the party started, a new VHS profile pack has been released to help users test the waters. Here’s what else is in the update:

• Expanded Customization: You can now rename modeline files to whatever you like, making it much easier to manage a deep library of profiles.
• Better BFI Clarity: The Black Frame Insertion (BFI) page now features a “BFI Pattern” display, showing you exactly which frames are on or off. No more guessing games when trying to nail that CRT feel.

This is still an experimental release, so if you’re feeling adventurous, grab the firmware, load up those new VHS profiles, and help the community squash any bugs!

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Retro Handhelds Weekly: SEGA Might Be Back, ROCKNIX Returns, and GameNative Hits 1.0

https://retrohandhelds.gg/retro-handhelds-weekly-edition-102/

Grab your coffee and settle in—it’s been a whirlwind week in the handheld world, filled with everything from nostalgic rumors to some frustrating hardware news.

The biggest buzz? SEGA might be making a comeback. Rumor has it a company with a history of licensed SEGA hardware is eyeing a new retro handheld, potentially even featuring physical cartridges. If that’s true, the nostalgia levels are about to go off the charts.

On the hardware front, we have some mixed signals:

• The Good: ASUS is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a stunning translucent ROG Xbox Ally X20 edition.
• The Bad: Anbernic fans, take note—there’s growing evidence of hardware downgrades, specifically DDR3 RAM being swapped into newer RG40XXH boards.
• The Software: Big wins for emulation! GameNative has hit its 1.0 pre-release, and a new Linux distro called Armada is emerging to give Android handhelds a more SteamOS-like experience.

Whether you’re hunting for deals on the AliExpress summer sale or waiting for that elusive SEGA hardware, there’s plenty to keep your thumbs busy this week.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Retro Handhelds Weekly: SEGA Might Be Back, ROCKNIX Returns, and GameNative Hits 1.0

https://retrohandhelds.gg/retro-handhelds-weekly-edition-102/

Grab your coffee and settle in, because the retro handheld world is moving fast this week—some of it moving toward shiny new hardware, and some of it moving toward disappointing hardware downgrades.

The big rumor everyone is buzzing about? SEGA might be making a comeback. Word on the street is that a company with a history of licensed SEGA hardware is eyeing a new retro handheld release, potentially even including physical cartridges. If that’s true, it’s a massive win for nostalgia purists.

However, it’s not all gold-plated buttons and green glowing lights. While ASUS is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a fancy new translucent ROG Xbox Ally X20, Anbernic fans are feeling the sting. It looks like Anbernic is swapping out DDR4 RAM for the slower DDR3 in some recent RG40XXH revisions—a classic “new version, old tech” headache.

On the software side, things are looking bright:

• GameNative has hit its 1.0 pre-release, making x86 emulation on Android much more accessible.
• ROCKNIX has released its first stable build in over a year.
• Armada, a new SteamOS-like Linux distro for Android, is officially on the horizon.

Whether you’re hunting for deals on AliExpress or hunting for lost cartridges, it’s a big week for handheld enthusiasts.

📰 New article from RetroRGB

Scalable Video Switch Transcoder Modules

https://retrorgb.com/scalable-video-switch-transcoder-modules.html

Level Up Your Video Setup: Meet the Transcoder Modules!

Tired of wrestling with mismatched video signals? Get ready to simplify your complex setups because Arthrimus is dropping new transcoder modules for the Scalable Video Switch (SVS).

These little gadgets are the unsung heroes for anyone juggling RGB and YPbPr sources. They sit right on the output side of your switch, smartly converting signals so your display always gets exactly what it needs.

The beauty here is efficiency. You only need one module per switch, and they let you precisely control which signal gets converted, giving you total peace of mind. Plus, you can stack them for ultimate versatility, letting you feed different types of monitors from a single source! If you’re looking to master mixed setups, these are a must-have.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

Year One of the Nintendo Switch 2

https://retrohandhelds.gg/nintendo-switch-2-one-year-later/

### One Year of the Switch 2: A Beautiful, Bulky Identity Crisis

Can we all just take a second to acknowledge how fast time flies? One minute we’re mourning a zoo gorilla, and the next, we’re celebrating a full year of Nintendo’s “next gen” powerhouse: the Switch 2.

After 365 days of testing, the verdict is in: it’s a bit of a mixed bag, but a very impressive one. On the hardware front, the Nvidia Tegra chip is a beast, making titles like Donkey Kong Bananza look stunning. However, don’t expect pure 4K everywhere—a lot of the heavy lifting is done by DLSS upscaling, which can lead to some blurry motion in certain games.

The real struggle? Ergonomics. At 534g, this thing is a heavy hitter. Without a solid grip, it feels less like a handheld and more like a very expensive, very heavy 8-inch tablet.

The Quick Breakdown:

• The Good: Incredible battery life, impressive “Handheld Boost Mode,” and a massive library of Switch 1 games that still run beautifully.
• The Bad: The screen suffers from noticeable ghosting in dark scenes, and the ergonomics are… well, let’s just say you’ll want to buy a grip immediately.
• The Verdict: It’s not perfect, but at $500, it’s a solid buy—especially if you want to get in before the “market conditions” drive prices even higher.

📰 New article from TorrentFreak

YouTube Processed 2.5 Billion Content ID Copyright Claims in 2025

https://torrentfreak.com/youtube-processed-2-5-billion-content-id-copyright-claims-in-2025/

If you’ve ever had a video demonetized or flagged by a robot, you aren’t alone—you’re just part of a massive, automated machine.

YouTube’s latest transparency report is out, and the numbers are staggering: the platform processed a whopping 2.5 billion Content ID copyright claims in 2025. That’s a 14% jump from the previous year.

The most interesting part? This isn’t a human-led crusade. About 99% of these actions are handled by the Content ID system, a powerful automated tool used by a tiny group of roughly 4,500 active rightsholders. While the number of people using the tool actually dipped slightly, the sheer volume of claims is skyrocketing.

Here is the quick breakdown of the chaos:

• The Dispute Game: Uploaders disputed over 12 million claims. While the “win rate” for initial disputes dropped slightly to 67%, those who pushed through to a formal appeal won 75% of the time.
• The Money Trail: Instead of playing “whack-a-mole” with takedowns, most companies are choosing to monetize. To date, Content ID has funneled over $12 billion in ad revenue to rightsholders.

Essentially, copyright infringement has evolved from a legal headache into a massive revenue opportunity. It turns out, being “stolen” is a lot more profitable than being absent.

📰 New article from RetroRGB

Scalable Video Switch Transcoder Modules

https://retrorgb.com/scalable-video-switch-transcoder-modules.html

If you’ve ever felt like your retro gaming setup is a chaotic jigsaw puzzle of mismatched cables, Arthrimus might have just handed you the missing piece.

Today, the team is dropping new transcoder modules for the Scalable Video Switch (SVS). These little modules sit on the output side of the switch and act as a bridge between two worlds: they convert either RGB to YPbPr or vice versa.

Why does this matter? Because it finally solves the “mixed setup” headache. Imagine having a library of component-based consoles but a high-end RGB monitor. Instead of running every signal through a converter, the SVS can pass your pure RGB signals through untouched while only transcoding the component signals that actually need it.

The quick hits:

• Price: Expect to pay between $45 and $55.
• Quality: High hopes here—the circuit is based on Mike Chi’s legendary transcoders, which are gold standards in the community.
• The Catch: They don’t handle Composite or S-Video (for good reason—that math is a nightmare).

It’s all about versatility, making sure your gear plays nice together without sacrificing too much peace of mind.

📰 New article from Retro Handhelds

SEGA Might Release a New Retro Handheld, Cartridges and All

https://retrohandhelds.gg/sega-might-release-a-new-retro-handheld-cartridges-and-all/

Get your collector’s lungs ready, because the rumor mill is churning out some serious nostalgia. Word on the street (specifically via Reddit) is that SEGA might be cooking up a new retro handheld—and it’s not just some cheap emulation device. We’re talking actual physical cartridges.

The leaked specs suggest this isn’t a powerhouse meant for heavy 3D gaming. Instead, it looks like a specialized machine built for the love of 2D pixel art. We’re talking a 5-inch OLED screen (a gorgeous touch!) paired with low-power hardware designed specifically to run modern indie titles and retro classics.

If this pans out, it could change the game for indie devs. Instead of getting lost in a massive digital storefront, developers could release beautiful, small-capacity cartridges for the device. Imagine:

• A curated library of SEGA’s greatest hits on physical media.

Modern indie gems like Good Boy Galaxy* sitting on your desk in cartridge form.

• A dedicated, “anti-AI-inflation” ecosystem using reliable, low-capacity storage.

Take this with a heavy grain of salt—the rumors are still unconfirmed—but if SEGA pulls this off, the “Evercade killer” might just be a blue-sky dream coming true.