DIY

Linux Mesa developer Gert Wollny used GitHub Copilot to help refactor the AMD R600 Gallium3D driver, improving shader compiler code for Radeon HD 2000 through HD 6000 GPUs that are long past official support. The work highlights how AI-assisted coding, under human review and open-source accountability rules, is becoming a practical tool for maintaining legacy hardware and software projects.

The Makera Z1 (Pro), a CNC machine designed to deliver powerful performance at an affordable price, is now available for pre-order. We’re currently reviewing the machine, which is also intended for beginners.

A developer has demonstrated that Garmin Fenix smartwatches can be made to accept running efficiency metrics from external ESP32 or nRF52832-based devices, bypassing parts of Garmin’s tightly controlled sensor ecosystem. This may open up the way for makers to build unofficial Garmin-compatible accessories.

xTool’s new M2 aims to be an affordable desktop maker tool, combining 10W or 20W diode laser cutting and engraving, a 3W infrared laser for metal, and an optional CMYK inkjet module for color printing on materials such as paper, wood, cardboard and canvas.

The Sovol M1D is a new 3D printer that, according to its specifications, should be suitable for printing with multiple colors or filament types. The model comes with several tool heads and can deploy two of them simultaneously.

Harbour Masters, known for polished Nintendo 64 PC ports, is expanding its Libultraship tools to GameCube titles, with The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess leading the effort through the native PC port Twilight Princess: Courage Reborn.

A new, affordable and relatively compact display could be particularly well suited for smart home use, as it comes with speakers and a microphone and can also process touch inputs. The new ESP32-S3 display also supports wireless connectivity.

The Aulumu G05 Pro is a magnetic smartphone kickstand that can flip out up to 80 degrees, with integrated everyday carry tools, a protractor, and an ASMR‑style fidget ring. It is available in Midnight Black or Mechanical Silver, and compatible with all phones thanks to an included stick-on metal ring.

A new handheld comes with a keyboard and should be particularly versatile thanks to support for desktop operating systems. The piBrick is based on the Raspberry Pi in an especially compact and slim form factor.

Take-Two's move appears to position its acquired FiveM service as the only authorized option for modders interested in GTA V role-playing communities.

YouTuber James Channel transformed a broken PS2 Slim into the “JamesStation 2,” a duct-taped portable handheld with salvaged controller parts, a GPS screen, rewired ports, and an exposed spinning disc drive. Despite its crude and hazardous construction, the DIY console reportedly runs demanding PS2 games for up to five hours on a 10,000 mAh battery, outlasting the Steam Deck.

OmniDrive, an open-source custom firmware for select Blu-ray drives, gives PC users a legal way to dump and preserve their own GameCube, Wii, Xbox, PlayStation, and other disc-based games.

Customizable and modular: According to the manufacturer, this new smartphone can be adapted to individual needs and is expected to launch at a relatively low price. Thanks to its modular approach, even users who are not deeply involved in the DIY scene should be able to achieve decent results in a reasonable amount of time.

Wireless communication with no fees or contract: LoRa allows data exchange over longer distances depending on the configuration. The range of compatible devices is relatively large. We took a closer look at both the technology and the ThinkNode M1.

Benjamin Biggs of Drone Pro Hub has once again broken the drone speed record with the latest iteration of the Black Bird. This new version of the drone managed to hit an astonishing top speed of 730 km/h (453.6 mph).

This new mobile device is essentially a smartphone, or at least a mobile phone that also supports GNSS and LTE. However, a cellular connection is not necessarily required.

A modder has transformed an original Game Boy Advance into a functional Nintendo Switch controller using a GBA link cable, a microcontroller adapter, and his open-source Joypad OS firmware.

After a small break, You Should Be Modding returns with a showcase of the best Devil May Cry 3 mod of them all: DMC3 Crimson, a complete transformation that gives the game depth akin to 4 and modded 5 by adding Inertia, new moves, a modernized HUD, and more.

The new Creality Falcon T1 is a do-it-all laser workstation designed to deliver flexibility, performance, and rapid production in demanding, fast-paced environments without compromising on usability, quality, or accuracy. For a short period, the Falcon T1 is available at a discount in an early deal.

RPG Maker U2U is announced with "Perspective 2D" maps, maintaining the simplicity of top-down 2D RPG design with modern flair inspired by "HD 2D" titles like Octopath Traveler. 2D assets from previous RPG Makers can still be used for these maps, and the game ships with 100 "ready-to-use" P2D maps as well.

After Google declined to repair a Pixel 8 with a persistent pink display line, its owner repurposed the otherwise functional phone into a compact retro gaming console connected to a TV. Using a USB-C hub, wired controllers, active PC-fan cooling, HDMI output, and EmulationStation Desktop Edition, the project turns damaged hardware into a practical emulation setup rather than e-waste.

Modder Throaty Mumbo has successfully ported Windows CE 2.11 to the Nintendo 64, using custom-built drivers, Microsoft’s old Platform Builder tools, and an EverDrive 64 cartridge to boot the system on original hardware. The project turns the retro console into a functional Windows CE desktop with controller-based mouse input, audio and graphics support, SD card app loading, and demos including Cube3D and Tetris.

A new compact display should be suitable for a wide range of uses, including smart home applications. The new CrowPanel is not just a display, but also an input device and a single-board computer. It supports touch input, but also functions as a rotary knob.

Months without charging: A new smartwatch can be charged via solar power and offers extremely long battery life. Despite that, it still has several interesting features, some of which are not available in this form even on modern watches.

A solo modder has built a portable PlayStation 2 handheld inspired by the Asus ROG Xbox Ally, using a custom reverse-engineered motherboard rather than repurposed Sony hardware. The project is technically impressive, with open-source files, FPGA-based video processing, USB-C charging, and 4.5-hour battery life, but its demanding soldering and troubleshooting requirements make it unsuitable for most builders.

This new device is based on an e-ink display, supports wireless network connectivity and could be suitable for building a custom smart home display, among other things. The M5 Paper Color also sports a microphone.

The Orion PDA is a new portable computer system that may look somewhat familiar to some users. Among other things, it features a solar panel, which should allow for long battery life without constant recharging.

A new 3D printer aims to make the production of 3D prints with multiple colors or filament types particularly easy and efficient, ​​even when using more than four filaments. The InfiMech MX 3D also utilizes inductive heating.

Framework reports that DDR5 memory costs have remained broadly stable, though it has raised prices on 8GB modules after exhausting lower-cost inventory. SSD pricing is a bigger concern, with depleted older stock forcing Framework to bring in NVMe drives at sharply higher costs that are expected to reach customers across upcoming laptop configurations.

A fan-made modular handheld concept for Anbernic is attracting a lot of attention on Reddit, featuring swappable control modules and battery expansion. The community design addresses long-standing trade-offs in retro gaming hardware.

Noctua has launched the all-black NF-A12X25 G2 Chromax.Black fan, bringing the performance of its acclaimed G2 design to a matte-black finish priced at $34.90, with a twin-pack available for $64.90. The fan retains the upgraded aerodynamics, low-noise operation, 150,000-hour SSO2 bearings, accessory bundle, and six-year warranty that made the original G2 a standout for PC builders.

KendyLabs and Raretro Consoles have introduced KLRR, a self-funded project offering the first publicly available functional clear-shell kits for the Nintendo 3DS XL and New 3DS. Designed to work with the handheld’s complex hinge and internal layout, the kits target collectors and modders, though expected high pricing and difficult installation may limit their appeal to experienced enthusiasts.

Bambu Lab is offering a new filament that is also intended to meet higher health protection requirements. The corresponding tests are said to have been carried out on finished prints as well, though there are still several things to keep in mind.

A new and rather interesting AMOLED display is relatively compact, sports a high resolution and is even flexible. This screen can be used with a wide range of systems as well as SBCs such as the Raspberry Pi 5.

The Pi Slate is a new mobile system based on the Raspberry Pi 5. The device should be fairly versatile and practical for typing longer texts, among other use cases. The Pi Slate is available in several versions.

A new system effectively turns a single-board computer, as well as more or less any other small device into a laptop. This is intended to make it easier to work with. A corresponding camera kit is included with the CrowView Note 14 and allows for use cases such as image recognition.

A Fallout 4 modder has ported the entirety of The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind into the game’s Pip-Boy and terminals, pushing the needle of what is possible for gamers looking to play games beyond the six retro titles the game already supports on its virtual wearable.

The consumer PC and laptop market is in absolute shambles. A new report out of Taiwan has now revealed that major motherboard makers like Asus and MSI have revised their shipment targets by quite a bit for 2026. This development is reportedly in response to the detereorating RAM and CPU supply and price situations that have collapsed the consumer tech market.

Macho Nacho Productions’ Tito spotlights the “Kawaii,” a keychain-sized, heavily trimmed Nintendo Wii built by YveltalGriffin and WeskMods that plays full GameCube titles on original hardware, not emulation, inside a CNC-machined aluminum shell that doubles as a heatsink. The project relies on an undervolted Omega-trim motherboard with Thundervolt hardware and a magnetic pogo-pin connector, with an optional dock for full-size controller ports and AV output, though heat buildup can trigger shutdowns without added cooling.

8BitMods has showcased its BitLink DC Kit, an aftermarket upgrade that converts a Sega Dreamcast controller into a motion-control racing wheel, adding 2.4 GHz wireless play, rumble, RGB lighting, VMU virtual support, and USB-C charging.

A new development board comes with a display and various sensors, and it can even be controlled using touch input. The model is based on a Raspberry Pi chip and also supports external sensors and actuators. It can be used without being connected to a power outlet.

Seeed Studio offers an interesting kit for communication that is completely independent of cellular networks, which could help maintain a basic level of communication in remote areas or during natural disasters. It can also bridge relatively long distances.

This new hardware mod uses a 6th generation iPod Nano to power three Sharp Aquos displays in May 2026. By leveraging a legacy 30-pin iPad dock and custom adapters, the tiny device runs a full multi-screen media setup.

Nearly 30 years after Core Design’s planned Nintendo 64 version of Tomb Raider was canceled, a homebrew developer known as Snake has demonstrated a work-in-progress port running on N64 hardware via the Analogue 3D. Built from scratch using the TRX decompilation approach alongside libdragon and Tiny3D, the project reportedly implements most of the full game but still faces major bugs and performance constraints, with no release date or ROM distribution confirmed.

Lego and Sega’s newly revealed Sega Genesis set (40926) launches June 1, 2026, for $39.99 with 479 pieces, detachable controllers, and a plug-in Sonic the Hedgehog 2 cartridge, but its compact size and sticker-heavy build have drawn immediate criticism. Fans online say it lacks the detail and premium feel of Lego’s larger retro console kits, particularly the 2,646-piece NES set, and some argue even the earlier Genesis Controller gift-with-purchase model looks more faithful.

The ESP-FLY is a new DIY kit designed to help you easily build your own drone. A major draw of this project is certainly the ability to construct an actual flight-ready machine, and its price tag also makes it a reasonably affordable gift.

Valleytech Custom Solutions is launching the Tanmatsu LoRa Radio Deck in Q2 2026. This open-source terminal uses the new ESP32-P4 SoC to get you decentralized mesh networking in a pocket-sized, modular form factor.