Patrick O'Rourke
@patrickorourke.bsky.social
@xdasocial.bsky.social News Editor and Entertainment Lead | Seen on CBC, CTV | https://expansionpak.substack.com | Past: @pocketlintcom, @mobilesyrup, Financial Post, Postmedia, Canada.com | [email protected]
Someone is making a Donkey Kong 94 Game Boy Color ROM hack. This is so cool. www.timeextension.com/news/2026/09...
Donkey Kong '94's Game Boy Color Fan Remaster Just Hit A Major Milestone, But Don't Go Bananas Just Yet
marc_max has offered an update on the long-awaited hack
www.timeextension.com
October 2, 2026 at 7:22 PM
Someone is making a Donkey Kong 94 Game Boy Color ROM hack. This is so cool. www.timeextension.com/news/2026/09...
As far as third-party Google TV launchers go, Dispatch is pretty great if you're after a minimalist look. www.xda-developers.com/this-useful-...
This useful app brought my Plex library directly to my Google TV home screen
My self-hosted movies and TV shows are finally front and center and not buried.
www.xda-developers.com
October 2, 2026 at 6:03 PM
As far as third-party Google TV launchers go, Dispatch is pretty great if you're after a minimalist look. www.xda-developers.com/this-useful-...
The Lost Odyssey recompilation PC port is great. It runs at 45-60fps at 1080p on my ROG Xbox Ally X. I forgot how much I really liked this game. It’s like the Final Fantasy VI sequel I’ve always wanted.
October 2, 2026 at 2:44 AM
The Lost Odyssey recompilation PC port is great. It runs at 45-60fps at 1080p on my ROG Xbox Ally X. I forgot how much I really liked this game. It’s like the Final Fantasy VI sequel I’ve always wanted.
I've always been a big fan of @androidcentral.bsky.social, especially early in my career. It sucks to see such an industry mainstay get gutted like this. Google zero is very real. Someday, there'll just be nothing left for the AI algorithms to gobble up.
October 2, 2026 at 1:20 AM
I've always been a big fan of @androidcentral.bsky.social, especially early in my career. It sucks to see such an industry mainstay get gutted like this. Google zero is very real. Someday, there'll just be nothing left for the AI algorithms to gobble up.
It's been a dark few weeks for Halo fans, so this is really cool. It's going to be interesting to see what kind of mods drop for the native Halo PC port. www.xda-developers.com/original-hal...
Thanks to fans, the original Halo just got an unofficial Windows, Linux, PS5, and Android port
Given how much the iconic series has struggled lately, this is great to see.
www.xda-developers.com
October 1, 2026 at 7:40 PM
It's been a dark few weeks for Halo fans, so this is really cool. It's going to be interesting to see what kind of mods drop for the native Halo PC port. www.xda-developers.com/original-hal...
I'm bummed this isn't a native port of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD, but it's still cool it finally exists. www.xda-developers.com/zelda-the-wi...
Zelda: The Wind Waker finally has the native PC port fans waited decades for, complete with 120fps support
The impressive port of the classic Zelda title also runs on iPhone, iPad, and macOS.
www.xda-developers.com
October 1, 2026 at 6:43 PM
I'm bummed this isn't a native port of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD, but it's still cool it finally exists. www.xda-developers.com/zelda-the-wi...
There's now a browser version of Halo: CE. What a time to be alive. www.xda-developers.com/you-can-now-...
You can now play the original Halo for free in your browser with 128-player multiplayer
Activision may have taken over the Halo series, but at least you can play the OG game in a browser now.
www.xda-developers.com
October 1, 2026 at 5:22 PM
There's now a browser version of Halo: CE. What a time to be alive. www.xda-developers.com/you-can-now-...
I'm still amazed that setting up a Windows 11 handheld is such a chore. You have to get updates from at least three different places, and it often takes several hours before you're totally up and running.
September 30, 2026 at 6:29 PM
I'm still amazed that setting up a Windows 11 handheld is such a chore. You have to get updates from at least three different places, and it often takes several hours before you're totally up and running.
I just got my hands on the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra. It's really big, but it reminds me of the iPad Pro in how impossibly thin it is. www.xda-developers.com/samsung-new-...
Samsung's new Galaxy Tab S12 series features a thin design, a few new features, and a price hike
The Android-powered Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra is very similar to the Tab S11 Ultra.
www.xda-developers.com
September 30, 2026 at 5:00 PM
I just got my hands on the Galaxy Tab S12 Ultra. It's really big, but it reminds me of the iPad Pro in how impossibly thin it is. www.xda-developers.com/samsung-new-...
Amazon's new Fire TV Stick 4K runs on Vega OS. At this point, I think the company is slowly moving all its streaming devices to the more restrictive operating system. www.xda-developers.com/amazon-refre...
Amazon's refreshed Fire TV Stick 4K is faster, but the switch to Vega OS comes with a major catch
Say goodbye to Android app sideloading.
www.xda-developers.com
September 30, 2026 at 1:24 PM
Amazon's new Fire TV Stick 4K runs on Vega OS. At this point, I think the company is slowly moving all its streaming devices to the more restrictive operating system. www.xda-developers.com/amazon-refre...
During the cellular outage in Hawaii, I used Apple’s satellite messaging feature for the first time. It’s pretty wild, but actually works quite well. I was able to send and receive several texts.
September 29, 2026 at 6:06 AM
During the cellular outage in Hawaii, I used Apple’s satellite messaging feature for the first time. It’s pretty wild, but actually works quite well. I was able to send and receive several texts.
Jackass: Best and Last was a pretty big let down. Maybe I just know the series really well, but I feel like I’ve seen most of those best-of stunts recently. The new stuff wasn’t very compelling either.
September 29, 2026 at 5:37 AM
Jackass: Best and Last was a pretty big let down. Maybe I just know the series really well, but I feel like I’ve seen most of those best-of stunts recently. The new stuff wasn’t very compelling either.
The power has been out at the hotel I’m staying at in Hawaii for over 24 hours now. Cellular only recently came back up. It looks like a combination of high winds and a fire caused by downed power lines took everything out.
September 28, 2026 at 4:50 PM
The power has been out at the hotel I’m staying at in Hawaii for over 24 hours now. Cellular only recently came back up. It looks like a combination of high winds and a fire caused by downed power lines took everything out.
It looks like Microsoft's Copilot+ PC branding is dead. www.xda-developers.com/after-two-ye...
After two years of backlash, Microsoft seems to be dropping Copilot+ branding from its new laptops
The Surface line's CPV confirmed Microsoft's new laptops meet the hardware requirements, but lack the branding
www.xda-developers.com
September 26, 2026 at 6:24 PM
It looks like Microsoft's Copilot+ PC branding is dead. www.xda-developers.com/after-two-ye...
The iPhone 18 Pro’s variable aperture is fun to mess around with, but so far it hasn’t really been very noticeable, even when adjusting it manually.
September 26, 2026 at 5:42 AM
The iPhone 18 Pro’s variable aperture is fun to mess around with, but so far it hasn’t really been very noticeable, even when adjusting it manually.
This would be pretty big for PC game emulation on Android. www.xda-developers.com/qualcomm-cou...
Qualcomm could be planning to supercharge PC game emulation on Android
The chipmaker is reportedly considering releasing official DirectX 12 drivers.
www.xda-developers.com
September 26, 2026 at 1:57 AM
This would be pretty big for PC game emulation on Android. www.xda-developers.com/qualcomm-cou...
Here’s a few photos I’ve shot with the iPhone 18 Pro while I’ve been in Hawaii.
September 25, 2026 at 10:49 PM
Here’s a few photos I’ve shot with the iPhone 18 Pro while I’ve been in Hawaii.
The Apple Watch Ultra 4 ⌚️.
September 25, 2026 at 10:42 PM
The Apple Watch Ultra 4 ⌚️.
It looks like Snapdragon X2 series gaming handhelds might end up being a thing at some point. www.xda-developers.com/qualcomm-isn...
Qualcomm isn't ruling out Snapdragon X2-powered gaming handhelds
There's nothing technically stopping manufactures from releasing gaming handhelds powered by the Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme.
www.xda-developers.com
September 24, 2026 at 9:55 PM
It looks like Snapdragon X2 series gaming handhelds might end up being a thing at some point. www.xda-developers.com/qualcomm-isn...
This is kind of dystopian, but I'd probably use it if it proves trustworthy. I hate making phone calls for menial tasks. www.xda-developers.com/google-new-e...
Google’s new experimental Gemini Intelligence feature makes the phone calls you’d rather avoid
"Call the Pizza place and ask them to add extra pepperoni"
www.xda-developers.com
September 24, 2026 at 7:29 PM
This is kind of dystopian, but I'd probably use it if it proves trustworthy. I hate making phone calls for menial tasks. www.xda-developers.com/google-new-e...
Qualcomm’s new top-tier chip is here. This year, there are two of them. My latest from the Snapdragon Summit. www.xda-developers.com/qualcomms-ne...
Qualcomm split its 2026 flagship Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 chip into two tiers, and both hit 5GHz
Unsurprisingly, the chip giant is going even more all-in on AI.
www.xda-developers.com
September 23, 2026 at 3:20 AM
Qualcomm’s new top-tier chip is here. This year, there are two of them. My latest from the Snapdragon Summit. www.xda-developers.com/qualcomms-ne...
I'm kind of into the Signature 27's wacky look. That's a lot of camera lenses arranged in a weird way. www.xda-developers.com/motorola-sig...
Motorola’s ultra-premium Signature 27 will be one the first phones powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6
The phone is coming to the US, but a specific release date hasn't been reveled
www.xda-developers.com
September 23, 2026 at 12:36 AM
I'm kind of into the Signature 27's wacky look. That's a lot of camera lenses arranged in a weird way. www.xda-developers.com/motorola-sig...
I can't say I didn't see this coming. As much as I like Halo Infinite, the game was a mess at launch and had a ton of squandered potential. I really hope Activision continues to take the series in the same throwback direction Infinite was focused on. www.xda-developers.com/microsoft-gu...
Microsoft guts Halo Studios as Activision takes over making the next Halo game
The company is only three-quarters of the way through this round of layoffs.
www.xda-developers.com
September 22, 2026 at 6:28 PM
I can't say I didn't see this coming. As much as I like Halo Infinite, the game was a mess at launch and had a ton of squandered potential. I really hope Activision continues to take the series in the same throwback direction Infinite was focused on. www.xda-developers.com/microsoft-gu...
I just saw a dude on the beach decked out in a Lake America hat, a Lake America shirt, and Lake America shorts. He's the Lake America merch king.
September 22, 2026 at 6:25 PM
I just saw a dude on the beach decked out in a Lake America hat, a Lake America shirt, and Lake America shorts. He's the Lake America merch king.
I've been using the new Beats 360 for the last few weeks, and I've been really surprised at how much I like them. They're basically slightly cheaper AirPods Max 2, with a lighter, more comfortable design. www.xda-developers.com/beats-360-ar...
The Beats 360 are lighter, cheaper, and way more comfortable than Apple's AirPods Max
It's almost like Beats looked at the AirPods Max and said, "We can do better."
www.xda-developers.com
September 22, 2026 at 6:19 PM
I've been using the new Beats 360 for the last few weeks, and I've been really surprised at how much I like them. They're basically slightly cheaper AirPods Max 2, with a lighter, more comfortable design. www.xda-developers.com/beats-360-ar...