Mark Tyson

Mark Tyson

News Editor

Mark's enthusiasm for computers dampened at an early age by the rubber-keyed Sinclair Spectrum 48K and feelings of Commodore 64 envy. However, in the mid-80s, hope in a digital future was rekindled by the purchase of an Atari 520 STe. Since that time Mark has used a multitude of computers for fun and professional endeavors. He often owned both Macs and PCs but went cold on the former after OS9 was killed off, and warmed to the latter with the introduction of Windows XP.

Early work years were spent in artwork and reprographics but in the late noughties, Mark started to blog about computers, Taiwanese food culture, and guitar design. This activity led to a full-time position writing about breaking PC tech news for HEXUS, for the best part of a decade. When HEXUS was abruptly closed, Mark helped with the foundation of Club386, before finding a new home at Tom's Hardware.

When not wearing through the keycap legends on his PC keyboards, Mark can be found wandering the computer malls of Taiwan's neon-lit conurbations and enjoying local and international cuisine.

Articles by: Mark Tyson

Deepseek logo on an iPhone

China foes get worse results using DeepSeek, research suggests — CrowdStrike finds nearly twice as many flaws in AI-generated code for IS, Falun Gong, Tibet, and Taiwan

By Mark Tyson published

Research suggests that your DeepSeek AI results can be of drastically lower quality if you trigger China’s geopolitically sensitive tripwires.

Brain computer illustration

China targets brain computer interface race with new standard — groundwork could lead to breakthroughs as soon as 2027

By Mark Tyson published

China appears to be moving fast to establish itself as a brain computer interface (BCI) leader, and officials have just published a new medical industry standard.

Looking Glass demos new Hololuminescent Display technology

Looking Glass demos Hololuminescent Display monitors — sizes range from 16 to 85 inches, starting at $1,500

By Mark Tyson published

Looking Glass has taken the wraps off its 'magical' and slim new monitors with Hololuminescent Display (HLD) technology. Models will be available soon, starting from $1,500.

Norbauer Seneca First Edition

Norbauer's $8,000 keyboard waitlist climbs to 9 months — the world's most expensive keyboard is perpetually out of stock

By Mark Tyson published

You don’t even get wireless connectivity, lighting, a numpad, or a control knob, and the wood riser is a $290 extra.

Byte Shop wooden cased Apple-1 computer auction

Rare Apple-1 with storied ownership could fetch over $300,000 at auction — unit housed in original wood case thought to be one of just nine surviving examples

By Mark Tyson published

A rare Apple-1 housed in its original wooden case is expected to fetch more than $300,000 at auction.

Making the VapeServer

Engineer creates ‘blazingly fast’ web server powered by a disposable vape — 'VapeServer' powered by 24 MHz Arm chip with 24 kilobytes of flash, 3KB of SRAM

By Mark Tyson published

Engineer and origami artist Bogdan Ionescu has created a web server that runs on a disposable vape.

Finger Maus Ultra

Wearable finger mouse designed to deliver precision with no flat surface required — 'Finger Maus' uses '80% less plastic' than a typical mouse

By Mark Tyson published

Finger Maus is claimed to improve on your typical deskbound mouse in several ways - as a lightweight, comfortable, accurate and eco-friendly wireless pointing device.

Apple ADB to USB interface for modern PCs

I built a configurable ADB-to-USB adaptor to use a vintage 1990 Apple keyboard with modern Windows and USB — modern keyboards and magnetic switches can't compete with Alps

By Mark Tyson published

I satisfied my retro 1990s keyboard longings by building an Apple ADB to USB converter with a handful of cheap components and some cool configurable firmware.

IBM RAMAC computer and magnetic disk-based storage

IBM announced the world’s first HDD, the 3.75MB RAMAC 350 disk storage unit, 69 years ago today — unit weighed more than a ton, 50 platters ran at 1,200 RPM

By Mark Tyson published

This massive stacked magnetic disk design earned the nickname the ‘baloney slicer.’

TSMC honey

TSM-Bee? TSMC gets into the honey business after working with local beekeepers to establish hives around its fabs

By Mark Tyson published

TSMC has worked with local beekeepers in Taiwan to produce ‘Ji Mi’ – TSMC branded honey.

The FanlessVC2300S DT

Compact copper-encased 14.2-liter PC system weighs 47.4 pounds, doesn't need fans for cooling — passive ITX case is nearly twice as heavy as the aluminum shrouded version

By Mark Tyson published

The Compact FanlessVC2300S DT ITX case will be sold in a limited-edition, completely copper version.

Another nice trash find

Redditor fishes a fully-functional Core i5-9400F and GTX 1660 PC gaming rig out of the trash

By Mark Tyson published

A Redditor enjoyed a big ‘W’ after fishing out a PC packing an Intel Core i5-9400F, Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660, and more

DOOMQL

DOOM multiplayer tribute gets coded in 'pure SQL' and runs at 30FPS — made from just 150 lines of code in less than a month

By Mark Tyson published

A computer scientist used only 'pure SQL' to construct a multiplayer DOOM-like game that runs at 30 FPS.

Taiwan Coast Guard officers boarded a suspicious Chinese fishing vessel this weekend

Taiwan increases defensive patrols around 24 undersea cables — closely monitoring '96 blacklisted China-linked boats' with 24-hour operations

By Mark Tyson published

Taiwan has intensified patrols around the 24 undersea cables that connect it with the global internet.

Nano11 Builder

Nano11 compresses Windows 11 install footprint to as little as 2.8GB — 'extreme experimental script' is 3.5 times smaller than Tiny11 and comes with 'none of the fluff'

By Mark Tyson published

Nano11 Builder for Windows 11 produces the smallest Windows 11 installer ISOs and finished installation sizes yet.

Atari Gamestation Go

Atari Gamestation Go handheld goes up for pre-order — retro deck boasts 200+ classic games and unique physical controls

By Mark Tyson published

Atari has put up its Gamestation Go retro handheld up for pre-order, priced at $179 and with shipping scheduled to begin next month.

Star Wars Outlaws - Gold Edition, Nintendo Switch 2

Star Wars Outlaws developer explains that Nintendo Switch 2 game cards are too slow for a physical game release — Snowdrop game engine uses disk data streaming to render the game world

By Mark Tyson published

Ubisoft wasn’t being ‘cheap’ by opting to deliver Star Wars Outlaws for Nintendo Switch 2 via Game-Key Card, according to a developer who worked on the title.

Alterego’s ‘Silent Sense’ wearable

Alterego demoes ‘world’s first near-telepathic wearable' that enables 'typing at the speed of thought' other abilities — device said to enable silent communication with others, control devices hands-free, and restore speech for impaired

By Mark Tyson published

Watch a demonstration of what is claimed to be 'the world’s first near-telepathic wearable that enables people to communicate silently, seamlessly, and at the speed of thought'

OneXGPU Lite

‘USB 5.0’ connection touted on new slim eGPU with RX 7600M XT — Compact OneXGPU Lite unveiled, likely using USB4 v2

By Mark Tyson published

Appearance of the OneXGPU Lite with 'USB 5.0' surprises at the One-Netbook Fall Launch 2025 Event

LidAngleSensor.app in action

Apple MacBooks have a sensor that measures the angle of the screen —Engineer taps into hidden ‘LidAngleSensor’ API to create a creaky door simulator

By Mark Tyson last updated

An engineer has tapped into Apple’s LidAngleSensor MacBook API, adding a creaky door sound effect to his lid angle measurement app.

Behold, the Decisioninator

The Decisioninator ‘saved my marriage,’ says software engineer — device automates restaurant, chore, date night, and movie night choices

By Mark Tyson published

The Decisioninator was designed and produced to 'optimize and automate' navigating the minefield with a gate signposted 'What do you want for dinner tonight?'

No power in 'Electric Town'

Tokyo’s Tech shopper paradise Akihabara Electric Town was just a 'Town' on Friday, due to the first power outage in 30 years – all the RGBs went out

By Mark Tyson published

Tokyo’s renowned electronics shopping district was plunged into darkness on Friday due to a very rare power outage.

Tiny11 Builder updated

Custom Windows 11 builder axes Microsoft's AI features, whack-a-moling Copilot, Outlook, and Teams — new Tiny11 Builder release should be Windows 11 25H2 ready

By Mark Tyson published

Windows bloat hater NTDEV has released an updated version of Tiny11 Builder ready for Windows 11 25H2.

A Burger King outlet

Burger King hacked, attackers 'impressed by the commitment to terrible security practices' — systems described as 'solid as a paper Whopper wrapper in the rain,’ other RBI brands like Tim Hortons and Popeyes also vulnerable

By Mark Tyson last updated

Ethical hackers have detailed how they uncovered 'catastrophic' vulnerabilities in various Burger King systems.

$9 PC upgrade suggestions

$9 Goodwill PC find earns congratulations from enthusiasts — the machine could be a great eSports or nostalgic gaming powerhouse with the right upgrades

By Mark Tyson published

A PC novice has shared details of their stunning $9 desktop DIY bargain and is looking for upgrade suggestions.

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