Articles by 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

Top Microsoft exec's boast about Windows 'evolving into an agentic OS' provokes furious backlash over AI — users fed up with forced AI and cloud features

By Mark Tyson published 13 November 25

Microsoft Windows president faces withering criticism in response to boasts that 'Windows is evolving into an agentic OS.'

Tape keeps kicking, 'breakthrough' 40TB native spec announced — LTO-10 tapes claim up to 100TB compressed data capacity, hold 2.2X more data than previous spec

By Mark Tyson published 13 November 25

LTO-10 40TB carts were enabled by new 'Aramid' material technology.

A rare ‘Launch Team 05’ Xbox 360 console

First images of exclusive custom Xbox 360 launch console shared ahead of HD-gaming pioneer’s 20th anniversary — project leader Major Nelson admits he has never powered on 'Launch Team 05' console

By Mark Tyson published 12 November 25

As the Xbox 360 turns 20, the first images showing an exclusive edition of the console, which some claim kicked off the HD gaming era, have been shared on social media.

Veteran dev’s newest computer is ‘200,000 times’ faster than his oldest in custom benchmarks — single-thread Dhrystone performance charted across 25 systems released between 1976 and 2023

By Mark Tyson published 11 November 25

Veteran Windows dev Dave W Plummer has run a simple performance test across his 25 computers, released between 1976 and 2023, and he observed a huge 200,000X CPU performance delta.

The so-called 100% "Safe" 120VAC LED tester

Frankly dangerous hot dog-based LED tester could be a Weiner in the 2025 Hackaday Component Abuse Challenge

By Mark Tyson published 11 November 25

An LED testing ‘device’ which largely consists of a hot dog, two forks and a power supply has been entered into an electronics competition

Chinese camera company gives out gold keycaps worth up to $45,000 to top employees — more than 50 prizes given out by Insta360

By Mark Tyson last updated 10 November 25

Webcam brand Insta360 has gifted real gold keycaps, worth up to $45,000 each, to its most valued employees.

Minecraft server installed on a smart lightbulb

Hardware hacker installs Minecraft server on a cheap smart lightbulb — single 192 MHz RISC-V core with 276KB of RAM, enough to run tiny 90K byte world

By Mark Tyson published 10 November 25

A hardware hacker has installed a Minecraft server on a cheap smart lightbulb.

Nvidia's Jensen Huang upstaged at TSMC annual Sports Day by TSMC-branded sneakers — CEO's 'Made In Taiwan' footwear is the talk of the town

By Mark Tyson published 10 November 25

TSMC-branded sneakers were 'the focus of the audience' at the firm's annual Sports Day event this weekend.