Find tech deals in Newegg’s Fantastech Sale ahead of Amazon’s Big Deals Day — early shoppers get automatic refunds if hardware prices drop lower

IT Hardware

AI-rewritten: This is a summary of an article from Tom’s Hardware, rewritten by AI (Qwen, running locally) to make it easier to read. The facts come from the original article – read it for the full story.

Tom’s Hardware • Stewart Bendle • October 3, 2026

Newegg has launched its Fantastech Sale II in partnership with Amazon’s Prime Big Deals Day, running from October 5th to October 11th. The event includes a price protection guarantee available between September 28th and October 4th. According to Newegg, if hardware prices drop lower during the official sale dates, the difference will be automatically refunded to customers starting October 21st. This offer applies to various items including PC components, prebuilt gaming PCs, laptops, and monitors.

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Elon Musk confirms discussions with TSMC about Terafab chipmaking collaboration

IT Hardware

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Tom’s Hardware • Anton Shilov • October 3, 2026

Elon Musk confirmed discussions with TSMC regarding a potential collaboration for his Terafab semiconductor initiative, according to Tim Culpan’s Culpium newsletter on Friday. Under the arrangement considered most probable by Culpan, TSMC would own and operate a new facility exclusively serving Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI, while SpaceX/Terafab could invest or commit to guaranteed chip purchases. The exact ownership structure remains under discussion, with another option involving SpaceX holding majority control while TSMC provides operational expertise and process technology.

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7-year-old Nvidia Shield TV Pro gets shocking 50% price hike driven by AI memory shortage

IT Hardware

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Tom’s Hardware • Kunal Khullar • October 3, 2026

Nvidia has raised the price of the Shield TV Pro from $199.99 to $299.99, marking a 50% increase since its launch seven years ago. The company attributes this change to rising component costs driven by AI demand. An Nvidia spokesperson told Ars Technica that memory prices have increased substantially across the industry, necessitating the adjustment. This price hike coincides with the discontinuation of the standard Nvidia Shield TV, leaving the Pro as the sole Shield-branded streaming device available.

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Free browser-based AI-generated Taipei GTA clone hits 1.2 million concurrent players in three days

IT Hardware

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Tom’s Hardware • Mark Tyson • October 4, 2026

A browser-based game called Taipei GTA has attracted 1.2 million concurrent players in just three days, according to Taiwan TV news reports. Developed by AICodeWith using $10,000 worth of tokens, the free online game allows users to explore zones based on famous Taipei areas like Ximending and Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall. Players can experience a free-roaming environment featuring neon signage, night markets, and various city elements similar to the GTA series, though it uses low-poly models and simple lighting.

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Portable Bluetooth CD player has a glow-in-the-dark transparent green finish, modern features

IT Hardware

AI-rewritten: This is a summary of an article from Tom’s Hardware, rewritten by AI (Qwen, running locally) to make it easier to read. The facts come from the original article – read it for the full story.

Tom’s Hardware • Mark Tyson • October 4, 2026

Sincere Inc. has released the Pixel Tunes portable Bluetooth CD player in a new "After Hours" finish, which is part of a limited edition series of four translucent colors. This specific version features phosphorescent materials that allow it to glow with a soft green light when lights are turned off. The device is priced at 12,980 yen (approximately $83) and includes modern specifications such as a USB Type-C rechargeable Li-ion battery and Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity.

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Open-source tool designs LEGO builds with more than 2,000 real pieces

IT Hardware

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Tom’s Hardware • Shane Downing • October 4, 2026

Open-source software called LDraw Nova allows AI models to design LEGO builds containing over 2,000 real pieces. Developers can use this tool with general models like GPT-6 Astra and Claude Opus 5.5 to create detailed CAD files from simple prompts. For example, a prompt asking for "the most beautiful model that comes to your mind" resulted in the 2,175-piece Sakura Garden design. The system uses Python tools to write programs that generate the build data without placing every single brick physically. Developer Carlos Antelo noted that none of these designs have been built with actual bricks yet, as he "didn’t even try."

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US Navy uses Xbox-style controllers to fire anti-drone lasers deployed on ships

IT Hardware

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Tom’s Hardware • Jowi Morales • October 4, 2026

The U.S. Navy has begun using Xbox-style controllers to operate anti-drone laser systems on its warships. According to Interesting Engineering, these controllers provide the targeting precision and rapid input speed needed for the weapons platform. Many sailors are already familiar with the handheld layout, which helps during training. While specific details about wiring or whether the system is off-the-shelf remain unclear, this marks a shift from previous experimental setups.

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Google Japan shows off wild conveyor-belt keyboard with keys that move to your fingers

IT Hardware

AI-rewritten: This is a summary of an article from Tom’s Hardware, rewritten by AI (Qwen, running locally) to make it easier to read. The facts come from the original article – read it for the full story.

Tom’s Hardware • Jowi Morales • October 4, 2026

Google Japan unveiled a unique keyboard called the Gboard Conveyor Belt Version, designed to make typing easier by moving keys onto your hand instead of requiring finger movement. The device features four conveyor belts, each holding 29 keys that roll toward the user. According to the company blog, this design aims to reduce the need for arm and finger motion, particularly beneficial for single-handed typing. While the team is considering future color variations, high-speed models, and a mobile-friendly short version, the current setup offers an intuitive experience through its rolling mechanism.

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Reading hidden topology in light, even when energy leaks away

Quantum Technology

AI-rewritten: This is a summary of an article from Phys.org, rewritten by AI (Qwen, running locally) to make it easier to read. The facts come from the original article – read it for the full story.

Phys.org • October 3, 2026

Physicists have developed a method to detect hidden topological properties in light, even when energy leaks away from the system. Topology describes features like knots that remain unchanged despite stretching or twisting. In physics, these properties are labeled by whole numbers that stay constant under small imperfections. This robustness makes topology vital for future electronics and quantum devices that can tolerate defects. However, studying this is difficult because topological numbers exist in momentum space, an abstract area describing wave behavior rather than physical location. Most experiments currently infer topology indirectly by observing edge states, which is like judging a knot only by looking at the rope’s ends.

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The dawn of the age of the exoskeleton

Artificial Intelligence

AI-rewritten: This is a summary of an article from Ars Technica, rewritten by AI (Qwen, running locally) to make it easier to read. The facts come from the original article – read it for the full story.

Ars Technica •
Ildar Farkhatdinov, The Conversation
• October 3, 2026

Members of Seattle Mountain Rescue are currently testing powered exoskeletons attached to their hips and legs to improve speed and endurance while searching for stranded people. These devices, which create an external mechanical structure, are also used by companies like IKEA, Ford, Boeing, and Mazda to help workers handle heavy loads. In Finland, a project called ExoPELA found that such equipment reduces muscle strain in rescue and firefighting tasks. Additionally, the Ukrainian military has reported that soldiers using Hypershell exoskeletons on the front lines are less fatigued and maintain combat effectiveness longer, according to Colonel Vitalii Serdiuk.

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