Lilbits: Asahi Linux on Apple M3, bootloader unlock for the Fire Max 11, and Acer and Lenovo’s unusual new laptops

Apple’s Mac computers are designed to run Apple’s macOS software. The company doesn’t make it easy for users to install other operating systems. But the folks at the Asahi Linux project have been reverse engineering Apple’s M-series chips since they first hit the streets, and while the latest Apple processors might not be supported yet, the team has made a lot of progress over the years.The latest update? You can now run Linux on Macs with Apple M3 series chips from 2023. You might not want to yet though, because a few key features aren’t ready yet, like fully functional GPU support or sleep. But it may just be a matter of time beforeIn other recent tech news from around the web, that Lenovo laptop with horizontally rollable display we told you about last month is now official… or at least it’s officially a concept device that you may or may not ever be able to purchase. The makers of the Arduboy are back with an almost fully transparent handheld. And Acer’s got a new laptop on the way… and it’s most exciting feature might be the removable battery.Asahi Linux adds (limited) support for Macs with Apple M3 series processors. GPU support is still a work in progress though, and sleep doesn’t work yet. asahilinux.org/2026/09/m2-e…[image or embed]— Liliputing (@liliputing.bsky.social) September 6, 2026 at 1:57 PMLenovo’s Project AeroBlade concept laptop is a 14 inch, 830g (1.83 lb) laptop that’s just 10mm thick and uses Frore AirJet for solid state, fanless cooling. Project Swan is the anticipated 14″ laptop with a horizontally rollable display that stretches to 17″. news.lenovo.com/pressroom/pr…[image or embed]— Liliputing (@liliputing.bsky.social) September 6, 2026 at 2:10 PMThe Acer Swift Blade 14 is an ultralight laptop with a 799 gram (1.76 pound) starting weight . But with a AlMg chassis, backlit keyboard, up to a 14″ 2.8K OLED display, 12GB of onboard RAM, and Intel Wildcat Lake, it’s an interesting MacBook Neo competitor. news.acer.com/acer-expands…[image or embed]— Liliputing (@liliputing.bsky.social) September 6, 2026 at 2:07 PMThe 4th-gen Acer Vero 16 is a new laptop with an old feature that’s increasingly hard to find: a user-replaceable battery. It’s just one of the repairable, replaceable components of this laptop focused longevity and environmental impact. news.acer.com/acer-unveils…[image or embed]— Liliputing (@liliputing.bsky.social) September 6, 2026 at 2:18 PMThe Arduview is a tiny handheld game console from the makers of Arduboy. What makes it different is clear… literally. Not only is the case transparent, but it also has a transparent PCB and OLED display. Coming soon to Kickstarter. arduview.com[image or embed]— Liliputing (@liliputing.bsky.social) September 6, 2026 at 2:00 PMThe upcoming Onyx BOOX Picco is a simple, tiny eReader that will compete with the Xteink X4 and similar devices. Unlike other BOOX devices, it doesn’t run Android, but early looks show it appears to have well designed software & hardware. www.androidpolice.com/this-is-the-…[image or embed]— Liliputing (@liliputing.bsky.social) September 6, 2026 at 1:48 PMHot on the heels of an exploit for gaining temporary root shell access for the Fire Max 11 tablet, hackers have developed a method for unlocking the bootloader and installing custom recovery, enabling permanent root, custom firmware, and more. xdaforums.com/t/unlock-roo…[image or embed]— Liliputing (@liliputing.bsky.social) September 6, 2026 at 1:53 PMKeep up on the latest headlines by following Liliputing on Bluesky or @[email protected] on Mastodon. You can also follow Liliputing on Threads and Facebook.