Today's Hardware Pulse
Nvidia and SK Hynix ink multi-year AI memory chip pact
Nvidia and SK Hynix have signed a multi‑year agreement to co‑develop next‑generation memory chips optimized for artificial‑intelligence workloads. The collaboration will focus on memory for Nvidia’s Vera Rubin accelerator and broader AI infrastructure, pairing Nvidia’s AI expertise with SK Hynix’s high‑performance memory capabilities.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Rapidus raises $943M in funding
Here Are RW’s “Best of Show” Recipients at NAB Show
Radio World announced the 2026 "Best of Show" winners at the NAB Show, highlighting 23 innovative broadcast products ranging from AI‑driven audio tracking to software‑defined transmitters. The awards, judged by a panel of engineers and editors, recognize companies that paid entry fees and displayed their solutions in official exhibit spaces. Winners include ENCO’s aiTrack Cloud, Telos Alliance’s Omnia XII processor, and Broadcast Bionics’ VoiceGPIO service. Radio World will profile each product in the coming weeks, offering deeper insight for industry buyers.
Seagate OneTouch, FireCuda and LaCie External Drive Trifecta
Seagate unveiled three new external storage solutions across its OneTouch, FireCuda and LaCie lines. The consumer‑focused OneTouch desktop drive offers 8 TB, 20 TB and 24 TB capacities, draws power from the host via USB‑C, and includes backup tools and Rescue Data Recovery....
The Chip Sector Is on a Historic Tear, Fueled by some Unsuspecting Stocks
The PHLX Semiconductor Index logged its 17th straight daily gain, extending a record‑long rally that has lifted the sector over 40% this month. Texas Instruments led the surge, jumping nearly 19% and pulling analog‑chip peers On Semiconductor and Analog Devices...
My Favorite MagSafe Car Charger Easily Handles Bumpy Roads (and It's on Sale)
The Scosche MagicMount Charge Pro is a Qi2‑compatible magnetic car charger that reliably delivers up to 15 W to an iPhone 17 Pro Max, even through thick cases. It uses neodymium magnets and offers both a vent‑clip and an adhesive dash mount, handling rough roads...
Russia Deploys Orlan Recon Drone as Mothership for FPV Quadcopters, Extending Strike Range
Russian troops have begun mounting FPV quadcopters under the wings of Orlan‑10 reconnaissance drones, turning the medium‑range platform into a reusable carrier that can extend the effective range of cheap FPV weapons from 40 miles to potentially 370 miles, a...
Graphene Nanoribbon Memory Market Valued at $1.5 B in 2025, Projected to Reach $4.1 B by 2032
QYResearch announced that the global graphene nanoribbon memory market was worth about $1.538 billion in 2025 and is expected to grow to $4.091 billion by 2032, driven by AI accelerators, HPC and edge IoT. The forecast underscores the technology’s potential to replace...
China Upgrades 72‑qubit Origin Wukong to AI‑enabled Quantum Processor
China’s third‑generation 72‑qubit superconducting quantum computer, Origin Wukong, was upgraded on April 21, 2026 with initial artificial‑intelligence computing functions. The move, announced by the Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Quantum Computing Chips, aims to make the system more user‑friendly and integrate it into...
I Turned Samsung's Edge Panel Into the Most Useful Part of My Phone
Tashreef Shareef shows how Samsung’s Edge Panel can be transformed from a simple app drawer into a multi‑purpose productivity hub. By adding panels for smart‑home controls, a clipboard manager, quick‑links, and custom app pairs, the panel becomes a one‑tap gateway...
SIM‑Farm‑as‑a‑Service Fuels Global Scam Text Surge, Probe Finds
A new Infrawatch investigation maps 94 SIM‑farm locations across 17 countries that rent out bulk SIM cards to cybercriminals. The network, linked to Belarusian operators and promoted on Telegram, supplies scammers with the ability to launch mass phishing and fraud...
Surfing on the Tube
Transport for London awarded neutral‑host Boldyn Networks a 20‑year, $1.35 bn contract to roll out 5G across the London Underground. The project installs fiber, leaky‑feeder cables and base‑station hotels, allowing EE, O2 and Vodafone to share a single DAS infrastructure. To...
Interactive Listening Museum Lets You Compare the Sounds of 36 Mechanical Keyboards
Sheets.works, known for spreadsheet visualizations, launched the Listening Museum – a browser‑based archive that lets users hear the acoustic signatures of 36 mechanical keyboards. Visitors type on their own keyboard and hear each keystroke mapped to recordings from models ranging...
AI Neckband Lets You Talk without Saying a Word
Scientists at South Korea’s POSTECH have created a silicone neckband that captures subtle neck‑skin movements while a user mouths words and converts them into speech in the wearer’s own voice. The device blends a multiaxial strain‑mapping sensor, a tiny camera...
How Matrack’s Dash Cam with GPS Tracking Is Redefining Fleet Safety
Matrack’s integrated dash cam and GPS platform gives fleet operators real‑time video and location data on a single dashboard. The 4G‑connected cameras provide timestamped footage and precise GPS, enabling instant verification of deliveries, accidents, and driver behavior. AI‑driven coaching alerts...
Havis Expands Rugged Mobility Solutions with New Docking Stations for Getac G140 Tablet
Havis announced a new rugged docking station engineered for the Getac G140 tablet, targeting public‑sector, enterprise‑fleet, and industrial users. The dock features standard port replication, an optional quad pass‑thru antenna, and a spring‑loaded connector that sustains connectivity under heavy vibration....
DigiKey and Microchip to Host Educational Webinar on Programming Embedded Systems
DigiKey and Microchip are co‑hosting a free, one‑hour webinar on April 30, 2026 at 10 a.m. CDT to compare two embedded‑system programming approaches—CircuitPython for rapid software prototyping and Verilog for hardware logic design. The session includes hands‑on soldering and a live demo of...
NeuFluent Expands Innovation Ecosystem with New Intelligent Implants and Robotics Initiative
NeuFluent, a neuroscience venture studio, announced an "intelligent implants and robotics" initiative, expanding its portfolio beyond brain‑computer interfaces and AI‑driven drug development. The program is headed by Dr. Kevin Foley, a pioneer of minimally invasive spinal surgery and robotics, who...
Allient Inc. Publishes New Whitepaper on Motor Selection for Humanoid Robotics Systems
Allient Inc. released a whitepaper titled “A Selection Guide to Motors for Humanoid Robotics Systems.” The guide examines actuator technologies—frameless, slotless, geared, and direct‑drive—and evaluates torque density, inertia, response, and thermal constraints for humanoid joints. It aims to help engineers...
Sony’s PS5 Digital Edition Deal Knocks $200 Off the New List Price for a Limited Time
Sony announced a limited‑time $200 discount on the PS5 Digital Edition, bringing the console back to its original $399 launch price as part of a Fortnite Flowering Chaos bundle. The price cut follows a series of hikes earlier this year...
Equinix's AI Discovery Hub Set to Accelerate AI Deployment in Hong Kong
Equinix has teamed with HPE to launch an AI Discovery Hub in Hong Kong, providing an open testing environment that blends Equinix’s AI‑ready interconnection fabric with HPE’s AI factory‑at‑scale and Nvidia’s GPU stack. Hosted in the liquid‑cooled HK6 facility, the hub...
Interview: Boldyn Tech Expert Tips AI-RAN to Boost Private 5G
Boldyn Networks CTO Andy Conway says AI‑RAN is moving from hype to deployment, especially in its neutral‑host private 5G portfolio. The company has installed more than 130 mission‑critical private 5G sites across the US and Europe, ranging from nuclear plants...
Datadog Digs Down Into GPU Efficiency as AI Costs Soar
Datadog has integrated GPU monitoring into its observability platform as AI workloads drive up cloud compute costs. The vendor reports GPUs now account for 14% of cloud spend, and IDC forecasts AI infrastructure spending reached $89.9 billion in Q4 2025, up 62%...
Ubuntu Server 26.04 LTS Will Now Automatically Install HWE/OEM Kernel Packages
Ubuntu Server 26.04 LTS now mirrors its desktop counterpart by automatically installing OEM and hardware enablement (HWE) kernel metapackages during the initial setup. The Subiquity 26.04 installer includes these packages when they match the detected hardware, while still allowing administrators...
Comau and Automha Present Joint Logistics Automation Portfolio
At MODEX 2026, Italian firms Comau SpA and Automha SpA showcased a joint logistics automation portfolio that spans inbound handling, intelligent storage, order preparation, and synchronized shipping. The offering combines Comau’s robots and autonomous mobile robots with Automha’s ASRS shuttles,...
5 Easy Ways You Wouldn't Think to Automate Your Home - but You Really Should
The article highlights five often‑overlooked smart‑home automations that boost convenience, cut energy waste, and improve safety. It walks readers through setting up motion‑triggered pantry lights, humidity‑driven bathroom exhaust fans, scheduled coffee‑maker control via smart plugs or SwitchBot button pushers, pet‑care...
From Air to Tea: New Sensor Reveals Invisible Pollution in Minutes
Researchers at TU Wien and spin‑off Invisible‑Light Labs have launched EMILIE, a nanomembrane‑based sensor that detects airborne and waterborne pollutants at picogram‑to‑nanogram levels in just 15‑45 minutes. The device uses infrared‑illuminated nanomembranes whose minute temperature‑induced vibrations reveal chemical composition, eliminating the...
Stäubli Launches TX2-60L MedX Ready Medical Robot
Stäubli Robotics unveiled the TX2‑60L MedX Ready, a compact six‑axis robot built for surgical and medical applications. The system features MedXguiding, an intuitive manual guidance interface, and is produced under an ISO 13485‑certified quality management system. Stäubli highlights its extensive validation...
DefComm Unveils ‘Fail-Safe’ Secure Comms Tech; Enters Pilot Phase with Nigerian Military
DefComm, a defence‑tech startup, has begun pilot testing its proprietary Secure Communication Device with Nigeria’s Ministry of Defence. The pilot follows earlier deployments on Xshield‑DICON tactical vehicles and showcases fail‑safe retrieval and hardened encryption for network‑centric warfare. The initiative aligns...
CERN’s Medipix3 Technology on Track to Help More Patients
Medipix3, a hybrid pixel detector technology originally created at CERN, now powers MARS Bioimaging’s portable photon‑counting CT scanner for upper‑limb imaging. The scanner received FDA 510(k) clearance, allowing it to enter the U.S. health market and expand clinical adoption. Photon‑counting...
Analyst View: The Rise of AndTek — Why Google and MediaTek Are the New WinTel
Analysts predict a decisive shift from the traditional Windows‑Intel (WinTel) model to an Android‑MediaTek partnership, dubbed “AndTek,” that could dominate the PC market. Windows is seen as a legacy‑heavy platform while Intel struggles with advanced node transitions, opening space for...
FUJIFILM North America Corporation Empowers Print Providers with New CAST Self-Service Program
Fujifilm North America launched the Customer Advantage Service Training (CAST) program to let print providers self‑service their REVORIA PRESS PC1120 units. The tiered certification—Basic, Intermediate, Advanced—trains up to two operators per press to perform routine maintenance and replace over 20 common...
Everpure 'Takes the Hit' As AI-Fueled Supply Crunch Drives Prices up 70%
Everpure, the rebranded Pure Storage, says AI‑driven demand and semiconductor shortages have pushed its storage product prices up about 70 percent since early 2026. Key components have risen 300‑900 percent in cost, creating a supply crunch that outlasts the COVID‑era disruption. The...
Sunbolt Simplifies Off-Grid Mobile Device Charging
Sunbolt, a Pennsylvania‑based firm, provides solar‑powered workstations, carousels, umbrellas and stand‑up charging stations for off‑grid outdoor areas. Each unit features multiple outlets, high‑capacity batteries that hold a charge for two to three days, and construction from eco‑friendly materials such as...
AFE ICs Accelerate Industrial Image Scanning
Cirrus Logic introduced the CS82L4x family of analog front‑end ICs for CIS and CCD sensors used in scanners and industrial imaging platforms. The series—CS82L41, CS82L44, and CS82L46—offers one, four, or six channels with a 24 Msps per‑channel SAR ADC and 16‑bit...
Compact Inductors Meet Tight Layout Demands
Vishay introduced the IHLP1212‑EZ‑1Z series of power inductors, packaged in a 3 × 3 mm 1212‑size footprint with profile options of 1.2 mm, 1.5 mm and 2.0 mm. The line offers 24 variants covering 0.22 µH‑3.3 µH inductance and 8.6‑50.4 mΩ DC resistance, with a saturation current of 14.3 A...
Signal Generators Enable Pulsar Signal Testing
Rohde & Schwarz has released a software option for its SMBV100B and SMW200A vector signal generators that can simulate Xona Space Systems’ Pulsar LEO satellite signals. Pulsar is a planned low‑Earth‑orbit constellation delivering high‑precision positioning, navigation and timing services while...
Everged’s Zero Cost Deployment Program Helps Contractors and Solar Companies Enter the EV Charging Market
Everged has introduced a Zero Cost Deployment Program aimed at electrical contractors, EPC firms, and commercial solar companies seeking to enter the EV charging market. The initiative offers three participation models—CapEx purchase, hardware financing, and an Everged‑owned approach—allowing partners to...
Norwegian Ferry Operator Orders 20 Candela Electric Hydrofoil Vessels
Norwegian ferry operator Boreal has placed an order for twenty P‑12 electric hydrofoil vessels from Sweden’s Candela Technology. The P‑12 can cruise at 25 knots and travel roughly 40 nautical miles on a single charge, addressing the range gap that has...
Designing and Optimizing the Stability of Switch Mode Power Supplies
Analog Devices explains that the regulation loop of a switch‑mode power supply must be both stable and fast. Faster loop response allows the supply to correct line and load variations quickly, which in turn reduces the number of output capacitors...
Samsung and Kingston Trigger New SSD Price Hike Above Ten Percent
Samsung Electronics and Kingston Technology announced SSD price hikes exceeding 10 percent, marking the latest wave of upward pressure in the storage market. Samsung, the world’s largest NAND flash producer, has already applied the new pricing, while Kingston is extending...
SHINING 3D’s FreeScan Omni Receives Red Dot Award 2026 Recognition
SHINING 3D’s FreeScan Omni, a standalone metrology 3D scanner, earned the 2026 Red Dot Award for industrial design. The device delivers 0.02 mm accuracy, validated by VDI/VDE 2634 and ISO 10360 standards, while offering onboard computing and cable‑free operation. Its AI‑driven feature recognition and video...
Custom 3D‑Printed Headphones Showcase at RepRap Festival
3D Printed headphones are pretty cool and you can customize it. Work by @headamame spotted at @rockymountainreprapfestival #headphones #3dprinting #3dprintingcommunity
Compute and Data Ingestion Power Modern Deep Learning Breakthroughs
got into the deep learning game at the multiple GPUs stage (well, 2 😂) and now we’re at data center compute sizing. the fundamentals are the same, compute (and therefore data ingestion) is what is causing most of the current...
STMicroelectronics Targets $3 Billion in LEO Satellite Revenue; Announces Dedicated Investor Call
STMicroelectronics announced a strategic push into the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite market, aiming to generate more than $3 billion in cumulative revenue from 2026 to 2028. The company reported Q1 2026 net revenues of $3.1 billion, up 23% year‑over‑year, helped by...
SpaceX Builds Its Own GPUs, Vertically Integrating Compute
SpaceX is now building its own GPUs. For cars. For robots. For orbital data centers. @elonmusk isn't just launching rockets — he's vertically integrating the entire compute stack.
Local LLMs Won’t Need 16GB VRAM—Use Cloud
By end of next year. End of year after for 16gb vram. Do folk really need more for most things? Not really. But just call the cloud models when you do.
Achieving Maximum Separation Precision
Doppstadt announced that its new SW6 spiral shaft separator will debut at IFAT 2026, a leading environmental trade show. The SW6 combines a hopper and tracked chassis to tackle challenging, high‑moisture material flows with greater precision. Designed for flexibility, the...
Taiwan's Energy Shortage Threatens Global AI Supply
Powering the Silicon Shield – Taiwan’s Looming Energy Crisis and the Fate of AI https://t.co/zPfdZlBan8
Crown Castle to Deploy 1,000 AI Edge Sites Nationwide
Network World reported that Crown Castle is working with Available Infrastructure on "Project Qestral" to establish of 1,000 AI Edge locations in 100 US cities by the end of the year. The deployments will be colocated at Crown Castle's telecom...
Huawei Launches Watch GT Runner 2 with Multi‑System GNSS for Precision Running
Huawei introduced the Watch GT Runner 2, its most advanced running smartwatch, featuring multi‑system GNSS for precise tracking in urban and trail environments. The launch coincided with the MatePad Mini tablet, priced at roughly $480, underscoring Huawei's push into the...
Elon Outlines Responsibility Split for Terafab Components
Elon was asked which party will be responsible for each aspect of the Terafab: https://t.co/HDvNBPeAqL