Today's Hardware Pulse
Nvidia driver hints at next‑gen DLSS 5 work
Nvidia’s GeForce Game Ready driver 610.47 adds three new profile options—Enable DLSS NR override, Enable DLSS NR SL override, and Override DLSS NR presets—suggesting continued development of DLSS 5 neural‑rendering technology. The earlier DLSS 5 reveal had sparked debate over AI‑driven image alteration, and the new driver hints at a quiet but ongoing effort.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Cyient Semiconductors raises $30M Series A
Clear-Com Unveils FreeSpeak Cell
Clear-Com introduced FreeSpeak Cell, a cellular‑based wireless intercom system that runs on LTE and 5G networks. Debuting at the 2026 NAB Show, the solution targets large‑scale productions by leveraging public and private cellular infrastructure instead of traditional RF spectrum. It supports 100+ belt‑packs and can scale to hundreds of users, with dual‑SIM capability for flexible network access. Shipping begins in spring 2026, with initial U.S. certification and broader global approvals planned later in the year.
SDT and IonQ Expand Strategic Cooperation via Resource Utilization Agreement
South Korean quantum‑tech firm SDT Inc. has signed a resource utilization agreement with U.S. quantum‑computing leader IonQ, embedding IonQ’s trapped‑ion hardware into SDT’s hybrid cloud platform QuREKA. The deal transforms QuREKA from a connectivity gateway into an execution‑focused environment where...
Taiwan Space Agency Prepares A Satellite-Grade General-Purpose GPU For Commercialisation
On 15 April 2025, Taiwan Space Agency (TASA) licensed its satellite‑grade general‑purpose GPU to Liscotech for commercial use. The GPGPU, built on NVIDIA chips with a radiation‑hard, modular design, flew aboard the Black Kite‑1 CubeSat on SpaceX’s Transporter‑15 mission in November 2025. In‑orbit...
I Didn’t Expect These Earbuds to Win Me over with Such a Rare Feature
Google’s Pixel Buds 2a introduce a rare, user‑replaceable charging‑case battery secured by two Torx screws, allowing owners to swap the battery in minutes. The replacement battery is sold for $30 on iFixit, making a practical repair option available shortly after launch....
Faraday Delivers IP Solutions to Enable Endpoint AI Based on UMC's 28nm SST eFlash
Faraday Technology announced a comprehensive 28 nm SST‑ESF4 eFlash IP solution that bundles a flash controller, built‑in self‑test, and silicon‑proven analog and high‑speed PHYs. The offering also includes a suite of peripheral IPs—SRAM, USB, PLL, ADC/DAC, RTC, temperature sensor, oscillator and...
Invest in AI Infrastructure: The Real Money in 2026
AI • SPACE • PHOTONICS • POWER The real money in 2026 is in the picks & shovels powering the future 👇 We’re talking: ⚡ AI neocloud + GPUs 🔌 Data center power & energy 🌐 Fiber optic cables + networking 🔦 Lasers & photonics 🚀 Rockets...
A New Approach for 10 kV GaN
Researchers at Ariona State University have introduced a plasma‑based edge‑termination technique that removes etching and passivation steps for 10 kV GaN power devices. The method creates resistive regions in the top p‑GaN layer using hydrogen plasma, yielding a more uniform electric...
Unifying III-Vs and Silicon with an RF Interposer
imec unveiled a second‑generation 300 mm RF silicon interposer that bridges silicon logic with III‑V power devices such as InP and GaN. The platform uses DuPont’s low‑loss XP80 polymer and three copper redistribution layers to deliver record‑low insertion loss—0.30 dB/mm at 140 GHz...
Diode Improvements Drive Fibre Laser Growth
Advances in GaAs diode technology have slashed the $/Watt cost of industrial fibre lasers, fueling a market that now exceeds $23 billion annually. The superior efficiency and reliability of fibre lasers have displaced CO₂ and Nd:YAG systems across metal marking, cutting...
Accelerating GaN-on-Silicon RF Power Amplification
Researchers at Nanyang Technological University and A*STAR have demonstrated a GaN‑on‑silicon HEMT that delivers 0.67 W mm⁻¹ output at 123 GHz using a 10 V drain bias, marking the first power‑amplification result beyond 100 GHz for this platform. The device employs a 5 nm AlN barrier,...
Asymmetry Spawns Superior SiC Superjunctions
Researchers at Rohm have unveiled a unified analytical framework for silicon‑carbide (SiC) superjunction devices that incorporates crystal‑axis impact‑ionisation anisotropy and arbitrary geometric asymmetry. By tuning the width and doping of n‑ and p‑type pillars, the asymmetric semi‑superjunction design reduces specific...
Stress-Tested, Future-Ready GaN
Infineon is scaling lateral GaN HEMTs that combine ultra‑low on‑state resistance with high breakdown voltage, leveraging GaN’s 3.44 eV bandgap and high electron mobility. The company’s reliability program adds accelerated lifetime tests, wafer‑level DHTOL screening and extensive statistical analysis to exceed...
I Own All Four Galaxy Buds Pro: This One Has The Best ANC And Sound Quality
Samsung’s Galaxy Buds lineup now spans four premium true‑wireless models, from the original Buds Pro to the newly released Buds 4 Pro priced at $249. In side‑by‑side tests, the Buds 4 Pro topped the field in active‑noise‑cancelling performance and delivered the most balanced sound, while...
Ericsson Q1 Profit Plunges 79% as 5G Demand Wanes, Revenue Down 10%
Ericsson posted a first‑quarter profit of SEK888 million ($89 million), down 79% from a year earlier, while revenue fell 10.3% to SEK49.332 billion ($4.9 billion). The decline reflects weaker demand for 5G equipment and broader uncertainty in telecom infrastructure spending.
Deaconess Illinois Launches First‑in‑Nation 3‑Tesla MRI, Cutting Scan Times to Under 7 Minutes
Deaconess Illinois Medical Center, together with GE HealthCare and the Marion Chamber of Commerce, inaugurated a first‑in‑nation 3‑Tesla MRI system that can complete a knee scan in under seven minutes. The upgrade promises faster, higher‑resolution imaging and broader access for...
Samsung Galaxy A57 Review Shows Premium Features at $549 Mid‑Range Price
Samsung launched the Galaxy A57 at $549, delivering a glass‑and‑metal build, a 6.7‑inch 120 Hz HDR10+ display and AI‑driven camera tweaks normally reserved for the flagship S26 line. The phone’s modest performance gains and unchanged battery raise questions about its value...
Hardware Security Modules Market Set for $3.5B by 2031 as Enterprises Boost Cybersecurity Spending
Mordor Intelligence projects the hardware security modules (HSM) market to climb from $2.18 billion in 2026 to $3.51 billion by 2031, a 10.02% CAGR, as enterprises intensify cybersecurity investments, adopt cloud‑native key management and comply with tighter regulations.
Apple Leaks Reveal iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max Specs and First Foldable Model
Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and its first foldable iPhone in September 2026. Leaks point to a 2nm A20 Pro processor, 5,000 mAh‑plus batteries and Indian launch prices of roughly $1,600 for the...
Northwestern Engineers Print Artificial Neurons That Talk to Living Brain Cells
Engineers at Northwestern University printed flexible artificial neurons that generated lifelike electrical signals and activated living mouse brain cells, demonstrating a direct electronic‑biological interface. The work, published in Nature Nanotechnology, could accelerate brain‑machine interfaces and inspire ultra‑efficient AI hardware.
Toshiba Ships SmartMCD Samples with Zero-Speed Sensorless FOC for Automotive BLDC Motors
Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage has begun shipping engineering samples of the TB9M030FG, the newest SmartMCD motor‑control device for automotive BLDC applications. The chip merges a 32‑bit Cortex‑M0 MCU and gate driver while delivering a proprietary sensor‑less field‑oriented control (FOC)...
Linux 7.1 Adds New AMD SMCA Bank Types, Presumably For Upcoming EPYC Venice
Linux 7.1’s kernel update expands the AMD Machine Check Exception (mce_amd) driver with ten new Scalable Machine Check Architecture (SMCA) bank types. The additions cover data‑acceleration front‑end and back‑end units, eDDR5 interconnects, and several secure‑processor components. While the patches do...
7 Devices in Your Home that Really Shouldn’t Be on Wi-Fi
The article argues that seven common home devices—TVs and streaming boxes, PCs and game consoles, printers, storage servers, and mesh router nodes—should be connected via Ethernet instead of Wi‑Fi whenever possible. While Wi‑Fi 7 promises up to 46 Gbps, real‑world constraints keep...
I Was Using My Steam Deck Wrong Until I Made This One Change
Dave Meikleham discovered that pairing his Steam Deck with a $40 Baseus dock dramatically expands the handheld’s capabilities. The dock provides HDMI output, USB ports, and a built-in stand, letting users connect keyboards, mice, and the 8Bitdo Ultimate 2 controller. In...
7 ESP32 Projects You Can Do in 1 Hour
The article showcases seven ESP32‑based projects that can be assembled in an hour or less, ranging from a Bluetooth proxy to a WLED LED controller. Each build leverages the ESP32’s built‑in Wi‑Fi and Bluetooth, keeping component costs under five dollars....
'I've Read Your Reviews': AOC Says Its Software Is 'One of the Most Highlighted' Problems and It's 'Finally, Finally' Updating...
AOC has admitted that its on‑screen display (OSD) software is a frequent source of criticism among gamers. At a press event in Croatia, the company announced a refreshed OSD that consolidates a unified, color‑coded interface across its Gaming, Agon, and...
Adaptable Film Camera Shoots Photos in Any Frame Size You Want
Exposing Engineering’s VZ‑6617 medium‑format camera, now on Kickstarter, lets photographers change frame sizes mid‑roll using a 3D‑printed masking guide. The variable‑zone film gate supports formats from 6×6 up to 6×17 on a single 120 mm roll, eliminating the need for multiple...
Gucci Is Going After Ray-Ban Meta, With Google’s Help
Luxury group Kering confirmed that Gucci is teaming with Google to develop AI‑powered smart glasses, targeting a 2027 release. The eyewear is expected to run on Google’s Android XR platform and integrate Gemini AI, though neither company has officially verified...
Hot-Swappable Hard Drives Seemed Brilliant in the '90s—Here's Why Iomega Jaz Never Stood a Chance
In the 1990s Iomega introduced the Jaz drive, a hot‑swappable cartridge that delivered 1 GB and later 2 GB of removable storage, mimicking the speed of an internal hard drive. While the concept filled a gap between floppy disks and expensive external...
Desperate Gamer Bakes Dying GTX 1080 in an Oven to Fix It and It Actually Works
A Reddit gamer revived a dying eight‑year‑old Gigabyte GTX 1080 by baking it in a home oven at roughly 210‑220 °C for ten minutes. After standard fixes like repasting and driver updates failed, the extreme heat temporarily restored the GPU, allowing it...
Mac Mini and Mac Studio Supply Shortages
Apple’s Mac Mini and Mac Studio are facing acute supply shortages, especially high‑memory configurations. The base M4 Mini with 32 GB RAM and the M4 Pro with 64 GB are listed as unavailable, and other Mini models see shipping delays of one...
NASA's Artemis II Orion Uses Eight‑CPU Redundant Computer for Fault‑tolerant Navigation
NASA’s Artemis II Orion spacecraft runs an eight‑processor, fault‑tolerant computer architecture that can survive the loss of three flight control modules in under 22 seconds. The design, a leap from Apollo’s single‑megahertz computer, underpins the mission’s navigation, life‑support and communications as...
Samsung Calls Vertical Triple‑Camera the Core Identity of Galaxy S26 Amid Design Criticism
Samsung executives announced that the vertically stacked triple‑camera system is the defining design element of the Galaxy S26, a move praised internally but met with external criticism that the phone’s homogenized look blurs its identity against rivals like Apple and...
Econet Launches Zimbabwe’s First Enterprise‑grade AI Cloud Platform
Econet Wireless has launched Econet AI, a new business unit that offers the Cassava AiCloud platform powered by NVIDIA GPUs hosted in South Africa. The service gives Zimbabwean companies access to enterprise‑grade artificial‑intelligence computing without building their own data centres,...
Google Researchers Show Quantum Computer Can Crack Bitcoin in 9 Minutes
Researchers at Google have demonstrated that a quantum computer could recover a Bitcoin private key in roughly nine minutes using Shor's algorithm. The finding compresses a timeline that was once thought to be decades away into a single‑digit minute window,...
Tesla Deploys AI5 Chip to Accelerate Optimus Humanoid Robot Rollout
Tesla announced that its custom AI5 processor will power the first batch of Optimus humanoid robots, shifting the chip’s debut from cars to robotics. The move sparked an 8% stock surge and underscores Musk’s strategy to turn Tesla into an...
U.S. Army Secures AI‑Assisted Bumblebee V2 Interceptor Drone as Ukraine Deploys Similar Systems
The U.S. Army’s Joint Interagency Task Force announced a February agreement to acquire the Bumblebee V2 AI‑assisted interceptor drone from Perennial Autonomy, mirroring Ukraine’s deployment of the original Bumblebee drone. The low‑cost, hard‑kill system uses AI‑guided targeting to knock hostile...
The Best Class 1 E-Bikes Right Now, According to Consumer Reports
Consumer Reports released its 2026 roundup of the best Class 1 e‑bikes as federal EV subsidies wind down. The list highlights five models that balance price, performance, and rider experience, from the premium Gazelle Medeo T1 at $3,000 to the budget-friendly...
DigiFlight Introduces Phoenix Mixed-Reality Trainer For Apache Crews
DigiFlight Inc. unveiled the Phoenix Mixed‑Reality Flight Training Device for AH‑64 Apache crews at the Army Aviation Warfighting Summit in Nashville. The system combines a full‑scale cockpit replica, mixed‑reality visuals, and a high‑fidelity aerodynamic model to simulate pilot and gunner...
Tinkerer Transforms a Filthy 1990s PlayStation Into the ‘Ultimate PS1’
Elliot Coll, a Retro Future YouTuber, bought a non‑functional 1994 PlayStation on eBay and transformed it into what he calls the “ultimate PS1.” He stripped the dusty console, removed prior hacks, and installed a PicoStation ZeroWire board for SD‑card game...
Intel's Packaging Wins Set Stage for Wafer Deals
Intel has made great strides. I was one of the only analysts that gave them a shot when the company had been written off for dead by most. They’re definitively getting advanced packaging from big XPU players. I called this...
Controlled Disorder Enables Compact, Multifunctional Optical Metasurfaces
A mosaic metasurface design integrates eleven optical functions, claiming that controlled disorder can enhance performance and reduce space requirements in optical systems. https://t.co/1Gk4xSS7s1
3 Reasons I Love the Clicks Keyboard for Motorola Razr and 3 Things I Don't Like
Derrek Lee reviews the Clicks Keyboard, a case‑integrated physical keyboard for the Motorola Razr Ultra 2025. The accessory restores full‑size typing on the tiny cover screen, adds backlit keys, shortcut combos and solid protection. Lee praises its nostalgic BlackBerry feel and...
AI‑Powered Vacuum Uses Cameras to Optimize Home Cleaning
Narwal’s 2026 flagship robot vacuum is outfitted with video cameras and super smart AI cleaning technology to work out the best way to tackle your home. https://t.co/nv0bxsx9Dr
Oura’s Firmware Update May Mask Lock‑in Strategy
I’m SURE there’s a good reason that the @ouraring charging case has firmware that needs updated. Is it lock-in masked as “safety”? https://t.co/R55zFSjiJo
Yozma IN10 Review: $1200 Somehow Buys a 40mph Ultra-Capable Mini Electric Dirtbike
The Yozma IN10 electric dirt bike sells for $1,199, putting it in the same price bracket as many mid‑range e‑bikes. It packs a 2.6 kW brushless motor with 146 Nm of torque, hits up to 40 mph, and claims a 53‑mile range, though...
DJI's New Compact Vlogger Adds Battery, Memory, 240fps 4K
DJI's latest compact vlogging camera improves on its already capable predecessor with better battery life, built-in memory, new accessories, professional color profiles and 4K video now up to 240fps. https://t.co/7gVsVMjGoC
Wireless Earbuds Cost Almost as Little as Wired Ones
when i started buying wireless earbuds recently i was kind of surprised that they barely cost more than the ones with wires. very affordable if you can afford an iphone (every android i've ever owned still has a headphone jack).
TT‑Lang: Python DSL for Tenstorrent’s High‑performance Kernels
TT-Lang from Tenstorrent from Groq? It’s a Python-based DSL that lets you write high-performance custom kernels and fused ops directly on Tensix cores, Blackhole, etc.. Think “Triton but made for Tenstorrent hardware.” V 1.0 next week
Generative Design Powers One Click Metal Drone Frame
Generative Design Meets Metal #3D Printing: One Click Metal’s #Drone Frame Takes Flight via @WevolverApp #3Dprinted #Technology #Innovation #EmergingTech #TechForGood https://t.co/K2U8nRRRVQ
US Growth Rides on Fragile TSMC Dependence
With robust resilient global supply chains, American growth has seen record gains, including with 90 percent dependence on TSMC for advanced node production. No one explains how much manufacturing will strengthen the economy and at what cost, economics matter....