Today's Hardware Pulse

Nvidia driver adds DLSS 5 profile options, hinting at next‑gen AI rendering
Nvidia's GeForce Game Ready driver 610.47 introduces three new profile settings—Enable DLSS NR override, Enable DLSS NR SL override, and Override DLSS NR presets—suggesting continued development of its upcoming DLSS 5 neural‑rendering technology. The earlier DLSS 5 reveal sparked debate over AI‑driven image alteration, after which Nvidia fell silent on the feature.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Cyient Semiconductors raises $30M Series A

SCADA Working Fine Locally but Lagging on Remote Stations
SCADA platforms deliver real‑time process data flawlessly on the local server, but remote operator stations often suffer lag, delayed tag updates, and sluggish screen navigation. The primary culprits are network latency, excessive tag subscriptions, and heavyweight graphics that strain bandwidth and server processing. Additional factors such as overloaded OPC servers, under‑spec client hardware, aggressive update rates, and security appliances further degrade performance. Understanding and addressing these layers can restore responsive remote monitoring across distributed sites.
Silicon Box Joins Imec Automotive Chiplet Program to Advance Automotive-Grade Chiplet Devices
Silicon Box has entered imec’s Automotive Chiplet Program (ACP), a joint effort to speed the adoption of chiplet architectures in next‑generation vehicles. The company will contribute end‑to‑end expertise in chiplet interconnection, advanced packaging, and testing, working with more than 22...
FTTH Conference 2026 Panel and Global Alliance Summit Accelerate Fiber Rollout
Stephan Rettenberger will speak at a FTTH Conference 2026 panel on fiber innovations for scalable data centers, while the FTTH Council launches its Global Alliance Summit to coordinate international FTTH deployment. Both events aim to remove bottlenecks and speed up...
Cintegral Deploys Taara Lightbridge for 20 Gbps Real‑Time Media Production
Cintegral has integrated Taara’s Lightbridge optical wireless connectivity into its ST 2110 Fiber over‑Air platform, delivering up to 20 Gbps bi‑directional links over 20 km. The move lets directors and crews collaborate in real time on remote shoots where traditional cabling is...

Cisco Goes to the Races with New Churchill Downs Multiyear Partnership
Cisco Systems announced a multiyear partnership with Churchill Downs to modernize network infrastructure across its racing venues and casinos, beginning in late 2026. The deal will replace more than 7,000 switches and create a unified routing fabric for 12 regional...
Distributed Intelligence Redefining Predictive Maintenance as Edge AI Reshapes Industrial Architectures
Edge AI is pushing predictive maintenance from centralized clouds to the factory floor, sparking a split between automation vendors who champion deterministic, layered intelligence and silicon players who embed inference directly in sensors and edge processors. Omron illustrates a pragmatic,...
Huawei Watch Fit 5 Pro Leaked: Sapphire Glass, ECG, $323 Price
Huawei's upcoming Watch Fit 5 Pro is reported to sport a sapphire‑glass display, an ECG sensor and a starting price of €299 (about $323). The leak suggests the Chinese maker is targeting the high‑end sports‑watch segment with brighter LTPO OLED...
Vivo X300 FE Debuts ZEISS Telephoto Optics, 200mm Reach in 191‑g Flagship
Vivo unveiled the X300 FE, a lightweight flagship that pairs a ZEISS‑co‑engineered 50 MP super‑telephoto camera with a 200 mm equivalent focal length, all housed in a 191‑gram, 7.99 mm‑thin body. The device also ships with Snapdragon 8 Gen 5, a 6.31‑inch LTPO AMOLED display, and...
TSMC Hits Record 2,080 TWD, Lifts Taiwan Market Past 36,800 Points
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) opened at 2,065 TWD and climbed to a new intraday high of 2,080 TWD, propelling the TAIEX to breach the 36,800‑point barrier. The rally was backed by strong gains in other chipmakers and a wave...
Vertiv Acquires BMarko to Expand AI Data‑Center Build Capacity
Vertiv has bought South Carolina‑based BMarko Structures, adding a 560,000‑square‑foot custom‑fabrication facility to its North American Infrastructure Solutions business. The deal, announced without a disclosed price, aims to tighten Vertiv’s supply chain as AI‑driven data‑center demand accelerates.
Oak Ridge Lab Declares ‘Software Moment’ for Quantum‑HPC Integration
Oak Ridge National Laboratory announced a concerted effort to build a common software ecosystem for quantum‑high‑performance computing (Quantum‑HPC). The initiative, OpenQSE, targets a $97 billion global market projected for 2035 and seeks to prevent vendor lock‑in as quantum processors mature.
Government Likely to Roll Out Mobile PLI 2.0 with Outlay of over $5 Billion by May
India is preparing to launch a second‑phase mobile‑phone Production‑Linked Incentive (PLI 2.0) by May, allocating more than $5 billion (≈₹46,000 crore). The original Scheme for Large‑Scale Electronics Manufacturing, introduced in 2020, already spent about $5.7 billion and has driven smartphone exports to roughly $28 billion...

Don't Fall for the 'Vivid' TV Trap when Shopping - How I Get the Most Color Accurate Setup
Retail or demo picture modes are engineered to crank up brightness, contrast, and color saturation so TVs look eye‑catching on showroom floors. In a home environment those settings produce oversaturated, unrealistic images, while the default home mode offers a more...

Semiconductors Shift Computation Closer to Memory
#Technology #Thread #Semiconductor #Manufacturing #Memory The Semiconductor PIM To PNM: 1/ - The Semiconductor Industry Is Rethinking Where Computation Happens. - Traditional Architectures Move Data Back And Forth Between Memory And Processors, Driving Latency, Power, And Cost.
Allbirds' Sudden Shift From Sneakers to AI GPUs
Great to be on @OutFrontCNN @ErinBurnett discussing the head scratching Allbirds overnight pivot from a sneaker company to an AI GPU tech vendor 📺😳🍿👇 @CNN @cnnbrk https://t.co/7TCFWZpGc7

Burrana Positions RISE Power as Core Cabin Infrastructure at AIX 2026
Burrana unveiled its RISE Power platform at Aircraft Interiors Expo 2026, branding in‑seat power as a core cabin infrastructure rather than a peripheral amenity. The clean‑sheet system uses dynamic, cabin‑wide power management to replace the traditional first‑come, first‑served model, delivering...
Bluetti Debuts 13kWh EnergyPro Home Storage in US
Bluetti launches EnergyPro 13K home storage system in US #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/cz3heet2cr
Every AI Chip, Not Just NVDA or AVGO, Will Sell
It’s not $NVDA or $AVGO. It is every AI chip that can be built will be sold. 💪🏻🚀 https://t.co/K0jvKcT7SF

TGT Technology Group Shines at Japan IT Week Spring 2026, Empowering Japanese Enterprises with Global Smart Connectivity Through vSIM and...
TGT Technology Group used Japan IT Week Spring 2026 to launch its AI‑powered vSIM/eSIM portfolio for Japanese enterprises, highlighting card‑less global connectivity across devices such as MiFi, CPE, and in‑vehicle units. The suite, built on the company’s proprietary cloud communications...
Will Apple Finally Deliver the Long‑Desired Second Screen?
I wonder if Apple will ever acknowledge this and give us the second screen we all crave
D‑Wave Launches Advantage2, Posts 179% Revenue Jump and $32.8 M Bookings
D‑Wave announced the general availability of its Advantage2 annealing quantum computer, reporting a 179% year‑over‑year revenue increase for fiscal 2025 and $32.8 million in bookings that already exceed the full‑year 2025 figure. The move expands the company’s sales pipeline by roughly...
Vivo X300 Ultra Launches Globally with 1‑Inch Sensor and Pro Video Features
Vivo has begun worldwide sales of its X300 Ultra flagship, equipping the phone with a 1/1.12‑inch 200 MP sensor, triple Zeiss prime lenses and 4K 120 fps 10‑bit video capture. The launch covers Asia, Europe and Brazil, but the United States remains excluded...
Smart Shutoff Device Detects Leaks and Acts Instantly
A bulletin from the front: Brad vs. the Moen Flo Shutoff game-changing smart water device that monitors for leaks and immediately takes action to help prevent them. Yes, we are now in that Brave New World where “AI” doesn’t understand...

The Same Microsoft Surface I Bought 4 Months Ago Is 69% More Expensive Now - Here's Why
Rising demand for AI‑driven cloud services is pushing DRAM and SSD prices up 130% through 2026, according to Gartner. The surge in component costs has forced Microsoft to raise Surface prices by as much as 69% in just four months,...

2026 Onn 4K Pro and Onn 4K Stick Benchmarks — The Pro Gets a Much-Needed Power-Up, and the Stick Holds...
Walmart’s new 2nd‑gen Onn 4K Pro streaming box delivers a 50 % performance boost over its predecessor, making it the fastest Google TV device tested, second only to Nvidia’s Shield line. The Pro also outperforms Amazon’s Fire TV Stick 4K Max by about 12 % while costing roughly two‑thirds...
Hesai Unveils Safety‑Certified JT128 LiDAR for Autonomous Logistics at MODEX 2026
Hesai Technology showcased its JT128 safety‑certified 3D LiDAR at MODEX 2026, announcing a partnership with robotics firm Thoro.ai to equip four new autonomous mobile robots slated for 2027 release. The compact sensor’s ultra‑wide field of view and reduced volume aim...

Dear MAUDE: Is iRestore Just a Hair-Growth Helmet?
The iRestore Elite hair‑growth helmet, marketed as a Class II FDA‑cleared infrared lamp, has sold over 500,000 units and is used daily for twelve minutes. Investigations reveal the device stems from Freedom Laser Therapy, a company that originally offered laser‑based quit‑smoking...
Applied Materials Launches Two Deposition Tools for Sub‑2 Nm GAA Transistor Production
Applied Materials announced two new deposition systems designed for sub‑2 nm gate‑all‑around (GAA) transistor fabrication. The tools address the atomic‑scale tolerances required for more than 500 process steps, aiming to boost performance and power efficiency for AI‑focused chips.
EU Sets Course for Hybrid Quantum-Classical Supercomputing with Lumi‑Q Consortium
The European Union announced that its pending Quantum Computing Act will coordinate research and investment while launching the Lumi‑Q consortium, a 13‑partner effort across eight countries to test hybrid quantum‑classical architectures. The move signals a continent‑wide push to integrate quantum...
KIMM Unveils KAIROS Humanoid Robot on 50th Anniversary, Aiming to Lead Intelligent Machine Era
The Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM) unveiled its AI‑driven humanoid KAIROS during a 50th‑anniversary ceremony in Daejeon. The robot is the flagship of the institute’s K‑Moonshot national strategy and embodies a five‑year vision to shape Korea’s intelligent‑machine future.

Quantum Computers Take on Health Care: Light-Sensitive Cancer Drugs Win US$2-Million Contest
A team comprising Algorithmiq, IBM, and the Cleveland Clinic secured the $2 million Quantum for Bio prize by demonstrating a hybrid quantum‑classical simulation of a light‑sensitive cancer drug. The approach models photon‑electron interactions on IBM’s Quantum System One, revealing how molecular...
Uni of Canberra and Qirx Drive Infrastructure Evolution Through Longstanding Partnership
The University of Canberra (UC) has deepened its three‑way partnership with managed‑service provider Qirx and hyper‑converged infrastructure vendor Nutanix. Since 2013, UC moved from a fragmented three‑tier stack to a consolidated Nutanix‑based private cloud that supports VMs, VDI, Kubernetes and...

Review: Fender’s Elie 12 Is a Do-It-All Party Speaker with Party Tricks
Fender Audio’s Elie 12, unveiled at CES 2026, is a premium Bluetooth speaker that blends a minimalist maple‑capped design with a 120 W output and creator‑focused inputs. The unit offers Bluetooth 5.3 with SBC, AAC and LC3 codecs, spatial audio, and a 15‑hour battery...

Singapore: AI Biochip Speeds Up Genetic Marker Detection to 20 Minutes
Scientists at Nanyang Technological University have unveiled an AI‑powered biochip that identifies disease‑linked microRNA markers in just 20 minutes using a single drop of blood. The nanophotonic chip amplifies fluorescent signals, while deep‑learning algorithms analyze thousands of nanocavities in real...
Machine-to-Machine Communication Will Skyrocket Processing Demands
General-purpose processing demands will multiply once machines are talking to machines. https://t.co/J4yo86mxLl #CPUs @Arm #AgenticAI #chiplets #NPU #GPU #datamovement

FORTNA Adds Jacobi Robotics’ Automated Palletizer to Its Portfolio
FORTNA announced a strategic partnership with Jacobi Robotics at MODEX 2026, adding the AI‑driven OmniPalletizer to its automation portfolio. The OmniPalletizer can create stable, rule‑compliant pallets from mixed‑case shipments without requiring upstream sequencing hardware or major facility redesign. By integrating...
TSMC Q1 Earnings Preview Amid Record AI Compute Surge
Good morning from Taipei. TSMC reports 1Q earnings & hosts an IR call later today. The AI compute sector is at its hottest level on record. I’ll have full coverage soon after the call. Straight to your inbox from https://t.co/yt0PGDxqqi
Molift Raiser Pro Delivers High-Capacity Assistance in Confined Spaces
Molift Raiser Pro: High-Capacity Stand-Up Assistance in Tight Spaces by @gigadgets_ #MedTech #Healthcare #HealthTech #Tech #TechForGood https://t.co/vumqKwh3lm

These iPhone Fold Design Mockups Might Give Us Our Best Look at Apple's Foldable Yet
Graphics designer kirdercee posted high‑resolution mockups of Apple’s rumored iPhone Fold, offering the clearest visual of the device yet. The renders depict a passport‑style chassis with a 7.8‑inch foldable screen that appears crease‑free, a sizable rear‑camera bump, Touch ID on the...

Xbox's Studios Are Working 'Side-By-Side' With Microsoft On Project Helix
Microsoft confirmed that its first‑party Xbox studios are working side‑by‑side with the hardware team on the upcoming Project Helix console. Chief Content Officer Matt Booty said developers are involved from the earliest visioning and specification stages, ensuring software and hardware...

Mesh/Tree Industrial WiFi Challenges Private 5G
Interesting mesh/tree industrial WiFi solution from @PicoCELA Indirectly competes with private 5G, I think https://t.co/5PlFbmucrm

Angelini Technology Acquires Minority Stake in Lab0
Angelini Technologies has taken a minority equity position in U.S. robotics startup Lab0, the maker of the RoboGlide system that automates container loading and unloading. The investment is intended to accelerate Lab0’s move from prototype to commercial scale and may...

Solid-State Batteries Could Shatter China's Grip on Global Energy Storage
The global lithium‑ion market reached $150 billion in 2025, but safety concerns and China’s dominance over lithium supply are spurring investment in alternatives. Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory announced a polymer electrolyte that dramatically speeds ion movement, addressing a key...

TMTB: Nvidia's CEO Jensen on Dwarkesh Podcast - Key Quotes (NVDA)
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang told the Dwarkesh podcast that the company’s 70% gross margin and fixed‑price strategy give it a pricing advantage over competing ASICs. He argued Nvidia’s performance‑to‑cost (TCO) ratio is unmatched, citing its token‑per‑watt efficiency and annual generational...

Rapidus: Will It Succeed Or Not?
Japanese foundry startup Rapidus secured a ¥631.5 billion ($3.97 billion) government subsidy, part of a broader $16 billion financing plan. The company has opened a chip‑characterization lab and a packaging/chiplet R&D line at its Chitose fab, aiming to ship 2nm gate‑all‑around (GAA) chips...
UPS Expands RFID Rollout to Cut 20 Million Manual Scans Daily
UPS announced a nationwide expansion of its RFID tagging system, investing more than $100 million to outfit U.S. hubs, vehicles and customers with the technology. The carrier says the move will eliminate nearly 20 million manual scans each day and give shippers...
Semiconductor Industry Calls for More Robust, Strategic Industrial Policy
U.S. industry leaders told a House subcommittee that China is outspending the United States on AI‑driven semiconductor research and that American manufacturing capacity has shrunk more than 25% since 1990. They urged Congress to adopt a proactive industrial policy, streamline...
FANUC America to Spend $90 Million on New Michigan Robot Plant
FANUC America disclosed a $90 million investment to build an 840,000‑square‑foot manufacturing complex in Michigan, targeting completion in late 2027. The plant will create 225 new jobs and expand the company’s U.S. footprint to 3 million sq ft, reinforcing North American automation supply chains.
DJI Unveils Lito Drone, Likely Its Final US Model Amid FCC Ban
DJI posted a teaser for the Lito drone, slated for an April 23 launch, and filed FCC paperwork that could let the device be sold in the United States despite a 2025 ban on foreign‑made drones. The move positions Lito...
Rivian, Redwood Materials Deploy 10 MWh Second‑Life Battery Storage at Illinois Plant
Rivian announced a partnership with Redwood Materials to install a 10 MWh second‑life battery energy storage system at its Normal, Illinois EV plant, using more than 100 retired Rivian packs. The deal gives Rivian a cheaper, dispatchable power source while giving...