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
Wayve Lands Backing From AMD, Qualcomm and Arm to Boost Autonomous Driving Tech
Wayve announced it has secured new financing from semiconductor leaders AMD, Qualcomm and Arm, though the size of the round was not disclosed. The backing signals deepening ties between chip makers and autonomous‑vehicle innovators as the race to commercialize self‑driving technology intensifies.
Hai Robotics and Maersk Deploy 10‑Metre High‑Density Logistics Robots in Singapore
Hai Robotics and shipping giant Maersk have launched a high‑density logistics system in Singapore that uses 10‑metre‑tall vertical racking and autonomous mobile robots to move more than 1,000 totes per hour, handling tens of thousands of SKUs for fashion brands....
Fibocom Showcased 5G/4G Communication Solutions at the 52nd China Electrical Instruments and Meters Industry Conference
At the 52nd China Electrical Instruments and Meters Industry Conference in Zhuhai, Fibocom presented its 5G/4G cellular modules and PCBA communication units aimed at the power‑IoT market. The showcase highlighted the RU311 RedCap module, a lightweight, low‑power solution designed for...
Selling B30s
Awesome Dwarkesh episode with Jensen, but did not love the discussion around selling B30s to China and really think that Jensen’s position is pro-American. I am super patriotic and believe that selling B30s to China *lowers* the risk that China...
Lumen Technologies' High-Stakes Fiber Bet Nearly Bankrupted It. Now, It's Powering Its AI Future
Lumen Technologies, after narrowly avoiding bankruptcy, has slashed debt and sold its consumer business, now focusing on AI networking and cloud services built on its extensive fiber infrastructure. A new AWS Interconnect partnership sparked a >10% share rally, highlighting the...
AGI Is Old News
Nvidia’s Blackwell architecture, announced in March 2024, only reached consumer‑ready models by late 2025, a roughly twenty‑month lag from keynote to usable intelligence. Early Blackwell‑powered models like Anthropic’s Claude Mythos have already sparked emergency meetings among central banks due to...
Boston Dynamics’ Robot Dog Now Reads Gauges and Thermometers with Google's AI
Google DeepMind unveiled Gemini Robotics‑ER 1.6, a model that gives Boston Dynamics’ Spot robot the ability to read analog thermometers, pressure gauges and other instruments with 98% accuracy—up from 23% in the prior version. The model introduces "agentic vision" and multi‑view...
Clear-Com Introduces Arcadia and Eclipse HX Updates
Clear‑Com unveiled major upgrades to its Arcadia Central Station and the Eclipse HX digital matrix, now running EHX v15 software. The new ARC (Access, Resource, Configuration) architecture decouples hardware from system behavior, turning intercom into a software‑defined platform. Capacity has been expanded...
HYFIX Announces $15M Seed Round
HYFIX Spatial Intelligence, a Santa Clara‑based semiconductor startup, announced a $15 million seed round to develop a new class of American‑made chips for high‑precision drones and autonomous robots. The financing was led by Craft Ventures and included Catapult Ventures, Multicoin Capital,...
Could Space Become the Next Frontier for AI Data Centers?
Tech giants are moving the AI compute conversation off‑planet, with NVIDIA unveiling a Space‑1 Rubin module that promises up to 25× more AI performance in orbit and Google’s “Suncatcher” project probing solar‑powered chips for space. Startups such as Starcloud have...
TDLAS vs CRDS: Which Gas Analysis Technology Truly Performs in the Fab?
Semiconductor fabs need ultra‑trace gas analysis to prevent contamination that can cripple yields. Two optical‑spectroscopy methods dominate: Tunable Diode Laser Absorption Spectroscopy (TDLAS) and Cavity Ring‑Down Spectroscopy (CRDS). TDLAS delivers sub‑second, in‑situ measurements with minimal maintenance, making it the workhorse...
American Tower Delivers 5G Connectivity at Pittsburgh International Airport
American Tower has completed a neutral‑host 5G Distributed Antenna System at Pittsburgh International Airport, covering the newly opened terminal and existing concourses. The deployment was selected through a competitive RFP and was built while the terminal was still under construction,...
Finding the Best Batteries for Electric Off-Highway Machines
Off‑highway sectors such as construction, agriculture and mining are accelerating electrification, with OEMs like Caterpillar, John Deere and Volvo backing the shift. IDTechEx’s updated 2026‑2036 report projects the global off‑highway battery market to expand to over 45 GWh by 2036, driven by...
Is Tesla a Chip Stock Now? Investors Are Cheering a Semiconductor Milesto...
Tesla announced that its next‑generation AI5 chip has been "taped out," meaning the design is finalized and ready for fabrication. The AI5 is intended to power Tesla's upcoming humanoid robots and high‑performance AI supercomputers, with volume production slated for 2027....
Samsung Hikes Galaxy Book 6 Prices by up to $600 as Base Model Goes on Sale
Samsung has launched the base Galaxy Book 6 in the United States, but with a $200 price increase to $1,249, higher than the originally announced $1,049. The company also raised prices across the entire Galaxy Book 6 lineup, with Pro models climbing...
CG Semi Included in Newly Approved Semiconductor SEZs
The Indian government has approved a special economic zone (SEZ) in Dholera, Gujarat, for Tata Semiconductor Manufacturing’s chip‑fabrication plant, covering 66.16 hectares. Tata plans to invest roughly ₹91,000 crore (about $11 billion), positioning the project as the country’s first large‑scale semiconductor fab....
The Nothing Phone 4a Pro Is Nearly Unbreakable, Except for One Design Flaw
Nothing’s Phone 4a Pro, priced at $499, features a CNC‑milled aluminum unibody that survived bend, scratch and flame tests, proving it is one of the toughest mid‑range phones. The device’s 6.8‑inch AMOLED panel uses Gorilla Glass 7i and delivers up to 5,000 nit brightness. However,...
U.S. Grid-Scale Battery Production to Support 100% of Renewable Generating Capacity
The United States has rapidly built grid‑scale battery manufacturing capacity, reaching roughly 70 GWh of finished storage systems in 2025—enough to meet the entire storage demand of wind and solar generation. Companies such as Fluence, LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI, SK On and...
NAB Show 2026: Sony Announces New Cameras, Virtual Production Tools
Sony unveiled its new R Series system cameras at NAB Show 2026, expanding the HDC‑5000 and HDC‑3000 families with higher dynamic range, modular transmission options, and consistent color matching. The company also rolled out AI‑driven firmware updates for PTZ units...
CoreWeave Sees a $7 Billion Win From an Unconventional Customer. Financia...
CoreWeave, a specialist GPU‑cloud provider, secured a $7 billion multi‑year commitment from quantitative‑trading firm Jane Street. The deal underscores the financial sector’s appetite for high‑performance AI compute beyond traditional tech labs. Jane Street will tap CoreWeave’s infrastructure to run large‑scale machine‑learning...
US DOE Selects Five Project to Restart Domestic Primary Gallium Recovery
The U.S. Department of Energy announced roughly $5.4 million in funding for five projects aimed at restarting domestic primary gallium recovery, a capability absent since 1987. The TRACE‑Ga initiative, managed by ENERGYWERX, will prototype novel extraction methods from waste streams, alumina...
This Uncommon Port Turns Weak Mini PCs Into Sleeper Gaming Rigs
Mini PCs can become viable gaming machines by pairing them with an external GPU via the OCuLink port, which taps directly into PCIe lanes. OCuLink delivers up to 64 Gbps of PCIe 4.0 ×4 bandwidth—roughly double Thunderbolt 4 and often outpacing Thunderbolt 5 in real‑world...
Microsoft's Windows 11 Laptop Deal for Students Comes with a $500 Bonus - What's Included
Microsoft is offering U.S. college students a free bundle worth over $500 when they purchase a qualifying Windows 11 laptop from major retailers. The package includes a year of Microsoft 365 Premium with AI‑driven Co‑Pilot, a year of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, and a customizable...
AI Could Democratize One of Tech's Most Valuable Resources
Nvidia currently dominates the AI‑chip market, but emerging AI tools are making high‑performance compute more accessible to smaller players. Open‑source models and on‑demand cloud GPU rentals let startups run sophisticated workloads without owning expensive hardware. New ASIC designs from up‑and‑coming...
New Fire TV Stick HD Announced with the Much-Hated Vega OS — A Downgrade in so Many Ways
Amazon unveiled a new Fire TV Stick HD that runs its proprietary Vega OS, replacing the long‑standing Android‑based HD stick. The device is marketed as the slimmest streaming stick and adds Wi‑Fi 6 and a USB‑C port, but retains the same...
Speculating Apple’s Next Device: IPod Photo or Touch
@gruber iPod Photo? iPod touch? (I don’t think it’ll be called iPhone Fold either, fwiw)
DJI Is Releasing 4 New Products This Month — Here’s What’s Coming
DJI is staging an unprecedented four‑product launch in April 2026, covering a vlogging camera, a portable power station, an entry‑level drone, and a new audio system. The Osmo Pocket 4 promises a 1‑inch sensor and up to 100 GB of built‑in...
AQT Low Errors Boost Horizon Quantum Software
Quantum software firm Horizon Quantum announced a strategic partnership with Alpine Quantum Technologies to integrate its Triple Alpha IDE with AQT’s trapped‑ion quantum processors via the cloud. The collaboration lets developers compile and run quantum code on AQT’s low‑error hardware...
One of the World's Most Powerful Flip Phones Is Now 46% OFF at Amazon — That's Not a Typo
Amazon is offering a 46% discount on the Motorola Razr Ultra (2025), slashing the price from $1,299.99 to $699.99. The 512 GB foldable features Snapdragon 8 Elite, 16 GB RAM, dual 165 Hz pOLED displays, and IP48 resistance. The deal makes the Razr Ultra cheaper...
Struggling With This Early Heatwave? Shark’s New ChillPill Delivers 3 Ways to Cool Down Fast
Shark and Dyson have each introduced new portable cooling devices as an early East Coast heatwave drives demand for personal temperature control. Shark’s ChillPill combines a bladeless fan, dry‑touch mist and a cryotherapy‑inspired cooling plate that can lower skin temperature...
Exploring the Hidden Complexity of Modern Power Electronics Design – A Siemens White Paper
Siemens released a white paper detailing the hidden complexity of power‑delivery‑network (PDN) design in modern power electronics. It outlines four primary failure mechanisms—improper PCB stack‑up, capacitor aging, thermal/mechanical stress, and out‑of‑spec component use—and shows how they erode voltage stability and...
A Closer Look at HP's New Multi Jet Fusion 1200 3D Printer
HP unveiled the Multi Jet Fusion 1200 at RAPID+TCT, positioning it as the most affordable entry‑level industrial 3D printer in the company’s portfolio. The new model promises up to 30% faster build speeds and a broadened material library while targeting...
LUMA Installs 20 Transformers to Strengthen Puerto Rico's Power Grid
LUMA Energy installed 20 new transformers across Puerto Rico, enhancing capacity and voltage regulation for roughly 78,000 customers in the eastern and Bayamón regions. The Bayamón TC Substation upgrade fortifies a key northern transmission hub, while the Fajardo unit replaces...
Britain's 120,000-Drone Package for Ukraine Sounds Massive - Here's What May Actually Be Inside
Britain announced a package of at least 120,000 drones for Ukraine, the largest drone aid ever pledged. The bundle spans long‑range strike, reconnaissance, logistics and maritime platforms, with UK firms Tekever, Windracers and Malloy Aeronautics identified as participants. Tekever’s AR3...
When the Patent Litigation System Has to Make Charging Happen: Tesla V. Charge Fusion and the Drafting Risk of &Lsquo;Result...
Tesla has sued Charge Fusion over a patent that claims a charging system capable of both scheduling and actively increasing battery charge. The dispute centers on the patent’s use of “result in” language, which blurs the line between a recommendation...
Nuvacore AI Emerges, Targeting AI‑optimized Datacenter CPUs
Congrats to @NUVACOREAI coming out of stealth and the @sequoia investment. The value prop makes sense. Agents are driving the need for more and better datacenter CPUs, particularly in the hyperscalers. The company says it wants to overcome the limitations of...
2TB Archive Drive Costs $90 More Over Time
Here’s a 2TB drive I’ve been filling up with my archived photo and video projects over the past couple of years. I bought it for $220 and now it goes for $310.
NVIDIA's Moat: Turning AI Complexity Into Cost Savings
Drastically symplifying, but one take as the strategy/competitive advantage that is becoming more clear from $NVDA is: NVIDIA’s moat is the ability to continuously compress the full AI factory problem into better economics for customers.
Semiconductors: The 21st Century Transport Industry
Semiconductor are the transport (industry) of 21st century, says @PaulHickey of Bespoke. He was talking on CNBC, moments ago.
Microsoft Offers Free 365, Game Pass with Student Laptops
Microsoft's response to the MacBook Neo is free Microsoft 365 Premium and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscriptions. A bunch of discounted Windows laptops are going live today for students, with free subscriptions. All the details 👇 https://t.co/rx59ceJBQr
Flip 7 FE: Stylish Yet Overpriced for Its Performance
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE looks the part, but it struggles to justify its price tag in several key areas. https://t.co/dX5UWurn1D
Broadcom Showcases Chip Design Size Evolution at Cadence Live
Our friend @CharlieKawwas from @Broadcom showing off chip design size evolution here at #CadenceLive https://t.co/UjiCdK7EYz
Discover Your Battery’s End‑of‑Life Value
What will your batteries be worth at end of life? Workshop: The Battery Value Equation London, 2 June https://t.co/uP8lIQAT77
China Trials Deep-Sea Submarine Cable Cutter at 3,500 M
China tests submarine cable cutter at 3,500-metre depth Maybe "salvage" and "maintenance" vice "cutter", the cutting is not the primarily capability.... https://t.co/i2Wo4yNkyq
Dishan Technology Near 2nm AI Chip, 40% More Efficient
China’s Dishan Technology nears 2nm AI chip breakthrough, reports say Shanghai-based start-up says its chip design is likely to improve energy efficiency by 40 per cent compared with its predecessor Technology finds a way around controls, eventually... https://t.co/gaSkdYcIks
Cadence Sets Ambitious 2026 IP Bandwidth Targets
IP targets for @Cadence in 2026. 😎 ➡️ HBM4/4E 16G ➡️ LP6 at 14.4G ➡️ PCIe 8.0 and 448G ➡️ Intel 18AP and 14AE #CadenceLive https://t.co/DYAF0yQT2Z
Apple Execs Hint at Upcoming Spatial Computing Glasses
Two of Apple's biggest execs have talked about the future of spatial computing in a new interview —and it sounds like there's something in those smart glasses rumors. https://t.co/9TDRSphbI3
Cadence Tools Can Be Accelerated on Snapdragon CPU/GPU
Pretty sure I just heard Anirudh claim you can accelerate Cadence tools on Qualcomm Snapdragon CPU and GPU. 😉
Asus TUF F16 Gaming Laptop Now Cheaper on Amazon
The Asus TUF F16 Gaming Laptop is a very appealing budget gaming laptop and it just got even cheaper thanks to this Amazon deal. https://t.co/5zB6MHJfp4
Nokia, Orange Team up for AI‑RAN, 6G‑ready Platform
Nokia and Orange to work together on AI‑RAN including: -GPU-based radio processor -NVIDIA AI infrastructure -the upper 6 GHz band -6G-ready platform https://t.co/ELP6q2vGh8