Today's Hardware Pulse
Nvidia driver hints at progress on next‑gen DLSS 5
Nvidia’s latest GeForce Game Ready driver (610.47) adds three new DLSS profile options, indicating continued work on DLSS 5 neural‑rendering technology. The earlier DLSS 5 reveal sparked debate over AI‑driven image alteration, and this driver update provides the first concrete sign of advancement.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Cyient Semiconductors raises $30M Series funding
Why 14 Western Battery Companies Went Under While Demand Kept Rising
From January 2025 to April 2026, fourteen Western battery firms collapsed despite raising over $20 billion, with Northvolt alone accounting for $15 billion of that capital. The failures spanned cell manufacturers, recyclers and materials players, and were driven by premature gigafactory scaling, lack of real revenue, mismanagement, concentration risk, and half‑built value chains. High‑profile cases include Ascend Elements’ $145 million contractor liens and a withdrawn $316 million DOE grant, and 24M Technologies’ silent shutdown despite a $1 billion valuation. The wave unfolded while global demand continued to rise, underscoring a stark gap between Western ambition and execution.
Low‑Frequency Wireless Sensor Tracks Artery Stiffness Safely
A new low-frequency wireless sensor enables real-time monitoring of artery stiffening with reduced electromagnetic interference, offering a safer and more stable approach for wearable and medical devices. biotechnology
Open‑Source $5K Robotic Chemistry System Enables Autonomous Synthesis
A modular, low-cost robotic chemistry system can now be assembled for around $5,000, enabling autonomous synthesis optimization and customizable workflows in any laboratory setting. All build instructions are openly available. automation
Quantum Computing: A Tech Race Europe Could Win?
Alice & Bob, a French quantum‑computer startup, is spending $50 million on a new Paris‑area campus that will house larger cryostats and an in‑house chip‑fab. Co‑founder Théau Peronnin says the firm will soon link its machines to high‑performance computers, delivering exponential speed‑ups that could...
US Chip Export Controls Fuel Chinese Industry Growth
Sebastian offers a calm and objective assessment of the US chip-export controls on China. While whether the rule is working or not remains a debate in Washington, the consensus among Chinese chipmakers is that US restrictions constitute the single strongest...
Analog Devices Opens Advanced Backend Facility in Thailand
Analog Devices (ADI) opened an advanced backend manufacturing facility in Chonburi, Thailand, upgrading its local operations from a test‑only site to a full‑scale production base that includes wafer‑level processing, chip‑scale packaging (CSP) and final IC testing. CEO Vincent Roche described...
QCOM Margins Squeezed; Hold Off New Longs Till June
QCOM: handset volumes fall; memory-price shock squeezes margins. Auto/IoT gain offsets but Apple modem exit and licensing risk persist. Trade: avoid new longs until June analyst day. — Viktor Kopylov, PhD, CFA More insights: t.me/si14Kopylov
Physicists Discover How to Reverse 'Quantum Scrambling'
Physicists at UC Irvine have unveiled a method to reverse quantum scrambling, a process that spreads and seemingly loses information across qubits. By exploiting the microscopic time‑reversibility of quantum systems, the team engineered a precise backward‑evolution protocol that refocuses dispersed...
The Sideload 029: Smartphone Solvers
Episode 29 of 9to5Google’s The Sideload podcast features host Will Sattelberg and writer Andrew Romero dissecting the current state of flagship Android phones sold in the United States. The duo critiques Samsung’s sprawling Galaxy S lineup, offers a concrete suggestion for Google’s...
GIGABYTE X870E AERO X3D WOOD
Gigabyte unveiled the X870E AERO X3D WOOD, a high‑end motherboard that blends an 8‑layer PCB with wood‑grain composite panels on the I/O and secondary M.2 heatsink. The board supplies 60 A through a 16+2+2 power delivery system and adds leather‑tipped pull...
Microsoft Raises Surface Laptop and Surface Pro Prices, up $500 Since Launch
Microsoft announced price hikes for its Surface Laptop 7 and Surface Pro 11, raising base models to $1,500—$500 above the 2024 launch price. The increases, driven by a global RAM and component cost surge, affect multiple configurations, with some models now costing...
Google Shoehorned Rust Into Pixel 10 Modem to Make Legacy Code Safer
Google’s Project Zero uncovered a remote code‑execution flaw in Pixel phone modems, prompting the company to bolster baseband security. Instead of rewriting the entire firmware, Google inserted a Rust‑based component into the Pixel 10 modem’s legacy C/C++ stack. The Rust module...
Techvalley Supplies HBM Inspection Equipment to Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix
Techvalley has delivered custom Teraton 3D X‑ray CT systems to Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix for advanced packaging research, including high‑bandwidth memory (HBM) and through‑glass vias. The scanners achieve sub‑micron resolution—0.5 µm on the Teraton 7 and 0.9 µm on the Teraton 5—and complete...
Global PC Shipments Rise in First Quarter on Inventory Build Ahead of Memory Price Increases
Global PC shipments rose between 2.5% and 4% year‑on‑year in Q1, reaching roughly 64 million units according to Gartner, IDC and Omdia. The increase stemmed mainly from distributors and vendors building inventory ahead of anticipated DRAM and NAND price hikes, rather...
Product Spotlight: Cisco Webex Desk Pro Will Make You Look Forward to Meetings
Cisco unveiled the Webex Desk Pro, a premium videoconferencing device aimed at higher‑education campuses. In a month‑long test of 25 meetings, 95% of participants noted clearer audio and video, and productivity rose noticeably. The Desk Pro combines 4K 120‑degree camera,...
The Gooloo GT6000 Tested: Rapid Recharging, Reliability, and Safety Make It A Must-Have for Vehicle Owners
The Popular Mechanics review crowns the Gooloo GT6000 as the best overall portable jump starter, highlighting its 27,000 mAh capacity, 6,000 A peak output, and rapid 1.4‑hour recharge. Testers used the device on a range of older cars and RVs, noting its...
NZXT Agrees to Let Customers Keep Their Rental PCs in Class-Action Settlement
NZXT and its billing partner Fragile have agreed to a $3.45 million settlement to resolve a class‑action lawsuit over the Flex PC rental program. The deal covers 19,322 customers and includes a cash fund, a $923,117 debt‑forgiveness pool, and the option...
Ultra-Broadband 200 W Solid-State Amplifier
Exodus Advanced Communications introduced a rugged ultra‑broadband solid‑state amplifier that operates from 6 to 10 GHz and delivers more than 200 W of saturated output. The unit provides 53 dB of gain using a Class A/AB architecture, offering excellent linearity for EMI/RFI, CW, pulse and communications...
Monday April 13, 2026
This week’s medtech briefing highlights a surge of strategic deals and capital flowing into neurovascular and AI‑enabled health solutions. Stryker announced the acquisition of Amplitude Vascular Systems to add intravascular lithotripsy to its peripheral‑vascular portfolio, while Gilead agreed to buy...
IPod Nostalgia Fuels 48% Surge in Used Sales, Sparks Marketing Opportunities
Second‑hand iPod sales have risen 48% since 2024, reviving wired audio and prompting brands to explore retro‑centric campaigns. The surge coincides with higher streaming fees and a broader consumer appetite for tangible music experiences.
FCC Waiver Rule May Keep 71% of US Households Stuck with Outdated ISP Routers
The FCC’s new waiver requirement for non‑U.S.‑made routers could trap the 71% of American households that receive equipment from ISPs, leaving them with aging, less secure hardware. Analysts warn the rule may delay adoption of newer Wi‑Fi standards while the...
Huawei Unveils Pura X Max Wide‑Format Foldable, Challenging Apple and Samsung
Huawei introduced the Pura X Max, a wide‑format foldable phone set for a China launch on April 20, positioning it ahead of Apple’s anticipated iPhone Fold and Samsung’s next‑gen Z Fold. The device’s 1,000‑yuan ($140) reservation deposit and its unprecedented...
High Q Glass Surface-Mount Filters
Marki Microwave has launched a High Q glass surface‑mount filter series built on its proprietary OmniFlow design engine, delivering MMIC‑level repeatability from 100 MHz to 6 GHz. The filters tightly match simulation data, enabling true first‑pass success and reducing redesign cycles. Their...
Walmart’s New Google TV 4K Stick Is the First Onn Streamer to Support Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD/X Lossless Audio
Walmart’s Onn brand has introduced a Google TV 4K Stick that uniquely supports Dolby TrueHD, DTS‑HD, and DTS:X lossless audio, a first for its budget line. The device, quietly appearing on shelves without an official launch, was tested by Reddit...
Lattice Materials Breaks Ground on Montana Silicon, Germanium Plant
Lattice Materials, a U.S. silicon and germanium producer, broke ground on an 80,000‑square‑foot plant in Bozeman, Montana. The project receives $18.5 million from the U.S. Department of Defense, aiming to double the company’s footprint and add the largest optical boule growth...
Directional Coupler: 2630
KRYTAR Inc. introduced the Model 2630 directional coupler, a stripline component that operates from 1.0 to 26.5 GHz, spanning L‑ through K‑bands. The device delivers a nominal 30 dB coupling with a tight ±1.5 dB tolerance and frequency sensitivity, packaged in a compact,...
Wall Street Analyst Calls AI Infrastructure Spending Concerns Overblown, Flags Buying Opportunities
Canaccord analyst George Gianarikas says the market’s worries about a looming AI infrastructure bubble are overstated, highlighting that over $700 bn in hyperscaler capex remains on the table and that delayed data‑center projects create buying opportunities. He warns logistical hurdles but...
Meta Is Warned That Facial Recognition Glasses Will Arm Sexual Predators
Meta plans to embed a facial‑recognition feature called “Name Tag” in its Ray‑Ban and Oakley smart glasses, allowing wearers to pull up information on anyone they see. The technology could identify people the wearer is connected to or any public...
Raedbots Launches as Egypt’s First Industrial Robotics Manufacturer
Raedbots launched in Cairo as Egypt’s first locally designed and manufactured industrial robotics company. Founded in 2026 by Mohamed Ibrahim and Hamza El‑Sahiti, it builds AI‑powered robotic arms for welding, material handling and warehouse automation entirely in‑house. The startup is...
USB-Controlled Attenuators
JFW Industries announced three new USB‑controlled attenuator models that operate across a 400 MHz to 8.4 GHz spectrum. The units are offered in two‑, four‑ and eight‑channel configurations, catering to a range of test setups. Each attenuator ships with dedicated test software,...
Cord Cutting Today: Roku Adds New Features as Streaming Prices Rise and Local TV Faces More Disruption
Roku quietly rolled out a new "Roku City" feature on its TVs and players, offering a more personalized channel guide while simultaneously deploying a critical bug fix that restored stability for millions of users. At the same time, Nexstar announced...
GreenBoost Memory Orchestrator For NVIDIA GPUs Introduces GreenBoost-Proton For Gaming
GreenBoost, an open‑source memory‑tiering solution for NVIDIA GPUs, now offers GreenBoost‑Proton, a Vulkan‑based layer that expands reported VRAM for Linux gaming. After legal pressure forced the original “nvidia_greenboost” repository offline, the developer relaunched the code on GitLab without NVIDIA branding....
Smallest Fault-Code Scanner Worldwide? Diesel Laptops Delivers Diagnostic Assist
Diesel Laptops, founded in 2015, offers the world’s smallest Bluetooth‑enabled diesel fault‑code scanner, the Diesel Decoder, which pairs with a smartphone app. Recent software updates let users tap a code to receive step‑by‑step repair guidance, part numbers and pricing for...
Snap Taps Qualcomm for Next-Gen AI Glasses Ahead of Mass Launch
Snap has inked a multi‑year deal with Qualcomm to supply its Snapdragon XR chips for the upcoming Specs smart‑glasses line. The glasses, slated for a consumer launch later this year, will feature on‑device AI that supports voice and gesture control,...
Our Favorite Garmin Watch Can Go Nearly 2 Weeks Between Charges
Garmin’s latest smartwatch lineup showcases a blend of sleek design, advanced health analytics, and industry‑leading battery life. The Venu 4, highlighted as the favorite, offers animated on‑screen workouts, a customizable morning wellness report, and up to 12 days between charges. Higher‑end models...
Autonomous Wheelchairs Land at DTW’s Evans Terminal
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) is piloting autonomous wheelchairs in its Warren Cleage Evans Terminal through a partnership with mobility‑tech firm Unifi. The AI‑driven devices, powered by Blueberry Technology, will ferry passengers to gates, restrooms and concessions while offering obstacle detection,...
Coreboot Comes To AMD Ryzen Powered Star Labs StarBook MK VI After 3+ Year Wait
Star Labs has finally released a Coreboot firmware image for its AMD Ryzen 5000‑based StarBook MK VI laptop, ending a three‑year wait that began when early buyers received an AMI BIOS instead of the promised open‑source option. The firmware was upstreamed to...
NAB Show: Bridge Technologies To Highlight VB440 Probe Integration with NEP
Bridge Technologies announced that its VB440 production probe will be available as a software‑defined application on NEP Group’s new NEP Platform during the 2026 NAB Show in Las Vegas. The integration lets broadcasters launch VB440’s full suite of video scopes,...
The Apple Watch Series 11 Has Returned to Best-Ever Price
Apple has slashed the price of its Watch Series 11, offering the 42mm GPS model for $299 and the 46mm version for $329—a $100 discount across major retailers. The latest iteration adds a brighter OLED display, the longest battery life...
A Practical Guide to Fiber Optic Equipment and Its Uses
Fiber optic networks underpin modern data, video, and mission‑critical communications, making a reliable toolkit essential for technicians. The guide breaks down equipment by lifecycle stage—from cable jacket strippers and precision cleavers for preparation, to core‑alignment fusion splicers that deliver sub‑0.05 dB...
BluGlass Completes Upsized AUS$8m Two-Tranche Placement
BluGlass Ltd secured an upsized AUS$8 million (≈US$5.3 million) two‑tranche placement at AUS$0.24 per share, adding a free‑attaching option exercisable at AUS$0.38 until May 2028. The raise includes a AUS$2.3 million cornerstone from the board, with executive chair Omer Granit committing AUS$2 million (≈US$1.3 million). Proceeds...
NAB 2026: Disguise to Demonstrate Media Server and Software Integrations
Disguise will exhibit its media‑server platform across five partner booths at NAB Show 2026, highlighting new software integrations and a strategic partnership with NETGEAR. The company will preview Sony’s XYN plugin, which converts real‑world spaces into 3D graphics for LED...
Track Every Step to Summer With $60 Off the Galaxy Watch8
Samsung has slashed the price of its Galaxy Watch 8 to $289.99, a $60 (17%) discount that makes the premium‑feature smartwatch more accessible. The device runs Wear OS powered by Samsung, offering a 1.3‑inch AMOLED display, built‑in GPS, 32 GB storage, and...
Flip Foldables Outpace Wides; Z Flip8 Proves It
Here's a hot take There's a bigger market for Flip foldables than for Wide foldables I think this will become clear with the Z Flip8 which drastically improves the Flip experience
Master iPad Pencil Gestures: Simple Step-by-Step Guide
An Apple iPad pairs beautifully with an Apple Pencil, but the gestures to paste, scribble, and annotate images are surprisingly unintuitive. No worries, I gotcha covered. Here's how to do it all, step-by-step: https://t.co/A7HWnNAj2V #ipad #applepencil https://t.co/jY1QZQl56q
Nokia Poised for Growth via Hyperscalers, 800G, Nvidia AI‑RAN
"Analyst Oliver Wong and his team are positive on Nokia $NOK due to hyperscaler-driven growth in optical systems, inflection in pluggable revenues on shift to 800G... a potential advantage in AI-RAN with an Nvidia (NVDA) partnership." https://t.co/rQSQErgiEK
TBEA Launches Grid-Forming Converter for Large‑scale Storage
TBEA unveils grid-forming converter for large-scale storage, renewables #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/KbW9lyd3ai
Stair‑Climbing Electric Chair Revolutionizes Mobility
This Electric Chair Climbs Stairs Effortlessly—A Game-Changer for Mobility by @Khulood_Almani #Healthcare #TechForGood #EmergingTech #Technology #Innovation #Tech https://t.co/cmPXzZc7II
Dual Copper and Optical Roadmaps Drive Interconnect Success
Guess what is a good business and technology strategy in the interconnect world? Having both a great copper and a great opical roadmap. $CRDO
RAM Shortage Spikes Surface Pro, Laptop Prices by $500
RAMageddon has come for Microsoft’s Surface Pro and Surface Laptop. The Surface Pro 11 and Surface Laptop 7 are now $500 more expensive than their original starting price https://t.co/7LlV62g67e