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

Goodbye £600 Vacuums: Aldi Launches a Model Under £40
Aldi has introduced its Cyclonic Stick Vacuum Cleaner at £44.99 (about $56), positioning it well below the $200 price tag of comparable Dyson and Shark models. The vacuum offers two suction settings, a 180-degree swivel head and a suite of attachments, mirroring premium features while keeping costs low. Launched as a SpecialBuy on January 22, the item sold out quickly, prompting a restock. Aldi also highlighted other budget-friendly cleaners, including a $21 portable vacuum and a $25 electric window vacuum, reinforcing its value‑focused lineup.

TikTok Doubles Down on Finland With Second €1B Data Center
TikTok announced a €1 billion ($1.16 billion) investment to build a new data center in Lahti, Finland, marking its second major facility in the country after a similar spend in Kouvola. The Lahti site will start with 50 MW of power capacity and...

Equal1’s Silicon Qubits Gain Autonomous Calibration with Q-CTRL
Equal1 has partnered with quantum‑control specialist Q‑CTRL to embed its Boulder Opal Scale Up software into the company’s Bell‑series silicon qubit systems. The integration adds autonomous calibration, eliminating the need for manual, expert‑driven tuning of quantum hardware. This software‑driven autonomy...

AMD Reveals $899 Price Tag for Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 — First Dual-Cache X3D CPU Is $200 More Expensive than the...
AMD announced the Ryzen 9 9950X3D2, its first dual‑cache X3D processor, with a launch price of $899—about $200 more than the standard 9950X3D. The chip targets enthusiasts who demand top‑tier gaming performance and high‑core‑count workloads, while also narrowing the price gap between...
Google Pixel Bests iPhone and Samsung in Repairability Name-and-Shame Report
The Public Interest Research Group’s 2026 "Failing the Fix" report grades U.S. smartphones on repairability, placing Motorola at the top with a B+ and Google Pixel just ahead of Samsung and Apple with a C‑. Apple receives a D‑ and...

Martina Matusko Joins Planqc to Build Quantum Computer with Neutral Atoms
Planqc has appointed Martina Matusko as a Quantum Hardware Engineer to accelerate its neutral‑atom quantum computer program. Matusko, a physicist with a PhD in quantum metrology and prior software experience, will lead atom‑trapping operations and hardware development in the Munich‑area lab....

Ericsson, Orange Maroc Promote Private 5G
Ericsson and Orange Maroc have teamed up to build a private 5G laboratory in Marrakech, showcasing advanced radio and core technologies for B2B use cases. The testbed will demonstrate connectivity solutions for logistics, utilities, energy, mining and port operations, supporting Morocco's...
Galaxy Z Trifold Back on Shelves Friday, Limited Stock
I told you the Samsung Galaxy Z Trifold wasn't dead — it returns 'in limited quantities' to shelves on Friday https://www.techradar.com/phones/samsung-galaxy-phones/i-told-you-the-samsung-galaxy-z-trifold-wasnt-dead-it-returns-in-limited-quantities-to-shelves-on-friday

What the Ongoing AI Chip War Really Means for Business Leaders
The AI infrastructure landscape is shifting as Huawei challenges Nvidia's long‑standing dominance with its Ascend chips. While Nvidia’s H100 GPUs remain the performance benchmark, Huawei’s "good enough" chips are gaining traction, especially in China where export restrictions limit Nvidia supply....
In Conversation with Rudolf Erasmus
Rudolf Erasmus, Hardware Manager at Reliable Controls, highlighted the company’s push into millimeter‑wave occupancy detection and single‑pair Ethernet for long‑range, high‑speed building automation. He emphasized the RC‑FLEX controller line’s ability to log every object, unlocking deeper analytics, early‑issue detection, and...

Samsung Restocking Galaxy Z TriFold on April 10 in US Stores and Online
Samsung announced a final restock of its Galaxy Z TriFold for April 10, available both online at Samsung.com and in select Samsung Experience stores nationwide. The device, launched in the U.S. in January and discontinued by March, will be offered at a...

Mitsubishi Corp. Opens Free Trial Data Center to Boost AI Deployment
Mitsubishi Corp. has opened a free‑to‑use data‑center facility near Tokyo, allowing companies to bring their own servers for performance and cooling tests. The lab focuses on evaluating processing speeds and advanced liquid‑cooling technologies that are still rare in Japan. By...

Taiwan Chip Industry Calls for Helium, LNG Reserves Amid Iran War Risks
The Taiwan Semiconductor Industry Association (TSIA) urged the Taiwanese government to build strategic reserves of helium and liquefied natural gas (LNG) and to consider reopening nuclear power plants. The call follows heightened risk that the ongoing Iran‑related conflict could choke...
Hitachi Backs Floating Data Center, Targeting 54,000 M² Offshore Capacity by 2027
Hitachi and its subsidiary Hitachi Systems signed a memorandum with Mitsui OSK Lines to convert a second‑hand vessel into a 54,000 m² floating data center, with operations slated for 2027. The project aims to sidestep Japan’s severe land shortages and accelerate...
Russian State‑Backed Fancy Bear Hijacks 18,000 Routers in 120 Countries to Steal Passwords
Russian intelligence‑linked group Fancy Bear infiltrated at least 18,000 MikroTik and TP‑Link routers in roughly 120 countries, rerouting traffic to harvest passwords and access tokens. The campaign, uncovered by Black Lotus Labs, the U.K. NCSC and Microsoft, underscores the vulnerability of...

From Wedding Best Man to Smart‑Meter Revolution
Cree Edwards was the best man at my wedding. That friendship changed the energy industry forever. Back in 1985, Cree and my Stanford roommate Larsh Johnson decided to tackle one of the biggest problems they could think of: electricity waste. Here's what they...

Transparent Conductive Film Provides Electromagnetic-Wave Shield
Panasonic Industry introduced FineX, a high‑transparency, low‑resistance flexible transparent conductive film designed for electromagnetic‑wave shielding. The product uses ultra‑fine copper‑mesh microfabrication to deliver ultra‑low electrical resistance while maintaining high optical transmissivity. Supplied in roll format with a pre‑applied optical clear...

Motorola Slapped Sudden Price Increases on the Moto G Series Right After Its New Model Went Live
Motorola raised the U.S. prices of its 2026 Moto G lineup hours after launching the $499 Moto G Stylus. The Moto G Play jumped from $179 to $249, the Moto G from $199 to $299, and the Moto G Power from $299 to $399, each seeing roughly $100...

Corsair Announces New Frame Cases, and One Comes with a Classy Wood Finish
Corsair has refreshed its Frame 4000 series with two new mid‑tower cases: the 4000X RS, which adds a built‑in RGB front panel, and the 4000D Wood RS, featuring a walnut or oak wood front. Both models retain the series’ tempered‑glass side panel and...

Amazon’s Smart Thermostat Can Help Lower Your Energy Bills, and It’s Down to $62
Amazon has reduced the price of its Smart Thermostat to $61.99, an $18 discount that marks the lowest cost of the year. The device learns user habits, offers geofencing, remote scheduling, and energy‑usage tracking through a mobile app. Integrated with...

Vishay Intertechnology 2-Way Wilkinson Divider/Combiner Increases Efficiency, Saves Space in Aerospace, Defense and Connectivity Applications
Vishay Intertechnology has launched the WLKN-000, a 2‑way Wilkinson power divider/combiner targeting aerospace, defense and high‑frequency connectivity markets. The component covers 15‑20 GHz, delivering insertion loss below 0.5 dB and return loss of 10‑15 dB in a compact 1817 surface‑mount package. Its integrated...

Intel Updates Arc Graphics Driver with 'Gaming Support' For the GPU Gamers Aren't Getting
Intel released a new driver update that adds explicit gaming support for its Arc Pro B70 and B65 GPUs, which are built on the G31 silicon originally intended for gaming. The driver leverages optimisations from the Arc B580’s Xe2 architecture, but the G31’s...

Macs Crash After 49 Days of Uptime? ↦
A 32‑bit unsigned integer overflow in Apple’s XNU kernel causes Macs to freeze after exactly 49 days, 17 hours, 2 minutes and 47 seconds of continuous uptime. The bug stops all network traffic except ICMP ping, rendering the machine unresponsive until a reboot....

Supermicro 'Committed to Protecting America’s Advanced Technologies and Intellectual Property' As Investigation Into Former Employees over Alleged AI Tech Shipments...
Supermicro, a leading U.S. server maker, is under investigation after three former employees were charged with conspiring to ship AI servers to China in violation of export laws. The DOJ alleges that between 2024 and 2025 the employees facilitated about...

Deals: Galaxy S26 Ultra + Buds 4 Pro and $200 Credit at $421 Off, Galaxy S25 FE $150 Off, Chargers,...
Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S26 Ultra is now available on Amazon as a 256 GB bundle with Galaxy Buds 4 Pro and a $200 Amazon gift card, delivering $421 in total savings. The same site also lists the unlocked Galaxy S25 FE lineup at least $150 off, with prices...

Logitech Superstrike vs Razer Viper V4 Pro: The Battle for the Competitive Crown
Logitech’s G Pro X2 Superstrike introduces true analogue switches, aiming to shave milliseconds off click registration for low‑time‑to‑kill shooters. Razer counters with the Viper V4 Pro, a lighter 49‑g mouse featuring a 50,000‑dpi Focus Pro sensor, up to 180 hours of battery life and a more premium...

Gunnar Optiks Collabs with CD Projekt Red on Cyberpunk Dex Glasses
Gunnar Optiks has teamed up with CD Projekt Red to launch the Cyberpunk Dex glasses, a $125 accessory inspired by the Night City fixer Dexter DeShawn from Cyberpunk 2077. The limited‑edition frames blend blue‑light filtering technology with the game’s iconic aesthetic,...

6 Of The Best Soundbars For Audiophiles, According To Audiophiles
The article reviews six premium soundbars that aim to satisfy audiophiles, highlighting models from Sennheiser, JBL, KEF, Yamaha, Samsung and Devialet. Prices range from roughly $1,300 for the JBL Bar 1300 mk2 to about $2,800 for Yamaha’s True X Surround 90A, reflecting a market...

Pliant to Highlight New Wireless Intercom Accessories at 2026 NAB Show
Pliant Technologies will showcase a suite of new wireless intercom accessories at the 2026 NAB Show in Las Vegas, running April 18‑22. The lineup includes SmartBoom headsets with USB‑C connectivity, a 10‑bay MicroCom XR battery‑only charger, a multi‑device interface cable, and a three‑RT...
AI Cow Collars Turn Farming Into Billion-Dollar Industry
An AI cow collar just created a billion-dollar company. Farmers draw boundaries on a phone app, and the collars guide cows using sound and vibration. It works by collecting over 6,000 data points per min, feeding ML models that track grazing patterns,...
Long-Duration Batteries Are a Winner in the AI Boom
Long‑duration energy‑storage technologies are gaining traction as AI‑driven data centers seek rapid, multi‑day power solutions. Form Energy secured contracts to deliver iron‑air batteries for Crusoe and a record‑size Google site, while Eos highlighted zinc‑based batteries as its fastest‑growing segment. A...

University of Utah’s ‘AI Supercomputer’ Set to Come Online This Summer
The University of Utah is launching a $50 million AI‑focused supercomputing ecosystem this summer, expanding its computing power by roughly 3.5 times. The system, built with NVIDIA chips and operated by Hewlett Packard Enterprise, will be shared across state universities, startups, and...

I Took the Sonos Play to the Park, and You Should Too (While It's Hot, Anyway)
Sonos Play, typically marketed as a home speaker, proves its portability during a rare early‑year heatwave in London. Priced at $299 across Best Buy, Walmart and Sonos.com, the unit delivers full‑range sound without needing high volume. Its Automatic Trueplay system adapts audio...

How to Choose the Right UPS for a Smart Home
A UPS is essential for keeping a smart‑home network alive during power interruptions. Rather than sizing solely by wattage, the article advises selecting a unit based on the runtime needed for core devices such as routers, hubs, switches and cameras....
Minnesota PUC Approves Utility Battery Program While Deferring VPP Decisions
The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission approved Xcel Energy’s CapacityConnect Phase 2, authorizing up to 200 MW of utility‑owned battery storage. The order obliges Xcel to submit a technical and financial benefits evaluation within 180 days and detailed distributed‑resource estimates by November 2027. While...
How Remote SIM Management Is Transforming Industrial IoT Operations
Remote SIM management platforms give industrial IoT operators a centralized dashboard to activate, deactivate, and monitor cellular SIMs without field visits. By leveraging eSIM/eUICC standards, firms can steer networks, manage APNs, and receive real‑time alerts, cutting downtime and service costs....

LoRa Alliance Lays Out Its Case for LoRaWAN as a Mainstream ‘Massive IoT’ Connectivity Layer
The LoRa Alliance is rebranding LoRaWAN from a niche LPWAN to a mainstream, plug‑and‑play connectivity layer for massive IoT. It frames LoRaWAN as the “fourth pillar” of global wireless, alongside cellular, Wi‑Fi and Bluetooth, emphasizing open standards and unlicensed spectrum....
Emobi and DIMO Deliver Customized Plug & Charge-Enabled EV Charging for Fleets
Emobi and DIMO have introduced a Plug & Charge‑enabled device that lets electric‑vehicle fleets use ISO 15118 digital certificates without automaker‑issued credentials. The solution, built on Emobi’s JustPlug platform and DIMO’s aftermarket bridge device, issues fleet‑level certificates directly to vehicles, bypassing firmware updates...
Read the April 8, 2026 Issue of Radio World
The April 8, 2026 issue of Radio World features an Audio Processing Buyer’s Guide and showcases new gear from Angry, Aqua, DHD, Lawo, Omnia, Orban, Thimeo, Wheatstone, and WorldCast. It also examines industry dynamics such as the surge in non‑commercial educational (NCE) stations,...

Intellian Unveils Future Military and Aerospace Antenna Technologies at Satellite 2026
Intellian Technologies showcased a suite of next‑generation antenna solutions at Satellite 2026, highlighting a 2.4 m fly‑away antenna that can simultaneously operate on X‑band and Mil Ka‑band for communications‑on‑the‑pause missions. The company also previewed an L‑band antenna family for UAVs and USVs, a...
Closing Care Gaps with Wearables
American College of Cardiology (ACC) Chief Innovation Officer Dr. Ami Bhatt warned that wearable devices that flag disease risk must do more than alert users—they need to steer patients toward appropriate care pathways. As wearables become capable of detecting early...

Bluefin Pairs With Agile on a Ticketing Point-of-Sale Service
Bluefin Payment Systems has expanded its partnership with Agile Ticketing Solutions to include the PAX A35 Android point‑of‑sale terminal, adding support for EMV, NFC, magstripe and QR code payments. Agile will also offer the PAX A77 device through Bluefin accounts,...
![Motorola’s Next Razr Ultra Leaks in Wood-Grain and Purple-Blue Colors, and I Can’t Wait [Gallery]](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://i0.wp.com/9to5google.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/04/motorola-razr-70-ultra-leak-onl-1-copy.jpg?resize=1200%2C628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
Motorola’s Next Razr Ultra Leaks in Wood-Grain and Purple-Blue Colors, and I Can’t Wait [Gallery]
Motorola’s upcoming Razr 70 Ultra—global counterpart to the US‑bound Razr Ultra—has been spotted in two fresh color finishes: Cocoa Wood and Orient Blue Alcantara. The renders, shared by leak site OnLeaks, suggest a slightly thicker chassis than earlier CAD images and omit...

Is the Space Industry Too Dependent on a Small Group of Semiconductor and Electronics Suppliers?
The space sector relies on a handful of semiconductor and electronics vendors, not the broader global chip market. Radiation tolerance, long‑life qualification, and stringent testing shrink the usable pool to a few trusted names such as Microchip, Renesas, Teledyne and...

Invisibility‑Cloak Tech Boosts Optical Switching in Data Centers
The same technology that could be used to create “invisibility cloaks” has applications in data centers, speeding up optical switching. https://spectrum.ieee.org/optical-metamaterials-ai-data-centers
Dreaming of Cyberpunk‑Style Glasses in Real Life
A cool collab. If only these glasses did what they could do in Cyberpunk 2077. https://t.co/LtULUh0ZgL
TSMC Poised to Dominate Silicon Photonics Like AI Packaging
I'm glad TSMC COUPE is getting more attention of those in the weeds in optics. Our view: "TSMC is increasingly positioned to occupy the same role in silicon photonics that it came to occupy in advanced AI packaging." https://t.co/WMdxP2tF3R
Transformers: Powertrain Driving Grid Upgrade Surge
Why we who track the AI buildout should care about transformers. They are the “powertrain” of the grid upgrade cycle, with demand being driven by three forces at once: aging grid infrastructure, the shift toward renewables, and a sharp increase...

Dell GB10 Cluster Powers
3x Dell GB10s, 128GB unified memory each, 384GB memory for the cluster, mesh connected over 200Gbps QSFP, currently running Trinity-Large-Thinking (398B) Q4_K_M 17-18 t/s. Will review this model in time. Using as coding agent and via Hermes. https://t.co/u2fKP1V0NE
Samsung Predicts Profit Surge From AI-Driven Memory Price Boom
MyPOV: @Samsung forecasts insane operating profit growth thanks to surging memory prices https://t.co/TtaW3vxXCN @SiliconANGLE @Mike_Wheatley “Nobody could have foreseen the ferocity of AI’s memory appetite, but it’s still a great advertisement for…” - @holgermu @constellationr