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

Anthropic Signs Multi-Gigawatt TPU Deal with Google and Broadcom
Anthropic has struck a multi‑gigawatt TPU agreement with Google and Broadcom, with the hardware slated to be deployed in the United States beginning in 2027. The deal reflects surging demand, as the company’s annualized revenue now tops $30 billion, up from about $9 billion at the end of 2025. Anthropic’s Claude model is trained on a hybrid mix of AWS Trainium, Google TPUs, and Nvidia GPUs, making it the only major AI model available across AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure. Despite the new partnership, Amazon remains Anthropic’s primary cloud provider.
ACM Research Unifies Product Portfolio as ACM Planetary Family
ACM Research announced the ACM Planetary Family, a unified branding that reorganizes its equipment into eight process‑aligned series covering cleaning, advanced packaging, electroplating, furnace, track, PECVD, panel‑level packaging, and polishing. The new structure reflects the company’s evolution from a single...

DoorBird Launches New IP Video Indoor Stations
DoorBird unveiled two new IP video indoor stations, the A1103 and A1104, at Light + Building in Frankfurt. Both units sport a 7‑inch true‑color touch display, HD video, two‑way audio and a configurable RGB LED status bar. The models have...

Sandvik Launches DD423i Next-Generation Development Drill Rig
Sandvik has launched the DD423i, a next‑generation automated development drill that builds on the decade‑long success of the DD422i. The new rig delivers 34.5% more drilling coverage and 48% better cross‑cut performance, while offering automatic boom movements and collision‑avoidance technology....
IVWorks Raises $4.5m to Expand reGaN Technology Into RF and AI Power Semi Markets
IVWorks Co Ltd, a South Korean GaN wafer maker, secured $4.5 million in new funding, raising its total investment to $33 million. The capital will expand its proprietary reGaN selective‑area regrowth technology into E‑band and W‑band RF markets and AI‑focused power‑delivery applications....

India's Vodafone Idea and BSNL Eye Infrastructure Sharing to Stay Competitive
India’s Vodafone Idea and state‑run BSNL are negotiating active infrastructure sharing, including towers, fiber and potentially the 900 MHz spectrum. The government, which owns roughly 49 % of Vodafone Idea after multiple bailouts, is facilitating the talks to strengthen a third telco...

High Power Transmitter Switching, Simplified
Broadcast Devices Inc. (BDI) has launched the PCC‑300 3 Switch Combiner Controller, a 1 RU SNMP‑enabled platform that centralizes control of up to three motorized RF switches in high‑power dual‑cabinet transmitter systems. The device supports four common operating modes, provides built‑in...

SEALSQ and IC’Alps Achieve Key Common Criteria Certification Steps
SEALSQ Corp and its subsidiary IC’Alps announced major progress in their Common Criteria (CC) security certification programs. Independent evaluator SERMA confirmed that the QS7001 Secure Element achieved a PASS on fault‑injection and side‑channel resistance tests, moving the platform toward full...
Stereotaxis Launches Synchrony System for Cath Labs
Stereotaxis has received FDA 510(k) clearance to launch Synchrony, a digital platform for cardiac catheterization labs. The system features a 55‑inch 4K ultra‑high‑definition display that unifies control of disparate equipment and delivers full‑fidelity video with ultra‑low latency. Accompanying the hardware,...

Agra Metro Saves ₹5 Million in One Year with Regenerative Braking Technology
Agra Metro has cut its electricity bill by roughly ₹5 million (about $58,000) in the first year after installing Sécheron’s IGBT inverter for regenerative braking, the first such deployment in India. The system captures braking energy and feeds it back to...
From Steel to Composite, a Strategic Transformation of European Power Grids
TenneT, the Dutch transmission system operator, has launched a multi‑year programme to replace its extra‑high‑voltage steel conductors with composite‑core cables. Epsilon Composite, via its Epsilon Cable unit, secured a framework agreement to supply these advanced conductors. The move aims to...

IIT-M Pravartak, Maven Silicon Launch Semiconductor Certification Programmes
IIT‑M Pravartak Technologies Foundation has teamed up with Maven Silicon to roll out two nine‑month semiconductor certification programmes covering VLSI design and verification as well as embedded systems design. The curriculum blends online instruction, hands‑on laboratory work, and industry‑focused capstone...
T-MOTOR Launches MN11-13 Series for Industrial Heavy-Lift Drones
T‑Motor has introduced the MN11‑13 series, a line of heavy‑lift motors designed for industrial multirotor drones weighing 50 kg to 140 kg. The motors feature an IP45 dual dust‑proof net, an integrated die‑cast heat sink that lowers winding temperatures by 5‑8 °C, and...

Navigating Smart Water Metering: Help Is Here The Smart Water Networks Forum (SWAN)
The Smart Water Networks Forum, in partnership with the Water Research Foundation, has released a Smart Metering Playbook that consolidates insights from over 50 utilities across 22 countries. The guide maps the maturity curve from pilot projects to full‑scale Advanced...

Your Next Assistant Is Your PC: How On-Device AI Is Transforming Work, One Workflow at a Time
AI‑enabled PCs are moving from concept to enterprise reality, with Intel reporting that 90% of respondents expect productivity gains and 87% plan upgrades within the next hardware cycle. On‑device AI automates routine tasks—email summarization, note‑taking, translation—and learns user habits to...
Wireless Self‐Powered Triboelectric‐Based Sensor for Real‐Time Quantitative Monitoring of Gas‐Liquid Mixed Flow
A novel wireless, self‑powered sensor uses a dual‑electrode gas‑liquid electricity generator (GLEG) to harvest energy from high‑speed mixed flows and deliver real‑time liquid‑flow measurements via a mobile app. The triboelectric nanogenerator converts mechanical motion into electricity, eliminating the need for...

The Specialty Device Surge Part 2: The Process Control Challenges Of MEMS, Co-Packaged Optics, And More
The second installment of the Specialty Device Surge series highlights how MEMS, CMOS image sensors, SiC/GaN power devices, and co‑packaged optics are confronting unprecedented process‑control hurdles as wafer sizes expand to 300 mm. Each device family relies on unique materials—piezo films,...
Enhancing Silicon Reliability With In-System Test And SLM Data
The semiconductor industry is leveraging in‑system test (IST) and Silicon Lifecycle Management (SLM) data to boost chip reliability across design, manufacturing, and field operation. Traditional DFT methods such as ATPG, scan chains, and BIST remain core, but embedded monitors and...
Kandou AI Raises $225M in Series A Funding
Swiss fabless startup Kandou AI secured a $225 million Series A round led by Maverick Silicon, with SoftBank, Synopsys, Cadence and Alchip participating. The funding will accelerate production of its Copper MIMO (chord signaling) chips that aim to double data‑rate capacity while slashing...
ASUS ROG RYUO IV 360 ARGB CPU Cooler Review
ASUS has launched the ROG Ryuo IV 360 ARGB, a 360 mm all‑in‑one liquid cooler that pairs high‑performance cooling with a 6.67‑inch 2K AMOLED display. The unit ships with pre‑installed fans, a magnetic daisy‑chain interconnect, and pre‑applied thermal paste, supporting Intel LGA 1850/1700 and AMD...

DJI Confirms End-of-Support Timeline for Mavic 2, Matrice 600 Drones
DJI announced that support for the Mavic 2 Pro, Mavic 2 Enterprise Zoom, Mavic 2 Enterprise Dual and the Matrice 600 Pro will end by May 29 2026, with the Mavic 2 Pro lasting until August 31 2026. After those dates the company will stop providing technical assistance, repairs, and parts. These models have...
Intel Nova Lake to Use Xe3 Graphics, AX High-End Variant Cancelled
Intel’s upcoming Core Ultra 400 "Nova Lake" CPUs will ship with existing Xe3 graphics rather than the anticipated Xe4 architecture, while higher‑tier models will receive an enhanced Xe3P variant. The company also cancelled the high‑end AX SKU for this generation,...
Samsung Sees Massive 600 Percent Q1 Profit Surge as DRAM Market Tightens
Samsung Electronics is projected to post a record Q1 2026 operating profit of about $23.7 billion, a 600% year‑over‑year increase driven by a tightening DRAM market. The semiconductor division’s gross margin surged to roughly 80%, up from 15% a year earlier, as...

5 Overhyped Features You Can Probably Skip When Picking a Soundbar — They're Style Over Substance, Says Our Expert
The article warns consumers that many soundbar specifications are more marketing than merit, highlighting five features that can be safely ignored. It explains why virtual surround, up‑firing Atmos drivers, Hi‑Res audio claims, built‑in voice assistants, and excessive HDMI inputs often...
Archer Materials Advances Silicon Biochip Beta Prototype While Reaffirming Graphene as Next‑generation Platform
Archer Materials announced that its Stage 1 biochip project with IMEC is complete and the company is moving to a silicon‑based beta prototype. The prototype will combine a functionalized potassium sensor with cartridge engineering, microfluidics, and readout electronics for external validation....
Broadcom Secures Expanded AI Chip Deals, Shares Surge
Only good news for $AVGO I will post my scorecard soon. Broadcom agrees to expanded chip deals with Google, Anthropic - Broadcom said it agreed to produce future versions of Google's artificial intelligence chips, - The company also announced an expanded deal with Anthropic,...

Exclusive: Nvidia Challenger Arago Tapes Out First Chip in a Milestone Move for Semiconductor Startup
Arago, a two‑year‑old AI‑chip startup positioning itself as Nvidia’s challenger, announced its first successful tape‑out, sending the final design of its custom processor to a semiconductor foundry for fabrication. The milestone follows a $844 million Series C round that fuels its R&D...
CSIRO System Aims Beyond In-Paddock Livestock Weighing
CSIRO is developing a sensor‑based system that uses 3D computer‑vision and artificial intelligence to deliver real‑time estimates of sheep liveweight, fleece production and disease status. The multimodal sensors create high‑resolution three‑dimensional images as animals move, linking each measurement to an...

Air Liquide Launches Advanced Materials Plant in Taiwan – Just Now, the Chemistry Behind AI Chips Is Becoming a Strategic...
On March 25, 2026 Air Liquide inaugurated its first large‑scale advanced materials plant in Taichung, Taiwan, dedicated to deposition and etch chemicals essential for sub‑2 nm semiconductor nodes. The facility focuses on atomic‑layer‑deposition precursors needed for AI and high‑performance‑computing chips. The launch...

SK Hynix Links Its Record Order From ASML to Its Plans for a U.S. Stock Market Listing, Sending a Pretty...
SK hynix announced an 11.95 trillion‑won (≈ $7.97 bn) order for ASML EUV lithography tools, the largest publicly disclosed single ASML customer deal. The machines will equip the new Yongin semiconductor cluster and the M15X site in Cheongju, supporting HBM4 and advanced 1c‑nm DRAM...

Nvidia’s RTX 50 SUPER Refresh Continues to Face Delays, and Even the RTX 60 Could Be Pushed Back Further
Rumors in early 2026 indicate NVIDIA has postponed the mid‑cycle RTX 50 SUPER refresh originally expected at CES 2026, and the mass‑production timeline for the next‑generation RTX 60 series may shift from late 2027 to 2028. The delays stem from tight GDDR7 memory supplies, which...

That Old Smartphone Sitting In A Drawer Could Be A Disaster Waiting To Happen
Old smartphones stored in drawers pose both physical and digital risks. Their aging lithium‑ion batteries can degrade, become volatile, and even ignite under heat, while outdated software leaves them exposed to cyber‑attacks. The article advises cool, dry storage, periodic 50%...
Home Batteries Get Bigger and Bigger, as Race to Beat Rebate Changes Sparks Last-Ditch Frenzy
Australian households rushed to install larger home batteries before the Cheaper Home Batteries rebate changes, pushing the average system size to a record 40 kWh in March. Registrations hit 1.6 GWh, a 35% jump from February, as the program’s $7.2 bn AUD (≈$4.8 bn...
Global OLED Monitor Shipment Surges 92% in 2025
Global OLED monitor shipments reached 2.735 million units in 2025, up 92 percent YoY, driven by aggressive Q4 promotions and the popularity of 27‑inch 240 Hz QHD models plus new 280 Hz offerings. ASUS reclaimed market leadership with a 21.6 percent share, overtaking Samsung, while...

Semiconductors Demand Trillion‑scale Cleanliness Beyond Human Vision
#Technology #Thread #Semiconductor #Manufacturing #Trillion The Semiconductor Visualizing Trillion: 1/ - I Was Once Asked How Small A Contaminant Has To Be To Ruin A Chip. - My Answer: "Smaller Than A Speck Of Dust And A Million Times More Invisible." - That Is...

Apple’s Chips Reshape Tech, Windows Remains Biggest Win
Apple's chips are the core of a new landscape, but its biggest win is Windows https://t.co/4r2S3X5l3x https://t.co/cZkkMSXv99
EPC Expands Portfolio of 100V Integrated GaN Power Stage ICs
Efficient Power Conversion (EPC) has launched a 100 V GaN power‑stage IC family—EPC23108, 23109, 23110 and 23111—targeted at high‑performance motion and power‑dense platforms such as humanoid robots and drones. Each device integrates high‑side and low‑side eGaN FETs, gate drivers and level‑shifting...
Foldable iPhone Faces Engineering Snags, May Delay Shipments
Ouch for Apple. Another big scoop from @Lauly_Th_Li & @ChengTingFang from @NikkeiAsia Foldable iPhone hits engineering snags, shipment delays possible: sources https://t.co/8cqnC2fxl4
Texas Instruments Leverages Analog Chip Strength as AI Hype Swells
Texas Instruments announced it will limit capital spending to $2‑5 billion annually after a $4.7 billion outlay in 2025, while free cash flow surged 96% to $2.9 billion. The move underscores the company’s bet on analog chips that power AI servers, reinforcing its...
Over Half of SNAP Recipients Want Chip‑Enabled Cards and Real‑Time Fraud Monitoring
A February 2026 Propel survey of 8,164 SNAP cardholders found 53% want chip‑enabled cards and 60% want round‑the‑clock fraud monitoring. The findings intensify pressure on Congress and states to upgrade the program’s payment infrastructure amid $600 million in reported thefts in...
Former Tenstorrent Execs Launch AI& to Build Japan’s Full-Stack AI Infrastructure
Former Tenstorrent executives David Bennett and Shimpei Hara have launched AI&, a vertically‑integrated Japanese AI company. The startup secured $50 million in seed funding and $2 billion in infrastructure capital to build a full‑stack AI platform, including data centers, orchestration software, models...
Pixel 10 Pro Owners Prove The Phone's Flashlight Can Damage The Device
Reddit users of the Google Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL report that the phone's flashlight can overheat, melting the plastic lens and even burning paper. The issue appears linked to the high‑intensity LED and the new brightness slider in Android 16 QPR3, with no...

Switch/Switch 2 Firmware Update Version 22.1.0 Now Available
Nintendo has rolled out firmware version 22.1.0 for both the original Switch and the newly announced Switch 2. The update is limited to general system stability improvements, with no new features or UI changes. Nintendo released the patch notes, emphasizing enhanced...

AI Will Give Humanity the Moon, Mars and Supersonic Travel
Boom Supersonic secured a public order for 29 Superpower 42 MW natural‑gas turbines, delivering 1.21 GW of capacity to AI‑focused data‑center operator Crusade and creating a $1.25 billion backlog. The deal prices the turbines at roughly $1,033 per kilowatt, or $43 million per unit,...
Sivers Announces 5G/6G ICs
Sivers Semiconductors has launched the Daybreak 7‑15 GHz beamforming ICs, now generally available for emerging 5G‑Advanced and 6G FR3 applications and defense arrays. The chips deliver industry‑leading broadband transmit power, high efficiency and a low receiver noise figure, while supporting external...
£10.4m UK Project Will Grow Next-Gen Materials
The UK’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council has awarded £10.4 million to a five‑year EXPRESS programme led by the Universities of Warwick and Southampton. The project will develop electrochemical electrodeposition techniques, guided by bespoke precursor chemistry, to grow high‑quality transition...
Onsemi Powers Sineng's Solar and Energy Storage Systems
Onsemi’s latest hybrid power integrated modules, combining FS7 IGBTs with EliteSiC diodes in an F5BP package, have been selected for Sineng Electric’s next‑generation 430 kW liquid‑cooled string energy storage system and its 320 kW utility‑scale solar inverter. The modules deliver up to...
EPC Space Adds Half-Bridge Buck Platforms
EPC Space introduced two new eGaN half‑bridge buck evaluation boards, the EPC7C010 and EPC7C011, targeting aerospace and industrial power applications. The EPC7C010 delivers 100 V/20 A at up to 94.7% efficiency, while the EPC7C011 offers 200 V/10 A with a peak 96.6% efficiency. Both...
Tiny Laser Array Could Offer Faster, Greener Indoor Wireless
British researchers have built a sub‑millimetre chip that integrates a 5 × 5 infrared VCSEL array with custom beam‑shaping optics, creating a compact optical wireless transmitter. Individual lasers deliver 13‑19 Gbps, and together they achieve a record‑breaking 362.7 Gbps over a two‑metre free‑space link....
Google Pixel 10a Finally Launches in Japan with Exclusive ‘Isai Blue’ Color [Video]
Google has finally introduced the Pixel 10a to the Japanese market, offering a Japan‑only “Isai Blue” finish. The exclusive model ships with 256 GB of storage, a special bumper case, stickers, and a custom software theme, and will be available for pre‑order now...