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
Starcloud Secures $170M, Becomes Fastest YC Unicorn at $1.1B Valuation
Starcloud announced a $170 million financing round that lifts its valuation to $1.1 billion, making it the fastest Y Combinator graduate to reach unicorn status. The capital, led by Benchmark and EQT Ventures, will fund next‑generation satellites and expand manufacturing as the company races to commercialize space‑based AI compute.
Samsung Galaxy Watch Gets Blood Pressure Monitoring in the US, With One Major Caveat
Samsung has begun rolling out blood‑pressure monitoring to Galaxy Watch 4 and the Galaxy Watch 8 series in the United States. The feature requires users to own a traditional upper‑arm cuff, download the Samsung Health Monitor app, and recalibrate the watch every...
This Desert-Proof Laptop Is a Self-Contained AI Powerhouse
Durabook introduced the Z14I‑HG, a fully rugged 14‑inch mobile workstation that delivers 682 TOPS of AI compute. The device combines an Intel Core Ultra 7 CPU, an integrated NPU, and an NVIDIA RTX Ada GPU (RTX 3500 or RTX 5000) to run demanding AI...
Alibaba Sellers Offer Shahed Drone Copies for Russia Delivery Despite China’s Export Controls
Chinese sellers on Alibaba are advertising functional copies of Iran’s Shahed‑136 loitering munition, disguising them as model planes, pesticide sprayers or survey drones. Despite China’s UAV export controls that began on September 1 2025 and Alibaba’s ban on military hardware, four listings...
Capital Dynamics, Solo Renewables Partner on $132m LDES System
Capital Dynamics and Solo Renewables have formed a joint venture to build a £100 million ($132 million) long‑duration energy storage (LDES) system in Islandmagee, Northern Ireland. The 150 MW facility will store up to 1,200 MWh—enough to power roughly 36,000 homes with an eight‑hour...
NVIDIA’s Healthcare Stack Is the Picks and Shovels Play You’ve Been Waiting For
NVIDIA has assembled a comprehensive AI infrastructure stack for healthcare, encompassing BioNeMo, MONAI, Isaac for Healthcare, Holoscan, Parabricks, Clara and NIM. Its 2026 State of AI in Healthcare survey shows 70% of organizations actively using AI, with generative models now...
The US Navy Brought a ‘One-of-a-Kind’ Laser Weapon Back From the Dead
The U.S. Navy spent roughly six months and about $50 million to revive its one‑of‑a‑kind 150 kW solid‑state laser demonstrator, originally mounted on USS Portland in 2019. The restored system was fielded in the Pentagon’s Crimson Dragon exercise, where it successfully engaged four...
Apple M5 Max MacBooks Are Getting Surprisingly Close to Real Gaming PCs
Apple’s latest M5 Pro and M5 Max chips are closing the performance gap with dedicated gaming PCs. Benchmarks by YouTuber Andrew Tsai show the M5 Pro delivering roughly 60 fps in upscaled 1440p on titles like Cyberpunk 2077, while the 40‑core M5 Max sustains similar frame rates...
EnSilica Joins UK CHERI Adoption Collective to Accelerate Secure-by-Design Silicon
EnSilica has been selected to join the newly formed CHERI Adoption Collective, a UK‑government‑backed initiative aimed at embedding hardware‑level memory safety into critical systems. The collective brings together infrastructure operators such as BT, National Grid and SSE, along with semiconductor...
Quantum and Pink Elephant Partner to Deliver Sovereign, Low-Cost, Energy-Efficient Data Resilience Services in Europe
Quantum and Pink Elephant have launched DMaaS Clouddrive Cold, a sovereign archive service built on Quantum’s ActiveScale Cold Storage. The offering spans three Dutch data centers, delivering 15‑nine durability, multi‑site replication and an integrated tape tier that cuts power and...
Tesla Says Semi Battery Is ‘Designed To Last A Million Miles’
Tesla announced a new battery for its Semi truck that is engineered to last one million miles, directly tackling the durability concerns of long‑haul fleets. The company says the Semi can charge at up to 1.2 MW, restoring about 60% of...
Up To 50 GB/S: TaskForce Imagers Receive Fiber Network Extension
Atola Technology has launched a 25 G Fiber extension module for its TaskForce and TaskForce 2 forensic hardware imagers, delivering dual 25 GB/s ports and up to 50 GB/s aggregate transfer speed. The module plugs into the PCIe extension port, supports SFP28 transceivers, link...
AOI Receives New Order for 800G Data-Center Transceivers From Major Hyperscale Customer
Applied Optoelectronics Inc. (AOI) secured a volume order exceeding $53 million from a major hyperscale customer for 800‑gigabit single‑mode data‑center transceivers. The order supports AI‑driven GPU clusters and will be shipped between Q2 and mid‑Q3 2026 after product qualification. AOI’s CEO highlighted...
Cerebras Threatens Nvidia by Making Single‑Chip AI Viable
NVIDIA’s trillion-dollar dominance relies on the complex art of horizontal scaling, but Cerebras poses a dangerous threat by proving that one giant chip can eliminate the communication bottlenecks of massive GPU clusters. If AI workloads shift toward single-system training and...
Nvidia Backs Openness with $2B Marvell Investment
At GTC, Jensen Huang stressed that Nvidia was vertically integrated and also horizontally open. He’s putting his money where his mouth is on the latter with a $2 billion investment in custom chip and networking company Marvell. $NVDA $MRVL...
Nvidia-Meta Pact Signals New AI Era Of Scale—And Power Constraints
Nvidia and Meta have entered a multibillion‑dollar partnership to supply Nvidia CPUs and GPUs for Meta’s expanding AI infrastructure across cloud and on‑premise data centers. Analysts estimate the deal could be worth $50 billion, complementing Meta’s $135 billion AI spend and $600 billion...
Hovermap ST‑X Delivers Autonomous LiDAR Mapping in Complex Environments
Hovermap ST-X: Next-Generation #Autonomous LiDAR Mapping for Complex Environments by @emesent #Drones #EmergingTech #Innovation #Tech #Technology https://t.co/YrCVtgMNdb
Elon's Ecosystem May Outpace Nvidia, Targeting $100T Firms
Elon's ecosystem could lap Nvidia by 10-100x. We are heading towards $100-trillion companies; Terafab is just one step towards getting there. https://t.co/t014KnVZWd
Why This Marshall Is the First Soundbar I've Tested that Truly Challenges My Sonos Arc Ultra
The Marshall Heston 120 and Sonos Arc Ultra are now direct rivals, each priced at $999. While the Arc Ultra continues to lead with 9.1.4 channels and Dolby Atmos processing, the Heston 120 counters with a bold Marshall aesthetic, 5.1.2 channel layout, and a richer...
Durable Nanofilm Electrodes for Monitoring Leaf Health
Researchers at Institute of Science Tokyo unveiled a carbon‑nanotube nanofilm electrode only 70‑320 nm thick that can be pierced by leaf trichomes while remaining transparent and water‑resistant. The device maintains stable electrical contact for weeks, and in some tests stayed functional...
Arm's Silicon Bet Sparks CPU Renaissance for AGI
Arm Bets on Silicon: The AGI CPU and the CPU Renaissance Agentic AI Is Forcing https://t.co/2nEegl0DcE
Norway Delivers XR Training Systems to Ukraine
Norway’s Nansen Programme has delivered 39 secure extended‑reality training systems to Ukraine, valued at roughly $8.3 million. The Varjo XR‑4 headsets combined with Fynd Reality’s CORE XR software provide immersive, multi‑user instruction for Leopard 2A4 tanks and other combat vehicles. By enabling...
Tekmar Bags €2+ Million in Contracts for Japanese Offshore Wind Project
Tekmar Group has secured two contracts worth roughly $2.5 million for a Japanese offshore wind project, supplying its 10th‑generation cable protection systems. The work will begin immediately, with revenue recognized through the rest of fiscal 2026 and into the first half...
Nanya Raises $2.5 Bln, Signs DRAM Supply Deals with Kioxia and SanDisk
Nanya Technology raised roughly $2.5 billion via share sales and private placements to expand its DRAM production capacity. Kioxia invested T$15.6 billion for a 2 % equity stake and a long‑term DRAM supply agreement, while SanDisk committed T$31 billion and signed a multi‑year supply...
Arkona Unveils BLADE//Planner and Major Usability Enhancements at NAB 2026
Arkona Technologies announced a suite of usability upgrades for its FPGA‑accelerated BLADE//runner platform at NAB 2026, highlighted by the new BLADE//planner graphical configuration tool. The planner lets engineers design, test, and deploy processing workflows offline with a visual overview while...
Gold Fields to Trial Sandvik 66 Tonne Diesel-Electric Underground Truck at St Ives
Gold Fields announced a pilot of Sandvik’s 66‑tonne diesel‑electric underground haul truck at its St Ives mine in Western Australia, with contractor Byrnecut providing operational support. The test follows earlier battery‑electric loader trials and diesel‑electric pilots with Caterpillar and Epiroc,...
CPSC Recalls CCCEI Power Strips Sold on Amazon Over Fire Hazard
The Consumer Product Safety Commission ordered a nationwide recall of CCCEI‑branded power strips sold on Amazon after discovering they lack overcurrent protection and pose a fire risk. The agency warned consumers to stop using the strips immediately and to contact...
Micron's Q2 FY2026 Revenue Triples to $23.9B on AI Surge
Micron Technology reported fiscal Q2 2026 revenue of $23.9 billion, almost three times the prior year, as AI‑driven data‑center demand lifted DRAM and HBM sales. The company also raised its capex outlook to over $25 billion and signaled continued margin expansion.
Amazon Spring Sale Drives MacBook Air Prices to Record Lows, $250 Off
Amazon's third annual Big Spring Sale has cut the price of the 13‑inch M4 MacBook Air to $949, a $250 discount and the lowest price seen since its launch. The steep markdown is prompting a surge in demand and raising...
Starcloud Raises $170 M Series A, Hits $1.1 B Valuation to Build Solar‑powered Space Data Centers
Starcloud announced a $170 million Series A led by Benchmark and EQT Ventures, valuing the Redmond‑based orbital compute startup at $1.1 billion. The funding will finance next‑generation satellites and a planned 88,000‑satellite constellation, positioning the company at the forefront of venture capital...
MediaTek MT7927 "Filogic 380" WiFi Support Coming Together For Linux
MediaTek’s MT7927 (Filogic 380) chipset is gaining upstream Linux support for Wi‑Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 through the mt76 driver, thanks to developer Javier Tia. The driver has been reverse‑engineered and tested on ASUS, Lenovo, Foxconn and AMD RZ738 devices. It is now in...
Six Viable Deployment Paths for OpenClaw AI Agent
From Mac Mini M4 to cloud VPS and edge AI hardware, these are the six deployment options worth considering for hosting your OpenClaw AI agent. https://t.co/QJsc243Cjq
4G-Connected Earbuds Use AI to Generate Meeting Notes
Mobvoi has introduced the TicNote Pods, the first 4G‑connected AI earbuds that automatically record, transcribe, and index spoken content. The earbuds capture both in‑ear audio and ambient sound, while the charging case records in‑person meetings from several meters away. Transcripts...
Trafo Delivers Custom Mini Substations to Power Zambian Underground Copper Mine
Trafo Power Solutions secured an order for seventeen custom mini substations to power an underground copper mine in Zambia. The units, comprising 800 kVA and 1,000 kVA dry‑type transformer packages, were engineered to fit the mine’s tight shaft‑cage dimensions and to be...
Indra Develops New Satellite Communications Terminal for Submarines
Indra has finished development and certification testing of the TSUB‑40Ka, a Ka‑band satellite communications terminal designed for submarines. The Ka band permits smaller antennas and markedly higher data‑rate links than traditional X‑band or Ku‑band systems. The terminal complies with MIL‑STD/STANAG...
We Still Highly Recommend These 3 Older Laptop Models - Especially While They're on Sale
Amazon’s Spring Sale ends tonight, featuring deep discounts on older laptop models that still deliver strong performance. The M1 MacBook Pro is available for $707, a 53% reduction, while Samsung’s Galaxy Book5 360 and Dell 16 Plus are discounted 12% and 35% respectively....
Vivo X300 Ultra Debuts in China with 400mm Telephoto Lens
The Vivo X300 Ultra phone has launched in China alongside its 400mm telephoto lens attachment. https://t.co/q7OTR8U1sd
Smart Trash Can Automatically Tracks and Collects Waste
This Smart Trash Can Tracks and Catches Thrown Garbage Automatically by @IamKyros69 #EmergingTech #Innovation #TechForGood #Technology https://t.co/oJkkVVK9pe
The Infrastructure Paradox of AI Development in LMICs
A new cross‑sectional study of 91 AI practitioners across 27 low‑ and middle‑income countries uncovers an “Infrastructure Paradox” where the regions most poised to benefit from AI lack the foundational resources to develop it. The research identifies three non‑linear dynamics:...
Epiroc Launches Underground Charging Suite
Swedish equipment maker Epiroc has introduced a new underground charging suite designed for battery‑electric mining fleets. The solution is OEM‑agnostic and can be installed up to 300 m from a central charging cabinet, offering a single charging platform for mixed‑fleet operations....
Chip Maker Fractile in Talks to Raise $200m at Unicorn Valuation, Reports Say
London‑based AI chip maker Fractile is courting $200 million in new capital at a $1 billion unicorn valuation. The round is being led by Accel and early backer Oxford Science Enterprises, with interest from other investors. Fractile, founded in 2022, develops AI...
Kandou AI Raises $225M to Speed Chip Data Transfer
Kandou AI raised $225M to solve one problem: data moving too slow between chips. Not the model. Not the GPU. The wire. The 448G barrier. Your cluster idles while data waits. Most AI teams haven't hit it yet. They will. https://t.co/eet96ho75l
Why Seattle’s AI Ambitions Started with a Hypervisor Migration
Seattle faced a $250 million budget gap and launched a hypervisor migration with Nutanix to consolidate 2,500 legacy virtual machines. The project delivered $1.6‑2 million in annual savings, improved uptime, and created a hybrid, cloud‑smart foundation. City leaders stress workload‑specific placement and...
UK Royal Navy Awards Teledyne Contract for Underwater Gliders
Teledyne Marine has secured a UK Ministry of Defence contract to provide autonomous ocean observing systems—including Sentinel and Slocum gliders and APEX floats—for the Royal Navy’s Future Maritime Data Gathering (FMDG) program. The equipment will expand the Navy’s unmanned fleet,...
AMT to Support Users of Raise3D RMS220 SLS 3D Printer with Vapour Smoothing Technology
Additive Manufacturing Technologies (AMT) and Raise3D have announced a partnership that integrates AMT’s vapor smoothing post‑processing systems with Raise3D’s RMS220 SLS 3D printer. The collaboration will offer European customers pre‑configured, powder‑optimized solutions and introduces AMT’s existing SFX system plus the...
Microsoft Commits $1 Billion to Thailand for Cloud and AI Infrastructure
Microsoft announced a commitment of more than $1 billion to build cloud and AI infrastructure in Thailand from 2026 to 2028, its largest Southeast Asian investment to date. The plan covers green‑energy data centers, sovereign‑cloud services, and large‑scale AI skills training...
Farsoon Unveils Its Two New Large-Format Metal 3D Printers: Technical Specifications and Pricing
Farsoon Technologies introduced two large‑format metal powder‑bed‑fusion printers at TCT Asia 2026: the FS812M‑U and the FS1311M‑U. The FS812M‑U retains an 810 × 810 mm footprint while extending build height to 1.7 m and reducing its overall footprint by 41 %. The FS1311M‑U scales up...
Creative Sound Blaster Audigy FX Pro PCIe Sound Card Review
Creative's Sound Blaster Audigy FX Pro re‑enters the internal sound‑card market as an affordable PCIe upgrade for PCs with sub‑par onboard audio. Priced under $100, it offers 24‑bit/192 kHz playback, 7.1‑channel support and a modest headphone amp. The card relies on...
Walrus Pitches MemWal as Decentralized Storage for AI Agent Memory
Walrus Foundation, backed by Mysten Labs, launched MemWal, a developer SDK that offers decentralized, blockchain‑based storage for AI agents' long‑term memory. The service leverages the Walrus protocol on the Sui blockchain and is paid for with the $WAL token, which...
OnePlus Nord 6 Key Specifications Revealed Ahead of Launch: 50MP Sony Camera, 9,000mAh Battery Confirmed
OnePlus will debut the Nord 6 in India on 7 April at 7 PM, with sales routed through Amazon. The mid‑range flagship packs a Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset, a 1.5K 165 Hz AMOLED screen, IP66‑IP69K water‑dust protection, a 50 MP Sony camera, and a massive 9,000 mAh...