Today's Hardware Pulse
Nvidia driver hints at next‑gen DLSS 5 work
Nvidia’s GeForce Game Ready driver 610.47 adds three new profile options—Enable DLSS NR override, Enable DLSS NR SL override, and Override DLSS NR presets—suggesting continued development of DLSS 5 neural‑rendering technology. The earlier DLSS 5 reveal had sparked debate over AI‑driven image alteration, and the new driver hints at a quiet but ongoing effort.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Cyient Semiconductors raises $30M Series A
After 9 Months, We’re Absolutely Sure the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Is the Best Phone You Can Buy Right Now
Stefan Vazharov’s nine‑month hands‑on review concludes the iPhone 17 Pro Max, starting at $1,199, remains the best smartphone on the market. Counterpoint data shows it was the top‑selling iPhone model in 2025, and its A19 Pro processor, triple 48‑MP camera system and two‑day battery life set new performance benchmarks. The device supports 40 W wired and Qi 2.2 wireless charging, delivering 80 % charge in under an hour. While the larger Pro Max offers superior battery and display, the smaller Pro provides a more compact form factor.
The Battle for Your Finger Heats up as RingConn Gen 3 Opens Preorders
RingConn has launched pre‑orders for its third‑generation smart ring, priced at $314 until May 28 before climbing to $349. The Gen 3 adds long‑term vascular health tracking, haptic vibration alerts, and an 11‑14‑day battery life, while retaining full‑day metrics like heart rate,...
Europe’s Battery Law Has a Chemistry Problem
The EU Battery Regulation mandates recycled‑content quotas for cobalt, nickel, lithium and lead, but it does not reward lithium‑iron‑phosphate (LFP) chemistry. As European automakers increasingly adopt LFP for low‑cost EVs and stationary storage, recyclers face slimmer margins because LFP lacks...
ICE Plans to Deploy 1,570 Additional Iris Scanners Nationwide Under No-Bid Contract
The Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is set to add 1,570 iris‑scanning devices to its nationwide network within 30 days under a no‑bid contract with Massachusetts‑based Bi2 Technologies. The sole‑source award expands a prior $4.6 million, 200‑device...
Webinar to Demystify Biometric Physical Access Control Decisions
Biometric Update and Goode Intelligence are hosting a free webinar on May 19 to dissect the latest trends in biometric physical access control, featuring a new market report that forecasts the sector surpassing $9.8 billion by 2028. The event will showcase...
PCI Group Begins Work on New Spec to Support Bandwidth-Hungry Apps Like AI, HPC
PCI‑SIG has released the first draft of the PCIe 8.0 specification, targeting a 256 GT/s per‑lane rate and up to 1 TB/s bidirectional bandwidth in a 16‑lane configuration. The new standard, slated for final release in 2028, builds on PAM4 signaling and adds...
Infineon Expands XHP 2 CoolSiC MOSFET Power Module Portfolio
Infineon Technologies has added four new 2300 V CoolSiC MOSFET power modules to its XHP 2 portfolio, targeting high‑voltage renewable‑energy converters. The devices handle DC‑link voltages up to 1500 V, offer on‑resistance between 1 mΩ and 2 mΩ, and feature 4 kV or 6 kV isolation. Leveraging...
First I486 Support, Now Linux Abandons I586 and I686
Linux kernel 7.2 officially retires support for i586 and i686 CPUs, following a month‑old drop of i486 compatibility. The move ends native Linux operation on legacy Pentium Pro, Celeron, and Cyrix 6×86 processors that date back to the mid‑1990s. Only a narrow...
Posifa’s New Battery Thermal Event Sensors Offer 100 Ms Response and 15-Year Service Life for EVs
Posifa Technologies launched the PGS5100 series, a MEMS‑based hydrogen sensor that detects thermal‑event off‑gassing in electric‑vehicle battery packs within 100 ms and is rated for a 15‑year service life. The sensor covers a 0–25 % hydrogen range, includes built‑in humidity and pressure...
Throwback: Samsung Juke Phone Fun From 2007
I started filming this video over 5 years ago 😄 Debuting on the MrMobile YouTube channel in 20m: When Phones Were Fun – Samsung Juke (2007)! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAhKuvWrReU
Starlink Shuts Down Its GPS-Style Cheat Code. Researchers May Unlock It Anyway.
SpaceX's Starlink has abruptly disabled the location‑data feature that let users access its satellite‑based positioning and navigation (PNT) service via the mobile app. The move comes despite growing interest in Starlink as a resilient alternative to GPS, which is increasingly...
Yet Another New Onn Streaming Stick Passes Through FCC Approval
Walmart’s budget Onn brand has added another FCC‑cleared streaming stick. The new Full HD model (HP47R/HP4718) looks identical to the 2023 version but features updated internals and is built by Skyworth instead of SDMC. By diversifying manufacturers, Walmart hopes to ease...
HDMI 2.1 Display Stream Compression "DSC" Also Ready For AMDGPU Linux Driver
AMD has released new AMDGPU kernel driver patches that add HDMI 2.1 Fixed Rate Link (FRL) and Display Stream Compression (DSC) support to Linux. The updates enable lossless, low‑latency compression, allowing resolutions such as 4K @ 240 Hz and 8K @ 120 Hz. The patches are slated...
Sony and TSMC Hint at the Future of Imaging Sensors and “Physical AI”
Sony Semiconductor Solutions and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company have signed a non‑binding memorandum of understanding to deepen collaboration on next‑generation imaging sensors. The alliance pairs Sony’s market‑leading sensor design capabilities with TSMC’s cutting‑edge process technology, aiming to explore emerging "physical...
Applied Materials and TSMC Partner at the EPIC Center to Accelerate AI Scaling
Applied Materials announced a new innovation partnership with TSMC at its $5 billion EPIC Center in Silicon Valley to speed AI‑focused semiconductor development. The collaboration will co‑innovate on materials engineering, next‑generation equipment, and advanced process integration to improve power, performance, area,...
The Memory Wall Is Real, Here Is the Door
The global DRAM shortage, driven by AI‑centric demand, is expected to linger until 2030, with prices up 172% year‑over‑year and OpenAI alone consuming roughly 40% of output. New fabs from SK Hynix, Micron and Samsung won’t deliver relief until 2027‑2028,...
Need a Video Editing Laptop? Apple’s New MacBook Pro Just Got a Sweet Discount
Apple’s 14‑inch MacBook Pro, now equipped with the new M5 Pro 15‑core chip, is on sale at B&H, offering a notable discount amid a market where video‑gear prices are climbing. The laptop pairs 48 GB of unified RAM with a 1 TB SSD,...
Siemens and OnLogic Partner On Industrial Edge
Siemens and OnLogic announced a strategic partnership to bring Siemens Industrial Edge to extreme edge environments. The collaboration pairs Siemens’ Industrial Edge software platform with OnLogic’s fanless, ruggedized edge computing hardware, enabling deployment in high‑vibration, wash‑down and other harsh conditions....
Finding Studs Used to Be Torture Until I Spent $12 on a StudPop
The StudPop magnetic stud finder, priced at $11.95, offers a simple, battery‑free alternative to pricey electronic models. Using a powerful neodymium magnet and a plastic indicator, it locates studs in about a minute with virtually no false positives. The tool’s...
MSP-Focussed Virtuozzo Goes All-In on AI
Virtuozzo has consolidated its hyper‑converged products into the Virtuozzo Infrastructure System (V/IS) and positioned it as an AI‑centric platform. The solution lets managed service providers (MSPs) deliver AI‑as‑a‑Service and GPU‑as‑a‑Service with built‑in metering, promising 60‑80% lower total cost of ownership...
SOSV Deep Tech Live – The Atomic Architect: Rick Gottscho on Plasma’s Role in Semiconductor Fabrication & Physical AI Infrastructure
The SOSV Deep Tech Live event on June 2 will feature Rick Gottscho, former CTO of Lam Research, discussing how plasma technology is reshaping semiconductor fabrication as Moore's Law stalls. Gottscho will explore the physics behind plasma processing, its impact on...
Industrial Security, Thermal Management and Longevity for Edge Controllers
AutomationDirect’s C2‑NRed module brings Node‑Red edge functionality to Click Plus PLCs without requiring a separate gateway. It runs an embedded Linux environment alongside the deterministic PLC scan cycle, communicating over the backplane while keeping control logic isolated. The module offers native...
Most Enterprises Still Run Pre‑AI Wi‑Fi Networks
Less than 20 percent of enterprises have upgraded to any Wi-Fi standard from this decade. That means most corporate wireless networks were designed before large language models, #AI agents, or modern inference workloads existed. https://spectrum.ieee.org/wi-fi-enterprise-networks?share_id=9465459
Cathie Wood’s Ark Snaps up $12.9 M of CoreWeave After 11% Plunge
Ark Investment Management bought roughly $12.9 million of CoreWeave (CRWV) on May 8, acquiring 113,076 shares after the stock fell 11% to $114.15. The move follows a brief sell‑off earlier in the week and underscores Wood’s willingness to double‑down on volatile AI‑focused...
Cobalt Digital to Showcase IPMX/ST 2110 Ecosystem at BroadcastAsia 2026
Cobalt Digital will showcase its full IPMX/ST 2110 ecosystem at BroadcastAsia 2026, featuring the blueCORE 1RU signal processor, PACIFIC decoder, new openGear cards, and a suite of IP‑enabled monitors, multiviewers, converters and gateways. The blueCORE unit combines audio and video...
The Private Cloud Crunch
AI‑driven workloads are straining global memory supplies, creating a private‑cloud crunch that raises costs and extends lead times. While hyperscale public providers have buffered the shock through long‑term component contracts, organizations that rely on private clouds face higher expenses, delayed...
Developer Eyes Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, for New Data Center Development
Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, is evaluating a potential data‑center project on a 51‑acre parcel between Creek Turnpike and State Highway 51. The unnamed developer has requested a pre‑development meeting, expected within the next four to eight weeks, but no approvals have been...
Russia Expands Alabuga Drone Hub by 340 Hectares and Restarts Re‑exports to Iran
Russia has enlarged the Alabuga Special Economic Zone in Tatarstan by 340 hectares, adding new hangars and worker housing, while also restarting the re‑export of Geran strike drones to Iran. The expansion underscores Moscow’s push to boost high‑tech defense output...
The Future of Compute
Yotta released an eBook titled “The Future of Compute” that examines how accelerated, heterogeneous AI architectures are reshaping data‑center design. It highlights the growing tension between power density, cooling, and networking as AI workloads scale beyond traditional limits. The guide...
Bowers & Wilkins PX8 S2 Commands Premium Price as Top‑Tier Wireless Headphones
Bowers & Wilkins’ new PX8 S2 wireless headphones earned Mashable’s highest rating for sound quality, design and build, but the $799 price tag places them firmly in the luxury segment. The review highlights custom 40 mm carbon‑cone drivers, high‑resolution Bluetooth codecs...
Qualcomm's Low‑power AI Chips Attract Hyperscalers
Reasons hyperscalers may prefer Qualcomm chips for AI agents include - Low power consumption: Qualcomm claims its AI DC chips consume 35% less power than those from NVidia, AMD and Intel. Power is now the biggest limiting factor for data...
Trade In Your Tracker, Get Fitbit Air Free
The Google Store is running a promotion that gives you the chance to get the new Fitbit Air for free when you trade in your current smartwatch or fitness tracker. https://t.co/ZHf3EUC4mY
Compute And Memory Price Hikes Drive IT Spending Way Higher
Gartner’s latest forecast shows global IT spending will hit $6.32 trillion in 2026, a 13.5% increase over 2025. The surge is driven by soaring demand for CPUs, GPUs, memory and flash, which are pushing component prices higher. Datacenter systems alone are...
Discover Hidden Printer Feature: Easy Mode & Firmware
I am always surprised how few people discovered this little gem in our printers 🤔 Here is the easy mode https://t.co/yQcVi1asP9 or you can dive deeper in the firmware repo https://t.co/NG7QsSjFlQ
Ploopy Launches Open‑source Magnetic Pointing Stick Controller
Ploopy introduces standalone pointing stick controller using magnetic sensors, open source firmware, and fully programmable hardware components. https://t.co/395C3wAJ8i
RodRadar, Hexagon Launch Stop Before Strike System
RodRadar and Hexagon unveiled a Stop‑Before‑Strike system at ConExpo 2026, combining AI‑driven Live Dig Radar embedded in excavator buckets with Hexagon’s Xwatch hydraulic control. The integrated solution automatically halts the bucket within six inches of detected utilities, eliminating reliance on pre‑project...
China Launches Portable Foldable Solar Power Stations
China Deploys Foldable Solar Power Station for Instant Energy Anywhere by @volcaholic1 #Sustainability #RenewableEnergy #CleanEnergy https://t.co/LDunS4hBvm
GetD GSPro’s “AI” Label Falls Short
The GetD GSPro Smart Glasses are advertised as "AI Glasses", but does the inclusion of a microphone and a custom app really imbue them with artificial intelligence? I slip a polarized pair on to find out: https://t.co/C2XA3Xw0tJ #GetD #smartglasses #aiglasses...
AICRAFT Expands Beyond Edge Computing with Advanced SAR Radar Electronics
Australian AI firm AICRAFT has secured Manufacturing Growth Accelerator funding to develop a low‑power front‑end electronics suite for synthetic‑aperture radar (SAR) payloads. Working with Flinders University and Indian antenna maker Guerin Technologies, the project integrates a custom analogue‑to‑digital converter with...
Nostalgic Intel Fab Tour Highlights Bright Future Ahead
Bunny suit guy makes his return to my background. Got this at my first fab tour with Intel 04/05 ish I think. Pentium days were good days but even better days ahead for Intel. https://t.co/vvz4bA8THf
One Power Station Deal Outshines the Rest
I've found 7 power station offers from Bluetti, Jackery, EcoFlow and Anker, but one deal really stands out. https://t.co/o0RcHCNTqf
Walmart’s Next Streaming Stick Will Run Google TV Again
Walmart is set to release an updated Onn Full HD Streaming Device that runs Google TV, mirroring the 2023 model in design and specifications. The new stick is produced by Skyworth in Mexico, replacing the previous Luxshare‑made version built in...
Steam Machine Delays End as RAM Shortage Eases
Gamers are still awaiting the Steam Machine's arrival, after delays due to the ongoing RAM crisis, but it looks like it may be closer after all. https://t.co/pFWVUgIwhf
Retro‑styled Shanling EC Play Bridges Portable and Home Hi‑fi
The Shanling EC Play offers a retro design and a range of connectivity tools, to make it useful for on-the-go listening as well as in your home hi-fi setup https://t.co/ZOYPlXtbJC
GE HealthCare Showcases AI-Powered MRI Technologies
At the ISMRM 2026 meeting, GE HealthCare announced a suite of AI‑powered MRI innovations designed to speed scans, improve image quality and support collaborative research. The rollout includes the SIGNA One workflow platform, Sonic DL deep‑learning acceleration pending FDA clearance,...
DJI Mini 3 Bundle Hits Record Low: $499
Fly more for less – this DJI Mini 3 bundle has been slashed to its lowest-ever price of $499 at Amazon. https://t.co/nB6se1vncj
TMTB: Cerebras (CRBS) IPO Roadshow Notes
Cerebras Systems disclosed a massive take‑or‑pay contract with OpenAI worth over $20 billion, beginning with a $1 billion prepayment and delivering 750 MW of AI compute across three 250 MW tranches from 2026 to 2028. The first tranche will be provided through Cerebras' cloud...
Cyient Launches India’s First GaN Power IC Family Leveraging Navitas Technology
Cyient Semiconductor has introduced India’s first gallium‑nitride (GaN) power IC family, comprising seven devices built on Navitas Semiconductor’s GaNFast platform. The portfolio, rated up to 650 V, targets high‑efficiency applications in AI data centers, telecom, consumer fast‑charging, industrial power and e‑mobility....
Data Centers Must Cut Energy While Scaling AI Workloads
As AI and cloud computing continue to expand, data centers are facing growing pressure to reduce energy consumption while maintaining performance. https://t.co/SGsocEbpZM #infrastructure #IoT #AI #5G #cloud #edge #futureofwork https://t.co/c3jLfEsZj4
GlobalFoundries Q1 Revenue Surpasses $1.6B, Beats Expectations
GlobalFoundries posted first‑quarter 2026 revenue of $1.6 billion, a 3.1% year‑over‑year increase but an 11% decline from the prior quarter. Manufacturing services drove 87% of the top line, shipping about 579,000 300‑mm‑equivalent wafers, up 7% YoY. The company highlighted progress in...