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
I Used to Swear by USB Hubs on My Laptop, but This Wall-Powered Alternative Makes It so Much Better
Tech reviewer Shaun Cichacki switched from a USB hub to a wall‑powered docking station for his gaming laptop, highlighting the benefits of power delivery, expanded ports, and multi‑monitor support. The Plugable Thunderbolt 5 dock supplies up to 8K video, Ethernet, and full USB‑C PD, allowing peripherals to run even when the laptop is off. Unlike typical USB hubs, the dock’s AC adapter prevents battery drain and eliminates random disconnections. Cichacki notes that while docking stations are valuable for laptops, they are unnecessary for desktop PCs.
SpaceX Offers Details on Orbital Data Center Satellites
SpaceX disclosed technical details for an ambitious orbital data center constellation, targeting up to one million satellites powered by high‑end AI processors. The initiative, called Terafab, aims to produce one terawatt of chips annually—about 50 times current advanced‑chip output—and will...
1979 Was the Year Apple Dreamed of Multi-Colored Macs, but It Had to Wait Nearly 20 Years Before the Release...
Apple unveiled the $599 MacBook Neo, a low‑cost laptop aimed at budget‑conscious buyers and positioned against cheap Windows machines and Chromebooks. The Neo arrives in four vibrant hues—Silver, Blush, Citrus and Indigo—reinvigorating Apple’s long‑standing color‑first philosophy. The move echoes the 1998...
AI Boom Threatened by Helium Shortage and Chip Cooling Limits
“Silicon Valley spent the last two years convincing everyone that AI is a pure software revolution, completely forgetting that the entire trillion-dollar capex cycle is dependent on a noble gas extracted in a Middle Eastern warzone. 🤡 You can raise all...
Apple Raises External Storage Prices as AI Consumes Everything
Apple’s retail prices for third‑party external SSDs have surged dramatically, with a 4 TB SanDisk drive climbing from about $500 to nearly $1,200 and a 1 TB model jumping from $120 to over $350. The spike isn’t driven by ordinary inflation but...
U.S. Army Buys 2,500 Reconnaissance Drones From Skydio
The U.S. Army awarded Skydio a contract exceeding $52 million for more than 2,500 X10D reconnaissance drones, the service’s largest single‑vendor small‑UAS purchase. The award, processed in under 72 hours through Atlantic Diving Supply, reflects a new rapid‑acquisition model for critical tech....
IPhone 18 Pro Camera: The Future of Apple Photography
Apple’s upcoming iPhone 18 Pro will pair its industry‑leading camera hardware with a revamped native Camera app that offers full manual controls, RAW capture, and seamless editing across the Apple ecosystem. The move follows Apple’s strategic hiring of Halide co‑founder...
Apple Launches $599 MacBook Neo, Its Cheapest MacBook Yet
Apple introduced the MacBook Neo at a base price of $599 (or $499 for education), making it the most affordable MacBook ever. The thin, fan‑less 13‑inch laptop ships with an A18 Pro chip, 8 GB unified memory and a modular, repair‑friendly...
Cavotec Secures €3M Shore Power Order for Southern Italy Ports
Cavotec has won a €3 million contract to install its PowerFeed, PowerReach and PowerMove shore‑power systems across several Southern Italy ports. The equipment will let cruise, container and RoRo vessels draw electricity from the grid while docked, eliminating the need for...
“We Wanted to Focus on Those Three Things… Not Always Done by Our Competitors when They Put Out Products” –...
Intel launched the Core Ultra 3 “Panther Lake” CPUs at CES 2026, debuting a new X‑prefix SKU line paired with Arc B390 graphics and retiring the traditional ‑P and ‑U suffixes. The lineup spans 4‑ to 16‑core configurations, promising up to 27 hours of video‑streaming battery...
Stretch Your Tech Budget with This $200 MacBook Air
A Grade A/B refurbished Apple MacBook Air is on sale for $199.97, a steep discount from its $999 MSRP. The 13.3‑inch model features a 1.8 GHz Intel Core i5 processor, 128 GB SSD, and up to 12 hours of battery life, making it...
Dreaming of an Ultralight Mac ↦
The article explores a potential fourth tier in Apple’s laptop lineup—a premium ultralight MacBook weighing under two pounds, featuring a high‑resolution display and all‑day battery life. It argues that while the MacBook Air covers the current lightweight market, a truly...
Over 1,200 New EV Charging Stalls Deployed By EVgo In 2025
EVgo announced it installed more than 1,200 new fast‑charging stalls in 2025, expanding its U.S. network to 5,100 stalls across 47 states. The company recorded a 366 GWh public‑network throughput, surpassed 1.6 million customer accounts, and generated $384 million in revenue, a 50%...
Xiaomi Priced Its MacBook Pro Rival Under $1,300
Xiaomi has re‑entered the premium laptop market with the Book Pro 14 2026, priced from 8,499 yuan (about $1,275). The ultrabook ships with Intel’s new Panther Lake Core Ultra X7 358H processor, up to 32 GB LPDDR5X RAM, a 14.6‑inch 3.1K OLED touchscreen that reaches 1,600 nits...
Metrology-Driven Optical NDE for Screening ICT Probe-Induced Indentations on PCB Pads
In‑circuit testing (ICT) can leave micro‑indentations on PCB test pads, risking surface integrity and latent failures. Researchers introduced a non‑contact optical NDE method that combines high‑resolution microscopy with metrology‑driven feature extraction to quantify these indentations. Validation on a 2,000‑image dataset...
I Rode the Xiaomi Electric Scooter 6 Ultra, and It Gives Segway and Apollo a Run for Their Money
Xiaomi unveiled its sixth‑generation scooter line at MWC, featuring five models, with the flagship Scooter 6 Ultra positioned as an off‑road, high‑performance option. The Ultra packs a 500 W motor, 1,200 W peak output, 12‑inch all‑terrain tyres, dual swing‑arm suspension, and a 585 Wh battery...
Offshore Wind Farms Could Host Future Data Centers
Where will we find the space for new data centers? Startup Aikido Technologies points to offshore wind farms as the answer. https://spectrum.ieee.org/data-center-floating-wind-turbine
Grab the Sapphire Nitro+ Radeon RX 9070 XT for $799.99 — Comes Bundled with 1000W PSU and Free Copy of...
Sapphire’s Nitro+ Radeon RX 9070 XT is now listed at $799.99 on Newegg, down $150 from its prior $949.99 tag, and includes a Rosewill 1000W power supply and a free copy of Crimson Desert. The card sports AMD’s RDNA 4 architecture, 16 GB GDDR6,...
The Secret Story of the Vocoder, the Military Tech that Changed Music Forever
The vocoder, invented by Bell Labs engineer Homer Dudley to simplify voice transmission, first served as a wartime encryption tool in World War II. After the conflict, musicians discovered its ability to turn speech into an instrument, sparking a wave of...
Apple's HomePod and Apple TV Stock Levels Plummet Again
Also in Power On: Retail inventory of HomePod, HomePod mini and Apple TV dwindles — again. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2026-03-22/apple-s-airpods-max-2-blurs-the-lines-between-marketing-and-innovation-mn1pfx3h
Apple Triples External Drive Prices Amid Supply Shortage
Also in Power On: Apple hikes prices of external hard drives in the face of industry shortages. For instance, some hard drives saw prices *triple* on Apple’s website. And a 4 TB SanDisk goes from $500 to $1200. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2026-03-22/apple-s-airpods-max-2-blurs-the-lines-between-marketing-and-innovation-mn1pfx3h
Huawei Crowdfunds World’s First ‘Mesh Crystal Antenna’ Wi-Fi 7 Router — Stunning Glowing Ornament Also Has a ‘Shark Fin’ Heat...
Huawei has launched the WiFi Mesh X3 Pro, the world’s first Wi‑Fi 7 router featuring a metal‑mesh crystal antenna and a glowing ornamental design. The device incorporates a shark‑fin heat‑exhaust system, dual 2.5 Gbps Ethernet ports, and advanced Wi‑Fi 7 features such as...
Save 50% on This Bluetooth-Ready CD Player as Physical Media Makes a Comeback
Physical media is experiencing a modest revival as streaming costs rise and catalogs shrink, prompting consumers to revisit CDs. Gueray’s all‑in‑one CD player, now 50 % off at $39.99, offers playback of multiple disc formats, Bluetooth connectivity, built‑in speakers, FM radio,...
Just Got the MacBook Neo? Do These 10 Things Immediately
Apple’s newly launched MacBook Neo targets first‑time Mac users with an affordable price and streamlined design. The guide outlines 20 quick actions—ranging from display scaling and multitasking shortcuts to iPhone integration and security tweaks—to help owners personalize and secure the...
Roku Now Offers a Cheaper Replacement Remote For Your Roku TVs
Roku has launched a two‑pack of official infrared remotes for Roku TVs priced at $12.99 on Amazon, delivering a per‑unit cost of roughly $6.50. The bundle targets users who need a low‑cost replacement, but the remotes work only with Roku...
The Best Subscription-Free Home Security Cameras I've Tried
Subscription‑free security cameras are gaining traction as consumers seek privacy and lower ongoing costs. The article highlights three leading brands—Eufy, TP‑Link Tapo, and Aqara—each offering local storage options, AI detection, and varying price points. Eufy’s S4 series provides 4K video...
Loongson Linux Display Driver No Longer Orphaned
Loongson’s Direct Rendering Manager (DRM) driver for LS7A/LS2K SoCs is no longer orphaned, as a team of Loongson engineers has taken over its maintenance. The driver, which works with Vivante graphics IP via the open‑source Etnaviv stack, previously lacked upstream...
MSI Launches $85,000 Nvidia DGX‑Based XpertStation WS300 AI Workstation
MSI announced the XpertStation WS300, an $84,999 AI workstation built on Nvidia's DGX Station architecture. Featuring the Nvidia GB300 Grace Blackwell Ultra chip, 768 GB of unified memory and dual 400 GbE ports, the system targets enterprises that need on‑premise training of...
The Galaxy S26 Now Supports a Handy Feature Pixel Phones Got Years Ago
Samsung has enabled native USB webcam functionality on its flagship Galaxy S26, allowing users to connect the phone to a PC or laptop via a USB‑C cable and use any rear or front camera as a webcam. The feature, first...
Simulated Training Powers Adaptive, Human‑like Robots
This isn’t just a Disney robot. It’s a preview of the next generation of AI systems. At GTC 2026, Nvidia showed how characters like Olaf are no longer just animated — they’re becoming intelligent physical systems, built with Disney and DeepMind. But...
Is iPhone Fold Launch Delayed? New Leak Reveals Apple's ‘Ultra’ iPhone May Mirror iPhone X Strategy
Apple’s rumored Ultra iPhone Fold may not debut with the iPhone 18 Pro lineup, with Barclays analysts suggesting a December 2026 shipment window. The device is expected to feature a near‑crease‑free 7.8‑inch OLED display, titanium‑aluminum chassis, and liquid‑metal hinges. Powered by an...
Early Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra Leaks Point to the First Real Camera Reset in 4 Years
Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S27 Ultra is poised to redefine mobile photography with two new 200 MP sensors – the Isocell HP6 and the larger Isocell HPA – delivering advanced HDR, superior dynamic range, and enhanced low‑light performance. The device will be...
Port of NY/NJ Plans Replacement of Ageing Fare Gates
The Port Authority approved $3.5 million to start planning replacement of fare gates at all 13 PATH stations. The existing 22‑year‑old gates have outlived their 15‑20 year design life, causing breakdowns, higher maintenance costs, and increased fare evasion. The project, slated...
Secure AI Factory: Cisco‑Nvidia Full‑Stack for Scalable, Private AI
What does a Secure AI Factory look like in an enterprise run by humans and AI agents? @Cisco's answer is Secure AI Factory, a full-stack architecture designed to generate tokens at scale while keeping data private and operations manageable. And it's...
BObsweep MAXIM: The Ferrari of Robot Vacuums
With its amazing features and capabilities, I'm not exaggerating when I call the @bObsweep MAXIM Robot Vacuum and Mop the "Ferrari of robot vacuum cleaners". Watch my video to see why it finally offers a clean that other devices just...
Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro: Prototypes Feature High-End Hardware but Appear to Cut Corners on the Camera
Qualcomm’s upcoming Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro is already being tested in 2‑nm prototypes that pack 16 GB of LPDDR6 memory and up to 1 TB of UFS 5.0 storage, setting a new performance ceiling for Android flagships. Early leaks suggest the platform may sacrifice top‑tier camera...
Japan Harvests Power From Footsteps with Piezo Tiles
#WhatsNext? Electricity from walking? Japan is using piezoelectric floor tiles to generate clean electricity one step at a time. (Interesting World) #Alternate #Energy #JVGpost https://t.co/yp7Ce1RXGg
BYD Proves Affordable EVs with 5‑minute Flash Charging Thrive
And amidst the EV slowdown, @BYDCompany is demonstrating that if you can create a product meeting customer needs at the right price point, there is a market to be had... "Flash charging" 70% in 5-min tech provides one such addition......
Musk Says Tesla, SpaceX, xAI Chip Project to Kick Off in Texas
Elon Musk announced the Terafab project, a Texas‑based semiconductor venture that will initially operate an advanced technology fab in Austin capable of producing and testing any chip type. The facility will be jointly managed by Tesla and SpaceX and is...
Elon’s 100k WPM
Still think he was better of JVing with Intel foundry. He will struggle to get ASML machines, even if @substrate is invlolved it is many years before this 100k WPM is remotely possible. I'm sure Elon is taking the...
Kid Gets 3D Printer, Ready to Experiment
One of my kids friend’s just gave him a 3D printer Let’s see what we can do with this https://t.co/UTj0o2IQlR
ELM11-Feather Board with 70 MHz MCU, Lua, and Hardware Overlay Support
Brisbane Silicon unveiled the ELM11‑Feather, a Feather‑compatible board featuring a 70 MHz microcontroller, 1 MB RAM, and native Lua support. The platform introduces a hardware overlay mechanism that lets developers reconfigure CPU behavior, timers, and peripheral routing directly from Lua scripts. It...
Trump Admin Pushes Premature 6G Phones for 2028 Olympics
Trump administration wants 6G phones even before 6G comes into existence • The US government wants to showcase its 6G capabilities at the 2028 Olympics in LA. • The Trump administration has asked Qualcomm to steer the development of three 6G-ready...
NVIDIA Dwarfs Intel and AMD by Eightfold
Chart Shows NVIDIA 8x Bigger Than Intel, AMD Before Laptop Battle Even Starts - Data Explained https://t.co/y0CnqRyrUM
Sigenergy Launches 166 kW Inverter for C&I Solar
Sigenergy unveils 166 kW inverter for C&I solar #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/8cg9ePcbMA
Quantum Computers Poised to Tackle Healthcare Challenges Soon
Can quantum computers now solve health care problems? We'll soon find out. | MIT Technology Review https://t.co/fQ3aSQxhdd
Robot Phone Boasts 360° Rotating Gimbal Camera
Honor #Robot Phone Features a 360° Rotating Gimbal Camera by @XueJia24682 #Robotics #Engineering #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #Technology https://t.co/p9idgclozd
Full-Body Movement Powers Next-Level VR Experience
Redefining Reality: A Next-Level #VR Experience Powered by Full-Body Physical Movement by @MrLaalpotato #VirtualReality #AR #AugmentedReality https://t.co/TzOuu8jd2Y
Premium Robot Vacuum Outshines
From muddy paw prints to dinner-party disasters, I tested its performance, battery life, and ease of maintenance to see if it delivers more than cheaper competitors. https://t.co/PYFHcQW8Mf https://t.co/LtukmSK93g
New Shoe Enables Walking on Water
Step on Waves: The Shoe That Lets You Walk on Water by @mog_russEN #EmergingTech #Technology #Innovation https://t.co/zvK9ljmHuU