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
Fitbit Air Has Status Light & Double-Tap Gesture, Gets Whoop Size Comparison
Google’s Fitbit Air packs its hardware into a tiny “pebble” that features a left‑edge status LED. Users must align the tracker correctly when swapping bands, then firmly double‑tap the top to trigger the light, which flashes white for normal operation and red for low battery. The LED also signals charging, firmware updates, and can silence Smart Wake or one‑off alarms. Demo units in ten U.S. Google Stores have sparked size comparisons, showing the Air is noticeably slimmer than competitor Whoop.
The Australian Quantum Battery Breakthrough That Has Military Planners Paying Attention
Australian researchers led by CSIRO, in partnership with RMIT University and the University of Melbourne, have demonstrated the world’s first proof‑of‑concept quantum battery that completes a full charge, storage, and discharge cycle. The prototype, described in the journal Light: Science...
Why I Built My External SSD Instead of Buying a Premade One
The author built a custom external SSD using a UGREEN M.2 NVMe enclosure and a WD_BLACK SN750 drive, saving money compared to buying a pre‑built USB SSD. Traditional portable SSDs lack upgrade paths, locking users into fixed speed and capacity....
Sub‐Nanometer Ferroelectric Tunnel Junctions With Record‐High On‐Current Density Through Synergistic Microwave Annealing and High‐Field Activation
Researchers have demonstrated a sub‑nanometer ferroelectric tunnel junction (FTJ) that delivers a record‑high on‑state current density exceeding 10⁵ A cm⁻² at just 0.4 V. By combining aggressive device area scaling with low‑temperature microwave annealing, the interfacial layer was thinned from 0.94 nm to 0.41 nm,...
Your New Graphics Card Is Disappointing because of One Hardware Mistake
The article warns that even the most powerful GPUs, such as Nvidia’s RTX 5090, can underperform when paired with an outdated or weak CPU, creating a CPU bottleneck that drags frame rates down. It explains how processor speed, cache size, and...
250 EV Chargers Installed In Winnipeg
Powertec Electric, together with its solar sister company and partner New Flyer, has installed 250 electric‑vehicle chargers across Winnipeg’s multi‑family residential properties. The rollout fills a critical gap for apartment and condo residents who lack private home charging, offering a...
My First Inkjet Tank Printer (Epson ET-2950)
The author upgraded from an Epson WF‑3520 to the EcoTank ET‑2950, a tank‑type printer praised for photo quality and quieter operation. Linux compatibility improved: Epson Scan 2 works out‑of‑the‑box, while printing required manual driver tweaks. After filling the ink tanks to...
Don't Buy a NAS for Local AI, Get This Instead
A network‑attached storage (NAS) unit may be handy for backups or media streaming, but its hardware is ill‑suited for running local AI models. The article explains that limited GPU capability, memory bandwidth, and reliance on low‑power CPUs make NAS devices...
Beijing Tests Subway Bicycles Pilot, Charging $4.38 per Ride
Beijing's Municipal Commission of Transport began a weekend-only pilot that lets cyclists bring single‑seat, human‑powered bicycles onto subway trains at 11 stations on four lines. The service costs 30 yuan (about $4.38) per passenger‑bike pair, marking the city's first large‑scale...
AMD's Excellent Radeon RX 9070 with 16 GB of VRAM Hits All-Time Low Pricing — PowerColor Hellhound Variant Is 23%...
AMD’s Radeon RX 9070 Hellhound edition has dropped to $554 on Amazon, a $165 discount that places it 23% below the typical MSRP. The card features 16 GB of GDDR6 VRAM on a 256‑bit bus, a 12‑layer PCB, and dual BIOS profiles...
Budget Osmo Pocket 4 Rival Launch Date Revealed: 50MP, 1/1.55-inch Sensor, Unique Screen Design Expected
FeiyuTech announced the Feiyu Pocket 4, a budget rival to DJI’s Osmo Pocket 4, slated for a May 15‑18 2026 debut at the Beijing Exhibition Centre. The handheld gimbal packs a 50 MP 1/1.55‑inch sensor, 4K/60 fps video, AI face tracking, 64 GB internal storage and a...
Beats Headphones and Earbuds Surprisingly Support These Android-Exclusive Features
Beats, an Apple‑owned audio brand, now works seamlessly with Android devices, offering several Google‑exclusive features. Models such as Solo Buds, Studio Buds Plus, Solo 4 and Studio Pro support Fast Pair, Find Hub, and Android Audio Switching. The Beats app adds home‑screen widgets for quick battery checks...
One UI 9 Leaks: The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Is Samsung’s First Truly Flat Foldable
Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 8 refines the foldable flagship with a lighter 200‑gram chassis, a dual‑layer glass hinge that cuts creases, and a larger 5,000 mAh battery. The device ships in two sizes: a standard 8‑inch inner display and a new...
The Case For Compilers: A Look at SPEC CPU 2026 on LLVM 22
SPEC CPU 2026, the first new SPEC CPU suite in a decade, arrives as a source‑code benchmark that makes compiler quality a core performance factor. Initial runs used LLVM 20.1.8, but a follow‑up test with the bleeding‑edge LLVM 22.1.4 shows consistent speedups across...
Unmissable S26 Ultra Deal — Save Up to $500 on Samsung’s Flagship
Samsung is offering its flagship Galaxy S26 Ultra at $1,199.99, a 20% cut from the $1,499.99 list price, with an additional $200 trade‑in credit that can bring total savings to $500. The device ships with 512 GB of storage, AI‑enhanced photography,...
VisionOS 27 Offers
Also in Power On: here’s the truth about what’s happening with the Vision Pro and visionOS (and don’t expect much in visionOS 27 other than feature parity).
8BitDo Pro 3 Challenges Switch 2 Pro Controller Performance
The 8BitDo Pro 3 took one look at the Switch 2 Pro Controller and said ‘hold my beer’. https://t.co/E7nzCnLZLC
Memory Godboxes Could Offer Relief From the RAMpocalypse
The next wave of datacenter servers will treat system memory as a disaggregated resource, using so‑called memory godboxes that connect via Compute Express Link (CXL). CXL 3.0, now supported by upcoming AMD and Intel CPUs, enables memory pooling and true...
Swapped Earbuds Deliver Better Sound on Unique Melody
It's inexplicable but true: The Unique Melody UXUE Hybrid Dynamic Hi-Fi Earbuds sound better when I switch ears so that the L goes in my right ear, and the R goes in my left. Here's how that works out in...
LG C6 vs G5: Which Offers Better Value?
With the LG C6's launch imminent, is it better value than last year's flagship G5? I tested the two side-by-side to find out https://t.co/L3fq7nxPwg
Asher Sharma’s Xbox Reveal: Project Helix Details and Halo Remakes Confirmed
Xbox unveiled deeper details on its upcoming Project Helix hardware platform, slated for release within two years and priced between $800 and $1,200. The company also confirmed full remakes of Halo 2 and Halo 3, alongside the development of “Halo Next,” a sequel to...
IPhone Ultra Offers Apple Chance to Fix MagSafe
MagSafe isn’t as good as it could be, but the iPhone Ultra is a chance for Apple to put things right. https://t.co/yD5phfYADX
How AI Is Reshaping Credit Card Terminals
Credit card terminals are undergoing an AI‑driven transformation that goes beyond speed and security upgrades. Machine‑learning fraud detection now works in milliseconds, while natural‑language processing tailors the checkout experience and predictive analytics keep hardware running smoothly. Vendors such as DCCSupply,...
Samsung Galaxy Watch Predicts Fainting Episodes with 84.6% Accuracy in Clinical Study
Samsung announced that its Galaxy Watch 6 accurately predicted vasovagal syncope in a clinical trial of 132 patients, achieving 84.6% accuracy, 90% sensitivity and 64% specificity. Experts warn that real‑world false‑positive alerts could undermine the technology’s usefulness.
Handheld Translators Surge as AI Language Apps Go Mainstream
Travelers are turning to dedicated handheld translation devices as AI‑powered language apps become ubiquitous. Wired’s review notes that these pocket‑sized gadgets provide offline capability, free service periods and a hands‑free experience that smartphones can’t match, driving a noticeable uptick in...
Ugreen iDX6011 Pro AI‑NAS Brings Private Large Language Model to Home Offices
Ugreen unveiled the iDX6011 Pro, an AI‑powered network‑attached storage device that runs a private large language model on‑site. The 22‑pound unit packs an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor, 96 TOPS AI performance and dual 10 Gb Ethernet, positioning it as a hybrid storage‑and‑AI...
Beijing Auto Show 2026 Unveils Dozens of Autonomous Vehicle Concepts and Pilots
The Beijing International Automotive Exhibition 2026 showcased 1,451 vehicles, featuring 181 world premieres and a wave of autonomous prototypes from Chinese makers such as XPeng, SAIC and Geely. The show highlighted AI‑native designs, map‑free logistics robots and the rapid commercialization...
Senseonics Posts $11.7M Q1 Revenue, Lifts 2026 Guidance After $92M Equity Raise
Senseonics announced Q1 2026 revenue of $11.7 million, an 85% year‑over‑year increase, and disclosed a $92 million public equity offering alongside a $20 million draw on its debt facility. The company raised its full‑year revenue guidance to $60‑64 million and outlined margin and...
Microsoft’s African Data Center Falters on Payment Demands
Microsoft’s joint venture with Abu Dhabi‑based G42 to build a large data center in Kenya has stalled after the Kenyan government could not meet the firm’s demand for guaranteed annual payments. The two companies requested a commitment to pay for...
Micron Shares Jump 15% as AI‑Driven Chip Shortage Fuels Record Valuation
Micron Technology (MU) surged 15% in a single session, hitting an all‑time high of $742.15 as AI‑driven memory demand tightens supply. The rally follows a fiscal Q2 report showing revenue of $23.86 B, a 196% YoY jump, and a record 74.9%...
India Completes 1,000 Km Quantum‑Secure Link in Three Years, Accelerating National Network
Union Minister Jitendra Singh announced that India has built a 1,000 km secure quantum‑communication link in just three years, slashing the projected timeline by more than half. The milestone underpins the government's eight‑year quantum mission and signals rapid progress toward a...
Yarbo Robot Mower Flaw Exposes Consumer‑Robot Security Gaps
Security researcher Andreas Makris disclosed critical vulnerabilities in Yarbo’s autonomous lawn mower, showing that thousands of units could be hijacked to expose user data and even cause physical harm. Yarbo pledged a week‑long rollout of security updates but left a...
Apple Watch Ultra 4 Leaked: The Design Change We’ve Been Waiting For
Apple’s upcoming Watch Ultra 4 trims its titanium case by roughly 10‑15% while preserving rugged durability, delivering a slimmer profile for all‑day wear. Powered by the energy‑efficient S11 chip, the device promises about 48 hours of battery life, a notable gain for...
Startup Wants to Run AI Inference From Space
Orbital Inc., a Los Angeles startup backed by Andreessen Horowitz, announced plans to build a constellation of low‑Earth‑orbit satellites that run AI inference workloads. The company envisions up to 10,000 fridge‑sized satellites, each delivering roughly 100 kW of solar‑powered compute via GPU...
"A Realm of Remarkable Efficiency and Performance": Lenovo's New Yoga Slim 7x and Its Snapdragon X2 Elite Chip Are a...
Lenovo’s Yoga Slim 7x (Gen 11) pairs a 14‑inch OLED chassis with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X2 Elite SoC, delivering desktop‑class performance in a sub‑1.2 kg ultrabook. The top configuration offers 32 GB LPDDR5x RAM, a 1 TB PCIe 4.0 SSD and a 2.8 K OLED screen for $1,899, while...
Rossmann Defends OrcaSlicer, Slams Bambu Lab Lawsuit
Louis Rossmann tells 3D printer maker Bambu Lab to ‘Go (Bleep) yourself’ over its threatened lawsuit against enthusiast — Right to Repair advocate offers to pay the legal fees for a threatened OrcaSlicer developer https://t.co/yIkRMMxsdL @stlDenise3D
TSMC to Remain Top Apple Chipmaker Despite Reported Intel Deal: Experts
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) is expected to stay Apple’s primary chip supplier despite recent reports of a preliminary deal between Apple and Intel. Experts cite TSMC’s advanced packaging technologies such as InFO and CoWoS, which are critical for the...
Tiny Credit Card Computer Includes eInk Screen and Is Just 1mm Thick — Muxcard Is Powered by the ESP32-C3 Microcontroller
The Muxcard is an open‑source, credit‑card‑sized computer that measures just 1 mm thick, matching ISO/IEC 7810 ID‑1 dimensions. It runs on an ESP32‑C3 RISC‑V microcontroller, features a 1.54‑inch ePaper display, NFC read/write, an accelerometer, and a 30 mAh rechargeable LiPo battery. The prototype,...
Does the Motorola Razr Fold Support a Stylus Pen?
Motorola’s new Razr Fold, a book‑style foldable, now supports an active stylus. The Moto Pen Ultra, sold for $99, works on both the 6.6‑inch outer display and the 8.1‑inch inner screen. It offers 4,096 pressure levels, tilt, palm‑rejection, hover, AI‑driven...
Memory Chip Makers Are Looking at a 'Supercycle' And 'Windfall Gains.' The Stocks Jumped 30% in One Week
Memory chip makers are riding an AI‑driven demand surge that analysts deem a multi‑year supercycle, pushing valuations and pricing power to new heights. Micron Technology’s stock surged 38% in a week, while the Roundhill Memory ETF rose over 30%, reflecting...
Self-Driving Cars and Old Computers
Older autonomous vehicles face a looming software‑support crisis as hardware ages beyond the capabilities needed for new safety updates. Manufacturers may shift from active development to maintenance‑only patches, offer costly mid‑life hardware upgrades, downgrade features, or declare end‑of‑life, potentially disabling...
OpenAI's Coding Agent Helped Create A New AMD Temperature Driver For Linux
An open‑source driver named prom21‑xhci has been submitted to the Linux kernel mailing list, exposing temperature sensors on AMD’s Promontory 21 xHCI controllers used in 600 and 800 series AM5 chipsets. The driver can be enabled via the SENSORS_PROM21_XHCI_ Kconfig flag...
Helium Crunch Threatens AI Chip Production, Accelerates U.S. Reshoring
Iranian drone attacks on QatarEnergy's Ras Laffan helium facility have crippled a key source of semiconductor‑grade helium, leaving U.S. chipmakers with only a week of inventory. The disruption is prompting a rapid reshoring push, with Intel and TSMC expanding U.S....
Wolfspeed Shares Jump After Q3 Earnings Amid Bankruptcy Fears
Wolfspeed's fiscal third‑quarter earnings lifted its shares 3.2% after the report, but a 19% revenue drop to $150.2 million and a gross margin of –27% have reignited concerns about the company's solvency. The chipmaker emerged from bankruptcy last fall, yet cash...
Nvidia Invests Up to $3.2 B in Corning Deal to Boost U.S. Optical Capacity for AI Data Centers
Nvidia has committed $500 million in pre‑funded warrants and the option to invest up to $3.2 billion in Corning, funding three new U.S. factories that will expand optical‑connectivity capacity tenfold and create over 3,000 jobs. The deal aims to secure domestic glass‑fiber...
Illinois University and IBM Expand Quantum Computing Facilities Backed by $500M State Investment
The University of Illinois has renewed its partnership with IBM to broaden on‑campus quantum‑computing facilities. The effort taps more than $500 million in Illinois state funding and anticipates $19 million in tax credits, positioning the campus as a new hub for quantum...
I Have a New Favourite Gaming Headset –and It's a Straight Replacement for the Old One
SteelSeries has launched the Arctis Nova Pro Omni, a direct upgrade to its acclaimed Nova Pro Wireless headset. The Omni consolidates console compatibility into a single model, working with Xbox, PlayStation, and PC via a universal transmitter and a dedicated...
How Handheld Translators Work and Why They’re Handy for Travel
Handheld language translators are emerging as dedicated tools that let travelers hold sustained, two‑way conversations without relying on a smartphone. Devices like the Timekettle T1, iFLYTEK AI earbuds, and InnAIO T10 provide offline capabilities, real‑time audio translation, or hybrid AI...
What to Expect From Google’s 2026 Smart Glasses Reveal
Google unveiled Project Aura at I/O 2026, a new AR smart‑glasses line built with Qualcomm. The device sports a 70° field of view and relies on an external Snapdragon processing puck to keep the frames lightweight while delivering desktop‑class performance....
IPhone 17 Pro Max Available for ₹1,25,400 During Flipkart Sasa Lele Sale: Here's How the Deal Works
Apple’s flagship iPhone 17 Pro Max is being sold on Flipkart’s Sasa Lele sale for ₹1,25,400 (≈$1,511), down from its ₹1,49,900 launch price (≈$1,805). The listed sale price is ₹1,34,900, with a ₹6,500 (≈$78) Axis Bank credit‑card discount and a...