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
How to Set up a Smart Switch to Power Your Home (and What to Avoid when You Do)
SwitchBot offers a battery‑powered, adhesive‑mounted robot that mechanically flips existing light and appliance switches, eliminating the need for rewiring or professional installation. Users can control the device via direct Bluetooth for short‑range use or add a SwitchBot Hub to enable Wi‑Fi remote operation worldwide. The unit runs on a replaceable CR2 battery lasting roughly two years with light daily use and exerts about two pounds of force, sufficient for most household toggles. Priced around $25, it targets retrofit scenarios where smart switches are impractical.
Ledger Uncovers Security Vulnerability That Could Affect 25% of Android Phones
Ledger’s in‑house security team disclosed a critical flaw in Android phones powered by MediaTek chips, potentially affecting up to 25% of devices. The vulnerability lets attackers extract root cryptographic keys and decrypt full‑disk storage even when the phone is off,...
Valve Details New Game Verification System for Upcoming Steam Frame and Steam Machine — 30 FPS at 1080p for Steam...
Valve unveiled a game verification system for its upcoming Steam Frame and Steam Machine hardware. The system requires games in a designated category to maintain a stable 30 FPS at 1080p, mirroring the performance baseline set for the Steam Deck. Valve...
This PC Upgrade Is the Weirdest Thing I've Added to Samsung SmartThings Yet
Bertel King adds a Samsung Smart Monitor M8 to his SmartThings ecosystem, turning a 32‑inch 4K display into a multifunctional hub. The monitor runs One UI on Tizen, offering TV‑style streaming, Samsung DeX desktop, and built‑in light, motion and sound...
VDURA Pairs V5000 Flash with WD Data60 and Data102 Disk Shelves
VDURA announced that its all‑flash V5000 system will be paired with Western Digital’s Ultrastar Data60 and Data102 hybrid JBODs, creating a tiered storage solution for AI workloads. The hybrid architecture combines low‑latency SSDs with high‑density HDDs, delivering up to 3.26 PB...
I Stopped Trusting Samsung’s Battery Health Screen After I Found the Real Number
Samsung’s battery diagnostics screen shows a static "Normal" label and a rounded capacity figure, masking the natural wear of the battery over time. Internally, the actual rated capacity is lower, and the display does not update as the cell degrades...
Quectel’s SH603ZA-AP Targets Edge AI Designs with 6 TOPS NPU and Broad Industrial I/O
Quectel has launched the SH603ZA-AP smart module, an application‑processor‑only board built on the RK3576/RK3576J chipset with a 6 TOPS neural‑processing unit. The module bundles a rich set of industrial I/O—including HDMI, camera, USB, PCIe, SATA, CAN and numerous peripheral buses—while supporting...
World's Most Powerful eFoil Is Also One of the Easiest to Learn On
Hydroflyer unveiled the Gen 2 FF, a limited‑edition eFoil powered by a 10,000‑watt motor that reaches 60 km/h and delivers explosive acceleration. The board features a four‑point‑contact stance with handlebars, carbon‑fiber construction, and an onboard computer that manages power, depth mapping, and...
Dabao Is a $10 Dev Board with an Open Source Baochip-1x RISC-V Microcontroller (Crowdfunding)
Hardware hacker bunnie Huang launched the Dabao evaluation board, a $9.50 single‑board computer featuring the open‑source Baochip‑1x RISC‑V microcontroller. The chip, fabricated in TSMC’s 22 nm process, offers a 350 MHz VexRiscv core, multiple PicoRV32 I/O cores, 4 MiB non‑volatile RRAM, and hardware...
Fibocom Targets Smart Pet Collars with MQ771-GL LPWA Module
Fibocom unveiled the MQ771-GL LPWA module at Embedded World 2026, targeting smart pet collars. The module combines Cat‑M and NB‑IoT with a 17.7 × 15.8 mm footprint and power‑saving modes as low as 1 µA, promising battery life extensions from days to months. Fibocom...
Tenstorrent Unveils RISC-V AI Workstation with Open-Source Stack
Tenstorrent announced the TT‑QuietBox 2, dubbed Blackhole, a liquid‑cooled AI workstation that runs directly on a desktop. The system can infer models up to 120 billion parameters and delivers teraflop‑class performance using a RISC‑V processor. It ships with a completely open‑source software...
New Photonic Device Efficiently Beams Light Into Free Space
Researchers at MIT, MITRE, Sandia and the University of Arizona have unveiled a photonic chip that uses upward‑curving “ski‑jump” structures to broadcast thousands of individually controllable laser beams into free space. The device leverages a bimaterial strain technique—silicon nitride and...
The New iPhone 17e Might Look Cute and Compact, but Early Benchmark Tests Suggest that It's a Powerful Gaming Phone
Apple unveiled the iPhone 17e, a $599 mid‑range handset that shares the A19 processor with the flagship iPhone 17. Early Geekbench tests recorded a 9,241 multi‑core score, essentially matching the flagship’s performance, while its four‑core GPU trails the flagship’s five‑core...
Press Release: CLEAR Launches Biometric eGates at San José Mineta
CLEAR introduced biometric eGates in Terminal B’s TSA PreCheck lane at San José Mineta International Airport, allowing CLEAR+ members to verify identity in under five seconds and bypass the traditional security podium. The rollout arrives ahead of the busy Spring Break travel...
Siemens to Help Build AI-Ready Scientific Infrastructure as Part of DOE’s Genesis Mission
Siemens announced a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Department of Energy to support the Genesis Mission, a federal effort to modernize America’s scientific infrastructure with AI‑driven computing and interoperable digital systems. The partnership leverages Siemens’ expertise in industrial AI,...
Modius and Bridgepointe Partner to Enhance Enterprise Infrastructure Management
Modius Inc., a DCIM specialist, has signed a strategic reseller agreement with Bridgepointe Technologies, enabling the advisory firm’s IT strategists to offer Modius’ OpenData platform. The collaboration delivers real‑time operational intelligence and predictive analytics through a single‑pane‑of‑glass interface for AI...
IQM Deploys 20-Qubit Quantum Computer at Aalto University
IQM Quantum Computers has installed its fourth 20‑qubit superconducting system, named Aalto Q20, at Aalto University in Finland. The on‑premises machine follows IQM’s full‑stack model, giving researchers direct control over data and hardware. Aalto University is linking the quantum processor...
Meta Is Developing 4 New Chips to Power Its AI and Recommendation Systems
Meta announced four new MTIA chips—300, 400, 450 and 500—to power its generative‑AI features and content‑ranking systems. The MTIA 300, already in production, will handle training for recommendation algorithms, while the 400‑500 series focus on inference workloads. Built on open‑source RISC‑V...
Central Florida Laundry to Install New LAVATEC Dryers
Central Florida Laundry has signed a purchase agreement with Lavatec Laundry Technology to replace its aging equipment with two new TT‑series premium dryers. The 465‑pound capacity, energy‑efficient machines are slated for installation this summer. The Orlando‑based firm processed 14.5 million pounds...
Meta Accelerates Custom AI Silicon: Four Generations in Two Years
Custom silicon is critical to scaling next-gen AI. We’re detailing the evolution of the Meta Training and Inference Accelerator (MTIA), our homegrown silicon family designed to power the next era of AI experiences. Traditional chip cycles span years, but model...
This Saltwater-Resistant Soundcore Speaker Is Nearly 50% Off
Anker’s Soundcore Boom 3i portable speaker is currently discounted to $74.99, nearly 50% off its regular $139.99 price. The device combines an IP68 waterproof rating with salt‑water resistance and a floating design, making it uniquely suited for beach, kayak and...
Framework Raises RAM Prices for the Third Time in Three Months, SSD Costs up — Company Warns that It’s Running...
Framework announced a third consecutive monthly increase in DDR5 RAM prices, now ranging from $13 to $18 per GB, a modest $1‑2 rise compared with earlier hikes. The company also disclosed higher SSD costs after depleting its low‑cost inventory, urging customers...
Oppo and OnePlus Confirm the Worst – Smartphone Prices Are Set to Soar and You only Have a Few Days...
Oppo announced that, beginning 16 March 2026, select mid‑range models in its A and K series as well as OnePlus devices will see price increases in China due to rising component costs. The hike excludes flagship Find and Reno lines, which remain...
Crimson Desert Xbox Series X|S and ROG Xbox Ally Specs Revealed
Pearl Abyss unveiled Crimson Desert specifications for Xbox Series X, Series S, the ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X ahead of its March 19, 2026 launch. The Series X mirrors PS5 performance, offering identical Performance, Balanced and Quality modes, while the Series S provides only Performance or...
10 Wireless Mechanical Keyboard Models Worth Buying For Beginners
The Slashgear guide lists ten wireless mechanical keyboards aimed at beginners, spanning 60% to 96% layouts and covering a range of switch types, hot‑swappable options, and battery capacities. Brands such as Epomaker, Logitech, Royal Kludge, Keychron and Asus are featured,...
Blink's New 2K Outdoor Camera Five-Pack Is Over $100 Off Right Now
Blink’s Outdoor 2K+ five‑camera kit is now $226.99 on Amazon, a $123 discount from its $349.99 launch price, bringing the per‑camera cost to roughly $45. The bundle includes five weather‑rated cameras, a Sync Module Core, and two‑year‑lasting AA lithium batteries....
Shop Our Story: SHOKZ OpenRun Pro 2
The article reviews SHOKZ OpenRun Pro 2 bone‑conduction headphones, highlighting their open‑ear design, secure wrap‑around fit, and clear audio that lets runners stay aware of surroundings. The author, Aly Ellis, declares them the only headphones she would use while running,...
MacBook Neo $599 Review: Which Users Should Buy?
At the risk of spoiling my entire review, I present to you: Rating the $599 Macbook Neo based on who the customer is: https://youtu.be/iGeXGdYE7UE
Backing Musubi: First Consumer Holographic Photo Frame
I just backed musubi: the first consumer holographic photo and video frame on @Kickstarter https://t.co/dWB7H7VPRV
Phison CEO Says that NAND Prices Hiked by Around 50% Overnight, Highlighting Severe Shortage in the Industry — Warns 'Our...
Phison’s CEO reported that NAND flash prices surged roughly 50% overnight as AI‑driven demand outstrips supply. Enterprise SSD sales now represent 30% of revenue, up from 10% a quarter earlier, reflecting a strategic pivot toward cloud and hyperscaler customers. To...
Timing Tracker Reveals Why Optical Advances Awaited
Optical has always been about timing. Lots of folks were right "banging the table" but anyone who has tracked this space knew it would happen, and why, but when was the question. That's why in this report, I outlined...
Nexperia China Launches Domestic Chip Production Amid Crisis
Nexperia China says it has begun producing its own chips This was clear from the beginning of this crisis... https://t.co/Sf9e2kXIYp
Broadcom Launches Taurus BCM83640 A 3nm 400G Per Lane Optical DSP
Broadcom unveiled the Taurus BCM83640, a 3nm optical PAM4 DSP delivering 400 Gbps per lane and enabling 1.6 Tbps transceivers. The chip acts as an 8‑to‑4 gearbox PHY, offering best‑in‑class bit‑error‑rate and power efficiency. It paves the way for future 3.2 Tbps modules...
Meta’s AI Chip Program Isn’t Dead, Rumors Debunked
Remembering back to last week when people said $META was canceling its AI chip program. Glad some of us kept it real. 😬🙃
Exploring the World Through a Tiny 5MP Camera
for the next hour, I plan to "see the world" through the eye of an Fujifilm instax Pal is a tiny, 5-megapixel digital camera.. https://t.co/orYcmkf2zr
Intel Announces Intel Core Ultra Desktop Gaming Processors
Intel unveiled its Core Ultra 200S Plus series, branding them as the fastest desktop gaming processors to date. The lineup includes the 270K and 250K models, which Intel says deliver up to twice the performance for creator workloads compared with competing...
This Digital Picture Frame Wants to Bring People Closer to a Holographic Future
Looking Glass, a Brooklyn‑based holographic‑screen pioneer, unveiled Musubi, an AI‑driven digital picture frame that projects photos and short videos as 3D holograms. The device extracts key subjects from media, displays them across a 170‑degree view, and stores up to 1,000...
STMicroelectronics Propels New Era of UWB Tech for Automotive and Smart Device Applications
STMicroelectronics unveiled the ST64UWB family, the first system‑on‑chip to fully implement the IEEE 802.15.4ab ultra‑wideband specification. Built on an 18 nm FD‑SOI process, the chips deliver roughly 50% longer range and higher precision than previous generations. The portfolio includes automotive‑grade A‑series parts...
Wahoo KICKR Run Treadmill Review: One of the Most Impressive Indoor Experiences Money Can Buy – if You Have the...
The Wahoo KICKR Run is a premium, non‑folding treadmill priced around $5,250 in the US, offering a gym‑grade running experience for dedicated home users. Its standout RunFree mode automatically matches belt speed to the runner’s pace, while a motorised incline...
I’m a Big Fan of Orico’s USB 3.0 Hard Drive Enclosure for Accessing Old Drives on the Go, and It’s...
TechRadar highlights Orico’s 2.5‑inch USB 3.0 hard drive enclosure, now 15% off during Amazon’s Spring Deal Days, priced at £5.94. The compact ABS case converts spare 2.5‑inch SATA HDDs or SSDs up to 6 TB into portable external storage. It offers up...
Broadband Access Equipment to Return to Growth in 2026
Dell’Oro Group reports the global broadband access equipment market generated $4.8 billion in Q4 2025, a 7 percent quarter‑over‑quarter rise and modest 2 percent year‑over‑year growth. While 2025 marked the end of a three‑year spending contraction, the data signal a rebound poised for 2026....
How to Select a DC-DC Converter for Solar Energy Storage Systems
Selecting the right DC‑DC converter is crucial for solar energy storage reliability. Real‑world conditions—high enclosure temperatures, fluctuating PV voltages, and the need for isolation—often differ from datasheet specifications, leading to thermal derating and unexpected resets. Boost‑buck topologies and galvanic isolation...
Photon Bridge and CPFC Partner to Validate Path to Scalable Multi-Wavelength Light Engines
Photon Bridge of Eindhoven announced a strategic partnership with the Canadian Photonics Fabrication Centre (CPFC) to use CPFC’s InP laser foundry for its heterogeneous photonics platform. The collaboration validates the manufacturability of multi‑wavelength external laser sources, targeting 8, 16 and...
Peter Electronic VSII Plus AC Softstarters From AutomationDirect
AutomationDirect has introduced the Peter Electronic VSII Plus soft starters, covering current ratings up to 105 A for standard and light‑duty applications. The units feature a simple three‑trim‑pot configuration, status LEDs, DIN‑rail mounting and quick‑connect I/O, enabling fast installation. Powered by...
Samsung Galaxy S26 Review: Fun AI Tricks for a Steeper Price
Samsung’s Galaxy S26 launches at $900, a $100 premium over the S25, and leans heavily on AI‑driven software rather than major hardware upgrades. The phone ships with Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, 12 GB RAM, a 4,300 mAh battery and a 6.3‑inch AMOLED display, but retains...
How to Reduce AI Features on Your Pixel Phone
Google’s Pixel phones embed AI across the operating system, with Gemini powering features from the Journal app to the search bar. The article outlines step‑by‑step methods to disable or uninstall AI‑driven apps such as Journal, Screenshots, Google Photos, Messages, and...
Everpure Stretches ActiveCluster to Metro-Distance DR for File Workloads
Everpure announced that its ActiveCluster technology now extends to metro‑distance disaster recovery for file‑based workloads. The feature adds synchronous replication and policy‑driven automation, allowing files to stay online during outages and move across the entire fleet without manual intervention. ActiveCluster...
Best iPad of 2026: How to Choose, and Should You Wait?
Apple’s 2026 iPad Air, upgraded with the M4 chip, emerges as the best performance‑to‑value tablet in the current lineup, outpacing the older entry‑level iPad and rivaling the premium iPad Pro. The Air’s faster Wi‑Fi, 5G, and graphics capability position it...
The Fort Strength Training Wearable Tracks Your Sets (2026)
Fort, a new wearable from former Tesla engineers, launches with hands‑free weight‑lifting tracking and full strength‑training analytics. Priced at $289 with the first year of an $80 subscription included, it ships later this year after a beta phase. The device...
Best Mesh Wi-Fi Routers for 2026
CNET’s 2026 roundup identifies the Netgear Orbi 870 as the top overall mesh Wi‑Fi system, delivering industry‑leading throughput, jitter and packet‑loss scores while supporting the new 6 GHz band. The Orbi 970 earns the fastest‑mesh accolade but carries a seven‑figure‑plus price tag, targeting...