Today's Hardware Pulse
Microsoft‑backed D‑Matrix aims to take on Nvidia in AI chips
Microsoft‑backed D‑Matrix is positioning itself as a challenger to Nvidia in the AI chip market. The company’s Corsair AI inference platform has entered full production to meet rising customer demand.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Broadcom secures $35B debt financing for its AI XPV Platform
Swarco Announces €24m Contract with Austrian Motorway Operator Asfinag
Swarco secured a €24 million long‑term contract with Austrian motorway operator Asfinag to upgrade the country’s variable message signage. Over the next ten years the company will install and service up to 2,100 LED displays, with the first units rolling out in July 2026. The agreement also includes a 25‑year commitment to parts, maintenance and software, expanding Austria’s existing IG L system into a unified, sensor‑rich platform. The project targets congested corridors such as the A10 Tauern motorway to improve traffic flow during holiday periods.
Lithography: The Foundation of Every Chip Advancement
#Technology #Thread #Semiconductor #Manufacturing #Lithography The Semiconductor Lithography Equipment Landscape: 1/ - Every Semiconductor Breakthrough Starts With Lithography. -- Smaller Transistors -- Higher Density -- Better Performance - All Depend On How Precisely Patterns Can Be Transferred Onto Silicon.
Ecoflow Launches 5 kWh Inverter Battery with Full Discharge
Ecoflow debuts 5 kWh residential inverter battery with 100% depth of discharge #energysky -- via pv magazine global: https://t.co/69GUPjmW2C
Apple Has Changed Several Key Cap Labels From Words to Glyphs on Its Latest MacBook Keyboards
Apple has updated the key caps on its latest MacBook lineup, swapping word labels for glyph symbols on the Backspace, Return, Shift and Tab keys. The change appears on the new M5 16‑inch MacBook Pro, the M5 Air and the...
Malaysia: Johor Hyperscale Data Centre to Boost Digital Economy
Malaysia is set to develop a hyperscale data centre in Gelang Patah, Johor, aimed at bolstering the nation’s digital economy. The project will pursue the top GreenRE sustainability rating by employing reclaimed water for cooling and integrating substantial solar generation....
Stacked Quantum Materials Enable Precise Spin Control without External Magnetic Fields
Researchers at Chalmers University have demonstrated precise control of electron spin by stacking a perpendicular magnetic layer with a topological van der Waals material. The heterostructure switches magnetization using very small electrical currents and operates at room temperature without external magnetic fields....
10 Android Trends That Will Define Smartphones in 2026
Android smartphones in 2026 will be defined by AI‑native hardware, on‑device intelligence, and a suite of new hardware innovations. Chipmakers are rolling out processors built for machine‑learning, while AI agents inside apps start performing tasks autonomously. Battery life jumps to...
10-Year Apple Newsletter Dissects MacBook Neo Strategy
Subscribe to my daily newsletter all about Apple. In its tenth year with ~2,000 updates published to date. Since last week, we have been dissecting MacBook Neo strategy from every angle.
Technology Agenda Sealed by Letter of Intent
IDS Imaging Development Systems and Prophesee have signed a Letter of Intent at Embedded World to deepen their partnership and create next‑generation industrial vision systems that fuse conventional imaging with Prophesee’s Metavision® event‑based technology. The expanded collaboration builds on the...
The AI Hardware Crunch: CPUs Join the Chip Shortage
The AI hardware crunch is expanding as server CPUs join the long‑running GPU shortage. Intel now reports six‑month lead times for key server chips, while AMD’s lead times have stretched to ten weeks and prices in China have risen over...
Ukrainian Defense Companies Moving To All Domestic Production Of Components
Ukrainian drone and defense firms are rapidly localizing component production, now achieving 80‑90% domestic content for first‑level parts and aiming for 100% on‑shoring of critical systems. Companies such as The Fourth Law and Unwave are building a semiconductor fab to...
Lilbits:
Rabbit's 2024 handheld AI device, the R1, was widely criticized for underdelivering, prompting the company to refocus on software improvements. Now the firm announced Project CyberDeck, a mini‑laptop that pairs a high‑quality keyboard and display with low‑power, Raspberry Pi 5‑class processing. The...
Solayer – Hardware Accelerated Finance at the Speed of Metal
In this episode, Andy Pickering talks with Joshua Sum, Chief Product Officer at Solayer, about the company's hardware‑accelerated blockchain built on Solana that aims to achieve ultra‑high throughput for real‑time financial transactions. Joshua explains Solayer's approach of separating consensus onto...
Local LLMs Will Make Hardware Specs Critical by 2028
The top .1% of users are playing with local LLMS This will 10x every 12 months.... Until Apple, Dell and MSFT have one on your local device BY DEFAULT in 2028 This takes the local hardware spec race from irrelevant for 99%...
SpaceBridge CEO David Gelerman Explains Why UniHub Is a Pivotal Launch for Company
SpaceBridge is set to unveil UniHub at SATShow 2026, a software‑defined, modular VSAT hub packaged in a compact 3RU enclosure. The all‑in‑one solution promises up to five‑fold performance gains over the legacy ASAT‑II architecture and dramatically faster field deployment. CEO...
Neuromorphic Computing Platform In Perovskite Nickelates (UCSD, Rutgers)
Researchers at UCSD and Rutgers have demonstrated a neuromorphic computing platform built from proton‑doped perovskite nickelate (NdNiO3) devices. By integrating symmetric and asymmetric junctions on a single wafer, the system combines ultrafast proton‑mediated dynamics with multilevel resistance memory, achieving nanosecond...
Foldable iPhone Gains iPad‑Style Multitasking Interface
NEW: Apple’s forthcoming foldable iPhone will include updates to the iOS operating system that enable iPad-like layouts and side-by-side apps for the first time, enhancing the device’s appeal for multitasking. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-03-11/apple-s-foldable-iphone-to-feature-ipad-like-interface-when-opened
Windows 11 HDR Looks Bad for Browsing and Gaming, so I Fixed It with These Tweaks
Windows 11’s built‑in HDR handling often produces washed‑out colors and banding when displaying SDR content, prompting users to seek fixes. Microsoft’s free HDR Calibration app lets users adjust luminance settings, improving desktop and browser visuals. For gamers with Nvidia GPUs,...
Here's Why TV Manufacturers Stopped Using Plasma Panels
Plasma TVs dominated the high‑end market in the early 2000s thanks to superior contrast, wide viewing angles, and wall‑mountable designs. Their gas‑filled pixel chemistry, however, required large glass panels, generated significant heat, and consumed more power than emerging LCDs. Rapid...
Xscape Photonics Closes $81M Series A Round
Xscape Photonics closed a $37 million extension to its Series A, bringing total Series A funding to $81 million and doubling its valuation. The round, led by Addition with participation from IAG Capital Partners and NVIDIA, funds the rollout of FalconX, the first fully...
SK Keyfoundry Develops 450–2300V SiC Planar MOSFET Process Platform
SK keyfoundry has completed a silicon‑carbide (SiC) planar MOSFET process platform covering 450‑2300 V, achieving over 90 % yield and high reliability. The firm demonstrated the technology with a 1200 V MOSFET order from a new SiC design customer, targeting industrial equipment thermal‑efficiency...
(Podcast) Clockwise 647: A Seedy Jelly Experience
Clockwise 647 covers Apple’s upcoming MacBook Neo, potential USB‑C setbacks, LEGO’s Smart Bricks launch, and the controversy around loot boxes. The hosts debate who benefits from the Neo’s specs, warn about cable compatibility issues, assess the educational value of programmable...
RAM Shortage Drives up Cheap PC Prices
Interested in a low-cost computer or microprocessor? Many have doubled in price over the last few months due to RAM shortages. https://spectrum.ieee.org/ram-shortage-price-increase
These Smart Glasses Can Be Used As a Private HD Screen, and They’re $50 Off Right Now
Chinese manufacturer TCL’s RayNeo Air 4 Pro AR/XR smart glasses are now on sale for $249 on Amazon, a $50 discount from the original $299 launch price. The device projects a 201‑inch HDR10 virtual screen with 120 Hz refresh, allowing users...
First Footage of X-Plane 12 on Vision Pro
X-Plane 12, the industry‑leading flight simulator, will be available on Apple Vision Pro via a companion app this spring. The experience relies on visionOS 26.4 and Nvidia’s CloudXR 6.0 to stream the simulator from Mac, Windows, or Linux machines in...
Final Thoughts on Liquid Cooling Bubble Up
The article reviews liquid‑cooling technology as it moves from high‑end transmitters and particle accelerators into broadcast and consumer‑grade equipment. It contrasts anti‑freeze pumps for FM transmitters with deionized‑water loops used in megawatt‑scale systems, and highlights all‑in‑one (AIO) PC coolers as...
Milwaukee's New Super Charger Can Charge Four Batteries In 90 Minutes
Milwaukee Tool is set to release a new M18 and M12 Four Bay Simultaneous Super Charger that can replenish up to four batteries to 100 % in roughly 90 minutes, a claim of up to ten times faster than conventional chargers....
This Security Flaw Could Affect 1 in 4 Android Phones - How to Check Yours
Researchers at Ledger’s Donjon team discovered a hardware flaw in MediaTek’s trusted execution environment that affects roughly 25 % of Android smartphones. The vulnerability lets an attacker connect a phone to a laptop via USB and extract cryptographic keys in under...
Datalec Targets Rapid Infrastructure Deployment with New Modular Data Centers
Datalec Precision Installations unveiled a next‑generation modular data‑center solution that slashes construction time from the industry‑average 16 months to roughly 10 months. The new offering compresses the design phase from six months to two by leveraging off‑site, pre‑engineered manufacturing. Modules...
Our Favorite Backyard Bluetooth Speaker Is $25 Off
Amazon is offering the Ultimate Ears Boom 4 Bluetooth speaker for $125, a $25 discount across four colors. The cylindrical device delivers 360° sound, boasts an IP67 dust‑ and water‑resistant rating, and features a rugged fabric‑wrapped chassis. It includes large volume controls,...
Google Is Making Android Phones Faster and Improving Battery Life with This Change
Google is integrating Automatic Feedback‑Directed Optimization (AutoFDO) into the Android kernel to streamline code execution based on real‑world usage patterns. By profiling the most common instruction paths from the top 100 apps, the compiler can make smarter decisions, reducing CPU...
The Galaxy S26 Series Is Now Officially on Sale, and the Trade-In Values Have Plummeted
Samsung's Galaxy S26 series has hit stores, but the generous pre‑order trade‑in credits have been slashed. The top‑tier S26 Ultra now offers up to $720, roughly $200 less than the pre‑launch incentive, while trade‑ins for devices like the Z Fold 6...
HyperLight, UMC, and Wavetek Announce Strategic Partnership for High-Volume Foundry Production of TFLN Chiplet™ Platform
HyperLight, UMC and its subsidiary Wavetek have formed a strategic partnership to launch high‑volume foundry production of the TFLN Chiplet™ Platform on both 6‑inch and 8‑inch wafers. The collaboration leverages UMC’s extensive wafer capacity to move thin‑film lithium niobate photonics...
Study Finds Significant Savings From Direct Current Power for AI Workloads
A new Enteligent study shows that converting AI data centers from traditional 120‑240 V alternating current to 800 V direct current can slash infrastructure costs and energy waste. The analysis reports 50‑80% less copper cabling and an 8‑12% reduction in annual energy‑related...
This Tiny Radio Lets Me Send Texts without Wi-Fi or Cell Service
Off‑grid messaging is now feasible with inexpensive LoRa‑based devices running the open‑source Meshtastic firmware. A Lilygo T‑Echo or MakerHawk ESP32 node can be purchased for as little as $22 and, when paired with a smartphone, creates a mesh network that...
Meta’s Expanded MTIA Roadmap Signals a New Phase in AI Data Center Architecture
Meta unveiled an expanded roadmap for its Meta Training and Inference Accelerator (MTIA), targeting AI inference workloads across Facebook, Instagram and Reels. The custom silicon lets hyperscale data centers fine‑tune power and thermal envelopes, boosting density and enabling liquid‑to‑chip cooling....
Game‑Changing Innovation Every CMOS Engineer Must See
To all CMOS....this is a GAME CHANGER worth checking out. https://lnkd.in/g6q_tvHJ
Panasonic's Curved OLED IFE Targets First-Class Luxury
As premium travel surges, Panasonic Avionics’ curved, ultra-wide OLED IFE screen, Astrova Curve, is sparking the imagination of airlines that want to ‘wow’ passengers seated in their most premium real estate. PAC sees it debuting in first-class cabins. https://t.co/sXnCdZLfAw
Xbox Future Reveal Impressions — Dev Kits Going Out in 2027
Xbox Vice President Jason Ronald announced at the GDC Festival of Gaming that dev kits for the upcoming Project Helix will be distributed in 2027. The reveal signals Microsoft’s next‑generation console strategy, extending the current Xbox Series X|S lifecycle. Ronald’s...
Mac Mini Hosting for Agentic AI Benefits MacStadium
Didn't have Mac Mini's as being the host computer for agentic AI on my bingo card. Looks like they are hosting a Mac Mini for you as part of the service. Maybe a good play for @MacStadium ?
Expensive Workstation’s CPU Boost Failure Highlights Hands‑On Diagnostics
>user performance issues on $ 6k machine >no one can explain >spend 20 min getting feel for machine >feels wrong >CPU is not boosting clock correctly Working in a call center where I would just walk to peoples computers and sit there and agree something...
Keysight Collaborates with 3dB Labs to Enable Interoperable Signal Monitoring and Analysis
Keysight Technologies has integrated its spectrum analyzers and FieldFox handheld units with 3dB Labs’ Sceptre software, creating a unified signal‑monitoring platform. The partnership lets users operate Keysight hardware directly within Sceptre, streamlining real‑time and offline analysis across mixed‑vendor RF environments....
NVDA Leads Futurum AI Accelerator Signal
$NVDA comes out on top in our new Futurum Signal for AI Accelerators. No surprise here. But here we are. 👏🏻 https://t.co/h31AB0YjWp
Apple’s GCD Update Boosts Efficiency on M5 Max
I think Apple has updated Grand Central Dispatch to squeeze out some of these efficiency gains on M5 Max. Sitting here staring at core utilizations by workload and there are some differences from prior Max/Pro silicon.
Minisforum N5 MAX Turns NAS Storage Into a Local AI Platform
Minisforum unveiled the N5 MAX AI NAS, a network‑attached storage device that can run OpenClaw large AI models locally using an AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 processor. The system pairs the hardware with MinisCloud OS and a one‑click deployment tool, allowing...
Your 2026 Home Technology Tune-Up Checklist
The article offers a 2026 home‑technology tune‑up checklist that guides homeowners through a systematic, once‑a‑year audit of networking, storage, backups, power protection, smart devices, and firmware. It outlines core checks—firmware updates, Wi‑Fi coverage, drive health, backup verification, UPS battery age—and...
Top 5 New Broadcom-VMware Products In 2026: Chips, Wi-Fi 8 And Cloud Platform
Broadcom and VMware unveiled five major products in 2026, including the VMware Telco Cloud Platform 9, a private‑cloud solution for telco operators, and a unified Wi‑Fi 8 platform built around the BCM4918 APU. The hardware lineup adds the BroadPeak integrated radio DFE...
Qnity and Silicon Catalyst Light a Path to Success at the Chiplet Summit
The Chiplet Summit highlighted the accelerating shift toward multi‑die heterogeneous designs, with chiplets emerging as a pivotal enabler. Silicon Catalyst showcased its unique global accelerator that moves semiconductor startups from concept to product, featuring a standout session on its partner...
Nuphy Air V3 Rivals Lofree Flow84 in Feel and Sound
My main keyboard remains the Lofree Flow84 (V1, not V2), but I must admit that the Nuphy Air V3 comes awfully close on feel, and arguably sounds a little bit better. Here's a sound test. https://t.co/qrrrq5zfoS
The Graphene Heat Spreader Secret: Why You Should Never Peel the Sticker Off Your NVMe SSD
Modern NVMe SSDs use a thin, graphene‑copper sticker as a built‑in heat spreader, channeling heat away from the controller and NAND chips. Removing this label not only voids the manufacturer warranty but also creates air gaps that impair thermal transfer,...