Today's Hardware Pulse
Nvidia driver adds DLSS 5 profile options, hinting at next‑gen AI rendering
Nvidia's GeForce Game Ready driver 610.47 introduces three new profile settings—Enable DLSS NR override, Enable DLSS NR SL override, and Override DLSS NR presets—suggesting continued development of its upcoming DLSS 5 neural‑rendering technology. The earlier DLSS 5 reveal sparked debate over AI‑driven image alteration, after which Nvidia fell silent on the feature.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Cyient Semiconductors raises $30M Series A
Get Ready for More Brain-Scanning Consumer Gadgets
Neurable is moving to a licensing‑platform model, allowing third‑party makers to embed its noninvasive EEG brain‑computer interface into a variety of head‑worn devices. The first licensed product is a HyperX gaming headset that tracks focus and promises milliseconds‑level performance gains for esports athletes. Neurable retains control of data processing and privacy while partners brand the experience as “Powered by Neurable AI.” The company predicts a flood of brain‑scanning wearables through 2026 and into 2027.
From Garage VR to $2B Exit, Staying Humble
Palmer Luckey sold Oculus to Facebook for over $2B. We had him on MFM awhile back. His story: - At 14, scrubbed boats at a boat yard for minimum wage. On the side, bought broken iPhones on eBay, fixed them, and resold...
Sapphire NITRO+ PhantomLink X870EA and Radeon RX 9070 XT Review
Sapphire has launched the NITRO+ PhantomLink ecosystem, pairing its custom AM5 motherboard X870EA with the Radeon RX 9070 XT GPU. The centerpiece is a proprietary PhantomLink connector that routes power directly from the motherboard to the graphics card, removing traditional external power...
Nokia, Blaize, and Datacomm Diangraha Unite to Deliver Hybrid AI Inference Across Indonesia and Southeast Asia
Blaize, Nokia and Indonesia’s PT Datacomm Diangraha announced a three‑way strategic partnership to deliver hybrid AI inference infrastructure across Indonesia and the broader APAC region. The collaboration combines Nokia’s networking and telco‑grade GPU capabilities with Blaize’s programmable, energy‑efficient edge AI compute, and...
Valve's Latest Steam Deck 2 Update Is Cause for Optimism, Even if It Is a Little Vague
Valve confirmed that work on a second‑generation Steam Deck is underway, but it withheld pricing and a launch window. The announcement coincided with the upcoming Steam Controller release, suggesting hardware learnings will feed into the new handheld. Valve’s comments come...
Taihan to Make and Install Submarine Cables for South Korean Solar Power Plants
South Korean cable maker Taihan Cable & Solution has won a contract to produce, transport and install extra‑high‑voltage submarine cables for a solar power project in Sinan County. The 154 kV cables will connect the Bigeum on‑shore solar plant and the...
VITURE Glasses Deliver Display Four Times Laptop Size
The image inside these new glasses from @getVITURE is stunning. Is four times bigger than my laptop screen.
Transatlantic Consortium Unveils €50bn AI Data Centre Project in Croatia
A transatlantic consortium led by Pantheon Atlas announced Pantheon AI, a €50 billion ($55 billion) AI‑focused data‑centre and innovation campus in Topusko, Croatia. The gigawatt‑scale facility will deliver 1 GW of capacity, with 800 MW of usable IT load, and will be powered by a...
Semiconductor Works From 500°C to Absolute Zero
Scientists create electronic devices that function reliably at extreme temperatures from 500 degrees Celcuis to absolute zero — advanced semiconductor material unlocks new possibilities in space tech and quantum computing https://t.co/K4Bwe3kNBI
The DEEP, OVHcloud and Clever Cloud Consortium Is Selected for the Sovereign Cloud for European Institutions
The European Commission has chosen a consortium of DEEP (POST Luxembourg), OVHcloud and Clever Cloud to deliver sovereign cloud services to EU institutions. The six‑year contract is capped at €180 million (approximately $196 million). The partnership combines OVHcloud’s high‑capacity OPCP infrastructure, Clever...
HighPoint Accelerates the Post-VMware Era with Dual-Track NVMe Solutions Optimized for Virtualized Environments
HighPoint Technologies announced a new line of PCIe Gen5 x16 NVMe RAID and switch adapters aimed at enterprises moving away from VMware toward Microsoft Hyper‑V, S2D, and open‑source platforms like Proxmox. The Rocket 7600A series adds RAID‑1 boot redundancy, while the Rocket 1600 series...
MagStor Announces LTO-10 General Availability for Overland NEOxl Tape Libraries
MagStor has launched general availability of LTO‑10 tape drives for its Overland NEOxl 40 and NEOxl 80 libraries. The new drives deliver up to 40 TB native (100 TB compressed) capacity and 400 MB/s native transfer rates, and are offered in FC and SAS configurations....
Tech's Hyperscalers Face Wall Street for First Time Since U.S. Iran War Sent Oil Prices Soaring
Tech hyperscalers—including Alphabet, Amazon, Meta and Microsoft—are set to report earnings amid heightened geopolitical tension after the U.S. and Israel’s attacks on Iran. The conflict has driven oil prices up roughly 50%, disrupted helium production, and intensified an existing memory...
Onsemi and Geely Expand Collaboration to Support Next-Gen 900V EV Architectures
onsemi and Geely have deepened a global partnership to embed onsemi’s EliteSiC silicon‑carbide technology into Geely’s SEA‑S‑based Super Electric Power (SEP) system. The collaboration targets 900 V vehicle architectures, promising faster acceleration, longer range and dramatically reduced charging times. By leveraging...
Microsoft Introduces Shader Model 6.10 Preview, Legacy GPU Support Questioned
Microsoft unveiled a preview of Shader Model 6.10 as part of the DirectX Agility SDK 720 update, focusing on incremental refinements rather than a wholesale redesign. The new model enhances wave‑level operations, resource access patterns, and compiler behavior to better match the...
Technology Shorts April 2026
Researchers unveiled four emerging technologies that could reshape data transport and power supply. Chip‑level photonics uses metasurface chips to turn infrared into steerable visible beams, potentially removing external lasers and easing the data‑in‑out bottleneck. Northwestern’s dirt‑powered microbial fuel cell harvests...
InkPoster Tela 28.5 Review: A Luxe Home Digital Frame
The InkPoster Tela 28.5 is a premium 28.5‑inch colour E‑Ink digital frame priced at $2,399. It uses a Spectra 6 panel with 2160 × 3060 resolution, delivering paper‑like colour and texture that rivals high‑end prints. A 25,000 mAh battery lets the frame run for up...
DwarfLab Dwarf Mini Smart Telescope Review
The DwarfLab Dwarf Mini is a pocket‑sized smart telescope that pairs a 1.2‑inch refractor with a 2 MP Sony sensor and a smartphone‑controlled app for automated alignment, stacking and image processing. Its lightweight design (1.8 lb) and built‑in EQ tracking let users...
Vodafone Rides on Time to Boost 5G-A
Vodafone Group announced a breakthrough in network time‑keeping, achieving 40 nanosecond accuracy through a fibre‑based system developed with the UK’s National Physical Laboratory. The solution is positioned as a solid substitute for satellite‑based timing, helping meet the stringent frequency guidelines of...
Watches & Wonders 2026 Unveils Space‑Driven Watch Trend Amid Luxury Tariff Concerns
Watches & Wonders 2026 showcased a dramatic pivot toward space‑inspired watchmaking, with IWC and Bremont unveiling models built for micro‑gravity. The shift follows a year of looming luxury tariffs that forced brands into conservative releases, making the event a bellwether...
The 4 Best Laptop Power Banks We've Tested (2026)
Wired’s 2026 roundup identifies the EcoFlow Rapid Pro X as the top laptop power bank, offering 300 W output, 27,650 mAh capacity and ultra‑fast 140‑W‑plus recharging. Close behind is Anker’s Prime Power Bank, which pairs a 300 W rating with a dock for...
Why Xbox’s Radical Project Helix Shift Changes Console Gaming Forever
Xbox’s new head, Asha Sharma, has rebranded the division back to Xbox Gaming and launched Project Helix, a hybrid console‑PC platform designed to unify the gaming experience. The strategy couples timed exclusivity with an expanded Game Pass and cloud‑gaming push,...
Supermicro Expands Silicon Valley AI Infrastructure Campus
Super Micro Computer announced its largest U.S. site, a new 714,000‑square‑foot campus on a 32.8‑acre parcel in San Jose, marking its fourth Silicon Valley location and bringing its regional footprint to almost 4 million square feet. The complex will host end‑to‑end...
Omdia Lifts 2026 Semiconductor Outlook as AI-Driven Memory Constraints Intensify
Omdia has lifted its 2026 semiconductor revenue outlook to a 62.7% increase, driven by surging AI‑related demand and persistent memory shortages. The firm expects DRAM revenue to nearly double and NAND to grow to almost four times its 2025 level,...
Vendor Slaps Extra 'Memory Fee' On Each Tech Purchase Amid Global Chip Crunch — the More You Buy, the More...
Ubiquiti announced a new “Memory Surcharge” of up to 5.8% on products sold through its official online store, effective April 24 2026. The fee is a direct response to persistent global memory and storage shortages that have driven component costs higher. Prices...
MacBook Prices Slashed: These Premium Apple Laptops Are Affordable Now
Apple has slashed prices on its latest MacBook lineup, making premium laptops more affordable for a broader audience. The 13‑inch MacBook Neo now costs roughly $820, while the 2025 MacBook Air with the M4 chip is priced around $1,160. Higher‑end...
Apple Names Its First Foldable iPhone Ultra, Targeting Premium Market
Apple has confirmed that its first foldable device will be marketed as the iPhone Ultra, a premium model slated for release a few weeks after the September iPhone Pro launch. The Ultra moniker signals top‑tier specs, a $2,000+ price, and...
Inside OpenAI’s $6 Billion Plan to Build the Ultimate AI Phone
OpenAI is developing an AI‑first smartphone that embeds large‑language‑model capabilities directly into the device, rather than relying on cloud‑based apps. The effort follows a $6 billion 2025 acquisition of a hardware startup co‑founded by Jony Ive, signaling a push for premium design...
OpenAI Teams with Qualcomm and MediaTek on AI‑Centric Smartphone, Targeting 2028 Launch
OpenAI announced a partnership with chipmakers Qualcomm and MediaTek to develop custom processors for an AI‑focused smartphone, with Luxshare as the exclusive system integrator. The move, hinted at by CEO Sam Altman, could create a new device category and taps...
$299 Rokid AI Glasses Worn for a Week : Here’s the Verdict
Rokid unveiled its AI Glasses Style, a 38.5‑gram wearable priced at $299, after a week‑long hands‑on test. The glasses combine a 12 MP camera capable of 4K photos and 3K stabilized video with AI‑driven features such as real‑time translation in 89...
Tesla Beats Estimates and Unveils 'Terafab' Chip Strategy to Accelerate Autonomy
Tesla posted an adjusted $0.41 earnings per share, surpassing forecasts, and hinted at a new internal semiconductor venture called Terafab. Analysts see the move as a bid to tighten feedback loops for its autonomous‑driving stack, potentially reshaping the market for...
Valve Launches $99 Steam Controller and Revives Steam Machine Hardware
Valve announced the 2026 Steam Controller, priced at $99 and shipping May 4, alongside a refreshed Steam Machine console. The controller adds dual thumbsticks, trackpads and a magnetic charging puck, while the Steam Machine promises 4K/60 fps gaming but remains delayed....
PATEO Expands Vehicle AI with New Computing Platform
PATEO announced deep collaborations with NVIDIA and a leading NEV OEM to bring on‑vehicle large AI models to mass production. The company will use NVIDIA’s DRIVE AGX Thor platform to power its AI Box, enabling Level 3/4 autonomous driving workloads. It...
‘We’re Hard at Work on It’: Valve Says Steam Deck 2 Is Still in Development, Acknowledges Ongoing Steam Deck Stock...
Valve confirmed that work on a Steam Deck 2 is ongoing, though no launch timeline has been set. The company also acknowledged persistent stock shortages for the current Deck, citing global RAM and storage component constraints. Valve’s hardware team is expanding...
OpenAI Opens AI Models to Rival Clouds as Microsoft Ends Exclusive Deal
OpenAI announced on April 27 that it is ending its exclusive partnership with Microsoft, permitting its suite of AI models to be offered on any cloud platform. The move follows mounting compute shortages and a scramble among hyperscalers to secure...
What Is Surveillance Pricing and Is It Coming to a Grocery Store Near You?
Top Canadian grocery chains have rolled out electronic shelf labels, and Walmart plans to equip all 4,600 U.S. stores with the same technology by the end of 2026. The digital tags improve pricing accuracy but raise fears that they could...
DREO’s New Tower Fan Just Solved the Biggest Problem I Have with Misting Fans
DREO introduced its TurboCool Misting Fan line for summer 2026, featuring the tower‑style 765S and desktop 516S models that use TurboCool Ultra Mist technology to deliver a fine, cooling mist without wetting surfaces. The fans combine a multi‑stage airflow system...
Ericsson and Swisscom Roll Out New Energy Platform for Networks
Ericsson and Swisscom have launched an Energy & Enclosure platform that integrates into Swisscom’s radio access network in Switzerland. The solution combines high‑efficiency power hardware, AI‑driven battery management, lithium storage and a Site Controller 6610 to deliver automated load‑shifting, peak shaving...
Can the New Wave of Hybrid IoT Modules Finally Eliminate Supply Chain Blind Spots?
Hybrid Internet of Things (IoT) modules that fuse satellite, cellular and Wi‑Fi on a single chip are finally reaching price points suitable for mass deployment. In Q1 2026 SKYWAVE introduced the ST‑4000 and Iridium launched the 9604, proving the concept with...
DJI Pocket 4 Pro Leaks with a 6K Dual-Camera, but US Buyers Might Miss Out
DJI’s upcoming Osmo Pocket 4 Pro, spotted in field tests, is slated for a June 2026 launch and brings a dual‑camera system with 3‑4× optical zoom, 6K video at 60 fps, and 4K slow‑motion capture. The device adds ActiveTrack 7.0, a 10‑bit D‑Log M color profile,...
Lawsuit Hits Amazon, Claims Fire TV Sticks Intentionally Give Out when Support Runs Dry
Amazon faces a class‑action lawsuit alleging it deliberately degrades the performance of first‑ and second‑generation Fire TV Sticks once software support ends. The plaintiff, who bought a 2018 Fire TV Stick, says the device slowed and failed, forcing a new...
Bell Labs’ Michael Eggleston on Nokia’s Research Into Topological Quantum Computing
Bell Labs, now Nokia’s research arm, is pursuing topological quantum computing using anyons to create ultra‑stable qubits. Lead researcher Michael Eggleston explains the prototype stores a single qubit whose quantum state can remain locked for weeks, a stark improvement over...
Askey Picks pureLiFi to Bring LiFi to the Mass Market
Askey announced a partnership with pureLiFi to embed the company’s proprietary LiFi bridge directly into its 5G fixed‑wireless access (FWA) customer premises equipment. The all‑in‑one solution combines a high‑performance 5G modem with through‑window wireless power, delivering gigabit‑class indoor broadband without...
Intel Lifts Margins by Selling Lower-Grade Chips as AI Demand Tightens CPU Supply
Intel reported first‑quarter revenue of $13.6 billion, surpassing the $12.36 billion forecast, and a non‑GAAP gross margin of 41%, well above its 34.5% guidance. The margin lift stems from a new sales approach that packages lower‑yield, edge‑die CPUs as discounted SKUs instead...
DIY Steam Machine : Why This Corsair Mini PC Is the Ultimate Blueprint
ETA Prime’s feature spotlights the Corsair AI Workstation 300, a compact mini‑PC built around a 16‑core AMD Ryzen AI Max Plus CPU and Radeon 8060S GPU. The system supports up to 128 GB of RAM, dual M.2 SSDs, and a dual‑boot configuration with Windows 11 and the Linux‑based Bazzite...
ROHM Launches NFC Wireless Power Chipset for Compact Wearables
ROHM introduced the ML7670 receiver and ML7671 transmitter, an NFC‑based wireless power chipset that delivers up to 250 mW to compact wearables such as smart rings and bands. The solution operates in the 13.56 MHz NFC band, enabling a much smaller antenna...
French Navy Hires Kongsberg to Deliver Ship Bridge Simulation Systems
Kongsberg Maritime has secured a contract to supply the French Naval Academy with four high‑fidelity K‑Sim Navigation ship bridge simulators, slated for delivery in October 2026. The systems will provide a 270‑degree visual environment, integrated radar, and immersive VR/MR capabilities,...
The Apple Watch Series 12: 2026’s Biggest Surprise
Apple unveiled the Watch Series 12, emphasizing practical upgrades over flashy redesigns. The device introduces an AI‑enhanced processor, a more efficient LTPO display, and new health sensors including blood‑pressure trend monitoring, all running watchOS 27. Battery life is extended to roughly 24 hours...
Tersis Technologies Signs UK Deployment MOU with Vivum, Targeting $1M TERA 2026 Award
Tersis Technologies and Vivum Intelligent Media have signed a non‑binding memorandum of understanding to launch the first U.K. deployment of Tersis’ Oaktree modular utility platform. The partnership aims to secure the $1 million TERA 2026 Award, which would fund most of a...
Startup Targets Radio Segment of Golden Dome Missile-Defense Network
Tensor, a Los Angeles‑based startup, is developing compact radio‑frequency units that can transmit targeting data for the Pentagon’s Golden Dome missile‑defense program. The Space Force’s next‑generation space data network will rely on the Link‑182 waveform, and Tensor aims to supply...