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
Russian-Chinese Irtysh 32-Core CPU Runs The Witcher 3 at 30+ FPS — Heavyweight Chip Still Imposes CPU Bottleneck Despite Impressive...
The Russian‑Chinese Irtysh C632, a 32‑core LoongArch processor licensed from China’s Loongson, was shown running *The Witcher 3* at roughly 22‑32 FPS on ultra settings and 25‑38 FPS on low settings at 1080p. Despite its high core count and 2.1 GHz clock, the chip remains CPU‑bound, delivering far lower frame rates than comparable x86 CPUs paired with the same Radeon RX 9600 XT GPU. The platform lacks native Windows support, requiring Linux with Box64/Proton translation layers that add overhead. The effort reflects Russia’s push for a sovereign semiconductor ecosystem amid U.S. sanctions, but performance gaps limit its competitiveness.
Indium Corp Gains $3.2m DOE TRACE-Ga Grant to Establish Domestic High-Purity Gallium Recovery
Indium Corp of Clinton, New York has secured a $3.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy’s TRACE‑Ga program to develop a domestic process for recovering high‑purity gallium from manufacturing by‑products. The initiative marks the first effort to re‑establish U.S....
OpenAI Reportedly Working on Its Own Smartphone Based Around AI Agents
OpenAI is reportedly developing its own AI‑powered smartphone that centers on autonomous AI agents. Analyst Ming‑Chi Kuo says the device will run on custom MediaTek or Qualcomm silicon and be assembled by Luxshare, the same contract manufacturer behind iPhones. The...
I Tried This Bluetti Power Station with Wheels - Now Every Other Charger Feels Outdated
The Bluetti Elite 400 portable power station packs a 3,840 Wh LiFePO₄ battery and delivers up to 2,600 W continuous power, positioning it as a robust solution for home backup, camping, and RV use. Its standout feature is a built‑in wheel‑and‑handle system that...
Beatbot Launches Solar-Powered Autonomous Pool Skimmer
Beatbot has launched the iSkim Ultra, a solar‑powered autonomous pool skimmer for residential use. The device runs on a 24‑watt solar panel with a 10,000 mAh battery for night operation and includes a magnetic wireless‑charging dock for low‑light conditions. Equipped with...
New Steam Hardware Releasing Early 2026. The Steam Controller, Steam Machine and Steam Frame (VR Goggles).
Valve announced a new Steam hardware family slated for early 2026, comprising a revamped Steam Controller, a compact Steam Machine console, and the Steam Frame VR headset. The Machine is positioned as a low‑cost PC‑console hybrid with spec‑level performance slightly...
Canon Medical Systems USA: Made for Every Life: Canon Medical’s Humane, High-Impact Imaging
Canon Medical Systems USA is expanding its high‑impact imaging portfolio with AI‑driven CT, 4D CT, and vendor‑neutral interoperability to tackle staffing shortages and cost pressures in U.S. healthcare. The company’s AI‑enabled workflow tools have cut scan steps by 40% and...
Clicks Communicator Shipping Timeline Is Confirmed, but It Won’t Start Until the End of the Year
Clicks has confirmed that its Communicator, a niche Android phone with a BlackBerry‑style keyboard and a stacked display, will begin production and ship to reservation holders in Q4 2026. The company will roll out software previews in May, showcase working units...
Week 17, 2026
The semiconductor industry is entering an AI‑driven memory supercycle that has prompted analysts to raise the 2026 market outlook. Agentic AI systems have demonstrated end‑to‑end design of a RISC‑V CPU core, signaling a shift toward autonomous chip development. TSMC expanded...
Apple ‘Ultra’ 2026: A New iPhone, MacBook Tier May Be Coming
Apple is reportedly expanding its Ultra branding beyond wearables, targeting a foldable iPhone Ultra and a high‑end MacBook Ultra. The iPhone Ultra would launch as a standalone flagship in the fall of 2026, sitting above the Pro line, while the...
Steam Controller: The Ars Technica Review
Valve's upcoming Steam Controller, priced at $99, aims to replace generic gamepads with a device tailored for PC and the forthcoming Steam Machine. After weeks of hands‑on testing, Ars Technica notes the controller feels solid and ergonomically designed, with well‑placed...
The Utterly Cute ACEMAGIC Retro X5 AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 Mini PC
The ACEMAGIC Retro X5 mini PC blends a nostalgic NES‑style chassis with modern hardware, featuring an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor, 32 GB DDR5 RAM and a 1 TB NVMe SSD. It offers Wi‑Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, dual Ethernet, USB‑C, HDMI and DisplayPort, but lacks a...
Valve Confirms Steam Controller Release Date, $99 Price
Valve confirmed that its new Steam Controller will ship on May 4 at 10:00 AM PST, retailing for $99 in the United States. International pricing is set at CAD $149 (≈$110 USD), EUR 99 (≈$108 USD), AUD $149 (≈$96 USD) and £85 (≈$110 USD). The controller supports Linux, Windows, macOS...
Steam Controller Launches May 4 for $99
Valve announced the Steam Controller will ship on May 4 at 10 a.m. PT for $99 (≈£85, about $105; €99, about $108). The device combines magnetic TMR thumbsticks, high‑definition rumble, a grip‑enabled gyro and dual trackpads, all configurable through Steam Input. It...
Sadly, It Sounds Like the DJI Osmo Pocket 4 Is Not Actually Going to Be Available in the US
DJI's newly announced Osmo Pocket 4 will not be sold in the United States because the FCC has placed the handheld gimbal camera on its “Covered List,” a designation that blocks devices with unapproved wireless communications. Although the product is...
NVIDIA B200 Rental Prices Surge 114% in Six Weeks
NVIDIA’s latest GPU rental prices on the Ornn Compute Price Index hit $4.95 per hour this week, up from $2.31 in early March : a 114% surge in six weeks. The price spread over prior-generation chips doubled from $0.28 to $1.80...
Galaxy Watch 8 Classic Drops to $199, but only in One Color
Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, normally priced at $499, is now listed on Woot for $199, representing a 60% discount. The deal applies exclusively to the white Bluetooth/Wi‑Fi model, with the black bezel version unavailable. The promotion runs for only four...
Lessons From 2015: The Steam Controller Returns as a 'True Gamepad'
Valve is reviving the Steam Controller in 2026 as a true gamepad, built by halving the Steam Deck’s design and adding standard inputs like a second thumbstick, D‑pad, and tilted trackpads. The new controller retains the original’s trackpads, gyro, and...
Walmart’s New Onn Streamers Get Closer to an ‘Official’ Release
Walmart is quietly expanding the availability of its new Onn 4K Pro and Onn 4K Stick streaming devices. After weeks of sporadic in‑store sightings, the products now appear on the retailer’s website for most U.S. zip codes, though they remain...
Valve's Steam Controller Costs $99 and Arrives May 4
Valve announced that its Steam Controller will hit stores on May 4 for $99 in the United States. The gamepad works exclusively with Steam and the Steam Link app, linking PCs, Macs, mobile devices and the Steam Deck. It features...
Scalable Network-on-Chip Enables a Modular Chiplet Platform
Menta has launched the MOSAICS platform, a modular chiplet architecture that uses a Known Good Die hub to orchestrate communication among heterogeneous components. The hub relies on Arteris' FlexNoC interconnect, which can handle more than 30 initiators and targets at...
Valve Says Its New Controller Is Shipping Before The Steam Machine Because It’s Unaffected By RAM Shortage And Is ‘Ready...
Valve announced that its new Steam Controller is shipping now, ahead of the delayed Steam Machine and Steam Frame. Designer Lawrence Yang confirmed the controller is unaffected by the industry‑wide RAM shortage because it contains no memory modules. While the...
Steam Controller Developer Interview — Valve Talks Design, the Learning Curve, and the Lack of Kernel Drivers
Valve has unveiled its first new hardware since the Steam Deck OLED: the Steam Controller, a $99 gamepad designed to extend the Deck’s input suite to the living‑room TV setup. The controller mirrors the Deck’s layout, adds Grip Sense and...
'Millimeters Matter:' Making the Steam Controller 'Just Work' On Day One
Valve’s revamped Steam Controller launches with a plug‑and‑play "Steam Puck" that streamlines pairing, charging, and firmware updates, delivering the promised "just works" experience. The device inherits ergonomic lessons from the Steam Deck, featuring an improved D‑pad, repositioned rear buttons, and...
Valve Steam Controller Review: Every Input to PC Game From the Sofa
Valve’s Steam Controller offers a fully‑featured, highly customizable PC gaming experience, featuring TMR joysticks, touchpads, back buttons, and a 35‑hour battery life. At roughly 292 g (0.64 lb), it feels solid and comparable to an Xbox controller, though a bit heavy. The...
Good News! 57 Right To Repair Bills Across 22 States
The Right‑to‑Repair movement has gained traction, with 57 bills introduced across 22 U.S. states this year. Nearly half of the states are now debating legislation that would force manufacturers to provide repair information and parts. Major players such as Apple,...
Samsung Odyssey G8 G80HS Brings 6K 165Hz and 330Hz Dual Mode Panel
Samsung unveiled the Odyssey G8 G80HS, a 32‑inch IPS monitor that toggles between a native 6K resolution at 165 Hz and a down‑scaled 3K mode at 330 Hz. The dual‑mode panel delivers 1 ms gray‑to‑gray response time, 350 cd/m² peak brightness, and full AMD...
HII Builds on Submarine MUM-T Success with New Pentagon Deal
Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) secured a Defense Innovation Unit contract to supply a torpedo‑tube launch and recovery (TTLR) system that autonomously deploys its REMUS unmanned underwater vehicles from U.S. Navy submarines. The award builds on HII’s 120‑year undersea warfare legacy...
Semis Surge 18 Days Straight: Cycle Insights Unveiled
Semiconductors have rallied a record 18(!) straight days. Our latest weekly note is focused on semi cycles. Read it here: https://open.substack.com/pub/easymarkets/p/semis-cycles-and-the-ouroboros?r=1vbilw&utm_medium=ios
LG Electronics Unveils Hybrid eCall Solution for 2G‑5G Emergency Calls at 5GAA Sweden
LG Electronics presented its Hybrid Emergency Call (Hybrid eCall) platform at the 5G Automotive Association’s meeting in Gothenburg, showcasing a telematics control unit that can switch seamlessly between 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G networks. The rollout targets compliance with Europe’s...
US and EU Sign Critical Minerals Pact to Cut China Dependence
The United States and the European Union signed a memorandum of understanding on April 27, 2026 to jointly secure critical mineral supplies and reduce reliance on China. The deal covers the full supply chain—from exploration to recycling—and sets up coordinated...
China's AI Chip Imports Surge 5% in 2026, Outpacing Export Growth
Economists forecast China's imports of high‑end AI chips will jump 5% in 2026, eclipsing export growth for the first time since 2021. The surge reflects a four‑year swing from stagnation to rapid demand, keeping the trade deficit from ballooning beyond...
Nigeria Launches $2 B Project BRIDGE to Wire Police Stations to National Fibre Backbone
Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy has begun the $2 billion Project BRIDGE, a programme to connect every police station to the country’s national fibre backbone. The rollout will add 90,000 km of fibre, enable AI‑driven policing tools and expand...
Dell Launches XPS 14 and 16 in India as MediaTek Unveils Dimensity 7450 Chipset
Dell announced the XPS 14 and XPS 16 laptops in India, pricing them at Rs 2,05,990 ($2,480) and Rs 2,78,550 ($3,355) respectively, while MediaTek introduced its Dimensity 7450 and 7450X chipsets aimed at mid‑range and foldable smartphones. Both launches signal a push for...
Pennsylvania County Nets $100K Grant for Bodycams
Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, will receive roughly $107,000 in state funding to purchase body‑camera hardware for its prison and sheriff’s office. The grant comes from the Local Share Account Fund administered by the Department of Community and Economic Development under the...
Japan and South Korea Hit Record Highs as Asian Stocks Rally Amid Oil Price Concerns
Japanese and South Korean markets surged to all‑time highs, with the Nikkei 225 up 1.6% and the KOSPI climbing 2.3%, as U.S. equity strength spilled over into Asia. The rally unfolded despite Brent crude hovering above $107 a barrel, a...
South Korea Unveils $40.8 Billion Nanotech Master Plan to Rank in Global Top‑3 by 2030
South Korea announced a 60 trillion‑won ($40.8 bn) five‑year nanotechnology master plan, the sixth such roadmap, to lift the nation into the world’s top three nanotech powers by 2030. The plan outlines 13 priority tasks, five breakthrough research fields and a target...
Roborock’s Mopping Robot Vacuum Is $140 at Wayfair Until Tonight
Roborock’s Q7 L5 robot vacuum‑mop is on sale for $140 at Wayfair, down from $250, until the Way Day sale ends tonight. The mid‑range model delivers 8,000 Pa suction, dual anti‑tangle brushes, and simultaneous vacuum‑and‑mop capability, all managed through the Roborock...
Arc Raiders – Upgraded PS5 Pro PSSR Upscaling Available April 28
Arc Raiders update 1.26, released on April 28, adds an upgraded PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) for PS5 Pro users. The machine‑learning upscaler delivers sharper, more stable visuals, cutting flicker, shimmer and ghosting while preserving fine detail in motion. Embark...
This TP-Link WiFi 7 Travel Router Is 30% Off Right Now
The TP‑Link Roam 7 Wi‑Fi 7 travel router is now $98.99 on Amazon, a $41 drop from its $139.99 launch price, marking its lowest ever cost. This pocket‑sized device folds its antennas for easy packing and offers a 2.5 Gbps WAN port, 1 Gbps...
How Google’s Virgo Fabric Signals Shift in AI Network Design
Google unveiled the Virgo fabric, a two‑layer data‑center network built to support AI hyper‑computer clusters of over 100,000 accelerators. By flattening the topology, Virgo reduces hop count, cuts tail latency, and maintains high bisection bandwidth for sustained east‑west traffic. The...
Power Modules for Drone Applications
Monolithic Power Supply (MPS) unveiled a new line of power modules tailored for drone platforms, targeting the industry’s toughest constraints—tight space, demanding thermal performance, and the high‑power needs of FPGA‑based processing. The modules integrate advanced thermal management and high‑efficiency conversion,...
Comparing Low‑Light Performance: GoPro Mission 1 vs Compet
Looking forward to the release for the GoPro MISSION 1 Series how do you think it will preform in low light vs DJI pocket 4 vs GH5S vs IPhone
Students Build Giant ENIAC Replica in Classroom
Arizona students construct full-scale ENIAC replica, turning classroom into a whale-sized tribute to early computing history. https://t.co/ztjihSRVnK
Eplus3D Shatters the Three-Meter Ceiling in Metal Powder Bed Fusion
Eplus3D of Hangzhou unveiled the EP‑M3050, a metal powder‑bed fusion printer with a 3,050 × 3,050 mm build area and a five‑meter Z‑axis, shattering the historic three‑meter limit. The system ships with 100 fiber lasers, expandable to 256, delivering a theoretical print speed...
Mikko Fixes Asus Expertbook Issues for Omarchy 3.6.1
Great example of leveling up the commons together. The new Asus Expertbook needed work on display, touchpad, and fingerprint reader. Mikko got it done for Omarchy, so you don't have to. Will be in 3.6.1 dropping shortly.
TCL QM6K: Big‑Screen TV at Unbeatable Best Buy Discount
The TCL QM6K is our favorite cheap big screen TV - and it's even cheaper thanks to a massive discount at Best Buy. https://t.co/KfF47umwJz
Steam Controller Blurs Line Between Console and PC Gaming
I don't know that any device will ever bridge the living room controller/PC mouse and keyboard divide for me but the Steam Controller is worth paying attention to even at its $100 price tag. Here's Kotaku's interview with one of...
Valve Releases $99 Steam Controller, No Steam Machine
Valve is launching its Steam Controller without the Steam Machine. It'll cost $99 and arrives on May 4th https://t.co/NdzvzIupEb
Ben's Intel Defense Redeemed: Key TPU Takeaways From Cloud Next
Was a good discussion. Should have named it Ben's redemption for defending Intel since day 1 of the pod in 2023 lol. Also, sharing all I learned from TPU discussions at Cloud Next.