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
How to Overcome the Advanced Node Physical Verification Bottleneck
Synopsys unveiled its IC Validator platform as a new answer to the mounting physical‑verification bottlenecks that accompany advanced‑node designs. The tool’s HyperSync distributed‑processing engine delivers 2‑4× faster full‑chip antenna and PERC ESD checks while slashing CPU usage by up to 70 %. Elastic compute lets designers tap massive cloud or on‑premise resources, cutting verification spend roughly in half. Integrated with Fusion Compiler, 3DIC Compiler and StarRC, IC Validator offers a unified sign‑off flow for hyper‑convergent chips.
Dell Turns up PowerMax Dial to 11
Dell announced the release of PowerMax OS 10.4, enhancing its flagship PowerMax storage arrays with faster performance, advanced ransomware detection, and deeper integration with VMware and Red Hat OpenShift. The update delivers up to 25% faster read response times for SRDF‑protected...
Maingear Unveils MG-1, a Redesign of Its Most-Awarded Gaming PC
Maingear unveiled the next‑generation MG‑1, a total redesign of its most‑awarded gaming desktop. The new chassis builds on a legacy that includes Tom’s Hardware and TechRadar Editor’s Choice awards as well as a 2025 IDA Design Awards Gold win. The...
Honor Introduces 600 Series with 200MP AI Camera, 7,000 mAh Battery
Honor announced the global launch of its 600 series smartphones, including the 600 and 600 Pro models. Both devices feature a groundbreaking 200‑megapixel AI‑enhanced camera and a massive 7,000 mAh battery capable of 80 W fast charging. A lower‑spec “Lite” variant will also...
Video Wednesday
On April 22, 2026 the blog posted a short video showcasing the da Vinci SP surgical robot. The clip demonstrates the platform’s single‑port design, 3‑D high‑definition imaging, and articulated instruments that operate through a single incision. The da Vinci SP,...
Your Desk Is Now an AI Lab: RP Tech, an NVIDIA Partner, Demos NVIDIA DGX Spark in Bangalore
On April 11, 2026, RP Tech, an NVIDIA partner, showcased the NVIDIA DGX Spark at a Bangalore event, demonstrating a 1.2 kg tabletop AI supercomputer with 128 GB unified memory. The device loaded a 120‑billion‑parameter Nemotron 3 model in quantized form, delivering near‑full GPU utilization for...
Small, Connected Data Centers Will Power AI, a Builder Says
Pete Sacco, CEO of PTS Data Center Solutions, warned that megawatt‑scale data centers are losing relevance as AI shifts toward inference workloads that demand millisecond‑level response times. He argued that latency‑critical inference requires facilities located near end‑users, prompting a move...
Iran Network Backdoors Claim Hits Cisco, Juniper, Fortinet
Iran’s Ministry of ICT alleges that hidden U.S. access mechanisms caused Cisco, Juniper, Fortinet and MikroTik equipment to reboot and go offline during strikes on Isfahan Province. Tehran has not released forensic evidence, and ordinary power or hardware issues could...
BoAt Launches Aavante Prime X Wireless Soundbar with Virat Kohli
boAt has launched the Aavante Prime X, a wireless soundbar that combines detachable satellite speakers, a wireless subwoofer and 7.1.4‑channel Dolby Atmos with 700 W output. The product is positioned as a clutter‑free alternative to traditional home‑theatre systems, targeting Indian consumers...
Vietnam: Ford and Tasco Auto to Establish a Fast-Charging Network
Ford Motor Company and its Vietnamese distributor Tasco Auto signed an MoU to build a fast‑charging network across Vietnam. The plan calls for more than 89 DC fast chargers, with Ford installing 34 stations by Q3 2026 and Tasco Auto adding...
Lexar Expands SILVER PLUS Series with New 2TB microSDXC UHS-I Card Delivering Industry-Leading Read Speeds and Higher Capacity.
Lexar has added a 2TB microSDXC UHS‑I card to its Professional SILVER PLUS line, delivering up to 255 MB/s read and 180 MB/s write speeds—claimed the fastest in its class. The V30‑rated card supports 4K 60 fps video, burst photography, and is IPX7 waterproof,...
RHINO PSR Spring Clamp Power Supplies
AutomationDirect has launched the RHINO PSR series power supplies featuring tool‑free spring clamp terminals that lock without retorquing. The ultra‑slim units combine rugged metal or aluminum housings with high efficiency and power density, making them ideal for space‑constrained industrial panels....
AchieVe NEC2 Power Supplies
AutomationDirect introduced the AchieVe PSA series NEC Class 2 power supplies, offering a compact form factor with energy‑limited DC outputs for low‑voltage control and automation circuits. The units accept a wide 85‑264 VAC input range and provide selectable 5 V, 12 V, or 24 V...
U Business, Qualcomm and City-Link Express Achieve Faster Shipment Location Verification
U Business, the enterprise arm of U Mobile, completed a proof‑of‑concept with Qualcomm and City‑Link Express to track high‑value air cargo using 5G‑IoT and Qualcomm’s Terrestrial Positioning Service. Qualcomm trackers attached to shipments delivered real‑time location, shock, tilt, temperature and...
NAB Show 2026: TVC Soho Selects EditShare High-Performance NVMe Storage to Support Resolve Finishing Workflows
EditShare announced that London‑based post‑production house TVC Soho will deploy its Ultimate EFS NVMe storage platform to power a new DaVinci Resolve finishing environment. The rollout includes a 128 TB Ultimate EFS NVMe system paired with a 192 TB Ultimate EFS‑310 for scalable,...
Google Announces Innovations in Mega-Scale Networking for the Agentic Era
Google unveiled Virgo Network, a mega‑scale datacenter fabric that interconnects up to 134,000 chips and delivers 47 petabits per second of bi‑directional bandwidth. The architecture flattens network layers, giving AI accelerators more than four times the prior‑generation bandwidth and sub‑millisecond telemetry...
Layer 1A Is Table Stakes. The Real AI Infrastructure Question Is Above It.
Enterprises migrating AI workloads discover that the real lock‑in lies not in storage (Layer 1A) but in the reasoning and context layers above it, which the author calls “borrowed judgment.” Google announced a Knowledge Catalog that productizes this non‑portable layer, using...
Sidus Space Expands Existing Agreement with Lonestar Data Holdings, Inc. To Support Additional StarVault Orbital Data Storage Payload
Sidus Space announced an amendment to its partnership with Lonestar Data Holdings, adding a second StarVault orbital data storage payload. The new payload joins the first StarVault, slated for launch no earlier than fall 2026 on the LizzieSat‑4 satellite. The...
From SNIA: SCSI Continues to Innovate Data Storage with SBC-5
The INCITS T10 committee has released SCSI Block Commands‑5 (SBC‑5), the newest SAS specification aimed at modern data‑center storage. SBC‑5 adds features such as failed element depopulation, dual‑actuator HDD support, extended command duration limits, expanded zoning for SMR drives, and...
INBRAIN Neuroelectronics Completes Patient Recruitment for First-in-Human Study Evaluating Its Graphene Cortical Interface
INBRAIN Neuroelectronics announced that patient recruitment is complete for its first‑in‑human trial of a graphene‑based cortical interface. Ten patients were enrolled, and eight underwent surgery without any peri‑operative device failures, yielding complete datasets. The study, run with the University of...
Microsoft Technology Licensing Assigned Patent
Microsoft Technology Licensing has been assigned U.S. Patent 12,595,474 for a DNA‑based data storage system that mounts synthetic DNA onto a two‑dimensional substrate such as metal foil, glass, or plastic. The invention adds a protective silica or thin‑metal coating and...
Proposed Chinese Robot Ban Is Latest U.S. Tech Sovereignty Move
The bipartisan American Security Robotics Act, introduced by Senators Tom Cotton, Chuck Schumer and Rep. Elise Stefanik, would bar U.S. government use of Chinese‑made ground robots such as humanoids, quadrupeds and crawlers. The proposal follows the FCC’s recent crackdown on...
Google’s Gemini Can Now Run on a Single Air-Gapped Server — and Vanish when You Pull the Plug
Cirrascale Cloud Services has deepened its partnership with Google Cloud to ship the Gemini model on‑premises via Google Distributed Cloud. The solution bundles a Dell‑certified appliance equipped with eight Nvidia GPUs and confidential‑computing safeguards, allowing a fully private, air‑gapped deployment....
ChargePoint's New 600-kW Charger Can Charge Four Cars at Once
ChargePoint unveiled the Express Solo, a stand‑alone DC fast charger delivering up to 600 kW. The unit can split that power among up to four vehicles simultaneously, thanks to an optional extra dispenser. It uses the Omni Port system to support both NACS...
Google Cloud Announces Eighth-Generation TPUs, Boasting AI Training and Inference Leaps
Google Cloud unveiled its eighth‑generation tensor processing units, the TPU 8t for training and TPU 8i for inference. The 8t chip is 2.8× faster than the prior Ironwood generation, delivering 121 FP4 exaflops and supporting pods of up to 9,600 chips. The 8i...
CoreWeave Expands Multi-Cloud AI Stack at Google Cloud Next
CoreWeave announced a suite of multi‑cloud AI tools at Google Cloud Next, including a private interconnect that slashes deployment times from months to days. The company also launched SUNK Anywhere, a unified Slurm‑on‑Kubernetes control plane that spans CoreWeave, Google Cloud,...
We're Launching Two Specialized TPUs for the Agentic Era.
Google announced two new Tensor Processing Units—TPU 8i and TPU 8t—built for the emerging “agentic” AI era. TPU 8i focuses on ultra‑low‑latency inference, enabling autonomous AI agents to reason and act quickly. TPU 8t is optimized for training, offering a massive shared memory pool...
CUKTECH Launches 30 Ultra Desktop Charging Station with 300W Power, Dual 140W USB-C and Real-Time Display for High-Performance Workspaces.
CUKTECH unveiled the 30 Ultra Desktop Charging Station, a GaN‑based 5‑port hub delivering up to 300 W total power. It features dual 140 W USB‑C PD 3.1 ports, a dedicated high‑power DC output, and a 1.83‑inch IPS display that shows real‑time voltage and...
Bambu Lab Discontinues the X1 Series After Four Years on the Market
Bambu Lab announced that production of its X1, X1 Carbon, and X1E 3D printers will cease on March 31, 2026, with after‑sales support guaranteed until March 2031. The X1 series, launched in 2022 via a $7 million Kickstarter, reshaped desktop printing by popularizing CoreXY...
AMT and GreatAmerica Turn Vapor Smoothing Into a Monthly Subscription
AMT and GreatAmerica have launched a bundled subscription for the PostPro SFX vapor‑smoothing system, charging North American manufacturers $999 per month. The all‑inclusive fee covers hardware, shipping, consumables, warranty and import duties, eliminating upfront capital outlay. The service is fulfilled from...
EU Mandates Removable Phone Batteries, with Possible Exception
The EU requires phone makers to fit 'readily removable' batteries from next year — but there may be a notable exception https://www.techradar.com/phones/the-eu-requires-phone-makers-to-fit-readily-removable-batteries-from-next-year-but-there-may-be-a-notable-exception
Mirai Botnet Targets Flaw in Discontinued D-Link Routers
A Mirai botnet is exploiting CVE‑2025‑29635, a command‑injection flaw in discontinued D‑Link DIR‑823X routers. The vulnerability resides in firmware versions 240126 and 24082, which no longer receive patches because the products were retired last year. Akamai observed attackers using a...
Komatsu Hits Autonomous Milestone
Komatsu announced it has commissioned its 1,000th autonomous ultra‑class haul truck, cementing its role as a pioneer in driverless mining equipment. The milestone centers on the company’s 930E‑5 electric haul truck, which can transport a 290‑metric‑ton payload. By reaching this...
Best Chromebooks (2026): Most Are Bad, but These Aren't
The 2026 Chromebook roundup identifies a handful of premium “Chromebook Plus” models that punch above their price, notably Lenovo’s Chromebook Plus 14 with 16 GB RAM at $649 and Acer’s Spin 514 2‑in‑1 at a similar price point. It also highlights budget-friendly options such...
Steam Controller Release Date Imminent as Valve Uploads Unboxing Video
Valve appears poised to ship the long‑awaited Steam Controller within days, after an unboxing video surfaced in the Steam client backend under the tag “steam_controller_unboxing_2026.” Shipping manifests recently filed list a sizable inventory of the device as a “wireless PC...
A Legend Gets Cheaper as the Logitech G502 Hero Gaming Mouse Cuts 22% Off From Amazon
Logitech’s flagship G502 Hero gaming mouse is now 22% cheaper on Amazon, priced at £27 (about $35), marking its lowest point since Black Friday 2025. The wired rodent retains its hallmark 11 programmable buttons, adjustable weights, and a dual‑mode scroll wheel,...
What Does Trump’s Wartime Powers Flex Mean for Transformers and Other Grid Equipment Shortages?
President Donald Trump issued five Defense Production Act (DPA) determinations aimed at expanding domestic production of power‑grid equipment and fossil‑fuel infrastructure. The memo highlights severe shortages of transformers, high‑voltage components and other critical hardware, with backlogs now exceeding a year....
Freshwave Promises All-Operator 4G/5G Signal Indoors
Freshwave has launched 5G on Omni, an evolution of its Omni Network that delivers multi‑operator 4G/5G indoor coverage using Ericsson’s Radio Dot small‑cell system. The solution claims up to 50% lower energy use than traditional DAS, faster deployment and reduced cabling,...
£520 for This Asus Prime RTX 5070 GPU and a Free Copy of Pragmata Feels Like a Solid Deal at...
The Asus Prime RTX 5070 is now available for about $660 (£520) from CCL, making it one of the most affordable current‑gen Nvidia cards on the market. Benchmarks show performance nearly identical to the RTX 4070 Super, with modest gains in titles like...
How BESS Operations Are Revolutionizing Urban Centers
Vertical battery energy storage systems (BESS) are moving from sprawling horizontal fields to multi‑story racks built near urban substations. Cities like Boston and New York are piloting these installations to shave peak‑load spikes, improve grid stability, and support renewable integration. The...
This Robot Vacuum Mops so Well, It Cleaned up the Mess My Roomba Left Behind
The ZDNET review spotlights Ecovacs' Deebot X8 Pro Omni, a high‑end robot vacuum‑mop that combines 18,000 Pa suction—the brand’s strongest—to date with a self‑washing mop roller. The Omni docking station automatically empties the dustbin, washes the mop, and refills clean‑water while...
AI Designs RISC‑V CPU Core in 12 Hours
How Did An AI Agent Build a RISC V CPU Core In Just 12 Hours https://spectrum.ieee.org/ai-chip-design?share_id=9374945
AI Agent Designs a RISC-V CPU Core From Scratch
Verkor.io unveiled VerCore, a RISC‑V CPU core fully designed by its autonomous AI system, Design Conductor. The agent took 12 hours to generate a 1.48 GHz core that scores 3,261 on CoreMark, comparable to Intel’s 2011 Celeron SU2300. Design Conductor orchestrates...
The Framework Laptop 13 Pro Is the Ultra-Repairable Laptop that Lets You Ditch Windows – and Copilot
Framework unveiled its Laptop 13 Pro at the NextGen event, offering a modular, ultra‑repairable notebook that can ship with no OS, Windows 11, or Ubuntu pre‑installed. The device features an Intel Core Ultra 3 CPU, a 74 Wh battery, and optional AMD Ryzen AI 300 Series processors. Pricing...
Your Older Kindle Might Become Useless After May 20
Amazon will cut access to the Kindle Store, Kindle Unlimited and the “send to Kindle” service for all Kindle devices released before 2013, effective May 20. The affected models include the original Kindle, Kindle 2, Kindle DX, Kindle Keyboard, Kindle Touch,...
Hong Kong Advances Semiconductor Pilot Lines and Innovation Fund to Strengthen Greater Bay Area Collaboration
Hong Kong’s government announced a suite of measures to deepen Greater Bay Area (GBA) collaboration, centering on semiconductor pilot lines, a new manufacturing innovation centre, and a massive Innovation and Technology Industry‑Oriented Fund (ITIF). The Microelectronics Research and Development Institute...
This Wireless Mic Wants to Be Seen, Not Hidden
Insta360 unveiled the Mic Pro at NAB Show 2026, a clip‑on wireless microphone that eliminates the traditional receiver and cable chain for Insta360 cameras. The device features a color E‑Ink display for on‑mic branding, Direct Connect Bluetooth SPP up to 400 m, and...
Anker Launches THUS Compute‑in‑memory Chip to Power AI in Low‑power Wearables
Anker introduced its THUS compute‑in‑memory (CIM) silicon, fabricated in Germany, to enable large AI models on battery‑constrained Bluetooth earbuds. The chip integrates NOR flash memory with neural‑network style compute, targeting lower power consumption and new features like Clear Calls, with...
DARPA Funds 19 Teams to Blend Diverse Qubit Technologies
DARPA has awarded funding to 19 research teams under its new Heterogeneous Architectures for Quantum (HARQ) program, shifting focus from a single‑qubit approach to integrated, multi‑technology quantum systems. The initiative splits into two workstreams—MOSAIC, which develops software compilers to allocate...
IBM Quantum System Two Arrives in Chicago This September
IBM will install its Quantum System Two in Chicago this September, anchoring a new National Quantum Algorithm Center (NQAC) co‑led by IBM researcher Hanhee Paik and the University of Illinois Urbana‑Champaign and the University of Chicago. The center will give UIUC...