Hardware News and Headlines

Windows Wrap — 4 Steps to Save the Surface Brand
NewsMar 28, 2026

Windows Wrap — 4 Steps to Save the Surface Brand

Microsoft is poised to unveil new Surface devices this spring, but industry analysts warn that the timing is poor for current‑generation buyers. The article argues that Surface’s fragmented launch schedule, processor‑specific feature gating, and lack of standout design risk eroding...

By Windows Central
UCL and RAD Publish Study on Quiet Electric Marine Technology
NewsMar 28, 2026

UCL and RAD Publish Study on Quiet Electric Marine Technology

University College London and electric marine propulsion firm RAD have released a peer‑reviewed study demonstrating that RAD’s 40 kW electric outboard reduces underwater noise by up to 43 dB compared with a comparable internal combustion engine. Tests on the River Hamble and...

By The Maritime Executive
Your Nearly Full SSD Is Tanking Your Performance—Here's Why
NewsMar 28, 2026

Your Nearly Full SSD Is Tanking Your Performance—Here's Why

A nearly full NVMe SSD dramatically slows down as free space dwindles, especially beyond the 80%‑filled mark. The author’s tests on a 2 TB drive showed performance throttling at 95% and 89% capacity, with a sharp recovery once usage fell to...

By How-To Geek
Creating a DIY Homelab: Fast, Free, and Beginner-Friendly
NewsMar 28, 2026

Creating a DIY Homelab: Fast, Free, and Beginner-Friendly

Dibakar Ghosh shows how to convert a spare PC into a fully functional homelab using ZimaOS, a free, GUI‑driven NAS and home‑server platform. The installation, from downloading the ISO to configuring services, takes about 45 minutes and requires no terminal...

By How-To Geek
Stop Overpaying for Car Stereos: Budget Android Auto Units Now Rival the Expensive Ones
NewsMar 28, 2026

Stop Overpaying for Car Stereos: Budget Android Auto Units Now Rival the Expensive Ones

Budget Android Auto head units priced $90‑$200 now match features of premium models. The author upgraded a 2000s BMW with a $100 unit, gaining wireless Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, a 7‑inch touchscreen, backup camera, and steering‑wheel control. These units act...

By How-To Geek
I Took a Ride in an Nvidia-Powered Autonomous Mercedes at GTC 2026 - and It’s Convinced Me This Is the...
NewsMar 28, 2026

I Took a Ride in an Nvidia-Powered Autonomous Mercedes at GTC 2026 - and It’s Convinced Me This Is the...

At Nvidia’s GTC 2026 event, a Mercedes CLA equipped with Nvidia’s Hyperion 8 platform completed a 45‑minute autonomous drive through downtown San Jose. The vehicle operated at Level 2, using ten cameras, five radars and Nvidia’s Alpamayo end‑to‑end stack to navigate urban traffic, detect...

By TechRadar Pro
Sonos' New Five-Star Speaker Shows How It Can Navigate Its Way Out of that App Debacle
NewsMar 28, 2026

Sonos' New Five-Star Speaker Shows How It Can Navigate Its Way Out of that App Debacle

Sonos unveiled its new Play speaker, a portable, high‑fidelity device that aims to restore confidence after a troubled app update and abandoned streaming‑box project. The speaker combines the brand’s renowned multi‑room audio quality with a lightweight, dock‑able design, positioning it...

By T3
This Portable Streaming TV Turns My Patio Into an Entertainment Oasis, and It's $60 Off for Amazon's Spring Sale
NewsMar 28, 2026

This Portable Streaming TV Turns My Patio Into an Entertainment Oasis, and It's $60 Off for Amazon's Spring Sale

Skyworth’s 24‑inch P100 Companion Series portable TV is on sale during Amazon’s Spring Sale, dropping from $450 to $390 with a coupon. The battery‑powered device runs Google TV, includes built‑in Chromecast, and offers up to three hours of unplugged viewing....

By CNET – Gaming
How Nvidia Locked AMD Out of the GPU Market (Even when AMD Wins on Paper)
NewsMar 28, 2026

How Nvidia Locked AMD Out of the GPU Market (Even when AMD Wins on Paper)

Nvidia continues to dominate the discrete graphics market, commanding roughly 95 % of shipments and enjoying overwhelming brand mindshare. Its proprietary technologies—DLSS, NVENC, and CUDA—remain unavailable to rivals, creating a developer lock‑in that amplifies the advantage. Meanwhile AMD’s Radeon cards, such...

By How-To Geek
$500 Fiber Optic HDMI Cable Delivers Flawless 48 Gbps Performance Across a Staggering 990 Feet — Crushes 8K at 60...
NewsMar 28, 2026

$500 Fiber Optic HDMI Cable Delivers Flawless 48 Gbps Performance Across a Staggering 990 Feet — Crushes 8K at 60...

Ruipro’s active optical HDMI cable delivers full‑fat 48 Gbps bandwidth over up to 990 feet, enabling true 8K 60 Hz and 4K 120 Hz video without compression. The cable uses fiber‑optic strands with a small amount of copper for power and control, converting electrical HDMI signals...

By Tom's Hardware
Refresh Your TV Setup This Spring — Save 20% at Antenna’s Direct and Skip the Monthly Bill
NewsMar 28, 2026

Refresh Your TV Setup This Spring — Save 20% at Antenna’s Direct and Skip the Monthly Bill

Antennas Direct is offering a 20% discount on all antennas and accessories with promo code SPRING26 through April 16. The spring‑time sale targets cord‑cutters who want free over‑the‑air TV for sports, news and primetime shows without a monthly subscription. Shoppers can...

By Cord Cutters News
An Update On Electric Vehicle Batteries And Innovations In The Sector
NewsMar 28, 2026

An Update On Electric Vehicle Batteries And Innovations In The Sector

President Trump-backed Congress eliminated the $7,500 federal EV tax credit, triggering an early sales slump, but the ongoing US‑Israel conflict with Iran has revived consumer interest in electric vehicles. At the same time, battery innovators such as BYD and Volvo...

By CleanTechnica
Ominous Surveillance “Scarecrows” Appearing Across America
NewsMar 28, 2026

Ominous Surveillance “Scarecrows” Appearing Across America

The U.S. law‑enforcement equipment market, valued at roughly $11.7 billion in 2025, is rapidly expanding as mobile surveillance units—dubbed “COWs” or scarecrows—gain traction nationwide. These solar‑powered, tow‑able trailers mount multiple CCTV cameras and connect to police feeds via cellular or Wi‑Fi,...

By Futurism AI
Toshiba and LQUOM Collaborate on Long-Distance Quantum Repeater Research
NewsMar 28, 2026

Toshiba and LQUOM Collaborate on Long-Distance Quantum Repeater Research

Toshiba Corporation and LQUOM Inc. have launched a 12‑month joint research program to explore quantum repeater technology that could extend the range of Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) beyond today’s fiber‑optic limits. The effort, running from March 2026 to March 2027, will evaluate...

By Quantum Computing Report
Windows Is Quietly Holding Back up to 7GB of Your SSD by Default — Here's How to Reclaim It
NewsMar 28, 2026

Windows Is Quietly Holding Back up to 7GB of Your SSD by Default — Here's How to Reclaim It

Microsoft’s Windows OS automatically allocates up to 7 GB of a system drive as Reserved Storage, a buffer for updates, temporary files, and caches. This feature, introduced in Windows 10 version 1903, appears by default on fresh installations and is most noticeable on...

By MakeUseOf – Productivity
SteelSeries’ Feature-Packed Nova Pro Wireless Headset Is $80 Off
NewsMar 28, 2026

SteelSeries’ Feature-Packed Nova Pro Wireless Headset Is $80 Off

SteelSeries has slashed the price of its Arctis Nova Pro Wireless gaming headset by $80, lowering the list price from $379.99 to $299.99. The discount is part of the Big Spring Sale running through April 1, 2026 and is available at...

By The Verge
AMD HIP API Support Is Coming to Folding@Home Near You
NewsMar 28, 2026

AMD HIP API Support Is Coming to Folding@Home Near You

Folding@Home announced that support for AMD's HIP API will roll out in the next few weeks. The addition will let AMD GPU owners run the project's protein‑folding simulations without needing NVIDIA hardware. HIP acts as a translation layer, converting CUDA‑based...

By AnandTech
Google Plans to Back $5B Data Center for Anthropic: Report
NewsMar 28, 2026

Google Plans to Back $5B Data Center for Anthropic: Report

Google is arranging up to $5 billion in construction loans for a massive Texas data‑center leased to Anthropic, a key partner in its AI strategy. The 2,800‑acre campus, built by Nexus Data Centers, aims to deliver 500 megawatts by late 2026 with...

By Cointelegraph
Fake Samsung 990 Pro SSD Is Good Enough to Fool Your Benchmarks
NewsMar 28, 2026

Fake Samsung 990 Pro SSD Is Good Enough to Fool Your Benchmarks

Scammers are selling counterfeit Samsung 990 Pro SSDs that closely mimic the genuine model’s specifications and even report near‑identical read/write speeds in tools like CrystalDiskInfo. The fake drives use a Maxio MAP1602 controller, lack Samsung’s DDR4 cache, and deliver real‑world transfer...

By TechSpot
Porsche's Wild Curved Display Is The Car Touchscreen Done Right
NewsMar 28, 2026

Porsche's Wild Curved Display Is The Car Touchscreen Done Right

Porsche’s 2026 Cayenne Electric introduces a 45‑degree curved central touchscreen that repositions the most‑used functions within the driver’s natural reach. The display incorporates a built‑in wrist rest and an adjustable armrest, allowing drivers to interact without excessive eye‑off‑road time. Running on...

By InsideEVs
Win a Prize by Entering Your Build Into the Inaugural Tom's Hardware Rig Rundown — Submit a Build to Get...
NewsMar 28, 2026

Win a Prize by Entering Your Build Into the Inaugural Tom's Hardware Rig Rundown — Submit a Build to Get...

Tom's Hardware announced its inaugural Rig Rundown contest, inviting PC enthusiasts to submit their complete builds for expert evaluation. The competition accepts both new and refurbished components, with a focus on detailed performance analysis and a prize package that includes...

By Tom's Hardware
How Modular Data Centers Are Built: Inside the Factory
NewsMar 28, 2026

How Modular Data Centers Are Built: Inside the Factory

Modular data centers are reshaping the $275 billion construction market by delivering fully integrated, container‑sized facilities that can be deployed in roughly eight months, far faster than traditional builds. A partnership between HPE and Contour Advanced Systems combines HPE’s compute expertise...

By Defence24 (Poland)
I Was Amazed That This Oppo Camera Slammed the iPhone 17 Pro in My Tests
NewsMar 28, 2026

I Was Amazed That This Oppo Camera Slammed the iPhone 17 Pro in My Tests

CNET’s Andrew Lanxon compared Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro with Oppo’s Find X9 Pro across a series of real‑world photo missions in Edinburgh. Using each phone’s default JPEG mode, the reviewer found the Oppo often produced brighter, more vibrant images with stronger sharpening, while the...

By CNET – Gaming
New ALP-X Card Support 128 I/O Channels
NewsMar 28, 2026

New ALP-X Card Support 128 I/O Channels

Digigram has launched the ALP‑AES67‑128, a PCIe sound card that doubles the I/O capacity of its ALP‑X line to 128 simultaneous recording and playback channels. The card remains fully compliant with AES67, Ravenna, SMPTE ST2110‑30 and ST2022‑7, and adds robust...

By Radio World
I Tried a Scan-to-Cook Meal Delivery Service. Right Now, the Smart Oven Is Free
NewsMar 28, 2026

I Tried a Scan-to-Cook Meal Delivery Service. Right Now, the Smart Oven Is Free

Tovala pairs a subscription meal service with its Smart Oven Pro, a six‑mode appliance now offered for free when users activate a meal plan with code SPRINGEATS26. Meals cost $10‑$14 each, with $11 shipping per box, and are delivered single‑serve,...

By CNET – Gaming
SK Signet Presents New 400 kW Charging Station
NewsMar 28, 2026

SK Signet Presents New 400 kW Charging Station

SK Signet, the SK Group’s charging arm, launched a 400 kW all‑in‑one DC fast charger that trims its footprint by 54% and reaches 96.5% energy efficiency thanks to high‑density silicon‑carbide power modules. The integrated design eliminates the external switchgear cabinet, simplifying...

By Electrive
Best 360 Cameras (2026): DJI, Insta360, GoPro
NewsMar 28, 2026

Best 360 Cameras (2026): DJI, Insta360, GoPro

The March 2026 roundup identifies the GoPro Max 2 as the top all‑round 360 camera, thanks to its true 8K video, natural color profile, and versatile mounting system. Insta360’s X5 follows with a larger 1/1.28″ sensor that boosts low‑light performance, while the...

By WIRED – Gear
Bluetti’s Sora 500 Solar Panel Is Incredibly Powerful for Its Size
NewsMar 28, 2026

Bluetti’s Sora 500 Solar Panel Is Incredibly Powerful for Its Size

Bluetti’s new Sora 500 portable solar panel uses N‑Type TOPCon cells to deliver 509 W in real‑world testing, exceeding its 500 W rating. The panel can add a full day’s 1.6 kWh energy to a van’s power system in just two hours, dramatically shortening...

By The Verge Transportation
Meta Quest Promo Codes: $50 Off | March 2026
NewsMar 28, 2026

Meta Quest Promo Codes: $50 Off | March 2026

Meta is rolling out a series of price cuts and bundles for its Quest 3 and Quest 3S headsets, including up to $50 off the Quest 3S, refurbished Quest 3 units for $380, and a limited‑edition Xbox Quest 3S bundle with Game Pass Ultimate. Additional...

By WIRED – Gear
Sub-$300 Mini Camera Drone Flies 4K/60fps Video and Obstacle Avoidance
NewsMar 28, 2026

Sub-$300 Mini Camera Drone Flies 4K/60fps Video and Obstacle Avoidance

Skyrover introduced the S1 Mini, a sub‑249‑gram camera drone priced under $300 that adds forward obstacle avoidance to the budget segment. It features a 1/2‑inch Sony sensor capable of 48‑megapixel stills and 4K / 60 fps video on a 3‑axis gimbal. The drone...

By New Atlas – Architecture
Kuwait Restores Power Lines After Debris Damage
NewsMar 28, 2026

Kuwait Restores Power Lines After Debris Damage

Kuwait’s Ministry of Electricity, Water & Renewable Energy announced that it has restored multiple overhead transmission lines damaged by falling debris from recent air‑defence activities. Seven high‑voltage lines were taken offline on 24 March, but most have been repaired, with two...

By MEED (Middle East)
China Chip Sector Targets 80% Self-Sufficiency with US in Its Sights
NewsMar 28, 2026

China Chip Sector Targets 80% Self-Sufficiency with US in Its Sights

China’s semiconductor industry has set an ambitious goal to achieve 80% domestic self‑sufficiency by 2030. The target was announced by a coalition of 13 leading Chinese chip firms, signaling a coordinated effort to close the technology gap with the United...

By Nikkei Asia – Economy
Will This ‘Miracle’ Battery Finally Change Your Mind About EVs?
NewsMar 28, 2026

Will This ‘Miracle’ Battery Finally Change Your Mind About EVs?

A Finnish startup claims it has created a commercially viable solid‑state battery delivering over 500 Wh/kg energy density and a full charge in roughly ten minutes, promising a 400‑mile driving range. The company says the pack can be produced at costs...

By WSJ – U.S. Business (global/Asia spillover)
Meta to Launch New AI Glasses Aimed at Prescription Wearers
NewsMar 27, 2026

Meta to Launch New AI Glasses Aimed at Prescription Wearers

Meta Platforms will debut two new Ray‑Ban smart glasses next week, specifically engineered for prescription wearers. The devices are the first Ray‑Ban models built with prescription lenses integrated at the factory, extending Meta’s existing AR hardware line. The launch leverages...

By Bloomberg – Technology
These XR Glasses Effectively Replaced My Dual Monitors for Work - and They're $170 Off
NewsMar 27, 2026

These XR Glasses Effectively Replaced My Dual Monitors for Work - and They're $170 Off

Xreal One Pro AR glasses are now $599, a 22% discount from the regular $769 price. The headset uses flat‑prism optics to achieve a 57‑degree field of view, currently the widest in consumer AR. Reviewers report that its ultra‑wide mode...

By ZDNet – Enterprise IT
HIVE Digital (HIVE) Expands AI Data Center Capacity in Canada
NewsMar 27, 2026

HIVE Digital (HIVE) Expands AI Data Center Capacity in Canada

HIVE Digital Technologies announced that its BUZZ HPC subsidiary is expanding its liquid‑cooled AI data‑center footprint into British Columbia, Canada, quadrupling the company’s Canadian critical IT load to 16.6 megawatts through a colocation partnership with Bell Canada AI Fabric. Phase 1 will...

By Yahoo Finance — Markets (site feed)
American Bitcoin (ABTC) Expands Mining Fleet With 11,298 New Units
NewsMar 27, 2026

American Bitcoin (ABTC) Expands Mining Fleet With 11,298 New Units

American Bitcoin Corp. announced the purchase of 11,298 new ASIC miners, expanding its owned fleet by 12% to 89,242 units and adding roughly 3.05 EH/s of hash power. The new hardware, slated for delivery in March 2026, will be installed at...

By Yahoo Finance — Markets (site feed)
Integrating Error Propagation Theory Into the FMEDA Framework (Robert Bosch GmbH)
NewsMar 27, 2026

Integrating Error Propagation Theory Into the FMEDA Framework (Robert Bosch GmbH)

Robert Bosch GmbH released a technical paper that embeds error propagation theory into the FMEDA (Failure Modes, Effects, and Diagnostic Analysis) framework. The authors demonstrate how to calculate confidence intervals for the Single Point Fault Metric (SPFM) and Latent Fault...

By Semiconductor Engineering
Your Questions on Apple’s Critical 2026, Answered by Mark Gurman
NewsMar 27, 2026

Your Questions on Apple’s Critical 2026, Answered by Mark Gurman

Mark Gurman, Bloomberg’s veteran Apple reporter, fielded a live Q&A on March 26, 2026, outlining Apple’s strategic priorities for its pivotal 2026 year. He detailed a push toward higher‑margin services, a refreshed product slate including a new AR/VR headset and upgraded iPhone...

By Bloomberg – Technology
In-Depth Analysis of 187 Publications on Hardware Reverse Engineering (Ruhr U., MPI)
NewsMar 27, 2026

In-Depth Analysis of 187 Publications on Hardware Reverse Engineering (Ruhr U., MPI)

A new Systematization of Knowledge paper from Ruhr University Bochum and the Max Planck Institute surveys 187 peer‑reviewed hardware reverse engineering (HRE) studies spanning ICs, FPGAs and netlists. The analysis reveals that only seven papers (4%) supplied reproducible artifacts, underscoring...

By Semiconductor Engineering
M'bishi Electric, Toshiba, Rohm Sign Accord on Chip Business Merger Talks
NewsMar 27, 2026

M'bishi Electric, Toshiba, Rohm Sign Accord on Chip Business Merger Talks

Japanese electronics giants Mitsubishi Electric, Toshiba and Rohm have signed a memorandum of understanding to begin talks on merging their power semiconductor businesses. The three firms, which together will hold about 11% of the global market by 2025, aim to...

By Japan Today – Business
I Had a Rocky Relationship With the PlayStation Portal, but I Learned to Love It
NewsMar 27, 2026

I Had a Rocky Relationship With the PlayStation Portal, but I Learned to Love It

Sony’s PlayStation Portal, a handheld remote‑play device for PS5 launched in November 2023, lets users stream high‑fidelity games away from the TV. Early adopters reported frequent disconnections, low resolution, and frame‑rate drops on congested Wi‑Fi networks. After upgrading to dedicated 5 GHz...

By Popular Mechanics
Another PlayStation Price Hike Means Gaming Console Will Cost 30% More than It Did Last Year
NewsMar 27, 2026

Another PlayStation Price Hike Means Gaming Console Will Cost 30% More than It Did Last Year

Sony announced a second price increase for its PlayStation 5 within a year, raising the standard model to $649.99 and the digital edition to $599.99, while the new PS5 Pro will cost $899.99. The hikes represent roughly a 30% rise...

By Japan Today – Business
I Turned on Spatial Audio in My Echo Studio and the Difference Was Shocking
NewsMar 27, 2026

I Turned on Spatial Audio in My Echo Studio and the Difference Was Shocking

Amazon’s Echo Studio and select Echo Show models now support spatial audio, a 3‑D sound experience that uses seven beam‑forming microphones and crosstalk cancellation to create immersive soundscapes. The feature is disabled by default and must be activated through the...

By MakeUseOf – Productivity
Windows PCs Crash Three Times As Often As Macs, Report Says
NewsMar 27, 2026

Windows PCs Crash Three Times As Often As Macs, Report Says

Omnissa’s 2026 State of Digital Workspace report, based on global telemetry, finds Windows PCs crash 3.1 times more often than Macs and freeze 7.5 times more frequently. Windows devices are typically refreshed every three years, compared with five years for Macs, leading...

By Slashdot
The Denon DP-500BT Record Player Is the Only One I’ll Listen To Using Bluetooth
NewsMar 27, 2026

The Denon DP-500BT Record Player Is the Only One I’ll Listen To Using Bluetooth

The Denon DP‑500BT is a mid‑price turntable priced about $900 that adds Bluetooth streaming to a traditional belt‑drive design. Reviewers found its sound quality on Bluetooth virtually indistinguishable from a wired connection, delivering warm, detailed audio across 33 ⅓, 45 and...

By Popular Mechanics
JBL’s Boombox 3 Drops to $300 and the Tour Pro 2 Earbuds Hit $140 During Amazon’s Big Spring Sale
NewsMar 27, 2026

JBL’s Boombox 3 Drops to $300 and the Tour Pro 2 Earbuds Hit $140 During Amazon’s Big Spring Sale

Amazon's Big Spring Sale slashes JBL prices, with the Boombox 3 now $299.95—a $200 discount—and the Tour Pro 2 earbuds at $139.95, 44% off. The promotion also includes deep discounts on PartyBox, Charge 6, and a range of JBL headphones...

By Popular Science
My Hunt for a Walking Pad — the Treadmill’s Cheaper, More Discreet Cousin
NewsMar 27, 2026

My Hunt for a Walking Pad — the Treadmill’s Cheaper, More Discreet Cousin

The Strategist’s Michael Zhao recommends the Urevo CyberPad Office as the top walking pad, despite its $450 price tag, because of its all‑metal construction, quiet dual‑motor system, and 400‑pound weight capacity. The pad offers a 39.4‑by‑16.5‑inch walking surface, 14% electronically...

By The Strategist (NYMag)
NZXT Player Two Prime Impressions, or How One Can Be a PC Gamer in 2026
NewsMar 27, 2026

NZXT Player Two Prime Impressions, or How One Can Be a PC Gamer in 2026

NZXT recently released the Player Two Prime, a high‑performance pre‑built gaming tower aimed at users who prefer a ready‑to‑play PC over assembling their own. The system packs top‑tier CPUs, GPUs, and ample storage, while featuring modular cable management and advanced...

By GamesBeat