Hardware · Top stories
Roland Releases Minions-Themed GO:KEYS 3 Keyboard with Character Sounds
Roland has launched a Minions-themed version of its GO:KEYS 3 keyboard, featuring Minions branding and 32 Minions-themed sound variations, including character voices. This release targets new music-makers and fans of the franchise, offering a standard GO:KEYS 3 experience with added thematic elements.
Aftershock PC offers Cherry Bloom PC with heat-reactive titanium cherry blossoms
Aftershock PC is selling a $14,000 gaming PC featuring 70 handcrafted titanium-alloy cherry blossoms that unfurl as the internal temperature rises. This commercially available PC includes high-end components and a unique aesthetic element, distinguishing it from typical gaming rigs.
PitPro Automation deploys first robotic tire-changing system in Calgary, Canada
PitPro Automation installed its first automatic tire-changing system at a Kal Tire location in Calgary, Alberta. This deployment addresses labor shortages in tire shops and the recurring need for seasonal tire changes, particularly in Canada.
Samsung software update freezes smart fridges, rendering them inoperable
A recent software update from Samsung caused some of its smart refrigerators to freeze, making them unusable. This incident highlights potential issues with over-the-air updates for essential home appliances.
Airbus uses Steam Deck as a controller for prototype Mars rover testing
Airbus is utilizing a Steam Deck to control a prototype Mars rover during its development and testing phases in the UK. The Steam Deck's PC capabilities, including its Linux operating system and physical controls, make it suitable for running custom software to operate the rover.
Apple clarifies Texture and Grain camera controls are exclusive to latest iPhones
Apple clarified that new Texture and Grain photo editing controls are only available for photos captured on the latest iPhone 18 Pro models and iPhone Duo, despite earlier press releases suggesting broader compatibility. This means older iPhone models running iOS 27 can only use these features when editing photos taken with the newest devices. The change limits the functionality of these new photographic styles to the newest hardware.
Apple reportedly postpones AI pendant wearable development
Apple has reportedly postponed its rumored AI pendant wearable, which was intended to feature a camera and microphone for Siri AI integration. The company is instead focusing on AI features for Apple Watch, AirPods, and smart glasses.
Durabook Z14I-DX3 rugged mobile workstation features three integrated 14-inch displays
Durabook released the Z14I-DX3, a rugged mobile workstation with three integrated 14-inch 1080p displays, designed for field professionals. This device offers enhanced screen real estate and durability for specialized industrial and public safety applications.
Bambu Lab Releases R1 55W CO2 Laser Cutter and Engraver
Bambu Lab launched the R1, a 55W CO2 laser cutter and engraver, featuring a 600 x 300 mm work area and integrated software. This standalone unit addresses previous criticisms of combining laser functions with 3D printers, offering a dedicated solution for makers.
Dyson CameraJet Electric Toothbrush Pulled from Stores Due to Waterproofing Issues
Dyson's new CameraJet electric toothbrush, launched earlier this month, has been pulled from stores globally due to reports of water entering the battery compartment and device failures. The $499 device, which features a camera and fluid-targeting system, experienced user complaints and review unit failures shortly after its September 8 US launch.
Glorious Releases GMMK Eternal Wired Mechanical Gaming Keyboard for $99.99
Glorious has released the GMMK Eternal, a new wired mechanical gaming keyboard featuring a compact 96-percent layout and hot-swappable PCB. The keyboard is available for $99.99 and includes three layers of sound-dampening material.
Sonos Releases Beam Ultra Soundbar with Dolby Atmos and Enhanced Audio for $699
Sonos launched the Beam Ultra, a new soundbar priced at $699, featuring two upward-firing Dolby Atmos speakers and additional hardware for richer sound. This model offers genuine Dolby Atmos, distinguishing it from the second-generation Beam's simulated immersive audio.
XPENG's Iron Humanoid Robot Walks Off Production Line, Mass Production Planned
XPENG's Iron humanoid robot autonomously walked off its new production line after assembly, marking a step towards mass production later this year. The robot features 76 degrees of freedom and 21 in each hand, powered by three Turing AI chips for onboard AI processing. XPENG plans to deploy Iron in its stores and campuses initially, with broader deliveries in China and overseas markets by 2027.
Restored PDP-11/83 with Mentec M11 Processor Serves Web Page on 2.11BSD Unix
A restored PDP-11/83 system, featuring a Mentec M11 processor and running 2.11BSD Unix, is actively serving a web page. This project demonstrates the operational capability of vintage hardware with modern components and classic software.
Apple's John Ternus Compares Vision Pro to Early Personal Computers
Apple CEO John Ternus stated in an interview that the Vision Pro is in its early stages, similar to personal computers in their nascent period. He highlighted emerging use cases in surgery and film production, suggesting a long-term growth trajectory for the device.
OnePlus 16 Design Revealed Ahead of China Launch, Global Availability Unlikely
OnePlus officially revealed the design of its new OnePlus 16 smartphone, which will launch soon in China. The device is not expected to be available in global markets, continuing OnePlus's shift to focus primarily on the Chinese market.
AX Gaming Releases Limited Edition RTX 5070 GPU with Built-in Aromatherapy and Anime Theme
AX Gaming, an Inno3D subsidiary, has launched a limited-edition GeForce RTX 5070 12G graphics card that includes an "e-sports aromatherapy" feature, emitting an autumn-like scent. This release combines standard GPU functionality with unique aesthetic elements like an anime character, floral graphics, and ARGB lighting, targeting a niche market for themed hardware.
Rhizomatica develops HERMES digital shortwave radio for remote data transmission
Rhizomatica, a nonprofit, has open-sourced HERMES, a digital shortwave radio system that improves data transmission rates and encryption for remote locations. This development allows for sending various file types, including photos and emails, over high-frequency bands, which is crucial for emergency communications and data exchange in areas without terrestrial infrastructure.
YouTuber EastMakes Replaces HP ProLiant N40L Motherboard with Custom Raspberry Pi CM5 Board
YouTuber EastMakes designed and built a custom motherboard using a Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5 (CM5) to upgrade a 15-year-old HP ProLiant N40L server. This project added NVMe storage and USB 3.0 ports, modernizing the server's capabilities while reusing its chassis.
Retroid Teases Pocket Duo, a Dual-Screen Handheld Device
Retroid has teased a new dual-screen handheld device named the Pocket Duo, designed to emulate the Nintendo DS experience. This device marks Retroid's entry into the dual-screen retro handheld market, potentially competing with devices like the Ayn Thor.
Sherline Tools, US Manufacturer of Precision Lathes and Mills, Ceases Operations
Sherline Tools, a US manufacturer of precision lathes, mills, and CNC machines, is winding down its manufacturing operations due to increased costs and changes in consumer purchasing habits. The company plans to continue selling existing inventory and parts until late 2026, but will cease all operations by the end of 2024.
Prusa CORE One L+ 3D Printer Receives Minor Update for Improved Precision
Prusa Research has released a small update for its CORE One L 3D printer, designating it the CORE One L+. The update includes a new nozzle wiper and improved GT1.5 belts, which enhance print quality and reliability, and is available as an upgrade kit for existing users.
Noctua NF-A4x10 5V PWM fan cools CAIM1 'Anti-AI' 4K camera to prevent throttling
Noctua's NF-A4x10 5V PWM fan is used in the CAIM1 4K camera to prevent throttling during simultaneous high-bitrate imaging and cryptographic calculations. The CAIM1 camera is designed to produce verifiable media that has not been altered or generated by AI, requiring active cooling due to its intensive processing tasks within a compact form factor.
Mainstream optical drive supply issues halt production of high-end CD players from PS Audio and Naim
PS Audio and Naim have ceased production of their high-end CD players, the PMG Super Audio CD Transport and Uniti Star, respectively, due to the unavailability of optical drive components. The discontinuation of mainstream optical drive manufacturing has led to a supply shortage and increased costs for specialized audio equipment manufacturers. This impacts audiophiles who prefer physical media and rely on these brands for high-fidelity playback.
Slate Truck adopts 'bring your own tech' model to achieve affordability
The Jeff Bezos-backed EV startup Slate Truck is offering a minimalist electric pickup truck starting at $24,950, which relies on drivers using their own smartphones or tablets for infotainment. This approach allows Slate to offer the vehicle as the most affordable EV pickup on the market, with various add-ons available for customization.
Heata Servers Heat Homes by Repurposing Waste Heat from Computing Tasks
Heata, a Surrey-based company, is deploying compact computer servers in homes to heat water tanks, utilizing the waste heat generated by computing tasks. This system reduces domestic energy bills and addresses the environmental issue of waste heat from large data centers.
HIDIZS AP30 Music Boy, a Game Boy-inspired hi-res music player, raised over $500,000 on Kickstarter
The HIDIZS AP30 Music Boy, a portable hi-res music player with a Game Boy-inspired design, concluded its Kickstarter campaign, raising over $500,000. This funding significantly surpassed its initial goal, indicating consumer interest in minimalist, aesthetic-focused tech devices.
iPhone 18 Pro Max in US uses Qualcomm modem, teardown confirms
A TechInsights teardown confirmed that the iPhone 18 Pro Max sold in the United States uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon X80 modem, despite other regions and some new iPhone models using Apple's C2 cellular modem. This indicates Apple's continued reliance on Qualcomm for its highest-end US model, even as it develops its own modem technology.
PC enthusiast builds custom copper PC with upcycled blowtorch reservoir and antique wood
A PC enthusiast, Old-Mate-Fetus, showcased a custom-built, steampunk-inspired PC featuring extensive copper piping, an upcycled blowtorch reservoir, and an antique wooden base. The system houses an AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D and Radeon RX 9070 XT, with custom liquid cooling. This build highlights unique aesthetic design in PC hardware.
Elon Musk's Terafab faces trademark dispute from Tera-Print over 'Tera-Fab' name
Elon Musk's chip manufacturing venture, Terafab, received a cease-and-desist order from Tera-Print, a company that has sold "Tera-Fab" branded lithography tools for over a decade. This dispute highlights potential trademark conflicts for new ventures entering established technology sectors.
Enthusiast repairs Intel Celeron 1200 CPU with missing data pin, achieves 33% overclock
An enthusiast successfully repaired a 25-year-old Intel Celeron 1200 CPU by replacing a ripped-off data pin, enabling the chip to boot and then be overclocked by 33%. This repair involved intricate work digging into the CPU substrate and soldering a donor pin, demonstrating a complex hardware restoration.
Apple M6 Pro Achieves Highest Single-Core CPU Score in Geekbench 7
The Apple M6 Pro processor has reportedly achieved the highest single-core CPU score in Geekbench 7. This benchmark result indicates the potential performance of Apple's next-generation silicon in single-threaded tasks.
FunnyPlaying Releases FPGB Mini, a Compact Game Boy/Color Clone with FPGA
FunnyPlaying launched the FPGB Mini, a new handheld device that plays original Game Boy and Game Boy Color cartridges and ROMs using FPGA technology. The FPGB Mini offers a smaller form factor and lower price point compared to the Analogue Pocket, though with more limited cartridge compatibility.
Apple Leads Slowing TWS Market; Open Wireless Stereo Shipments Grow
Apple maintained its lead in the global true wireless stereo (TWS) market in Q2 2026 with 16.8 million units shipped, despite a 0.7% overall market decline. The open wireless stereo (OWS) segment, a subset of TWS, saw 12% growth, indicating a shift in consumer preference within the earbud market.
Apple Increases Out-of-Warranty Battery Replacement Cost for iPhone 18 Pro Models to $129
Apple has raised the out-of-warranty battery replacement fee for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max to $129, a $10 increase from previous Pro models. This change affects users needing battery service outside of their warranty period.
Razer updates Tartarus Pro one-handed keyboard with improved switches and analog thumbpad
Razer released the Tartarus V2 Pro, an updated one-handed gaming keyboard. The new version features upgraded optical switches, a wider key actuation range, and an analog thumbpad, along with new input controls for multi-key actions.
Acer Swift Air 14 Laptop Offers Thunderbolt 4 and 16-Hour Battery Life for $699
Acer released the Swift Air 14 laptop, featuring Thunderbolt 4 ports and over 16 hours of battery life, priced at $699. The device aims to provide strong connectivity and endurance at a budget price point, despite limitations in CPU/GPU performance and screen brightness.
Philips Hue Bridge Pro Price Increases to $139 in US, Larger Hikes Globally
The price of the Philips Hue Bridge Pro has increased from $99 to $139 in the US, a 40% hike, with similar or larger increases observed in other regions like Europe. These price adjustments, which began in mid-to-late August, are attributed to rising memory costs for the device's 8GB RAM.
NvpwrControl Tool Allows Nvidia RTX 50-Series Laptop GPU Power Limit Increases
A new tool, NvpwrControl, enables owners of Nvidia RTX 50-series gaming laptops to increase their GPU power limits by up to 40 watts. This aims to unlock additional performance from mobile GPUs that are often constrained by factory power settings, potentially offering significant performance gains.
PieceMakers, a DRAM designer, begins trading on Taiwan's Emerging Stock Board
PieceMakers, a DRAM designer backed by Nanya Technology, began trading on Taiwan's Emerging Stock Board, valuing the company at approximately $1.4 billion. The company focuses on custom memory designs for AI inference, proposing an alternative to HBM by directly stacking DRAM on processors using hybrid bonding.