All articles tagged with #hardware
Firefox 151 adds desktop support for the Web Serial API, letting websites read from and write to serial devices via JavaScript. Mozilla and Adafruit are collaborating to validate browser-based hardware workflows, enabling direct hardware communication (e.g., microcontrollers) in the browser with less setup and no extra software for many projects.
A twenty-sided die built around a capacitive-touch PCB and LEDs not only shows rolls on demand but also tracks lucky and unlucky streaks. When luck is streaky, the die may glitch or silently discard future inputs to bias results toward high (16-20) or low (1-6) ranges, effectively mirroring and subtly shifting outcomes based on mood. Each unit is seeded differently, giving unique behavior, and the creator plans a public GitHub release with the design files for makers.
Honor’s Notebook X14 2026, ASUS Fearless 14SE 2026, and HP OmniBook (powered by Intel Core i5-320 Wildcat Lake) are listed at roughly MacBook Neo pricing while delivering 16GB RAM and 512GB storage, double the base Neo specs; benchmarks show solid multi‑core performance, underscoring budget Windows laptops as viable alternatives in 2026.
Microsoft is pushing a reboot for Xbox and Windows 11 with leadership changes and fixes fans have long demanded, while Surface hardware remains on aging devices; the piece also notes Windows 11/Xbox improvements and even suggests Lenovo’s Yoga Slim 7x as a strong, modern Windows-powered alternative to showcase what hardware should look like in 2026.
Digital Foundry tests the MacBook Neo, a $600 Apple laptop built around an A18 Pro with 8GB of unified memory and limited I/O. It feels premium and has a sharp Retina display, but struggles with modern games: roughly 45–60fps at 1080p on low in some titles, with RT in Control dropping to 20–30fps and Cyberpunk 2077 largely unplayable. Older console-era games run better, and the device sustains performance well thanks to its thermal mass, though memory and CPU/GPU cuts cap its gaming potential. Outside gaming, it handles light multitasking and everyday tasks, but heavy workloads reveal its limitations. Overall, it's a solid, price‑conscious everyday machine with surprisingly decent gaming for legacy or mobile titles, not a true gaming rig compared to M‑series Macs or dedicated PCs.
A Valve Steam Machine price leak via the device's source code hints at a premium cost, with hardware reservations suggesting prices in the thousands of euros and possibly over $1,000, though theories include an expensive bundle or a misread; Valve has not commented and earlier reports pegged the price around $600–$650.
In an in-depth interview, Panos Panay says Amazon isn’t aiming for a smartphone; instead, the company is expanding a cohesive AI-enabled hardware strategy—from Alexa upgrades to a range of devices and services—while pushing Leo satellite broadband as a separate growth bet and pursuing profitability through focused product design and pricing.
Valve's Steam Controller 2026 hides a playful Easter Egg: if dropped from a certain height, it can emit the Wilhelm scream, a meme sound. Reported on Reddit and corroborated by Peeved Controller Gamer, the effect doesn't fire every time and seems to have a cooldown between drops. The quirk recalls early Steam Controller quirks (e.g., modded units making noise) and is presented as light hardware humor rather than a functional feature.
A Reddit sleuth highlights that Nintendo’s research-and-development expenses rose 23% year over year, a pattern that in the past preceded new hardware releases, fueling speculation that the company is developing a next-generation console or other hardware, though it remains unconfirmed.
Valve says the Steam Controller sold out faster than anticipated and will be restocked, apologizing to customers who couldn't buy one.
Xbox is expanding Default Game Profiles for the Xbox Ally and Ally X, adding over two dozen titles that apply per-game tweaks (power use, TDP, and frame-rate targets) to improve performance and extend battery life when games run through the Xbox app; notable additions include Forza Horizon 6 and Halo: Spartan Assault, though not all games support both devices yet (e.g., Invincible VS and Kingdom Come: Deliverance II), and the feature remains limited to Xbox app titles on handhelds with more titles expected to follow.
Valve's SteamOS 3.8.3 beta adds more support for the upcoming Steam Machine, fueling near-launch expectations as shipments of game consoles appear at Valve's warehouses and executives tease news on a release date.
Mechanism launches Basegrip to mount Steam Controller to phones and other mounts, enabling PC control via Steam Link (though iOS/Android support is incomplete); a tilt Dock is on a waitlist for June 2026, and Mechanism also offers free 3D‑printable files for Basegrip and a Dock.
Windows Central pits the Surface Laptop 13-inch against the MacBook Neo after Microsoft's price hike: Surface offers longer battery life, 16GB RAM, and more ports, but starts at $1,149, making it a tougher sell next to the significantly cheaper Neo, which has a higher-resolution, brighter display and stronger single-core CPU/GPU but 8GB RAM in base configuration and fewer ports. For OS-agnostic or budget buyers, Neo is the clearer value, while Windows enthusiasts may still prefer Surface for its features despite the price.
Framework says its Laptop 13 Pro, optimized for Linux, is selling far above forecast with the first seven batches sold out; Ubuntu configurations are outselling Windows, and the company emphasizes Linux-ready design and modular repairability. The DIY edition can ship with Windows or no OS, while the pre-built model offers Windows 11 Pro or Ubuntu 24.04 LTS. The DIY option can be configured up to Core Ultra X9 388H with up to 64GB RAM, while the current pre-built ships with Ultra X7 358H, 32GB RAM, 1TB storage, a 74Wh battery and a 2.8K touchscreen. Batch 8 is already in the works, underscoring growing Linux demand in premium laptops.