All posts tagged: hardware

Your new graphics card is disappointing because of one hardware mistake

Your new graphics card is disappointing because of one hardware mistake

Published by skeptic

Buying a new GPU is the ultimate thrill when it comes to putting together a rig. Though be sure you’re not slipping into eight catastrophic mistakes first-time PC builders make. Yet no matter how powerful that shiny new graphics card is, if you don’t pair it with a suitably beefy gaming CPU, you’re asking for a world of performance problems. CPU bottlenecking sometimes goes under the radar. There are a bunch of processor-intensive Steam games that will happily punish your system if your chip isn’t up to scratch, so it’s important that you don’t undercut your PC by investing in an underwhelming CPU. If you are experiencing processor bottlenecking, I have some tips below on how to get around your CPU issues. Related Your CPU isn’t slow—your RAM settings are holding it back A factory default is slowing down your entire PC. Why do CPU bottlenecks in games happen? Uneven hardware setups can cause poor performance Dave Meikleham \ MakeUseOf The main reason CPU bottlenecks occur in PC games is normally due to a performance …

Man builds 12-foot-long sailboat with materials from hardware store

Man builds 12-foot-long sailboat with materials from hardware store

Published by Jenni Sidey

Get the Popular Science daily newsletter💡 Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. It traditionally takes years of training and apprenticeship before shipbuilders truly master the art of handcrafting wooden vessels. However, that doesn’t mean all that time is necessary. Kentucky-based YouTuber Nick Kroehnke, aka Cumberland Rover, has spent the past few months documenting his progress on constructing a simple, 12-foot-long sailboat using everyday materials from the local hardware store. As he demonstrates across multiple videos, sometimes all you need is basic carpentry skills and a bit of creativity to take to the water yourself. Building a Wooden Boat 2026: Sail and Oar Skiff According to Hackaday’s recent rundown, Kroehnke began his journey by building a rowboat using two pieces of 1×12 lumber that he bent and attached to a basic wooden frame. From there, it was only a matter of fastening a plywood bottom and installing a couple seats, along with waterproofing the entire boat. But why stop there? More recently, Kroehnke added accessories like a mast and sail using additional …

Your Windows PC can already stream to your TV without any extra hardware — here’s how to set it up

Your Windows PC can already stream to your TV without any extra hardware — here’s how to set it up

Published by skeptic

There are so many occasions when we want to show what’s on our laptop to more people on a big-screen TV. It could be a hilarious YouTube video you recently came across, a presentation you made for your team, or an album from your recent trip. No matter how sharp your laptop’s display is, it is not big enough for more than two or three people to watch the content on it. If it had been on your smartphone, you would have started screen mirroring. What about your laptop? The good thing is that your laptop has everything you need to cast your screen to the big TV. The secret feature is called Miracast and is standard on all modern Windows laptops. Moreover, setting it up is quite easy, and this guide will tell you exactly that. Related You Can Use Your Smart TV as a Second Monitor With a Few Simple Tweaks Why let that giant screen go to waste between Netflix sessions? Miracast is the magic sauce No extra hardware or software required, …

Apple under Ternus: what comes next for the tech giant’s hardware strategy

Apple under Ternus: what comes next for the tech giant’s hardware strategy

Published by skeptic

As Apple races to stay competitive in AI while navigating tariffs and supply chain uncertainty, the company’s future is about to shift under new leadership. On Monday, Apple announced that John Ternus will take over as CEO later this year, succeeding Tim Cook. Cook transformed Apple into a $4 trillion global powerhouse, expanded its services business, and oversaw some of the most profitable years in tech history. Ternus brings a different kind of skillset. A longtime hardware executive, he has spent his career building Apple’s devices rather than managing the broader business. Ternus joined Apple in 2001 and rose through the ranks of hardware engineering. Along the way, he has contributed to some of the company’s biggest products, including AirPods, the Apple Watch, and Vision Pro. His appointment signals a renewed focus on hardware at a moment when Apple is under pressure to define its next era. Ternus will now help determine what that looks like. Hardware with AI at the center Rather than trying to compete head-on with companies building the biggest AI models, …

XPeng unveils GX flagship SUV with 750 km range, L4-ready hardware for ,000

XPeng unveils GX flagship SUV with 750 km range, L4-ready hardware for $58,000

Published by skeptic

XPeng officially unveiled the GX, its new flagship SUV, at the Beijing Auto Show today. The full-size six-seater starts at 399,800 yuan (~$58,000) and packs up to 750 km (466 miles) of AWD range in its pure electric version. The GX represents XPeng’s most ambitious push into the premium market yet, bringing together the company’s most advanced autonomous driving hardware, a Bosch steer-by-wire system, and aviation-grade safety redundancy — all in a package that directly undercuts European luxury SUVs. Range Rover looks, but the interior steals the show I saw the XPeng GX in person at the Beijing Auto Show, and it is a stunning vehicle. The exterior is obviously reminiscent of the Range Rover — something we noted when XPeng first revealed images of the GX earlier this year — but dare I say, the interior is even more impressive. The GX measures 5,265 mm (207 inches) long on a 3,115 mm (123 inches) wheelbase, making it slightly longer than a Range Rover. It rides on 22-inch wheels and achieves a 0.255 drag coefficient …

Tesla (TSLA) quietly discloses billion AI hardware company acquisition buried in filing

Tesla (TSLA) quietly discloses $2 billion AI hardware company acquisition buried in filing

Published by skeptic

Tesla agreed to acquire an unnamed AI hardware company for up to $2 billion in stock and equity awards, according to a single sentence buried in its Q1 2026 10-Q filing. The company never mentioned the deal in its shareholders’ letter or during last night’s earnings call. The disclosure appeared in Note 14 — Subsequent Events, the very last note in the financial statements, in what may be the most expensive one-sentence disclosure Tesla has ever made. What the filing says The full disclosure, in its entirety, reads: “In April 2026, the Company entered into an agreement to acquire an AI hardware company for up to $2.00 billion in Tesla common stock and equity awards, of which approximately $1.8 billion is subject to certain service conditions and/or performance milestones dependent on the successful deployment of the company’s technology.” Advertisement – scroll for more content That’s it. No company name. No description of what the company does. No explanation of how it fits into Tesla’s existing AI hardware efforts. No detail on how many shares of …

Johny Srouji Taking Over as Apple’s Chief Hardware Officer as John Ternus Transitions to CEO

Johny Srouji Taking Over as Apple’s Chief Hardware Officer as John Ternus Transitions to CEO

Published by skeptic

Apple’s Senior Vice President of Hardware Technologies Johny Srouji is set to take on an expanded role as Apple’s Chief Hardware Officer as John Ternus transitions to his role as Apple’s next CEO. Srouji is going to lead Hardware Engineering, reporting to Ternus. Current Apple CEO Tim Cook said that Srouji has been pivotal in Apple’s transition to Apple silicon. Johny is one of the most talented people I have ever had the privilege to work with. He has played a singular role in driving Apple’s silicon strategy, and his influence has been felt deeply not just inside the company, but across the industry. He has always led his organization with remarkable deftness and judgment, and time and again, his team has delivered breakthrough innovations that have transformed our products. We are incredibly fortunate to have him as Apple’s chief hardware officer. Srouji is well-known as Apple’s chip lead, and he has overseen the development of Apple silicon chips for the Mac. Apple’s hardware engineering team is responsible for all of Apple’s hardware products, and …

Tim Cook Stepping Down As Apple CEO; John Ternus, Head Of Hardware, Will Take Over

Tim Cook Stepping Down As Apple CEO; John Ternus, Head Of Hardware, Will Take Over

Published by Jenni Sidey

Confirming long-standing rumors of Tim Cook’s replacement, after hours Apple announced that Tim Cook will step down as CEO and become executive chairman of Apple’s board of directorsm while John Ternus, senior vice president of Hardware Engineering whose name has been speculated as the next boss of Apple, will become Apple’s next chief executive officer effective on September 1, 2026. The transition was approved unanimously by the Board of Directors. Cook will continue in his role as CEO through the summer as he works closely with Ternus on a smooth transition. As executive chairman, Cook will assist with certain aspects of the company, including engaging with policymakers around the world. “It has been the greatest privilege of my life to be the CEO of Apple and to have been trusted to lead such an extraordinary company. I love Apple with all of my being, and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with a team of such ingenious, innovative, creative, and deeply caring people who have been unwavering in their dedication to enriching …

Apple’s foldable iPhone hinges on one key feature for me – and it’s not the hardware

Apple’s foldable iPhone hinges on one key feature for me – and it’s not the hardware

Published by skeptic

Kerry Wan/ZDNET Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. ZDNET’s key takeaways Apple is rumored to release a foldable iPhone in 2026.  The foldable will need to be able to multitask well.  iOS will need a significant overhaul to support it.  The long-awaited (but still rumored) iPhone Fold will have an all-new design for Apple’s “most significant overhaul” in the history of iPhones, according to a report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.  Potentially coming in 2026, it debuts at a time when rival phone makers have found a way to minimize the crease, add versatile cameras and make their foldables as durable as slab phones. The all-new iPhone form factor will need more than a novelty factor to be actually useful. Also: iPhone charging slowly? 6 quick fixes to try before blaming your battery Apple’s foldable iPhone is rumored to be a wide-screen device, like the Oppo Find N2 and the original Google Pixel Fold. The wider aspect ratio will help it minimize letterboxing (thick black borders on top and bottom) when watching videos. However, …

Valve Hardware Shipments Signal 2026 Steam Machine Release

Valve Hardware Shipments Signal 2026 Steam Machine Release

Published by skeptic

Valve is set to make waves in the gaming world with its upcoming 2026 hardware lineup, including the much-anticipated Steam Machine. As highlighted by Deck Ready, this launch reflects Valve’s focus on creating a cohesive ecosystem that bridges hardware and software. A key development is the integration of advanced RAM technology, supported by artificial intelligence, which has enabled Valve to enhance device performance while keeping production costs manageable. These advancements ensure that the Steam Machine and its counterparts are well-positioned to deliver a responsive and versatile gaming experience. Dive into this launch overview to explore the specific steps Valve has taken to refine its hardware and software offerings. Learn how updates to Steam OS, such as the 3.8 series, improve compatibility across devices and enhance desktop functionality. Discover how the Steam Machine fits into Valve’s broader ecosystem alongside the Steam Deck and Steam VR, offering gamers a range of options tailored to their preferences. This breakdown provides a clear look at what to expect as Valve prepares to release its latest innovations. Advancements in Steam …