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Category: Hardware

Chiplab Launches: Run Your 6502 Programs on Real Hardware

2025-03-30

Chiplab now offers a service to run your 6502 assembly programs on a real 6502 chip, providing cycle-by-cycle bus traces for highly accurate testing and research. Users upload their code, which runs for 100 cycles, after which a detailed trace of address and data bus values is returned. This approach offers a superior alternative to emulators and lays the groundwork for analyzing more complex chips in the future. The project is open-source and welcomes contributions.

(www.emulationonline.com)
Hardware chip emulator

IBM & Family Keyboard Timeline: 111 Key Events

2025-03-30
IBM & Family Keyboard Timeline: 111 Key Events

This illustrated timeline charts key events in the history of IBM, Lexmark, Unicomp, Lenovo, and Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions keyboards. It covers significant releases and discontinuations, corporate history (founding, divestitures, OEM changes), and patents. Host devices like PCs, terminals, consoles, and typewriters are also included due to their impact on keyboard development. The full timeline details 111 events.

(sharktastica.co.uk)
Hardware IBM keyboards keyboard history

Raspberry Pi E-Ink Commute & Weather Tracker: Closing the Agency Gap

2025-03-29
Raspberry Pi E-Ink Commute & Weather Tracker: Closing the Agency Gap

The author built a Raspberry Pi-powered e-ink display that shows real-time subway arrival times and weather forecasts, solving a daily morning commute problem. The device displays date, time, upcoming F & G train arrivals for the next 30 minutes, and a 12-hour weather forecast. The project details cover hardware and software design, including data acquisition from the MTA API, display engine, and update strategies to minimize screen flickering and ghosting. The final product is aesthetically pleasing and functional, loved by the author's wife, successfully bridging the 'agency gap'.

(sambroner.com)
Hardware E-ink

Bolt Graphics Unveils Ambitious Zeus GPU Architecture

2025-03-29
Bolt Graphics Unveils Ambitious Zeus GPU Architecture

Bolt Graphics announced its Zeus GPU architecture, a modular design based on the RISC-V instruction set. Employing a multi-chiplet approach, Zeus scales up to four chiplets, each boasting 64GB of LPDDR5X and abundant high-speed interconnect options like 800GbE and PCIe Gen5. Targeting large-scale GPU clusters through high memory capacity and bandwidth, Zeus aims to challenge Nvidia's dominance in high-performance computing. While still in early development, with developer kits slated for Q4 2025, its unique architecture and potential for cost-effectiveness warrant attention.

(www.servethehome.com)
Hardware

Real-Time Chess: A Physical Board That Eliminates Turns

2025-03-29
Real-Time Chess: A Physical Board That Eliminates Turns

Tired of the long waits in turn-based chess? A developer has created a real-time physical chessboard that eliminates turns entirely. Each piece has an individual cooldown, enforced by electronics and electromagnets, preventing cheating. The project's PCB designs and firmware are open-source, but the author notes issues like inadequate power distribution and tight tolerances.

(github.com)
Hardware

ESP32 Pomodoro Timer: A Hardware and Software DIY Project

2025-03-29
ESP32 Pomodoro Timer: A Hardware and Software DIY Project

A software engineer, driven by a quest for productivity enhancement and a desire to help a friend, designed an ESP32-based Pomodoro timer. This timer uses an e-paper display and a rotary encoder, prioritizing a physical device, fun, and intuitive usability. The project encompasses hardware selection (ESP32, e-paper display, rotary encoder, LED, etc.), software development (C++, Arduino framework, GxEPD2 library), and 3D-printed case design. The author shares lessons learned throughout the design process, such as display selection, input method design, LED indicator implementation, and software code management. The final product combines practicality and fun, incorporating Easter eggs.

(github.com)
Hardware Pomodoro Timer Hardware DIY

PCIe Endpoint on Xilinx 7-Series FPGAs: Open-Source Implementation

2025-03-29
PCIe Endpoint on Xilinx 7-Series FPGAs: Open-Source Implementation

This project implements a PCIe endpoint on Xilinx 7-series FPGAs using the PCIE_2_1 hard block and GTP transceivers. It avoids proprietary Vivado IP cores and is compatible with openXC7. The design includes clock generation, GTP transceivers, and the PCIE_2_1 hard block, supporting PCIe Gen1 x1 and Gen2 x1. It's been tested on Alinx AC7100B SoM and Wavelet uSDR. Docker build and run scripts are provided, along with MSI interrupt and kernel driver support. This project is funded by NGI0 Entrust.

(github.com)
Hardware

OpenWrt "Two" Crowdfunding Campaign Approved

2025-03-29

GL.iNet's crowdfunding campaign for OpenWrt "Two", a next-generation router, has been successfully approved by the community. Featuring the MT7988 chip, 10G SFP, 5G copper, 2.5G copper ports, and tri-band Wi-Fi 7, "Two" is expected to retail around $250, with a portion of the proceeds donated to the OpenWrt project. Availability is anticipated in late 2025.

(openwrt.org)
Hardware

DIY Acoustic Camera: Locating Sound Sources on a Budget

2025-03-29
DIY Acoustic Camera: Locating Sound Sources on a Budget

This project details the construction of a low-cost acoustic camera using readily available hardware and open-source software. The author utilizes a miniDSP UMA-16 microphone array and custom Python scripts to capture synchronized 16-channel audio and video. Beamforming is achieved using the Acoular library, visualizing sound pressure levels and merging the results with the video stream. The post includes code examples and a comparison with an earlier attempt using a ReSpeaker 4 microphone array and a GCC-PHAT algorithm, demonstrating a surprisingly effective and affordable approach to sound localization.

(navat.substack.com)
Hardware acoustic camera

Puget Systems' Transparent Take on Tariffs and PC Pricing

2025-03-28
Puget Systems' Transparent Take on Tariffs and PC Pricing

Puget Systems openly addresses the impact of tariffs on its computer pricing. A 20% tariff increase has affected some components (motherboards, power supplies) by 20%, while others (CPUs) see less impact. Puget Systems is mitigating the effects through strategic inventory management, close supplier relationships, and absorbing some costs. They advise customers to consider early purchases to avoid potentially higher prices in June.

(www.pugetsystems.com)
Hardware

Raspberry Pi Stratum 1 PTP & NTP Timeserver: The Time Pi Project

2025-03-28

An open-source project, Time Pi, builds a stratum 1 Precision Time Protocol (PTP) and Network Time Protocol (NTP) timeserver using a Raspberry Pi 5. Leveraging the TimeHAT add-on board with an Intel i226 2.5Gbps NIC and supporting hardware timestamping, Time Pi achieves high-precision time synchronization, further enhanced by an optional M.2 GPS module. While encountering driver issues with the Intel i226 NIC, the project successfully utilizes Ansible to configure Chrony, NTP, and PTP software, running stably for months. Future plans include outdoor GPS antenna installation, cross-device PTP synchronization testing, and collaboration with Masterclock for advanced time synchronization solutions.

(www.jeffgeerling.com)
Hardware Timeserver

Pyrex Explosions: The Fall of a Kitchen Icon?

2025-03-28
Pyrex Explosions: The Fall of a Kitchen Icon?

Since 1915, Pyrex glassware has been a kitchen staple. However, in recent years, numerous reports of Pyrex cookware exploding under heat have surfaced. Investigations reveal a shift in the 1950s to cheaper soda-lime glass from the original heat-resistant borosilicate glass. While tempered, soda-lime glass is far less resistant to thermal shock, making it prone to shattering. Although Pyrex's parent company claims explosions are rare and due to misuse, consumers and experts question this, citing insufficient risk communication. A class-action lawsuit is underway, and consumers are seeking out reliable borosilicate glass alternatives. The incident highlights the importance of material science in everyday products.

(gizmodo.com)
Hardware glass cookware product safety

Two Transistors Mimic Neurons, Promising Breakthrough in Neural Networks

2025-03-28
Two Transistors Mimic Neurons, Promising Breakthrough in Neural Networks

Researchers have developed a novel device that mimics both neurons and synapses using just two standard CMOS transistors. By controlling the gate voltage, the device can switch between an off state and mimicking neuronal activity with adjustable spiking frequency, and can use spikes to adjust the weights of different inputs. It can function as an artificial synapse with six or more weight levels, and when combined with a second transistor, it can act as a neuron, integrating inputs to influence the frequency of output spikes (varying by a factor of 1000). This stable behavior (over 10 million clock cycles) offers a highly efficient and cost-effective design, potentially significantly reducing the energy consumption and cost of neural networks and accelerating AI advancements.

(arstechnica.com)
Hardware neuromorphic computing hardware acceleration

$10,000 Toyota IMV 0: A No-Frills Truck America Can't Have

2025-03-28
$10,000 Toyota IMV 0: A No-Frills Truck America Can't Have

In a US market where new trucks average $59,000, the $10,000 Toyota IMV 0 is a game-changer. This compact pickup, based on the Hilux platform, lacks modern amenities like touchscreens and safety features, but it boasts surprising practicality and ruggedness. It offers a surprisingly spacious bed and cabin, and its manual transmission and rear-wheel drive provide a pure driving experience. While currently only available in developing markets like Thailand, and unavailable in the US, it presents a compelling argument for a simpler, more affordable truck. It suggests a potential shift in market demand towards smaller, cheaper, and more utilitarian vehicles.

(www.motor1.com)
Hardware pickup truck value

The Mystery of the Passive USB-to-PS/2 Mouse Adapter

2025-03-28
The Mystery of the Passive USB-to-PS/2 Mouse Adapter

Early USB mice often included a green adapter to convert the USB Type-A plug to PS/2. This wasn't a smart adapter; it was purely mechanical, with no circuitry. The mouse itself did the conversion, detecting the signal type (USB or PS/2) and adjusting accordingly. It's analogous to a simple power adapter – the intelligence resides in the device, not the adapter. So, if you find one of these, remember it's just a physical connector; the actual conversion happens within the dual-bus mouse.

(devblogs.microsoft.com)
Hardware Mouse Adapter

DIY Artificial Sunlight: A Software Engineer's Hardware Adventure

2025-03-27
DIY Artificial Sunlight: A Software Engineer's Hardware Adventure

Inspired by a YouTube video, a software engineer embarked on a project to create artificial sunlight at home. Rejecting the bulky parabolic reflector design, he cleverly employed a grid array of multiple lenses and LEDs. The article details the entire process, from 3D modeling and PCB design to CNC machining and final assembly, including challenges faced and solutions implemented. While the final product's brightness fell slightly short of expectations, it achieved a satisfying geometric effect and provided the author with valuable hardware engineering experience.

(victorpoughon.fr)
Hardware Optics

AirPods Max USB-C Gets Lossless Audio, But Is Apple Overhyping It?

2025-03-26
AirPods Max USB-C Gets Lossless Audio, But Is Apple Overhyping It?

Apple announced that AirPods Max (USB-C) will gain support for lossless audio and ultra-low latency audio via a firmware update next month, alongside iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, and macOS 15.4. However, Apple's own support documents claim that AAC audio is already virtually indistinguishable from original studio recordings, contradicting marketing chief Greg Joswiak's claim of an "ultimate" audio upgrade. While the improvement from lossless audio alone is minimal, the combination with ultra-low latency will make AirPods Max the only headphones allowing musicians to create and mix in Personalized Spatial Audio with head tracking.

(www.macrumors.com)
Hardware Lossless Audio Ultra-Low Latency Audio

AMD Zen Chief Architect Interview: Unpacking the Secrets of Low-Power x86 Design

2025-03-26
AMD Zen Chief Architect Interview: Unpacking the Secrets of Low-Power x86 Design

This article presents a transcript of an interview between Casey and Mike Clark, the chief architect of AMD's Zen. The discussion centers on low-power design in x86 architectures. Clark dispels the myth that the x86 ISA inherently hinders low-power design, emphasizing the role of market strategy and design priorities. He explains how AMD improves energy efficiency through microarchitectural optimizations (like TLBs and uop caches), balancing bandwidth and power consumption. The interview delves into instruction set size, cache line size, scatter/gather operations, non-temporal stores, CPU pipeline diagrams, and how software developers can better leverage hardware features, offering invaluable insight into modern CPU design.

(www.computerenhance.com)
Hardware low-power design

Pi Pico Rx: A Minimalist Software Defined Radio

2025-03-26

This article details the Pi Pico Rx, a remarkably simple software-defined radio (SDR) receiver built around a Raspberry Pi Pico. Using only a few components – a Pico, an analog switch, and an op-amp – it covers LW, MW, and SW bands, receiving signals from across the globe. The Pi Pico Rx cleverly utilizes the RP2040's PIO feature for quadrature oscillator generation and employs unique IQ sampling and DSP algorithms to demodulate AM, FM, SSB, and CW. Further features include an OLED display, spectrum scope, 512 programmable memory channels, headphone/speaker output, making it a functional and accessible DIY project.

(101-things.readthedocs.io)
Hardware DIY Electronics

AMD's Radeon RX 9000 Series GPUs Sell 10x More Units in First Week

2025-03-25
AMD's Radeon RX 9000 Series GPUs Sell 10x More Units in First Week

AMD CEO Lisa Su announced that the Radeon RX 9000 series graphics cards have been a phenomenal success, selling ten times more units than their predecessors in their first week on the market. This success is attributed to AMD's focus on delivering top-tier gaming performance at competitive prices. While current supply is limited and prices are exceeding MSRP, AMD is aggressively increasing production. More RDNA 4 cards are on the way, with the rumored RX 9060 potentially included in the lineup.

(www.techspot.com)
Hardware

Overprovisioning Fiber: Better Safe Than Sorry

2025-03-25

When planning fiber cabling between rooms or buildings, err on the side of caution and install more fiber than you initially need. Future expansion, bandwidth upgrades, and new protocols all demand extra capacity. Furthermore, fiber failures do happen—sometimes inexplicably—and having spare pairs allows for quick recovery. While single-mode and multi-mode fibers have different applications, having sufficient redundancy is crucial for minimizing downtime and costs.

(utcc.utoronto.ca)
Hardware fiber cabling network infrastructure redundancy

Elecom's Na Plus: First Consumer Sodium-Ion Power Bank is Here (But It's Bulky)

2025-03-25
Elecom's Na Plus: First Consumer Sodium-Ion Power Bank is Here (But It's Bulky)

Accessory maker Elecom has launched the Na Plus, the first consumer-ready power bank using sodium-ion batteries. Boasting superior environmental friendliness, extreme temperature tolerance, and a claimed lifespan of nearly 5,000 charges, it promises long-term durability. However, the 9,000mAh Na Plus, priced at ~$67, is significantly larger and heavier than comparable lithium-ion alternatives, offering less power output (max 45W). While sodium-ion technology is still nascent, its eco-friendly and safer nature makes it a promising long-term solution, with potential for future cost and size reductions.

(www.theverge.com)
Hardware sodium-ion battery power bank

Hacker News: Comsol 8GB USB Drive Teardown and Firmware Optimization

2025-03-25
Hacker News: Comsol 8GB USB Drive Teardown and Firmware Optimization

The author disassembled a Comsol 8GB USB drive and discovered it uses a soldered-down microSDHC card and an Alcor Micro AU6989SN-GT controller. Using AlcorMP software, the author optimized the drive's firmware, improving read/write speeds and capacity. The article details AlcorMP software usage, and the impact of ECC settings, capacity/speed optimization, and cache program parameters on performance. Ultimately, the author significantly improved the drive's performance and stability, sharing their optimal settings.

(goughlui.com)
Hardware

My Bosch Dishwasher Demands a Cloud Connection: A Lament

2025-03-24

The author bought a Bosch 500 series dishwasher, praising its easy installation. However, key features like delayed start and eco mode require a Home Connect app and Wi-Fi connection. This sparked a reflection on manufacturers' over-reliance on cloud control, potentially contributing to planned obsolescence and data harvesting. The author argues that appliances should prioritize local control, with cloud features as add-ons, not replacements for core functionality. This creates unnecessary obstacles and dependence on internet access for basic operations.

(www.jeffgeerling.com)
Hardware planned obsolescence

AMD RDNA 4: Out-of-Order Memory Accesses and the Elimination of False Dependencies

2025-03-23
AMD RDNA 4: Out-of-Order Memory Accesses and the Elimination of False Dependencies

AMD's RDNA 4 architecture introduces significant memory subsystem enhancements, notably addressing false dependencies between wavefronts present in RDNA 3 and earlier architectures. Previously, one wavefront could be stalled by another's memory accesses, impacting performance. RDNA 4 resolves this by implementing new out-of-order queues, allowing requests from different shaders to be serviced out of order. This article details testing that verifies this improvement and compares AMD, Intel, and Nvidia GPU architectures in handling cross-wave memory dependencies. While not entirely novel, RDNA 4's improvements significantly enhance performance, particularly in emerging workloads like ray tracing.

(chipsandcheese.com)
Hardware GPU architecture memory subsystem

Running Steam on an Orange Pi 5 Plus: A Ludicrously Neat Experiment

2025-03-23
Running Steam on an Orange Pi 5 Plus: A Ludicrously Neat Experiment

The author details a six-step process for installing Steam on an Orange Pi 5 Plus, involving Armbian installation, adding Box86/64 repositories, installing dependencies, and further configuration. While successful, performance is inconsistent, with most tested games running at 720p and barely exceeding 30 FPS. The author concludes it's more a fun technical challenge than a practical gaming solution, although future improvements from Collabora and Valve's ARM initiatives might change that.

(interfacinglinux.com)
Hardware

Home Batteries vs. Gas Generators: The Backup Power Showdown

2025-03-23
Home Batteries vs. Gas Generators: The Backup Power Showdown

With rising grid outage risks, home batteries and gas generators are top choices for backup power. Gas generators offer a lower upfront cost, but higher long-term running and fuel costs, plus noise and carbon monoxide risks. Home batteries, especially paired with solar, have higher initial investment but benefit from tax credits, lower operating costs, and quieter, cleaner operation. Batteries last about 10 years, generators 20+, but require maintenance. Ultimately, home batteries win on flexible installation, quiet operation, and ease of maintenance, making them a more convenient backup power solution.

(pv-magazine-usa.com)
Hardware home energy storage backup power

Resurrecting a Caltech DEC Pro 380: A Retro Hardware Upgrade

2025-03-22
Resurrecting a Caltech DEC Pro 380: A Retro Hardware Upgrade

This article details the author's journey upgrading a vintage DEC Professional 380 computer, a relic from Caltech, based on the PDP-11 architecture. This machine represents one of DEC's less successful forays into the personal computer market, but its robust build and unique design remain fascinating. The author meticulously documents the upgrade process, including replacing the aging hard drive with an SSD and upgrading the RAM, alongside experiences using the PRO/VENIX operating system. Interwoven is a compelling history of DEC's struggles in the PC market and the evolution of the PDP-11 architecture, making for a technically detailed and engaging read.

(oldvcr.blogspot.com)
Hardware

Interactive Smart Cake: A Camera Disguised as Dessert

2025-03-22
Interactive Smart Cake: A Camera Disguised as Dessert

This article details the creation of an interactive smart cake, a collaboration between the author and a confectionery roboticist. The cake, designed to resemble a camera, incorporates a camera, LEDs, a thermal printer, and other interactive components. It detects faces, takes photos, and prints personalized receipts. The article provides a detailed walkthrough of the hardware, software, code, and assembly process, culminating in a delicious and photographically capable cake!

(medium.com)
Hardware Smart Hardware Creative Project

Pocket Keyboard Design Contest: A Clash of Creativity and Technology

2025-03-22
Pocket Keyboard Design Contest: A Clash of Creativity and Technology

A unique pocket keyboard design contest has concluded, showcasing amazing entries. Participants cleverly utilized Bluetooth, minimal key layouts, side buttons, folding designs, and more to create portable keyboards that are both practical and aesthetically pleasing. 'bubby', with its innovative side-button design, won the grand prize, while several other ingenious keyboards also received awards. The contest not only demonstrated the participants' exceptional creativity but also advanced innovation in the field of pocket keyboard design.

(chrischrislolo.github.io)
Hardware creative design
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