Tech & Hardware 3 Days

Last updated: July 11, 2026, 8:30 PM ET

Gaming Hardware & Software Updates

Keychron has launched its new K5 Ultra 8K low-profile mechanical keyboard, featuring a full 100% layout and wood accents. In the PC building space, Thermaltake introduced the CAPO X dual-system full-tower chassis, an unusual case designed to house two Mini-ITX systems. Jsaux is previewing new Steam Machine display faceplates for the Steam Deck previewed faceplates. ASUS Republic of Gamers announced the ROG Gjallar gaming soundbar for cinematic surround sound and the ROG Raikiri II Pro PC game controller with an 8K polling rate and hot-swappable joysticks. MSI has unveiled its MEG MAESTRO 900R full tower case and MEG CORELIQUID E15 360 AIO liquid cooler. Alphacool announced the Eisblock Arc Pro B60 Creator full-coverage water block for PC water cooling systems. Lian Li introduced the UNI FAN FLEX Series, a new generation of fans offering more flexibility in fan speed and lighting control.

The gaming world is seeing shifts with Palworld exiting Early Access with version 1.0, bringing a large number of updates, features, and fixes. Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced launched to mixed reviews, with controversial microtransactions causing outrage. Console disc production is winding down, pushing gamers toward PC as PlayStation plans to cease physical media production for new games by January 2028. Valve has rolled out its Steam Machine and Steam OS verified ratings system, though dozens of titles too demanding for the Steam Deck remain unrated. Xbox is undergoing a significant reset under new CEO Asha Sharma, leading to mass layoffs and a potential shift towards single-player exclusives and cross-platform multiplayer games, which may impact future titles like The Elder Scrolls 6 confirmed layoffs.

PC Components & AI Hardware

ASUS's ROG Strix Z890-E Gaming Wi-Fi motherboard impressed with its feature set, including seven M.2 ports and three PCIe Gen 5 slots, all while maintaining good VRM and SSD cooling. Intel handles onboard audio codecs better than AMD, according to an editorial examining DPC latency issues. AMD has expanded its processor lineup by adding 11 new SKUs to its "Hawk Point" APU series, with seven new models in the Ryzen 200 series and four in the Ryzen 100 series. AMD CTO Mark Papermaster confirmed that EPYC "Venice," the company's first Zen 6 server CPU, will be introduced at the Advancing AI event on July 22nd and 23rd. Minisforum detailed its MS-03 Panther Lake Mini PC, which supports PCIe x8. NVIDIA is reportedly readying the GeForce RTX 5090 SE graphics card, potentially filling the performance gap between the RTX 5080 and RTX 5090. GIGABYTE demonstrated its AI TOP ATOM four-node clustering for scaling local AI computing for complex workloads. The XMG APEX 17 laptop is now available with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 featuring 12 GB of VRAM, an upgrade from the previous 8 GB.

Semiconductor & Manufacturing Investments

Micron Technology is accelerating its U.S. fab and technology investments, planning to spend over $250 billion through 2035, with the company pouring the first concrete at its new New York fab. In other semiconductor news, Allstate is accusing Broadcom of auditing it because the company stopped using VMware and CA software, while Broadcom claims Allstate is avoiding audits.

Industry & Regulatory News

The global PC market saw a 3.6% year-over-year decline in shipments for 2Q26, totaling 65.7 million units, according to Omdia research, amidst supply pressures. Waymo rides in California could be free for a few months due to a state agency's delay in approving new vehicles. A ransomware negotiator has been sentenced to six years in prison for working with attackers, effectively representing the very victims he was hired to protect. A firmware update for Hue Bridge Pro devices bricked the hardware, with Philips offering free replacements and users needing to reconfigure their setups. OpenAI may face sanctions in its copyright fight with news organizations for allegedly hiding and deleting ChatGPT logs. Elon Musk's settlement with the SEC for $1.5 million over Twitter stock violations was reluctantly approved by a judge who stated the court could not block it.

Computing & Scientific Advancements

Slimbook launched its Nexus AI Workstation Series, available in configurations with Ryzen AI and Threadripper AI processors, designed for local AI development. Quantum error correction can constantly recalibrate a processor using reinforcement learning to adjust control algorithms based on error information. Humanoid robots controlled by surgeons performed the world's first operation on live pigs in a preclinical trial testing their feasibility in surgery. A new study indicates that a change to the measles vaccine could be toxic for US toddlers who receive a combination shot, particularly affecting vulnerable children. Ruf debuted a new flat-eight engine at Goodwood, a 4.8L V8 that generates over 1,000 hp and 1,000 Nm.

Space & Astronomy

A Jupiter-sized planet has been observed to have escaped its star's death, with the mechanism for its survival unclear. NASA appears to be placing significant demands on private space stations, with industry stakeholders now understanding the agency's requirements. The Quest shipwreck, while in worse condition than anticipated, has transformed into a thriving marine ecosystem. An orbiting disco ball provided the most precise test yet of Einstein's theory of relativity, demonstrating how Earth distorts spacetime. Increased drone surveillance of illegal July 4th fireworks resulted in a $100,000 fine, as police and firefighters increasingly use drones for detection and deterrence. The military's launch competition has a new, unexpected entrant that is not a traditional launch company. The availability of launch vehicles is causing "panic" in the industry, with Isar planning to launch from Canada and efforts underway to ramp up Ariane 6 production.

Other Tech & Science

The Bureau of Land Management is rewriting its grazing regulations for the first time since 1995, with the overhaul seeking to reduce public involvement. A patch for a Windows Defender zero-day vulnerability could allow attackers to fill a hard disk, continuing a dispute between a security researcher and Microsoft. ECU tuning in cars is described as a "cheat code" that has evolved into an arms race between original equipment manufacturers locking down chips and tuners attempting to bypass them. The European air-conditioning market may be on the cusp of an AC culture war resolution driven by environmentally friendly technology advances. Wally Funk, the oldest woman in space and the last of the Mercury, has died at 87. The eating habits of Homo floresiensis, or "Flores Hobbits," offer clues about their evolutionary past, suggesting a different origin if they were not fire-using hunters. Doctors discovered a 10-inch worm in a man's groin during elective surgery, an occurrence that had reportedly happened to him before.