Thursday, February 28, 2013
Sunday, March 4, 2012
SIA pulls plug on fab capacity report
SIA pulls plug on fab capacity report
For such a high profile and important industry it is a shame that lack of participation is going to cause SIA to stop issuing quarterly fab capacity utilization figures. This helps industry players plan for capacity by understanding a key vital sign in the industry. It also takes a way a key metric for the financial community that they rely upon for investment. I know some will feel that this is confidential. But for a very long time the advancement of the industry came first. Perhaps there are other considerations. Perhaps something will take its place.
Monday, August 15, 2011
Motorola, Mobility, Google, Android, Handset | Google to buy Motorola Mobility for $12.5B
Motorola, Mobility, Google, Android, Handset | Google to buy Motorola Mobility for $12.5B
Is this about serving customers...or lawyers. Google can pay the shareholders or the law firms. This spreads the wealth.
As for Motorola, a once great heritage continues to be dismantled. They will end up on the wrong side of business case studies for years to come.
Their executive mismanagement, unfortunately left them on the...Razr's edge.
Is this about serving customers...or lawyers. Google can pay the shareholders or the law firms. This spreads the wealth.
As for Motorola, a once great heritage continues to be dismantled. They will end up on the wrong side of business case studies for years to come.
Their executive mismanagement, unfortunately left them on the...Razr's edge.
Google, Motorola, Android, Patents, Apple, Microsoft | Google's Moto bid: It's all about the patents
Google, Motorola, Android, Patents, Apple, Microsoft | Google's Moto bid: It's all about the patents
Don't think of it as a very expensive acquisition. Think of it as a pre-emptive out of court settlement...that is very expensive.
Don't think of it as a very expensive acquisition. Think of it as a pre-emptive out of court settlement...that is very expensive.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Apple, IPads, IPhones, IPods, Foxconn | Apple still can't keep up with iPad demand
Apple, IPads, IPhones, IPods, Foxconn | Apple still can't keep up with iPad demand
Apple is a master at portfolio management. The 'product line transition' mentioned by Tim Cook is an interesting statement. It may be, as the author suggests, a shift to a software / OS update that may cause consumers to delay purchases. But, I have been wondering what the eventual iPod portfolio will look like.
When do they kill the iPod Classic? It's interface doesn't seem to fit with the rest of their platform. Has the time come to boost the iPod touch memory to leave headroom for the iPhone memory to expand?
I don't have sales numbers but, has the iPod shuffle outlived its usefulness. If you need something that small then, Nano offers a compact device with a mini-screen. Of course there is a huge difference in price from the Shuffle to the Nano. But with a very limited feature set the Shuffle offers a limited value and therefore it is priced at $49 v. $149 for an entry level Nano. Is it time to clip this lowest end of the portfolio?
The next 6 months worth of new product announcements will be interesting. Apple's touch screen is the portal to the future of consumer electronics.
Apple is a master at portfolio management. The 'product line transition' mentioned by Tim Cook is an interesting statement. It may be, as the author suggests, a shift to a software / OS update that may cause consumers to delay purchases. But, I have been wondering what the eventual iPod portfolio will look like.
When do they kill the iPod Classic? It's interface doesn't seem to fit with the rest of their platform. Has the time come to boost the iPod touch memory to leave headroom for the iPhone memory to expand?
I don't have sales numbers but, has the iPod shuffle outlived its usefulness. If you need something that small then, Nano offers a compact device with a mini-screen. Of course there is a huge difference in price from the Shuffle to the Nano. But with a very limited feature set the Shuffle offers a limited value and therefore it is priced at $49 v. $149 for an entry level Nano. Is it time to clip this lowest end of the portfolio?
The next 6 months worth of new product announcements will be interesting. Apple's touch screen is the portal to the future of consumer electronics.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Greentech Media Group News | LinkedIn
Greentech Media Group News | LinkedIn
THEY LAUGHED AT EDISON...
This is the beginning of a revolution. It will take years to build the needed infra-structure. But, it will come. During that time battery storage technology will improve. Along with this will be further advancements in material sciences. The automotive industry will reinvent itself.
We had more horses than vehicles over 125 years ago. But, people from that era wouldn't recognize today's society. The investment in such an infra-structure may seem dauntingly high. But, was it any less ambitious to invest in a national interstate system? Was it less ambitious to shed our kerosene burning ways for a national power grid investment?
It takes vision beyond the horizon of our own mortality to conceive of what tomorrow will be. But, tomorrow will come.
THEY LAUGHED AT EDISON...
This is the beginning of a revolution. It will take years to build the needed infra-structure. But, it will come. During that time battery storage technology will improve. Along with this will be further advancements in material sciences. The automotive industry will reinvent itself.
We had more horses than vehicles over 125 years ago. But, people from that era wouldn't recognize today's society. The investment in such an infra-structure may seem dauntingly high. But, was it any less ambitious to invest in a national interstate system? Was it less ambitious to shed our kerosene burning ways for a national power grid investment?
It takes vision beyond the horizon of our own mortality to conceive of what tomorrow will be. But, tomorrow will come.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
New iPhone 5 Thinner Lighter & Packing 8MP Camera A Bit Like The Galaxy S 2 - Channel News
New iPhone 5 Thinner Lighter & Packing 8MP Camera A Bit Like The Galaxy S 2 - Channel News
iPhone 5 Thinner, lighter, high resolution camera (time to re-gift my 5MP digital camera).
But, no word on memory. I am expecting it to have a 32GB headroom. Apple is a master of portfolio management. The sooner they add 64-100GB in an iPhone, the sooner they will kill their own iPod. This is not likely any time soon. Of course when killer multi-media requires much more memory than the current iPod sports then both lines can move up and remain a distinct product line separation. I am not sure what will justify this. Perhaps if you can store your movie collection on an iPhone and connect it to your TV and still maintain HD Video, thereby obsolescing your DVD player...probably not any time soon. Perhaps a killer app that controls your networked home from lighting, HVAC, to security alarm with security video all requiring significant data and programming space.... Probably not there yet. Although, you can use it as a remote for your tv. Perhaps something integrated into car electronics including diagnostics....
Whatever it is I am sure Apple or their partners will devise some reason for us to quench the insatiable thirst for memory to enable something that doesn't exist today.
iPhone 5 Thinner, lighter, high resolution camera (time to re-gift my 5MP digital camera).
But, no word on memory. I am expecting it to have a 32GB headroom. Apple is a master of portfolio management. The sooner they add 64-100GB in an iPhone, the sooner they will kill their own iPod. This is not likely any time soon. Of course when killer multi-media requires much more memory than the current iPod sports then both lines can move up and remain a distinct product line separation. I am not sure what will justify this. Perhaps if you can store your movie collection on an iPhone and connect it to your TV and still maintain HD Video, thereby obsolescing your DVD player...probably not any time soon. Perhaps a killer app that controls your networked home from lighting, HVAC, to security alarm with security video all requiring significant data and programming space.... Probably not there yet. Although, you can use it as a remote for your tv. Perhaps something integrated into car electronics including diagnostics....
Whatever it is I am sure Apple or their partners will devise some reason for us to quench the insatiable thirst for memory to enable something that doesn't exist today.
Friday, July 1, 2011
CIGS solar cells fabbed with inkjet printers at OSU - ElectroIQ
CIGS solar cells fabbed with inkjet printers at OSU - ElectroIQ
Oregon State University has successfully deposited thin film onto a substrate to create a CIGS solar cell using inkjet printing technology. Advancements in this approach will further lower the cost of creating solar cells.
The efficiency was only 5% which is not commercially viable. Also, this was done in a university setting. This would need to be proven in scaled production. But, it still represents an advancement. As efficiency improvement breakthroughs are made this could change the model for thin film solar manufacturing that will ultimately offer a cost competitive solar energy solution.
Oregon State University has successfully deposited thin film onto a substrate to create a CIGS solar cell using inkjet printing technology. Advancements in this approach will further lower the cost of creating solar cells.
The efficiency was only 5% which is not commercially viable. Also, this was done in a university setting. This would need to be proven in scaled production. But, it still represents an advancement. As efficiency improvement breakthroughs are made this could change the model for thin film solar manufacturing that will ultimately offer a cost competitive solar energy solution.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
TI cuts Q2 outlook; blames Nokia
TI cuts Q2 outlook; blames Nokia
"The Times They are a Changing"
- Bob Dylan
There was a time when I had debated with some colleagues the value of strategically focusing on Apple. Motorola's RAZR was the fashion hit of the wireless world. After conquering Motorola design wins we need to capture share at Nokia. They define the cell phone world....
Well, Nokia is still big. But, one of the problems in technology marketing can be lack of vision. "Smart phones only had 5% of the global market. Who would pay such a premium for an iPhone. Apple only has 3-5% of the computing market..."
I will avoid the over-used, 'Hindsight is 20/20,' rejoinder. We often look at social and economic trends. Just as important are technology trends. It's not about technology for the sake of technology. Look for the intersection of enabling technologies that support the social, economic, and market trends.
E.g. The iPad was Apple's biggest flop...when it was called the Newton in the 1990s. The technologies enabling it to become an industry defining product had not yet been developed. Success came when the enabling technologies were available and intersected with the market.
But, isn't this about TI and Nokia? Yes, TI is fortunate to have such a big piece of such a huge player (as measured in units). But, the technology driving products are coming from Apple, Samsung, and LG. Sometimes what makes a company successful is what later holds it back. Nokia is finally admitting that their OS doesn't cut it anymore. RIM (Blackberry) is finally embracing touchscreen technology. What made Palm (formerly 3Com, formerly U.S. Robotics) an industry defining company is what killed it. They kept it simple and did a great job at not being all things to all applications. But, the intersection of essential enabling technology has now allowed iPhone to be so much more. Monochrome is dead. We live in a world of vivid color.
This isn't just a Tech Sector issue; think Auto industry. While the U.S. automotive industry was losing the war with Japan, they missed the challenges now emerging from Korea. And then there was that whole energy efficient hybrid which makes up only a couple of % of the total market...hmmm...that sounds like the smartphone market 5 years ago. But, that market is still changing. New battery technology and regenerative energy designs will enable fully electric vehicles.
Where was I...oh yes, TI and Nokia. Well let's just say:
"If you don't like change, you are going to like irrelevance even less."
General Eric Shinseki, Chief of Staff, U.S. Army
"The Times They are a Changing"
- Bob Dylan
There was a time when I had debated with some colleagues the value of strategically focusing on Apple. Motorola's RAZR was the fashion hit of the wireless world. After conquering Motorola design wins we need to capture share at Nokia. They define the cell phone world....
Well, Nokia is still big. But, one of the problems in technology marketing can be lack of vision. "Smart phones only had 5% of the global market. Who would pay such a premium for an iPhone. Apple only has 3-5% of the computing market..."
I will avoid the over-used, 'Hindsight is 20/20,' rejoinder. We often look at social and economic trends. Just as important are technology trends. It's not about technology for the sake of technology. Look for the intersection of enabling technologies that support the social, economic, and market trends.
E.g. The iPad was Apple's biggest flop...when it was called the Newton in the 1990s. The technologies enabling it to become an industry defining product had not yet been developed. Success came when the enabling technologies were available and intersected with the market.
But, isn't this about TI and Nokia? Yes, TI is fortunate to have such a big piece of such a huge player (as measured in units). But, the technology driving products are coming from Apple, Samsung, and LG. Sometimes what makes a company successful is what later holds it back. Nokia is finally admitting that their OS doesn't cut it anymore. RIM (Blackberry) is finally embracing touchscreen technology. What made Palm (formerly 3Com, formerly U.S. Robotics) an industry defining company is what killed it. They kept it simple and did a great job at not being all things to all applications. But, the intersection of essential enabling technology has now allowed iPhone to be so much more. Monochrome is dead. We live in a world of vivid color.
This isn't just a Tech Sector issue; think Auto industry. While the U.S. automotive industry was losing the war with Japan, they missed the challenges now emerging from Korea. And then there was that whole energy efficient hybrid which makes up only a couple of % of the total market...hmmm...that sounds like the smartphone market 5 years ago. But, that market is still changing. New battery technology and regenerative energy designs will enable fully electric vehicles.
Where was I...oh yes, TI and Nokia. Well let's just say:
"If you don't like change, you are going to like irrelevance even less."
General Eric Shinseki, Chief of Staff, U.S. Army
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
The future of MEMS: Rethinking business strategies and manufacturing technology for volume systems markets - Small Times
The future of MEMS: Rethinking business strategies and manufacturing technology for volume systems markets - Small Times
With The MEMS market set to hit $10 billion by the end of the year and $20 billion by 2016 manufacturers are working to adapt technology. The push for ever smaller devices will create challenges in packaging as well as wafer bonding and Through Silicon Vias (TSV) for a stacked architecture.
With The MEMS market set to hit $10 billion by the end of the year and $20 billion by 2016 manufacturers are working to adapt technology. The push for ever smaller devices will create challenges in packaging as well as wafer bonding and Through Silicon Vias (TSV) for a stacked architecture.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Google invests US$168 million in world’s largest solar power tower plant
Google invests US$168 million in world’s largest solar power tower plant
Google has now invested over $250M in clean energy.
At peak usage time this solar power tower plant will generate enough energy to support 140,000 homes.
This solar plant will nearly double the solar power in the U.S.
Google has now invested over $250M in clean energy.
At peak usage time this solar power tower plant will generate enough energy to support 140,000 homes.
This solar plant will nearly double the solar power in the U.S.
Friday, June 3, 2011
Dispersed Energy Storage
Dispersed Energy Storage
Battery solution from American Electric Power (AEP) offers a solution to help power grid load-leveling by providing dispersed energy storage in a Sodium Sulfer (NaS) battery.
Battery solution from American Electric Power (AEP) offers a solution to help power grid load-leveling by providing dispersed energy storage in a Sodium Sulfer (NaS) battery.
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