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| DRAM prices might fall again |
2/13/2009 |
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Spot prices for 1Gb DDR2 may return to US$1, as end-market demand remains sluggish, memory module makers have estimated. Though the memory spot market has recently shown activity, demand will still play a key role in determining DRAM quotes in March.
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| Volkswagen developes electric car |
2/13/2009 |
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Volkswagen has the goal to be the first automotive manufacturer to offer high-volume electrically driven cars, Winterkorn added. However, many technological problems have to be solved, in particular with lithium-ion batteries, before such cars can be affordable.
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| Chinese buyer has interest in Qimonda |
2/13/2009 |
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A Chinese semiconductor vendor might be interested in insolvent DRAM manufacturer Qimonda AG. And Infineon is heading for difficult times, admitted Max Kley, Infineon's supervisory board chairman.
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| A 3G enabled photo frame |
2/13/2009 |
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In theory, a 3G card will help digital photo frames connect to the Internet, allowing consumers to download pictures directly from photo sharing sites. By leveraging the 3G-enabled digital photo frame, cellular carriers hope to finally crack the home market, where they haven't had much luck so far.
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| Micron/Nanya announce 1.2V LPDDR2 |
2/12/2009 |
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The mobile LPDDR2 technology operates at 1.2 volts and provides as much as a 50% power reduction when compared to a low-power DDR chip.
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| Analysts expect Q2/Q3 pick-up for foundaries |
2/12/2009 |
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“There will be some pick up at the end of Q2 or Q3 because inventories will be used up and inventory replenishment is needed, though we expect industry utilization rates will remain depressed beyond this time in a longer trend,”
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| Implanted drug delivery go electronic |
2/12/2009 |
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By releasing drugs such as nonapeptide leuprolide acetate or nitroglycerin, the SoC could be used for applications such as the localized diagnosis and therapy of cancers or providing immediate treatment for heart attack victims, researchers say.
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| Recession hits Mobile sector |
2/12/2009 |
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Analysts said RIM was able to attract new subscribers with flashy smartphones such as the touch-screen Storm or high-end Bold, but its existing customers were not upgrading their devices as frequently with economic conditions weak.
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| A hindsight look at the fall of Qimonda |
2/11/2009 |
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"Qimonda’s insolvency marks the beginning of a major shakeout since other companies are in a similarly weak position. The entire European semiconductor industry could face a similar situation," "NXP is in a pretty bad shape and Infineon is still trying to restructure,"
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| Intel to upgrade US fab to 32nm |
2/11/2009 |
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According to Intel, the company has a total workforce of more than 45,000 in the US and, while generating more than 75% of its sales overseas, carries out roughly 75% of its semiconductor manufacturing in the country. Intel also said about 75% of the company’s R&D spending and capital investments are also made in the US.
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| AMD delays shareholder meeting to gain quorum |
2/11/2009 |
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A majority of AMD's shares that were outstanding at the close of business on Jan. 15 need to be present at the meeting, either in person or by proxy, to establish a quorum, AMD said. As of Wednesday, about 42 of those shares have been voted, with about 97 percent of votes cast in favor of issuing the additional shares and warrants to create the spinoff Foundry Co.
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| Elpida to combine with 3 Taiwan DRAM makers |
2/11/2009 |
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The integrated entity would be the world's second-largest DRAM maker after South Korea's Samsung Electronics Co . It also would be the first integration of a Japanese chipmaker with foreign firms, the Nikkei said.
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| Qimonda US fab closing invites law suit |
2/10/2009 |
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Three class-action complaints have now been filed against the company in less than a week. All claim that the memory-chip manufacturer violated the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, which requires employers to give 60 days' notice of layoff or closure. In lieu of notice, companies can continue pay and benefits for 60 days.
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| Mark Shepherd formerly TI, Dies |
2/10/2009 |
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Shepherd was elected to TI's board of directors in 1963, was named company president in 1967, became CEO in 1969, and added the role of chairman in 1976. He retired from active employment at TI in 1985, though he remained chairman until 1988. He continued to serve as a general director until 1993.
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| Does future SOIC belongs to stack up? |
2/10/2009 |
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Asanovi of Berkeley said he thought the approach would be too costly, especially if the interconnect scheme introduced yield problems. "It's just a research project," he said.
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| Broadcom integrates GPS and FM into Mobile chip |
2/10/2009 |
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Broadcom claims its device, the BCM2075, significantly reduces the host and application processing required by competing combo solutions, enabling greater adoption in mass market handsets.
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| Hynix announced 40nm DDR3 |
2/9/2009 |
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It requires less energy and costs less to produce. Mass production begins in the third quarter of this year.
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| ON Semi to streamline, close more fabs |
2/9/2009 |
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ON Semiconductor Corp has announced it will cut another 350 jobs as it bumps the number of fabs it plans to close up from three to four by the end of Q1 2010 as part of its ongoing cost-reduction effort.
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| Patent reform needed? |
2/9/2009 |
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The U.S. Congress will take up patent reform soon despite failing to pass an ambitious package in the Senate last year. Exactly how legislators will attack the issue this time, and what--if anything--it should do is a matter of debate.
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| New RRAM break through announced |
2/9/2009 |
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Over the years, a slew of companies have explored RRAMS--with little or nothing to show for it. Sharp, Sony, Samsung, LSI, Panasonic, Winbond, Unity, Hynix, Micron, Elpida and others have or are exploring RRAM. In fact, Japanese chip makers have reportedly poured a combined $100 million in RRAM development,
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