Semiconductor Innovation in an Investment Constrained Economy
Updated: 2013-01-31 09:47:24
The current innovation climate in the semiconductor industry is alive and well but entrepreneurs have to adjust to the realities of the current economic situation and investment trends. The world's governmental economic development agencies have always looked at Silicon Valley with envy and paid big money to try to find the key which would unlock the secrets

According to Malcolm Penn, CEO, Future Horizons, the outlook for the global semiconductor industry in 2013 is likely to be +7.9 percent. This means, the global semiconductor industry will likely grow to $315.4 billion in 2013. Should this happen, it would be significant, given that this is the third year in a row that the market failed to break the $300 billion barrier! The global semiconductor clocked around $292.3 billion in 2012, as against $299.5 billion In 2011.View the full article HERE
Texas Instruments launched their LMX2581 wideband frequency synthesizer. The TI LMX2581 features an integrated voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO), the industry’s lowest phase noise, ultra-low noise phase-locked loop (PLL) and the industry’s highest phase detector frequency. The LMX2581 is available now in a 32-pin, 5mm x 5mm QFN package. It is priced at $7 in 1,000-unit quantities. [...]
VIA Technologies introduced APC Rock and Paper. APC Rock is a board for prototyping projects. It is a complete redesign of the original APC module. APC Paper, which features a recycled cardboard case, is an embedded computer for connecting to the Internet without the need for Windows applications. Both Rock and Paper run a custom [...]
Intel is adopting a 'shrewd strategy' in going for the low-cost smartphone market, says IHS. Is it really 'shrewd' to go for the low-cost market if you can't get into the high-cost market? Or is it the only place for Intel to go?View the full article HERE
There are many ways to deliver, package and transport silicon products. Heres a short primer that provides the basic facts regarding how silicon can be packed and delivered to ensure safe transportation with minimum damages.View the full article HERE
WonderMedia Technologies introduced the PRIZM WM8980 system-on-chip. The Soc features the 1.2GHz ARM Cortex-A9 and supports 1080p video playback. The chip is ideal for tablets, Smart TV, SmartStream for wireless display and multimedia streaming, networked projectors, digital signage, and thin clients. The WonderMedia PRIZM WM8980 platform is sampling now and is scheduled for volume shipments [...]
Test Insight, a world leader in software tools for linking design to test and managing ATE programs, announced that the microelectronics division of DELTA, a European leader of value-added ASIC services, has adopted Tester Data Link to improve design to test flows while at the same time offering improved services to customers. Read more: DELTA [...]
YoYo Games unveiled GameMaker: Studio MIPS Edition. The fast and easy game development software is ideal for MIPS-Based products such as tablets and other devices. GameMaker: Studio is a leading 2D development suite for game developers. With the new MIPS Edition, developers of existing GameMaker games can quickly bring their games to MIPS-Based devices. The [...]