THE BIG IDEA

Changing business models and emerging technology/market segments that could impact your business

Taiwan Nurtures the Next ARM

Meet Andes Technology Corp., Taiwan’s agile and ambitious answer to ARM Ltd. Andes is perhaps the best nurtured of an emerging crop of processor core companies sprouting like weeds in the cracks of science parks and university institutes in greater China. With a staff of 106, it’s putting down roots here and in China’s market but has aspirations to break into the U.S. and Europe.

EET ON THE QT

A lively roundup of what we've heard on the street and what it means for you

‘Smart Charging’ a Must for E-Car Infrastructure

This DiiVA Demands Your Attention

SiC Startup Anvil Hammers at Power Conversion Market

Government Could Foot Some of the Tab for 450 mm

Hybrid Processors Need a Better Road Map

Taiwan Looks to Shake Up the Cloud

China Puts Squeeze on Taiwan

What’s in the White Box for Freescale?

LAY OF THE LAND

Surveying the landscape of both critical and non-traditional industry segments

Cracking the Code on a NextGen Software Strategy

Once upon a time, visionaries from Microsoft’s Bill Gates to Sun Microsystems’ James Gosling thought the Internet might sweep away proprietary platforms, leaving a “write once, run anywhere” environment. Their dreams have not come to pass. Instead, mobile mania arrived.

VC WATCH

Tracking the hottest industry startups and gauging their chances for success

GaN Startup Raises $38M To Transform Power Conversion

Transphorm Inc. is that unusual form of VC-backed startup that has raised money to invest in semiconductor manufacturing, including construction of a wafer fab in California. Transphorm, which specializes in gallium nitride power ICs, boasts a blue chip list of investors. The startup has been cruising along in stealth mode since its formation in 2007.

MARKET DATA

Crunching the numbers and discerning trends on varied segments of the global electronics industry

Asian Contract Manufacturers Eye Design Services

The launch of revolutionary products such as the iPhone rocked the electronics world and again brought the value of product design to the forefront. As demand grows for sleeker, thinner and faster products, product design will be crucial for achieving competitive advantage. Hence, OEMs are focusing on the next disruptive technology and product design that will shake up existing product platforms and propel companies past their rivals.

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Next iPhone Looks to Be an Underachiever

Apple Inc.’s next­generation handset is likely to run a bit faster; sport a somewhat larger, higher­resolution display and camera; and link to faster (HSDPA+) networks. But the incremental upgrade will not merit the name iPhone 5. We give the handset a C for effort and dub it the iPhone 4+.