Are AI Powered Robot Soldiers Coming?

Are AI Powered Robot Soldiers Coming?
by Daniel Nenni on 01-08-2016 at 12:00 pm

2016 will be another defining year for semiconductors and it all starts with the Industry Strategy Symposium in Half Moon Bay next week. If you have not attended one of these you should definitely put it on your bucket list. Not only do you get to hang out in a five star cliff side resort, you get to mingle with semiconductor royalty and… Read More


EDA and the Big Short!

EDA and the Big Short!
by Daniel Nenni on 01-05-2016 at 8:00 pm

A funny thing happened while I was reading “The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine”. The book explains the subprime mortgage crisis in painful detail by profiling several key players who predicted and profited from the bubble pop. As a home owner and faux slumlord I had a front row seat to this horror show so it was an interesting… Read More


The Silicon Valley Apocalypse!

The Silicon Valley Apocalypse!
by Daniel Nenni on 12-30-2015 at 12:00 pm

Based on the Behavioral Sink Experiments in the 1950s it is hard for me to believe that Silicon Valley will continue with the unicorn fueled hyper expansion we are currently experiencing without some very serious repercussions, both social and financial. First let’s talk about the social issues which to me are the most interesting.… Read More


The Cult of IoT! (FitBit)

The Cult of IoT! (FitBit)
by Daniel Nenni on 12-20-2015 at 7:00 am

Granted the word “cult” can have a negative connotation, especially when applied to small religious groups but cult can also mean a great devotion to a movement or intellectual fad. Some people call Apple a cult with Apple Stores being their Churches. If you look at the lines around the block or down the mall for new product… Read More


Variation Aware FinFETs are Critical!

Variation Aware FinFETs are Critical!
by Daniel Nenni on 12-18-2015 at 4:00 pm

As I mentioned in “EDA Dead Pool” acquisitions in our industry will continue at a rapid pace. The latest victim is 10 year old French company Infiniscale who was recently purchased by Silvaco. This was more of a “let’s put your product through our massive sales and support channel” kind of deal so it will be 1 + 1 = 3 accretive for sure.… Read More


GSA Awards Dinner: Be Mindful!

GSA Awards Dinner: Be Mindful!
by Daniel Nenni on 12-13-2015 at 5:00 pm

The GSA Awards Dinner is the semiconductor version of the Oscars. Lights, cameras, and there is certainly plenty of action. This year there were close to 1,500 people to celebrate the semiconductor industry and all of our accomplishments so it is a networker’s paradise. Quite a few people mentioned purchasing our new book and photos… Read More


New Book: Mobile Unleashed!

New Book: Mobile Unleashed!
by Daniel Nenni on 12-08-2015 at 6:00 pm

This is the origin story of technology super heroes: the creators and founders of ARM, the company that is responsible for the processors found inside 95% of the world’s mobile devices today. This is also the evolution story of how three companies – Apple, Samsung, and Qualcomm – put ARM technology in the hands of billions of people… Read More


The Twists and Turns of Xilinx vs Altera!

The Twists and Turns of Xilinx vs Altera!
by Daniel Nenni on 12-08-2015 at 12:00 pm

The battle between Xilinx and Altera continues to be one of the more interesting stories to cover. It really is the semiconductor version of a reality TV show. In the beginning it was two fabless companies partnered with rival foundries going head-to-head controlling a single market that touches a variety of industries.

Then things… Read More


Double Digit Growth and 10nm for TSMC in 2016!

Double Digit Growth and 10nm for TSMC in 2016!
by Daniel Nenni on 12-05-2015 at 12:00 pm

Exciting times in Taiwan last week… I met with people from the Taiwanese version of Wall Street. They mostly cover the local semiconductor scene but since that includes TSMC and Mediatek they are interested in the global semiconductor market as well. They also have an insider’s view of the China semiconductor industry which is … Read More


2016 EDA Dead Pool

2016 EDA Dead Pool
by Daniel Nenni on 11-30-2015 at 7:00 am

The most commonly asked question during conference calls with Wall Street of late is in regards to the massive consolidation the semiconductor industry is experiencing. How will the consolidation affect the Foundries? How will the consolidation affect EDA and IP? How will the consolidation affect the semiconductor industry… Read More