Ecosystem: ARM versus Intel

Ecosystem: ARM versus Intel
by Daniel Nenni on 09-05-2013 at 2:45 pm

Ecosystem is everything when it comes to modern semiconductor design, especially if it is mobile. The fabless semiconductor industry has been all about ecosystem since the beginning and that is why we hold supercomputers in our hands today, believe it. After the invention of the transistor in 1947, and the invention of the integrated… Read More


Must See SoC IP!

Must See SoC IP!
by Daniel Nenni on 09-02-2013 at 5:30 pm


IP is the center of the semiconductor universe and nobody knows this better than Design and Reuse. The D&R website was launched in 1997 targeting the emerging commercial semiconductor IP market. Today, with more than 15,000 IP/SOC product descriptions updated daily, D&R is the #1 IP site matching customer requirements… Read More


Real Heroes Don’t Wear Capes!

Real Heroes Don’t Wear Capes!
by Daniel Nenni on 08-31-2013 at 6:30 pm


Real Heroes have many different jobs. My oldest son is a Math Teacher, he is a hero. You may have read about him before, he is the co-developer and administrator of SemiWiki. Think about it, without math where would the world be today?

My other son is a Fireman, Emergency Medical Technician, and also a hero. He is at the Rim Fire in Northern… Read More


The TSMC OIP Technical Paper Abstracts are up!

The TSMC OIP Technical Paper Abstracts are up!
by Daniel Nenni on 08-25-2013 at 8:10 pm

The TSMC Open Innovation Platform® (OIP) Ecosystem Forum brings TSMC’s design ecosystem member companies together to share with our customers real-case solutions for customers’ design challenges and success stories of best practice in TSMC’s design ecosystem.

More than 90% of the attendees last year said “this… Read More


iPhone Buyers Are Younger, Richer, And Better Educated Than Samsung Smartphone Buyers!

iPhone Buyers Are Younger, Richer, And Better Educated Than Samsung Smartphone Buyers!
by Daniel Nenni on 08-20-2013 at 5:00 pm

Business Insider does it again, I just love their charts and with this one I agree with the logic 100%. To me this is more about Samsung the company than Samsung products, Samsung really needs to grow up. The negative marketing, the intellectual property thefts, bribery scandals, product dumping, presidential pardons……. Is that… Read More


No Mention of 14nm at the 2013 Intel Developer Forum?

No Mention of 14nm at the 2013 Intel Developer Forum?
by Daniel Nenni on 08-19-2013 at 5:00 pm

Yes, I will be going to IDF again this year, even though it is the same day as the Apple new product announcement. As a born again Apple Fan that is really saying something but Intel has done a great job of motivating the fabless semiconductor ecosystem and I thank them for that.

Unfortunately, noticeably missing from the IDF presentation… Read More


Atrenta Seminars in Asia – Making RTL Signoff Real

Atrenta Seminars in Asia – Making RTL Signoff Real
by Daniel Nenni on 08-18-2013 at 8:10 pm

Engaging with the semiconductor ecosystem is critical to surviving in the fast paced times we work in. Face to face interaction at all levels is key and semiconductor IP is a prime example. How do you ensure that your IP meets objective quality requirements before integration into your SoC, and that your SoC is ready for handoff to… Read More


450mm Wafers are Coming!

450mm Wafers are Coming!
by Daniel Nenni on 08-14-2013 at 8:05 pm

The presentations from the 450mm sessions at SEMICON West are up now. After talking to equipment manufacturers and the foundries I’m fairly confident 450mm wafers will be under our Christmas trees in 2016, absolutely. TSMC just increased CAPEX again and you can be sure 450mm is part of it. SEMI has a 450mm Central landing page HERERead More


The Most Disturbing Economic Graphs Ever!

The Most Disturbing Economic Graphs Ever!
by Daniel Nenni on 08-11-2013 at 7:00 pm

After driving to Silicon Valley for the past 30 years I am acutely aware of traffic patterns and to me that directly relates to the economy. The recession of 2009 really hit traffic patterns with what I would estimate as a 20% unemployment rate in Silicon Valley. I could leave my home in Danville anytime of the day and have no traffic … Read More


TSMC is a more profitable semiconductor company than Intel

TSMC is a more profitable semiconductor company than Intel
by Daniel Nenni on 08-07-2013 at 9:00 pm

There is an interesting article on Seeking Alpha, “A More Profitable Semiconductor Company Than Intel”, and for a change the author does not PRETEND to know semiconductor technology. Refreshing! Personally I think the stock market is a racket where insiders profit at the expense of the masses. But if you are going to gamble you … Read More