The “Silicon Shield” describes the idea that Taiwan’s central role in advanced semiconductor manufacturing raises the economic and strategic cost of military action against the island. The shield is not a literal defense system. It is a form of structural deterrence created by technological concentration: governments and… Read More
Global unit shipments of PCs and smartphones were both down versus a year ago in the 2nd quarter of 2026, according to IDC. PCs were down 4.9% and smartphones were down 6.7%. Both PCs and smartphones showed growth in 2024 and 2025. IDC is predicting an 11.3% decline in PCs and a 13.9% decline in smartphones in 2026.
What is causing the… Read More
Huawei’s assertion that it could match TSMC in producing the world’s most advanced chips by 2031 reflects both technological ambition and geopolitical necessity. As one of China’s leading technology companies, Huawei has faced significant restrictions on access to advanced semiconductor technology due to U.S. export controls.… Read More
In forty plus years as a semiconductor professional I have never seen a semiconductor design ecosystem build as fast and as strong as RISC-V. As a result, RISC-V Now! has emerged as a pivotal gathering, a conference with a clear and ambitious mission: To transform the open, modular, and flexible RISC-V ISA from an exciting specification… Read More
India rarely makes the front page of the Western technology press — and when it does, the story is growth. What is happening right now doesn’t fit that story. Since late February, the U.S.-Iran conflict has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz — the waterway through which roughly half of India’s crude oil and 60% of its natural … Read More
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is widely regarded as the world’s most trusted semiconductor foundry, a reputation built over decades through technological leadership, business model discipline, operational excellence, and reliability. In an industry where trust is as critical as transistor density,… Read More
The PC industry is entering its most significant transformation since the debut of the IBM PC in 1981. That original beige box ushered in a new era of productivity, reshaping how corporations and individuals worked, communicated, and created. More than four decades later, the AI PC is emerging as a new category — one that promises… Read More
What looks like a modest market expansion strategy is all but modest.
Insights into the Semiconductor Industry and the Semiconductor Supply Chain.
As usual, when TSMC reports, the Semiconductor industry gets a spray of insights that help understand what goes on in other areas of the industry. This time, TSMC gave more insight … Read More
-Chip cycle will come down. Only question is landing impact
-What does cyclical end do to re-shoring & build out plans?
-Is it less demand, excess supply or both? Does it matter?
-CHIP Act rescue efforts get desperate switching to threats
Any landing you can walk away from is a good one
For those of us who have been in the semiconductor… Read More
For 20 years the concept of emergency response has been one of the most tired, uninteresting sectors of the automotive industry. General Motors introduced OnStar automatic crash notification 26 years ago and that application has long been considered the end of the story.
The shutoff of 3G wireless networks and the resulting … Read More
