Atmel Expands Wireless Portfolio

Atmel Expands Wireless Portfolio
by Paul McLellan on 09-25-2014 at 7:00 am

Recently someone described the Internet of Things (IoT) as being the semiconductor classification that we used to call ‘other’. It’s a nice line but actually I think IoT really is something different from what we were already doing before. Although it is a market that cuts across medical, automotive, home-electronics,… Read More


Secure at any IoT deed

Secure at any IoT deed
by Don Dingee on 08-25-2014 at 3:00 pm

In his classic book “Unsafe at Any Speed”, Ralph Nader assailed the auto industry and their approach to styling and cost efficiency at the expense of safety during the 1960s. He squared up on perceived defects in the Chevrolet Corvair, but extended his view to wider issues such as tire inflation ratings favoring passenger comfort… Read More


Smart Meters

Smart Meters
by Paul McLellan on 08-13-2014 at 7:05 am

The Internet of Things (IoT) isn’t a single homogenous market but splits up into different segments with very different requirements. A lot of IoT markets are still in our future: next generation wearable medical devices, autonomous cars and more. One area where IoT has been going strong, long enough that it probably pre-dates… Read More


Atmel Licenses Mali and Security from ARM

Atmel Licenses Mali and Security from ARM
by Paul McLellan on 07-24-2014 at 7:01 am

Atmel (and ARM) announced yesterday that Atmel has licensed a portfolio of ARM IP for devices that require video, image and display capabilities. This portfolio includes Cortex-A7 (a 32-bit core), Mali-V500 (a video accelerator), Mali-DP500 (a display processor) and TrustZone technology (security technology). These can… Read More


Chip side of the Open Interconnect Consortium

Chip side of the Open Interconnect Consortium
by Don Dingee on 07-09-2014 at 9:00 pm

Maybe it’s my competitive analysis gene, or too many years spent hanging out with consortium types, but I’m always both curious and skeptical when a new consortium arises – especially in a crowded field of interest. The dynamics of who aligns with a new initiative, and how they plan to go to market compared to other entities, prompts… Read More


Take a drive on the IoT with V2V

Take a drive on the IoT with V2V
by Bill Boldt on 07-08-2014 at 11:00 pm

What platform has become the most sophisticated and intimate personal electronic environment ever? The car. To paraphrase a famous automotive company’s top executive, car companies are transforming the car into a powerful smartphone that allows drivers to carry around, customize, and interact with their digital world. AutomotiveRead More


Is this thing real? Symmetric authentication will tell you!

Is this thing real? Symmetric authentication will tell you!
by Bill Boldt on 07-01-2014 at 6:00 pm

The act of authentication is very straightforward. Essentially, it is making sure that something is real.

There are two parts to authentication:

[LIST=1]

  • Identification
  • Confirmation of identity

    Authentication in the “crypto-verse” typically happens on a host and client basis where the host wants to ensure that a client is

  • Read More

    On the Road from Makers to Consumers

    On the Road from Makers to Consumers
    by Don Dingee on 06-20-2014 at 12:00 am

    It’s time to break with conventional thinking. For decades, the measure of success for semiconductors has been OEM design wins. Most consumers haven’t known, or cared, about what is inside their electronic gadgets, as long as they work. That may be about to change, because a new intermediary is finding its voice – and being… Read More


    What is Authentication and Why Should You Care?

    What is Authentication and Why Should You Care?
    by Bill Boldt on 06-18-2014 at 10:00 pm

    Authentication means making sure that something is real, just like it sounds.In the real world, authentication has many uses. One of the most recognizable is anti-counterfeiting, which means validating the authenticity of a removable, replaceable, or consumable client. Examples include system accessories, electronic Read More