Where is the Money in IoT?

Where is the Money in IoT?
by Daniel Nenni on 03-12-2016 at 7:00 am

As we all know IoT (Internet of Things) is the “next big thing” across many different industries including the fabless semiconductor ecosystem. The first recorded IoT blog on SemiWiki was in 2014 and currently we have 173 IoT blogs posted that have earned more than 600,000 views and counting. So yes, IoT is the next big thing, absolutely.… Read More


FinFET For Next-Gen Mobile and High-Performance Computing!

FinFET For Next-Gen Mobile and High-Performance Computing!
by Daniel Nenni on 02-22-2016 at 7:00 am

Evolving opportunities call for new and improved solutions to handle data, bandwidth and power. Moving forward, what will be the high-growth applications that drive product and technology innovation? The CAGRs for smartphone and data center continue to be very strong and healthy. … Read More


To EUV, or not to EUV, that is the question!

To EUV, or not to EUV, that is the question!
by Daniel Nenni on 02-19-2016 at 4:00 pm

SPIE is next week so if you would like to meet me in person that is where I will be. SPIE is the big lithography and patterning conference for semiconductor professionals. Since I work with the foundries during my day job, SPIE is an important conference. SemiWiki blogger Scott Jones will also be there. During the day Scott does semiconductor… Read More


ARM POPs Another One!

ARM POPs Another One!
by Daniel Nenni on 02-11-2016 at 4:00 pm

ARM announced a new POP deal with UMC 28nm last week. POP stands for Processor Optimized Package meaning physical IP libraries (logic and memory) are customized for ARM processor cores and mainstream EDA tools creating a platform for optimized chip design. POP is a much bigger deal than most people realize so let’s get into a little… Read More


Mobile Unleashed Review

Mobile Unleashed Review
by Brianhayes on 01-08-2016 at 4:00 pm

The story starts for me back in the 1980s when one of my partners told us we had to buy a machine called a BBC micro and learn how to program it. When someone asked him what can it do, apart from play space invaders, I was told as a “for example”, I could store my wife’s recipes. To view results we would have to plug the machine… 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


HiSilicon’s Experience with Synopsys ICC2

HiSilicon’s Experience with Synopsys ICC2
by Daniel Nenni on 11-11-2015 at 4:00 pm

At TSMC’s OIP Symposium last month, Zhe (Jared) Lui of HiSilicon presented their experiences with Synopsys’ ICC2 physical design suite.

Jared started by giving an overview of Huawei and HiSilicon. HiSilicon is the semiconductor arm of Huawei. I assume everyone knows who Huawei is. To a first approximation they … Read More


What do Rockets and GF Fab 8 Have in Common?

What do Rockets and GF Fab 8 Have in Common?
by Daniel Nenni on 11-08-2015 at 7:00 am

An interesting thing happened during the driving tour of the GlobalFoundries Fab 8 in Malta, NY. We happened by an old structure with quite a bit of history. As it turns out, the “Malta Test Station”, a former US Army fuel and explosives testing facility, was the actual birthplace of the United States’ Space & Missile programs.… Read More


A Brief History of Apple Mobile and SoCs

A Brief History of Apple Mobile and SoCs
by Daniel Nenni on 09-09-2015 at 2:30 pm

The big Apple iProduct announcement was today so I thought it would be a good time to premier a draft of the Apple chapter in our upcoming book. Try as I might I was unable to get one of the 7,000 tickets to the live event (it was like getting a Willy Wonka golden ticket!) so I live streamed it from my iPhone like millions of other people. It… Read More