The Dullest Parts Matter the Most
Semi companies are going to need to adjust their cost structures to compete in a semi-custom world. This sounds boring but it can become a real source of competitive differentation.
Category Archives: Components
The Sixth Sense – We See Data
Moore’s Law brings benefits beyond semis. The price and accuracy of sensors are both moving in the right direction allowing for fine-grained pervasive sensor networks, just as advances in AI mean we can make real use of all that data.
Intel Mobile Deja Vu
The market for base station and RAN silicon is shaping up to one of the most interesting to watch in the new year. And intel seems to have forgotten its long, sorry history in the space, making for some great viewing.
Carrot, stick and waiver
The US has a number of ways to encourage allies to support its semis restrictions on China. These range the “stick” of enforcement to the “carrot” of waivers and targeted expansion of the restrictions.
Decoupling is Hard to Do
The decoupling train has left the station – with US companies showing clear momentum in reducing or eliminating their reliance on China. China still has a lot to offer, and while the process will take years, there are a growing number of alternatives.
How the Mighty Have Fallen
This downturn in semis is different from past cycles in that each segment seems to be taking a beating at different times. This cycle is serial, not parallel, and we probably need to see all of that play out before the sector starts to recover.
The Android-ification of Cars
The shift to EVs is disrupting the auto supply chain. To name just one example, Foxconn, the company that epitomizes the model which separates electronics design and manufacture is now aggressively promoting its ability to replicate that model for cars.
Mobileye IPO 2.0
Mobileye filed to go public, again. They have a lot going for them, but the market is still in early days, a lot could change. The management team also has a lot going on (sale, integration, IPO, etc.) and we have to wonder if they risk losing focus.
2nd and 3rd Order Consequences
The ban on export of specific US semis products to China marks a major shift in tactics from the US government. Which opens the question what is the long-term goal here, or do they even have one?
A simple exercise on the power of compute
Sometimes, it is important to remember all the benefits of carrying a supercomputer in your pocket. We look at the demise of remote controls in favor of smartphones – which carry actual compute power which would be uneconomical in a remote.