April 25, 2025

NHTSA Will Lift Safety Rules for More Self-driving Vehicles The Trump administration expanded exemptions for self-driving vehicles from safety rules while maintaining incident reporting requirements. Tesla reaffirmed plans to launch robotaxi services by June, as U.S. regulators push to keep AV innovation ahead of global rivals. Detroit Free Press

Sponsor Sayaka Table-Top PCB Router, SAM-CT23S with online camera Advanced image processing software offers easy programming and CAD base offline programming. Automatic alignment compensation. Seika

Here's a new look at Apple's 'unbelievably thin' iPhone 17 Air Leaked images reveal Apple's thinnest iPhone yet—the iPhone 17 Air—measuring just 5.5–6mm. Despite trade-offs like reduced battery life and a single camera, it packs the A19 chip, ProMotion OLED, and AI features to boost appeal. BGR

Reflow Oven and Wave Soldering Machine Maintenance Cleaning Maintenance cleaning for reflow ovens and wave soldering machines is imperative. Investment in a cleaning schedule and chemistry creates reliable processes to extend equipment life. Technical Paper

Intel Financial Risks, Layoffs, Foundry Ambitions Intel beat Q1 2025 expectations, reporting $12.7B in revenue and $0.13 EPS, but warned of headwinds ahead. With over 21,000 layoffs looming, Intel is doubling down on its foundry pivot to challenge TSMC and win key AI customers. EE Times

Sponsor X-Ray Inspection Verifies Quality of Complex PCBs A Netherlands-based PCB supplier relies on real-time X-ray inspection to ensure the quality of HDI, hybrid, multi- layer, flex-rigid & other complex boards. Glenbrook Technologies

Intel CFO says tariffs increase chance for economic slowdown, recession getting likelier Intel CFO David Zinsner warned that Trump-era tariffs and global retaliation are raising recession risks. Despite beating Q1 expectations due to chip stockpiling, Intel's weak forecast spooked investors, sending shares down over 5% in after-hours trading. CNBC

Technical Papers ■ Flux Technology Development for Solder Paste Compatible with Formic Acid Reflow Ovens for Power Devices ■ Innovative Power Module Assembly Solutions ■ Unlocking the Potential of Nanoscale Conformal Coatings ■ Recycling vs Circularity: Minimising E-Waste in Manufacturing ■ Optimizing Cleaning Strategies for Advanced Packaging Technologies with Low Standoff Components ■ Probe Card Manufacturer 'Sees the Unseen' With X-ray ■ Electronic Assembly Cleaning Basics: Manual Concentration Monitoring Methods ■ An Eight-Step Methodology for Bringing a Process Under Statistical Control ■ Bismuth in Solder Alloys: From Bulk Constituent in Low Temp to Performance Enhancer in High Rel ■ Plasma as a Key Technology: Increasing Efficiency and Quality Assurance in the Electronics Industry MORE TECHNICAL PAPERS

Sponsor Touch Free BGA Solder Ball Removal Watch a video that shows touch-free BGA component deballing. This precision process is highly reliable when preparing BGA components prior to reballing. Circuit Technology Center

There's still hope for an iPhone Fold with Face ID Leaks suggest Apple's iPhone Fold will favor Touch ID over Face ID, with biometric authentication likely built into the side button. However, Face ID could still debut on the internal display if under-screen tech matures in time. BGR

US and China holding talks on trade war, Trump says after Beijing rebuttal Amid rising trade tensions, Trump claimed U.S.–China tariff talks resumed, but China denied any negotiations. The IMF warned the escalating conflict threatens global growth, urging swift resolution as uncertainty continues to rattle businesses and world economies. The Guardian

Sponsor Pioneering 3D X-ray Inspection for Flat Assemblies Viscom is setting a new standard for high-precision inline X-ray inspection of printed circuit boards with its iX7059 product line. Learn more. Viscom

US chaos is an opening Europe should seize Trump's tariff war and attacks on allies have unexpectedly unified the EU, pushing member states to spend more, integrate faster, and attract global investment. Yet with Germany stagnating and external risks looming, deeper reforms remain urgent. Taipei Times

China, US tariffs are not sustainable, Bessent says Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that US-China tariffs are unsustainable, signaling the Trump administration's openness to lowering them. Talks hinge on mutual action, as markets rally and global trade tensions heighten ahead of a key July deadline. Taipei Times

Sponsor Corrosion, UV Protection for Power Transmission Moisture, corrosive gas, oxidation & UV blocking prop-erties. FLUOROSEAL® confor-mal coating for electrical contacts & ceramic insulator protection. AI Technology, Inc.

How long does plastic take to decompose? The answer is terrifying Plastic's durability makes it indispensable—and disastrous. With only 9% recycled, most ends up polluting land and oceans for centuries, breaking down into harmful microplastics. Scientists hope innovations like self-degrading plastics can help break this long-lasting cycle of waste. BGR

Alphabet shares rise on stronger-than-expected revenue growth Alphabet surged over 5% after reporting stronger-than-expected Q1 earnings, with net income jumping 46% to $34.5 billion. Advertising and cloud revenue soared, while its $32 billion Wiz acquisition aims to boost cloud security. A $70 billion stock buyback was announced. CNBC

Sponsor Plasma as a Key Technology Plasma technology improves electronics manufacturing, reduces oxide layers, prevents delamination & enables environmentally friendly products by using Openair-Plasma ® & PlasmaPlus®. Plasmatreat GmbH

Intel AI Trick Spots Hidden Flaws in Data-Center Chips Intel engineers have developed a reinforcement learning technique that boosts detection of rare, silent data errors in Xeon chips. The method outperforms traditional tests, improving reliability in hyperscale data centers where subtle flaws often go unnoticed. IEEE Spectrum

US criticizes EU over Apple and Meta fines, questions DMA enforcement The U.S. slammed EU fines on Apple and Meta—$570M and $230M—as "economic extortion," warning of rising trade tensions. The White House called the Digital Markets Act discriminatory, while Apple must overhaul its iPhone system to comply. BGR

Exploring the Next-Generation High-Reliability Lead-free Solder Alloy The novel Alloy 10 solder alloy presented here exhibits exemplary thermomechanical and mechanical reliability in extreme operating conditions, ideal for the future needs of high-reliability electronics, such as in the automotive industry. Circuit Insight - Materials Tech

Sponsor Inline Automatic X-Ray Inspection: TruView™ Verus TruView™ Verus is a high-resolution inline AXI system offering advanced 2D, 2.5D, and 3D imaging to detect defects in electronic assemblies with exceptional accuracy and speed. Creative Electron

2025 Shanghai Auto Show: Chinese carmakers hit the brakes on auto-driving hype after crash At China's largest auto show, carmakers pivoted from "autonomous driving" to "driver assistance," emphasizing safety after a fatal Xiaomi EV crash. Terms like NOA & safety-first messaging now dominate, reflecting heightened regulatory scrutiny & shifting industry priorities. South China Morning Post

Self-driving vehicles: The road to cheaper, sustainable urban transport in Europe EU-backed ULTIMO trials kicked off in Oslo with self-driving electric cars offering public transport. Aiming to cut emissions and boost efficiency, the initiative plans autonomous, on-demand services across Europe by 2026, transforming urban mobility into a cleaner, smarter system. Tech Xplore

Memory Safety Will Be Key to Tackle Fundamental Cyber Security The U.K.'s Digital Security by Design initiative showcased CHERI, a memory-safe hardware technology, in London. Experts praised its cybersecurity potential but noted adoption challenges. With 160+ companies involved, standardizing memory safety remains a key priority. EE Times