June 17, 2026

Supply Chain Thinks iPhone Fold Will Ship in 2027, Not 2026 Apple's foldable iPhone plans appear to face fresh delays, as suppliers Largan Precision and Xinrixing hint at rescheduled product timelines. Industry reports suggest Apple may postpone the iPhone Fold's launch or shipment from late 2026 into 2027 amid ongoing production challenges. Apple Insider

Sponsor Correct Pad-to-Component Alignment Issues Without Board Replacement Pad-to-component alignment problems can lead to defects and production delays. Circuit Technology Center provides PCB rework solutions that correct this problem. Circuit Technology Center

China Has Made A Supercomputer Work Without A GPU — Here's How China has unveiled LineShine, a domestically developed CPU-only supercomputer that delivers 1.54 exaflops using 2.45 million Arm-based cores. By replacing GPUs with advanced vector and matrix extensions, it advances China's self-reliance goals despite trailing top Western systems. BGR

Viscosity Does Not Equal Rheology: What Solder Paste Measurements Really Tell You Viscosity is a useful solder paste quality control measurement, but rheology provides a more complete understanding of how paste will roll, fill, release, recover, and remain stable during stencil printing. Technical Paper

Intel begins production of most-advanced chip, inching closer to possible Apple deal Intel has started risk production of its advanced 18A-P chip process, marking a key milestone in its foundry turnaround strategy. The company aims to attract major customers, including potentially Apple, by improving performance, efficiency, yields & advanced packaging capabilities. CNBC

Sponsor Introducing our new Board to Board Connectors These new Board to Board Connectors feature pitch sizes from 0.50 mm to 1.00 mm with multi-pitch and custom pitch designs available. Designed for long-life applications and robust handling. Advanced Interconnections Corp

Qualcomm wants to be the chip inside whatever replaces your smartphone, and it just announced two products toward that end Qualcomm is expanding beyond smartphones, developing more than 40 AI wearable designs and launching new mixed-reality and smart-glasses platforms. The company is strengthening on-device AI, tracking, and development tools to accelerate next-generation wearable devices. TechCrunch

Reducing Dust Deposition on Electronic Equipment This work focuses on one aspect of reducing dust accumulation on electronic equipment, specifically by optimizing the cooling air flow. Technical Paper

Technical Papers ■ Unlocking Academic-Industry Synergy: A Collaborative Model for Hands-On Electronics Manufacturing Education ■ Viscosity Does Not Equal Rheology: What Solder Paste Measurements Really Tell You ■ Salvaging Electronic Components: A Reliable Method for Reducing Electronic Waste and Ensuring Economic Reuse ■ Digital Warehouse Automation in High-Mix PCB Assembly ■ Evaluation of Techniques for Intentional Contamination of PWB Substrates for Quantitative Cleanliness Analyses ■ Scaling SMT Traceability ■ The Drawbacks of Internal Recycling Systems for Solder Dross ■ Engineering ESD-Safe PCB Assembly for High-Reliability IoT and Industrial Electronics ■ The Analysis of Variance: Drawing Conclusions from Data That Are Correct, Unambiguous, and Defensible ■ PCB Rework Evolves, With X-ray a Constant Support MORE TECHNICAL PAPERS

Sponsor Your Domestic PCB Solution Summit helps you avoid long lead times and added costs—protecting your supply chain without compromise, while delivering the speed and quality you count on. Summit Interconnect

Poland pursues Taiwan investments to end role as assembly hub Poland is courting major Taiwanese investment to transform its economy, with Foxconn planning a US$1 billion EV project and potential semiconductor partnership. The Polish government aims to build a high-tech manufacturing ecosystem, reduce supply-chain risks & strengthen technology. Taipei Times

Tech glitch cause of social media lock-outs: MODA Meta acknowledged that a technical glitch in its new age-verification system mistakenly suspended Facebook, Instagram, and Threads accounts worldwide. Taiwan's digital ministry urged rapid account restoration, stronger verification safeguards, and improved user protections. Taipei Times

Limitations of ROSE Testing Versus Localized Contamination Recognizing the limitations of ROSE testing versus localized contamination, what can I use to validate the cleanliness of my finished product? Board Talk

Sponsor Reflow Solderable TIM1 Thermal Grease AIT's CGR7016 & CGR7019-LB series are proven reliable for thermal interface usage at extreme temperatures. 100% chip to heat-spreader lid seal after multiple reflow soldering. AI Technology, Inc.

Self-driving tech supplier Mobileye targets U.S. robotaxi launch in 2027 Mobileye will launch its own robotaxi service in a major U.S. city in 2027, starting with 100 vehicles and targeting 17,000 within five years. The move expands its autonomous-driving ambitions while intensifying competition with Waymo, Zoox, Tesla, and other rivals. CNBC

Why the Smartest Entrepreneurs Are Using AI to Be More Human, Not Less Small and midsize businesses rapidly expand AI adoption as owners report stronger productivity and growth. Companies shift from implementation to AI-driven tools that enhance customer service, deepen relationships, and drive long-term success. Entrepreneur

Effect of Matte-Sn Electroplating on Reliability of Lead-free Solder Joints This study analyzes the impact of electroplating parameters of matte-Sn terminal layer on the thermo-mechanical reliability of solder joints. Technical Paper

Sponsor Precision Thermal Control for High-Reliability SMT Achieve ultra-uniform temperature control with low mass heater technology. Perfect your soldering profiles and save floor space with our compact, high-efficiency systems. Heller Industries

Award-Winning Researcher Trains Robots to Make Educated Guesses Yen-Ling Kuo, inspired by early computing experiences in Taiwan, built a career bridging AI and robotics. After work at Google and MIT PhD, she developed Diff-DAgger to improve robot uncertainty handling, reduce supervision, and advance real-world learning systems. IEEE Spectrum

The Best Phones for Every Budget - 2026 Update Rising memory and storage costs have pushed up prices for many smartphones, but strong value options remain available. The guide highlights the Google Pixel 10a and iPhone 17e, praising their affordability, long-term software support, capable performance, and competitive feature sets. TechSpot

Sponsor Cut SAC305 Costs with REL61TM Lead–Free Alloy Silver prices have tripled. While silver is 2/3 of SAC305's cost, it's only 1/4 of REL61. Save hundreds of thousands annually with this proven, drop-in alternative. AIM Solder

Worldwide External Enterprise Storage Systems Market Accelerates to 22.7% Growth in the First Quarter of 2026, Driven by AI Infrastructure Demand and Deferred Refresh Spending IDC reports external enterprise storage systems hit $9.2B in Q1 2026, rising 22.7% YoY as AI workloads, deferred refresh cycles, and rising NAND/DRAM prices drive demand. All-flash arrays surpass 50% share, reshaping storage architecture. IDC

Beyond the Technical Data Sheet This paper examines process changes and the material properties or performance of polymer composites used in semiconductor packaging and board assembly. Technical Paper

RISC-V Silicon in the Jungle Could Save the Amazon Brazilian researchers unveiled the Internet of Trees, a RISC-V-based sensor network that acts as a digital nervous system for the Amazon. Using low-power, biodegradable devices and edge AI, it monitors biodiversity, tracks carbon, and detects environmental threats in real time. EE Times

Samsung reportedly moves closer to 5nm-class MRAM as TSMC advances its roadmap Samsung Electronics has developed a key 5nm-class magnetoresistive RAM (MRAM) cell technology, marking rapid progress just four months after unveiling its 8nm-class MRAM. The breakthrough strengthens Samsung's position in next-generation memory. Digitimes

Sponsor EZ-FLO High Precision Dispense Tips Each needle is machined from solid stainless steel as opposed to rolled tubing. The resulting smoother internal profile enhances material flow and consistency. Learn more. DL Technology

Qualcomm CEO says AI agents will replace apps — as chip giant works on 40 new AI-powered devices Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon says the company is developing more than 40 AI-powered wearable designs, from smart glasses to camera-equipped earbuds. He predicts AI agents will reshape apps, drive new device categories, and push demand for more efficient chips. CNBC