November 11, 2025

Tablet Market Levels Off in 3Q Following Six Quarters of Growth Global tablet shipments fell 4.4% year-over-year in Q3 2025 to 38 million units, IDC reported, as post-pandemic demand cooled and high inventories slowed sales. Emerging markets and AI-driven innovations continue to sustain growth across consumer and enterprise segments. IDC

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.

Tariffs: How OEMs restructure EMS partnership to minimize cost escalation and supply disruption As 2025 budget reviews unfold, supply chain leaders are grappling with soaring tariffs. Average duties on Chinese electronics have hit 51.1%, semiconductors face up to 100%, EV batteries 75%, and rare-earth components risk further escalation amid security-driven trade tensions. Venture Outsource

Flux Technology Development for Solder Paste Compatible with Formic Acid Reflow Ovens for Power Devices This paper introduces a newly developed flux technology compatible with formic acid reduction reflow ovens which offers solutions to the issues associated with conventional power device soldering. Technical Paper

Test and Measurement Strategies for QKD, PQC and Hybrid Systems Quantum computing's rise threatens classical encryption like RSA, driving NIST to standardize three post-quantum algorithms—FIPS 203, 204, and 205—to safeguard future data. Governments and industries are fast-tracking adoption despite integration and scalability challenges. EE Times

Sponsor Electronic Assembly Cleaning Basics Monitoring & effectively controlling chemistry concentration when cleaning electronic assemblies is crucial for maintaining optimal cleanliness results & preventing costly consequences. KYZEN

Data centers are now hoarding SSDs as hard drive supplies dry up Surging AI demand is straining global hardware supply chains, driving up prices for chips and storage. With enterprise HDD delivery times exceeding two years, AI firms are shifting to cheaper QLC SSDs, sparking shortages and pushing consumer storage costs even higher. TechSpot

Technical Papers ■ The Analysis of Variance: Drawing Conclusions from Data That Are Correct, Unambiguous, and Defensible ■ PCB Rework Evolves, With X-ray a Constant Support ■ How pH Cleaning Agents Affect Production Performance ■ A Universal AI-Powered Segmentation Model for PCBA & Semiconductor ■ RAIG Minimizes Corrosion, Allows Higher Gold on ENEPIG ■ High Reliability Lead-Free Solder Paste with Rosin and Anti-Crack Resin ■ Understanding Solder Dross: Causes and Control Strategies ■ Optimizing BGA Rework: Challenges, Techniques and Quality Control ■ Maintenance: The Basics of Cleaning Series Part 4 ■ The Economics of Electronic Component Salvage and Reuse MORE TECHNICAL PAPERS

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

Education facing an AI conundrum The AI boom ignited by ChatGPT has reshaped education, pushing universities to adopt AI tools while struggling with their impact. As enthusiasm outpaces reflection, educators warn that overreliance on AI erodes critical skills like reading and writing, threatening genuine learning. Taipei Times

CEO says robots are the future of the car industry Qisda CEO Peter Chen warned that most carmakers could vanish within 10 to 20 years as humanoid robots revolutionize manufacturing. He said smart factories powered by AI, data, and automation will outpace traditional production, citing Tesla's human-free efficiency as the model. Taipei Times

Sponsor Reinforce Critical Components on PCBs UV-curable, low-modulus ruggedizing adhesives secure BGAs/VGAs, improving shock & vibration resistance of electronic assemblies. Low-outgassing version available. Dymax

What Does 'Nvidia' Actually Mean? Founded in 1993 by Jensen Huang, Chris Malachowsky, and Curtis Priem, Nvidia transformed from a graphics-focused startup into a global GPU powerhouse. Its name, derived from invidia—Latin for envy—reflects its ambition to create technologies others would aspire to match. BGR

SkyWater CEO Calls Company 'Quantum Foundry' SkyWater Technology is branding itself as the "quantum foundry," providing flexible fabrication services for firms like D-Wave, PsiQuantum, and SQC. CEO Tom Sonderman said its technology-as-a-service model accelerates innovation across spin, superconducting, and photonic systems. EE Times

Sponsor Silver Filled, Heat Curing Epoxy Master Bond EP4S-80 is a one part, electrically conductive, silver filled adhesive for bonding, sealing and coating with a low curing temperature of 80°C. Master Bond

DARPA and Texas Bet $1.4 Billion on a Unique Foundry The Texas Institute for Electronics is converting a 1980s Austin fab into the world's first advanced packaging plant for 3D heterogeneous integration. Supported by $1.4 billion from Texas and DARPA, the project seeks to revolutionize microelectronics through chip stacking. IEEE Spectrum

Quantinuum unveils Helios, claims a massive leap toward practical quantum computing Quantinuum has unveiled Helios, a 98-qubit quantum computer that delivers 48 logical error-corrected qubits, marking a breakthrough in reliability and scale. The launch signals quantum computing’s shift toward commercial use. TechSpot

Sponsor SEHO@productronica: Innovations up close Designed for demanding applications and focused on efficiency. Experience what is already possible today to make your production future-proof. Meet SEHO at productronica: A4-578! SEHO

Don't Let AI Fool You — Here's Why Every Founder Still Needs to Learn to Code AI tools make launching startups easier, but founders still gain an edge by learning to code. Understanding the basics lets them build MVPs, manage developers, and spot problems early—turning ideas into products faster, cheaper, and with more control over their tech. Entrepreneur

Issues With Solder Paste Transfer Efficiency With transfer efficiency and its relationship to solder paste volume, can you produce a transfer efficiency over 100% of the theoretical volume? Circuit Insight - Board Talk

As AI advances, DeepSeek calls for moral accountability At a rare public event, Chinese AI startup DeepSeek warned that unchecked AI progress could upend jobs and disrupt society. The company urged firms to publicly disclose which professions face automation risks to ensure transparency and prepare workers. Digitimes

Sponsor Want High-Reliability BGA Service? BGA rework and reballing solutions for commercial, military and aerospace perfected over 20-plus years of reliable, repeatable and proven success. BEST Inc.

Tin-Bismuth Low Temperature Solder Electromigration Behavior This paper reviews results reported from accelerated testing compared with cross-sectional results from components on functional systems with known time in service. Circuit Insight - Analysis Lab

Road to Autonomous Vehicles – Why Cities Are Lagging At the Smart City Expo World Congress, experts cautioned that Europe is falling behind the U.S. and China in autonomous vehicle adoption, citing fragmented institutions and complex regulations. They urged unified governance, robust connectivity, and smarter urban integration. EE Times

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