May 1, 2026

Apple is Giving Up on the Vision Pro After Weak Sales and High Return Rates Apple reportedly halts Vision Pro development after weak sales of its $3,500 headset. The device struggled with discomfort, lack of a killer app, and high returns, prompting production cuts and a shift toward cheaper AR glasses. TechSpot

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TIME100 Most Influential Companies of 2026 Foxconn expands into AI infrastructure, assembles Nvidia GB200 servers, and sees cloud and networking become its largest segment in 2025. AI server revenue jumps 170%, driving NT$8.1 trillion revenue as it builds factories and targets broader design roles. Time

The Drawbacks of Internal Recycling Systems for Solder Dross This paper examines the risks and hidden costs of in-house solder dross recycling, highlighting contamination, compliance, quality, safety, and economic challenges that often outweigh perceived savings. Technical Paper

China's First 'Pre-6G' Network Claims It's Up To 10 Times Faster Than 5G China has tested a pre-6G network in Nanjing built on 5G infrastructure, claiming speeds up to 10 times faster. The trial showcased AI integration, ultra-low latency, and applications in manufacturing, inspections, and holographic communication, with full rollout expected post-2028. BGR

Sponsor Low Pressure Plasma for Electronics Expand your knowledge of plasma technology. Register now for the new PlasmaTalk webinar to learn how low-pressure plasma can advance your production. Plasmatreat

Intel's stock more than doubles in April for best month in chipmaker's 55 years on Nasdaq Intel's stock surged 114% in April as investors backed its turnaround, driven by rising AI-driven demand for CPUs, improving chip production, and government support. The company is regaining momentum after years of setbacks and aggressive restructuring. CNBC

Temperature Cycling with Bending to Reproduce Typical Product Loads A new methodology for solder joint reliability prediction taking into account the mechanical load as well as the thermal mismatch load between component, solder & PCB is proposed. Technical Paper

Technical Papers ■ 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 ■ 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 MORE TECHNICAL PAPERS

Sponsor Built to Scale. Proven in Production. Microsystems World CNC boosted throughput and automation by trading up to a complete inline SMT solution—powered by Manncorp and designed for long-term growth. Manncorp Inc.

AI boom: Big Tech capital expenditures now seen topping $1 trillion in 2027 Wall Street analysts now project AI capital spending to exceed $1 trillion by 2027 as hyperscalers ramp budgets. Despite investor skepticism, firms like Alphabet, Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft boost spending, while cloud growth and chip demand signal emerging returns. CNBC

China turns up economic pressure on US After Trump called his Xi summit '12 out of 10,' China has expanded economic pressure tools, tightening rare earth controls, restricting AI chips and cybersecurity software, and enacting supply chain laws, countering US leverage ahead of renewed talks. Taipei Times

Optimization of Robotic Soldering Process: Solder Spread and Spattering Robotic soldering is a growing market. We will present how cored wires with different flux percentages will affect robotic soldering performance. Technical Paper

Sponsor Affordable Profiling Excellence Four channels of precision data capture from the most trusted name in thermal profiling. New and improved V-M.O.L.E.™ 2 is the ideal solution for budget-conscious electronics pros. Learn more here. ECD

The Apple Vision Pro Just Made Medical History - Here's How Surgeons used Apple Vision Pro to perform cataract surgery using the ScopeXR app, which delivers real-time 3D imaging and patient data. The system enables remote collaboration and training, though high cost and comfort issues limit wider adoption. BGR

What Is a BOM in Electronics Design and Manufacturing? Modern electronics manufacturers rely on bills of materials (BOMs) to guide design, sourcing, production, and risk management. BOMs define components, enable cost control, and improve supply chain resilience across engineering, manufacturing, and service functions teams. Z2Data

Moisture Barrier Bag Issues Moisture sensitive chip components have been exposed to the atmosphere beyond specification. Can they be packaged and sealed with desiccant? Board Talk

Sponsor Contaminant Removal with Plasma Plasma provides organics removal and other benefits to increase bond strength! Many chamber sizes available, all with a low environmental impact. Learn more. Plasma Etch

Apple revenue guidance tops estimates on booming iPhone, Mac demand Apple beat fiscal Q2 earnings and revenue expectations and issued strong guidance, sending shares up 3% after hours. Revenue rose 17% as iPhone sales lagged estimates again, while services grew strongly amid supply constraints and rising AI-driven memory costs. CNBC

Google cloud growth tops Microsoft and Amazon as all three beat estimates on AI demand Google, Amazon, and Microsoft all beat earnings estimates in cloud infrastructure, with Google delivering record growth driven by AI demand. AWS and Azure also expanded strongly as companies invest heavily in AI despite rising competition and massive capital spending. CNBC

Sponsor iX7059 Series by Viscom: Inline X-ray Inspection Power High-performance Inline X-ray Inspection Systems for complex electronics, semiconductors, and power modules up to 200 kg. Seamless integration, AI-powered accuracy, and maximum reliability for every application. Viscom SE

Google wraps up best month since 2004 as earnings push Alphabet stock up 34% in April Alphabet surged after strong cloud-driven earnings and soaring AI demand, while Meta fell on heavy AI spending concerns. Investors remain divided as Big Tech ramps capital expenditure, balancing AI opportunity against uncertain returns from costly infrastructure buildouts. CNBC

Pb-Free Water-Soluble Solder Paste Improves Reliability This paper details a water-soluble lead-free solder paste that has improved voiding performance and washability over previous generations of solder paste. Technical Paper

AI data centers are delaying Texas housing projects by hiring away electricians AI data center expansion in Texas is pulling electricians away from housing projects, as higher-paying campus jobs intensify labor shortages. Builders struggle to keep pace with population growth and an aging workforce, slowing home construction despite licensing reforms. TechSpot

Here's why surging oil prices may not derail the consumer trade Wall Street shifts focus beyond Big Tech earnings as Mike Khouw highlights consumer staples and discretionary stocks amid Iran war-driven oil shocks. Rising fuel prices, strong retail sales, and crude surges keep investors eyeing resilient consumer demand. CNBC

Sponsor Automation in Transition The world of automation is changing. What does this mean for customers? And what impact is the transformation having on providers? Find out more from a panel of experts. SCHUNK

Tata tops Foxconn as Apple's biggest India supplier Tata Electronics has overtaken Foxconn to become Apple's largest contract manufacturer in India by workforce, expanding to 75,000 employees from 15,000 in 2023 through new Hosur plant and acquisitions. Foxconn may regain lead as Devanahalli scales. Tech in Asia