Oct 28, 2026 Quantum Computing's Energy Bill Is Coming, and We Haven't Priced It In As AI drives rising energy demands, quantum computing must prioritize compute-per-watt and compute-per-dollar over raw qubit counts. Researchers argue that scaling up quantum processors before networking them can deliver greater computational power and efficiency. EE Times

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Apple's new iPhone Duo receives early complaints Apple faces growing complaints about its new iPhone Duo, as customers report cracked foldable displays within days of purchase. The company acknowledged the defect, affecting some units, and advised customers to contact AppleCare for replacements. Taipei Times

Scaling SMT Traceability High-mix electronics manufacturing requires precise material control. This whitepaper explains how Tecnimaster improved traceability, inventory accuracy and picking efficiency through integrated automated storage and reel-level tracking. Technical Paper

Anthropic points to AI dangers, soaring sales in IPO filing Anthropic plans a potential $100 billion IPO valuing it at up to $2 trillion, highlighting soaring revenue and growing enterprise demand. However, massive computing commitments, political tensions, AI safety risks and governance concerns could challenge investor confidence. Taipei Times

Sponsor Discover the power of vAI ProVision from Viscom Create and optimize 3D AOI and AXI programs in minutes. vAI ProVision boosts inspection depth, quality, and speed. Viscom develops & produces premium inspection systems. Viscom

AI cycle to last over 20 years: ex-Intel CEO Former Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger predicts a two-decade AI investment supercycle, dismissing bubble fears. Playground Global is bringing six startups to Taiwan to develop AI infrastructure, targeting memory, power management, optical technologies & advanced packaging innovations. Taipei Times

SMT Components Popping Off During Reflow One particular SMT component is popping off during the reflow process leaving indentations in the solder. Could the fans in our convection reflow oven be blowing the part of the PCB? The Assembly Brothers, Phil Zarrow and Jim Hall, answer these questions. Board Talk

Technical Papers ■ 5 Major Challenges in Image Sensor Packaging and How to Solve Them ■ The Analysis of Variance: Drawing Conclusions from Data That Are Correct, Unambiguous, and Defensible ■ Oxide Reduction for Reliable Electronics Manufacturing ■ UHDI Fabrication for IC Substrates: SAP and mSAP Processes ■ Flux-Free, Reliable, Efficient: Soldering with Formic Acid ■ Redesigning Material Logistics for High-Mix EMS Production ■ 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 MORE TECHNICAL PAPERS

Sponsor Thermally Conductive, Low Outgassing Epoxy Master Bond EP21AOLV-2LO is an electrically insulating adhesive that meets NASA low outgassing requirements for sealing, coating and encapsulation applications. Ask an expert. Master Bond

US bans vehicles from China's BYD at base in Japan The US military has banned all BYD vehicles from Japan's Kadena airbase, citing unmitigable security risks. The move reflects growing Western concerns that Chinese vehicle technologies could expose sensitive military information through cameras, sensors and GPS systems. Taipei Times

iPhone Duo Vs. Galaxy Z Fold 8: Which Passport-Style Foldable Is Best? Apple's iPhone Duo and Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 offer similar 7.6-inch foldable displays at premium prices. Samsung delivers a lighter design and stronger multitasking, while Apple provides better dust resistance, a less visible crease, and future Apple Pencil support. BGR

Direct Metallization for Printed Circuit Board Manufacturing Since Multi-Layer Printed Circuit Boards with holes appeared, the processes making holes conductive have played critical roles to achieve MLB’s function. Technical Paper

Sponsor The "Fried Egg" Effect in Soldering Burnt-on flux residue that is visible on the solder mask of PCBs after improper reflow settings produces significant challenges to the reliability of finished boards. KYZEN

Why the government wants self-driving cars to glow cyan NHTSA has proposed standardized cyan lights for self-driving vehicles to help motorists and law enforcement identify autonomous driving mode. The proposal establishes performance standards and invites public comments, building on earlier turquoise-light tests by Mercedes-Benz. Fast Company

IDC FutureScape 2027 Predicts 60% of Enterprises Will Run a Majority of Their Business Processes AI-first by 2029, up from 13% in 2026 IDC predicts 60% of Global 2000 enterprises will run most processes AI-first by 2029. Its FutureScape 2027 forecasts rapid agent adoption, rising governance risks and new workforce roles, urging businesses to verify AI decisions as deployment accelerates. IDC

PERM DoD Consortium Phase 3 Pb-free Solder Thermal Cycle Reliability This paper documents the Collins Aerospace thermal cycle testing effort for the IPC PERM DoD consortium program. Technical Paper

Sponsor Dedicated Tool for Process Development Advanced plating capability at Uyemura Tech Center: Process Development, UBM, pilot production. ENIG, ENEPIG, EPIG/EPAG, RAIG immersion gold; all substrates. On-site analysis. Uyemura

AI safety expert stops saving for retirement, he believes AI could wipe out humanity within a decade AI safety leader Nate Soares has stopped contributing to retirement savings, fearing superintelligent AI could cause human extinction within a decade. Drawing on years of alignment research, he warns that AI may eliminate humanity without malicious intent. TechSpot

CopperPilot Raises Pre-seed to Develop AI Agent for PCB Design Hardware design startup CopperPilot raised $390,000 in pre-seed funding to advance its Epsilon AI agent, which automates PCB design workflows. The company reports 25-fold weekly user growth and aims to improve design accuracy, reliability, and manufacturing readiness. EE Times

Sponsor 3 Ways to Increase Plasma Uniformity Process temperature is the most important parameter in the plasma process. Process temperature has primary control over etch rate and has a secondary effect on etch uniformity. Read more. Plasma Etch

Apple Could Lose Its $5 Trillion Valuation as iPhone Duo Screens Crack Apple confirmed display defects affecting a small number of its $1,999 iPhone Duo foldable phones, just days after launch. Bloomberg verified customer complaints, while Apple offered replacements but provided no cause, repair timeline, or affected-unit count. Yahoo! Finance

Material Selection for Reliable TMV Pop Assembly This paper investigates selected aspects of the above mentioned processes to better understand the critical factors associated with successful TMV PoP assembly. Technical Paper

Nvidia, AMD to invest $4 billion in Meta as tech giants deepen AI partnership Nvidia and AMD will invest $4 billion in Meta as it raises $95 billion to expand AI infrastructure. The partnerships will strengthen chip deployments, AI agents and computing systems, supporting Meta's ambitions to develop advanced AI models and services. CNBC

China's industrial profits rise 15.5% in first three quarters China's major industrial firms increased profits 15.5% to 6.03 trillion yuan in the first nine months of 2026. Electronics earnings doubled, driven by AI computing demand and advanced memory products, while high-tech manufacturing profits surged 52%. China Daily

Sponsor Simply Double the Production Volume SEHO SelectLine features the award-winning Synchro and SmartSplit production modes that allow to halve cycle times in batch production and mixed operation. Find out more. SEHO Systems GmbH

High-Stakes Negotiation Is a Psychological Game. 5 Ways to Stay Grounded When the Pressure Is On Successful negotiations require more than favorable terms; they demand emotional awareness, empathy and mutual respect. Experienced business leaders emphasize putting people first, managing stress and preserving relationships rather than prioritizing outcomes at any cost. Entrepreneur