April 29, 2025

Microsoft Says U.S. Can't Afford Falling Behind China in Quantum Computers Microsoft President Brad Smith urged the Trump administration to boost quantum research funding, warning China could surpass the U.S. & threaten national security. Smith also called for immigration reforms, educational expansion & stronger U.S. supply chains to maintain leadership. CNBC

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North American PCB Industry Shipments Down 3.1% in March IPC reported March 2025 PCB results, with a book-to-bill ratio of 1.24. Shipments fell 3.1% year-over-year, while bookings dipped 0.3%. Despite monthly declines, year-to-date shipments and bookings rose sharply, hinting at stabilizing supply chains. IPC

Smart pH Employment in Electronic Cleaning The pH of a cleaning agent affects the entire cleaning process and must be considered when determining the appropriate chemistry and process parameters for success. Technical Paper

This Overlooked Leadership Skill Will Help You Build Trust, Influence Teams and Thrive Under Pressure. Here's How to Develop It. As uncertainty and hybrid work reshape leadership in 2025, executive presence has become a core competency, not a luxury. More than charisma, it's about projecting trust, authority, and clarity across physical and digital spaces to inspire true influence. Entrepreneur

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Apple iPhones from India, Earnings Highlight Week's News Apple plans to shift all iPhone assembly for the U.S. market to India as early as next year, accelerating its supply chain diversification amid ongoing U.S.-China trade tensions. The goal is to source over 60 million units annually from India by 2026. EE Times

Technical Papers ■ The "Fried Egg" Effect in Soldering ■ 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 MORE TECHNICAL PAPERS

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The climate cost of the US' tariffs under Trump Trump's new triple-digit tariffs on solar imports, including a staggering 3,521% on Cambodian panels, threaten to crush the U.S. clean energy boom. With fossil fuels facing no new tariffs, the U.S. risks reversing a decade of renewable energy progress. Taipei Times

IBM to invest US$150 billion in US over five years IBM announced a US$150 billion investment over five years to boost American manufacturing and research, especially in quantum and mainframe computing. CEO Arvind Krishna said the move strengthens IBM's role in shaping the future of advanced computing and AI. Taipei Times

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China shrugs off threat of US tariffs to economy, says it has tools to protect jobs China's leaders downplayed the impact of Trump's trade war, pledging support for businesses and workers while unveiling new stimulus measures. Officials promised easier lending, energy independence, and domestic demand expansion to maintain growth near 5% despite rising U.S. tariffs. AP News

Apple to shift all US iPhone production to India by 2026 as tariff fight heats up Apple plans to shift all iPhone production for the U.S. market to India by 2026, aiming to dodge potential tariffs and prevent price hikes. The company must rapidly scale Indian factories to meet the goal of over 60 million units annually. BGR

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IBM pledges $150 billion to boost U.S. tech growth, computer manufacturing IBM announced a $150 billion U.S. investment over five years, including $30 billion for mainframe and quantum computer manufacturing. The move supports American tech leadership amid new tariff policies, while IBM's strong Q1 results exceeded revenue expectations. CNBC

Meta's AI spending comes into focus amid Trump's tariff policies Mark Zuckerberg is pushing to make Meta a leader in AI, despite concerns that Trump-era tariffs could drive up costs. Meta will spotlight its AI ambitions at its first LlamaCon event and earnings report this week, with investors watching closely. CNBC

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

Apple smart glasses with Apple Intelligence are in the works Apple is moving forward with "Project Atlas," developing AI-powered smart glasses similar to Ray-Ban Meta's. Testing has been successful, but the first-generation glasses and camera-equipped AirPods likely won't launch until 2027, as Apple refines its Apple Intelligence platform. BGR

Intel's AI PC chip demand stumbles while older processors thrive amid tariff concerns Consumers are favoring Intel's cheaper Raptor Lake CPUs over pricier AI-powered Meteor and Lunar Lake chips, driven by economic worries and looming tariffs. Intel faces a shortage of older chip production as frugality and "good enough" performance dominate buying decisions. TechSpot

Surface Treatment Enabling Low Temperature Soldering to Aluminum An increasingly popular method to meet the need for lower cost circuitry is the use of aluminum on Polyester (Al-PET) substrates. Circuit Insight - Production Floor

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India-based Tech Vendors Must Prioritize Localization and Strategic Partnerships to Succeed in the Indian Market, Says IDC India's tech market is booming, and local vendors must prioritize AI, forge alliances, and localize strategies to thrive, IDC reports. Success hinges on understanding buyer needs, adapting to regulations, and crafting tailored go-to-market plans to unlock new growth. IDC

Trade tensions take flight: Trump tariffs spark China retaliation against Boeing China escalates its response to the US-China trade war by targeting the civil aviation industry, moving beyond traditional trade goods. Following President Trump's executive orders on reciprocal tariffs, Beijing signals a tougher, more expansive retaliation strategy. Digitimes

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