Major Shift in PC Memory Could Harm DRAM Makers
July 19, 2011
Could NAND Flash Kill DRAM in PCs? | www.cio.com
DRAM will soon have to compete against NAND flash in the PC. Benchmarks have shown that, dollar-for-dollar, NAND provides more performance than does DRAM.This is bad enough news for Micron, Samsung, and Hynix, all of whom make both DRAM and NAND flash, but it is positively deadly for DRAM makers who do not have a strong NAND flash position: Elpida, Powerchip, ProMOS, and Nanya.SSDs will continue to lose out to HDDs in the PC, since a NAND layer gives SSD speeds at a HDD prices & capacities.
Intel technology opens way into smart phones and tablets.
July 19, 2011
Press Release: Intel Vies to Stave Off ARM Challenge with Low-Power Technology | www.intel.com
By the end of 2011 Intel will be producing a Tri-Gate 3-D transistor technology in 22nm. This is directly aimed at ARM and Marvel's dominance of the mobile device market. Intel devices will offer half of the power of existing devices with the same capabilities thereby extending battery life. It will also blunt ARM's attempt to enter the notebook market with the help of Microsoft.
Strong Storage Growth for the Professional Media and Entertainment Industry
May 16, 2011
A new report on digital storage for the professional media and entertainment industry projects strong growth driven by higher resolution stereoscopic content as well as new channels for content distribution and the increasing digitization of historical analog content. 5.6X storage capacity growth and 1.7X revenue growth are expected between 2011 and 2016.
Seagate Mobile Storage for the iPad and other Apple Mobile OS devices
May 16, 2011
Seagate Technology introduced its GoFlex Satellite Mobile Wireless Storage device offering 500 GB storage capacity through a WiFi connection. The battery powered external hard drive allows users to take up to 500 GB of content with them and access it from their iPad, iPhone or other wireless iOS device. The product release is planned for July 2011. Technology originally developed for DAVE several years ago finally finds a market where it fills a need.
SanDisk Acquires Pliant in Continuation of Record Storage Acquisition Season
May 16, 2011
Sandisk agreed to acquire Pliant Technology for about $327M. SanDisk is most known for its consumer products although the company has offered several SSD products over the last decade. Pliant is a startup company founded by HDD industry veterans and has made a name for itself in the enterprise SSD space. The acquisition continues the trend of storage company mergers that have changed the landscape of the industry in the last 3 months.
HDD Suppliers Now Down to Three
April 20, 2011
Seagate and Samsung announced that Seagate would acquire Samsung’s HDD business for $1.38 B. In addition to the HDD business Seagate ensures supply of flash memory for its hybrid HDDs and enterprise storage business. Samsung gets 10% ownership of Seagate and a seat on the board. Samsung also gets HDDs from Seagate to meet its product needs.
Japanese HDD Companies Experience Component Supply Problems Due to Earthquakes
April 8, 2011
Hitachi GST and Toshiba have indicated that due to electrical part shortages they will be constrained on their ability to ship HDDs. Hitachi has reported that this impacts all their desktop supply lines and it may impact their notebook drives as well. Toshiba is also experiencing critical HDD IC shortages that will limit their ability to build HDDs in the short term. Continuing earthquakes and power issues could make the supply of these components questionable for some time.
Great chance for some semicondutor companies to gain market share.
April 1, 2011
Because of the earthquake and Tsunami in Japan there are spot shortages developing in the semiconductor supply chain. For the last several years large OEMs have made it very difficult to qualify a new vendor because there was no real part shortage' and many of these companies laid off their component engineers who did these qualifications, leaving only a few for end of quarter emergencies.
A Real Case Study -- T Mobil Deal
March 25, 2011
T-Mobile Deal Faces Antitrust Barriers . | online.wsj.com
My wife used T Mobil since 2002 and the contract ending in May 2011. Her pink Razor keeps running out of battery and facing upgrade options with higher prices. She could remain in low cost deal and replace a battery. Concessions for AT&T's T- Mobile Deal are inevitable, i.e., to offer a low broadband price with option of extend to wider broadband for her to upgrade. Also, not to restrict access to content to 3rd party online video distributors. Both may be imposed by FCC or DOJ.
Company Needs to Do More Donation Not Marketing
March 24, 2011
Cause-Tied Marketing Requires Care | online.wsj.com
Gaining intangible benefit from cause- Tied Marketing is not new but the bottom line is public approval of its image as a moral player in society. US companies donate less than 5% of overall donation each year. All companies need to do more donation not the cause- tied marketing.
February 7, 2012
SOPA and the wisdom of Yogi Berra
January 19, 2012
Larger wafers present a growth opportunity for LEDs
January 6, 2012
Smartphones threaten digital camera industry
December 1, 2011
Google music launches: The end of the end for the music industry
November 22, 2011