➀ U.S. smartphone imports from China plummeted 94% (Feb-May 2025), with India/Vietnam emerging as new hubs;
➁ Vietnam surged as top laptop supplier to the U.S. (+147%), while China's TV exports to U.S. dropped 61%;
➂ Potential 25% smartphone tariffs and minimal domestic production signal U.S. facing device shortages in late 2025.
➀ Neil Druckmann discussed the evolving role of storytelling in video games with screenwriter Alex Garland, reflecting on the challenges and inspirations around narratives in games.
➁ Games like BioShock and The Last of Us demonstrated the full capability of narrative in gaming, challenging the industry's skepticism.
➂ Druckmann shared his early inspirations for narrative-driven games, including Monkey Island 2 and Half-Life 2.
➀ Reputable leaker Billbil-Kun reports that Death Stranding 2 pre-orders are expected to start in March, with a release date likely announced at SXSW 2025.
➁ The game will have a Standard Edition at $69.99 and a Collector's Edition at $229.
➂ The leak also confirms that Death Stranding 2 will launch with a physical Standard Edition, priced at $69.99 USD / 69.99 EUR, along with a Collector's Edition planned for North America and Europe, retailing at $229 USD.
➀ Dr. Prady Gupta is the Founder and Chief Scientist at Infinita Lab and Infinita Materials, focusing on materials testing and specialized chemicals for high-tech industries.
➁ Infinita Lab offers a network of over 2,000 accredited labs for comprehensive materials testing services.
➂ Infinita Materials specializes in custom inorganic chemicals for sectors like semiconductors and batteries.
➀ This paper discusses the post-silicon validation of the IBM POWER9 processor, highlighting its significance in the context of increasing multi-core processor adoption by hyperscalers.
➁ IBM's Threadmill, a tool for processor verification, has been enhanced since the POWER7, including optimized template allocation and debugging strategies for multi-core write drops.
➂ The validation methodology for POWER9 has significantly improved bug detection rates compared to POWER8, with new techniques like AI prioritization and hardware irritators to induce bugs.
➀ Traditional RF board design strategies are insufficient for high frequencies and dense layouts;
➁ Keysight and Modelithics collaborate on an advanced RF board simulation workflow;
➂ The use of 3D passive component models enhances simulation accuracy and reduces the risk of board re-spins.
➀ The GeForce RTX 5060's launch has been pushed back to April 2025 due to 'chip supply constraints';
➁ The delay affects the RTX 5070, RTX 5080, and RTX 5090, with limited supply expected leading to instant sellouts;
➂ The AI boom is increasing semiconductor demand, impacting the availability of the new GeForce RTX 50 Series.
➀ Anduril Industries, led by Palmer Luckey, is set to take over the US Army's Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS) program, pending Department of Defense approval.
➁ The program includes advanced headgear with AR capabilities, and Anduril will manage production and development with Microsoft Azure as the preferred cloud provider.
➂ Palmer Luckey, the founder of Oculus VR and Anduril Industries, sees this as a deeply personal achievement, emphasizing the potential of the technology to save lives.
➀ AMD has no plans to launch RDNA 4 GPUs for gaming laptops and will focus on the desktop market first.
➁ Brad Conrad, AMD's Director of Product Management for Premium Mobile Client, confirmed that RDNA 4 will initially target the desktop market.
➂ AMD's new RDNA 3.5-based Radeon 8060S integrated GPU is claimed to rival NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU.
