President Barack Obama’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology forms a working group to strengthen the US semiconductor industry.

Read full article: President Obama sets up semiconductor working group

OLED panels produce soft diffuse light with essentially a Lambertian distribution that is inherently pleasing, but efficacy remains a challenge and elevated ambient temperature can drastically reduce lifetime.

We are excited to announce that Amazon Redshift is now available in the South America (São Paulo) Region.

Procurement – that’s where the money is in this game, Ed confides to his diary – the Department must spend a fortune buying goods and services from outside. I’ve told my PPS to draw up a list of all the Department’s regular suppliers with the amounts we pay them and the services and goods supplied. …

Read full article: Ed Finds Another Wheeze

Harwin has a new range of surface-mount vertical spring-loaded pogo-pins, and pads for them to land on. “Pogo-pin connectors have multiple applications, including wearable medical and fitness devices, mobile phones, car stereos, and notebook and tablet computers,” said the firm. Pins have a free height from 2.4 to 8.2mm and are also available as multi-contact …

Read full article: Pogo-pins aimed at wearables

Connector makers Huber+Suhner, Radiall and Rosenberger are developing a new RF connector system for small cell mobile basestations. To be shown for the first time at next month’s Electronica exhibition, the small format coaxial connector system is being proposed by the suppliers for use in both 4G and upcoming 5G networks. Designed with robustness, small …

Read full article: Tiny RF connector designed for 5G small cells

Analog Devices has moved into the market for real-time Ethernet with the acquisition of US-based firm Innovasic, which has developed interface chips for deterministic Ethernet. Seen as a high speed alternative to the serial fieldbus networking protocol in  factory automation, robotics and industrial IoT, real-time Ethernet is the focus of a new standards push for robust, synchronised networks. …

Read full article: ADI buys deterministic Ethernet chip firm

Wireless charging points for mobile phones are starting to appear in some McDonald’s and Starbucks stores, and wireless charging for consumer phones is expected to increase dramatically in the next year. “McDonald’s, Starbucks, Marriott and Hilton already offer wireless charging in some locations, and further penetration of the technology in more public areas will intensify …

Read full article: Wireless charging in a Starbucks near you sometime soon

On October 21st 1931, the New York Times wrote: “All along the Eastern seaboard from Maine to Florida, towns and hamlets, city and country, forgot for the moment the business of living to pay homage to to the dead. Further West, where Chicago’s ‘Loop’ was bathed in brilliance, the lights went out at 8.59, and …

Read full article: The Tribute

The annual Raspberry Pi challenge for school children and college students has been launched by PA.   The aim of this year’s competition, say the organisers, is for young designers to use Raspberry Pi to improve the lives of people who have conditions that limit their ability to do the tasks that some people take for …

Read full article: Raspberry Pi challenges young people to help society