Intel has been planning to build its next-generation semiconductor manufacturing plant in Germany for a long time. Today, we have more information thanks to the Handelsblatt business and financial newspaper. According to the Handelsblatt, Intel is in talks with the German government to get as much as 9.9 billion Euros in state subsidies, a target price much higher than the previously agreed 6.8 billion Euros. Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck has been reportedly working intensively to get the amount of state aid for Intel to be this high. Intel's CEO Patrick Gelsinger is supposed to seal the deal on Monday when he will sign the agreement in the Chancellery.

As reported, the location of the next-generation facility will be Saxony-Anhalt, with the more precise location to be known on Monday. Also, we expect to hear what manufacturing node will the upcoming facility produce at the beginning.

More...

EU Approves New Regulation for Smartphone Batteries - Must be User-Replaceable by 2027
The European Parliament has greenlit new rules relating to battery technologies that are likely to cause headaches for smartphone manufacturers (in particular). The organization published their summary of this environmentally conscious and sustainable strategy on June 14: "Parliament approved new rules for the design (on Wednesday), production and waste management of all types of batteries (including non-replaceable types) sold in the EU. With 587 votes in favor, nine against and 20 abstentions, MEPs endorsed a deal reached with the Council to overhaul EU rules on batteries and waste batteries. The new law takes into account technological developments and future challenges in the sector and will cover the entire battery life cycle, from design to end-of-life."

The section for portable device batteries (for smartphones, tablets and cameras) outlines new consumer rights, with a demand for easily removable and replaceable (DIY) cells. Smartphone manufacturers including market leaders Apple and Samsung will have to go back to the drawing board and figure out ways to reformat how their batteries are mounted and connected internally. Plenty of devices have their units sealed behind protective layers, requiring specialist tools and varying levels of user expertise to access and remove in a safe manner. The European Council has more work to do following their starter announcement: "(We) will now have to formally endorse the text before its publication in the EU Official Journal shortly after and its entry into force." News outlets have interpreted that these provisional rulings will go into effect by early 2027, but they also anticipate that big time players could appeal for extensions beyond that window.

More...

Foxconn Bets on Growth Within EV Sector in Reaction to Supply Chain Challenges
The BBC has conducted an exclusive interview with Young Liu, the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Foxconn. The discussion focused mostly on the Taiwanese multinational electronics contract manufacturer having to navigate choppy waters—it is adapting to cooling international relations with China. Foxconn has many production plants in the region—most notably more than half of Apple products (iPhones and iMacs) are made in these facilities, but Liu's firm has already shifted production bases to other countries and continues to do so. Foxconn has done very well for itself from a traditional strategy of manufacturing US-designed products in China—other lucrative contracts have resulted from partnerships with Sony, Microsoft, Amazon and Dell. Liu acknowledges that some of his Western clients have requested that their products be manufactured outside of China due to political pressures: "They get the push from their government about de-risking, and then they will let us know."

The subject matter changes to Foxconn's ambition in the world of electic vehicles—Liu is less guarded about his company's targeted growth in this market. He cites wanting to gain 5% of the global EV market within the next few years, and is reported to confident about his firm's prospects. He demonstrated a prototype SUV model to the BBC reporter, with emphasis on the car's dashboard: "Look at this - this is a big iPhone, so we're very familiar with this." Foxconn had a small number of EV models on display, but it hopes to target middle-class buyers with eventual product launches. Liu explained that his company's expertise in electronics is a great advantage as they delve into a new market segment: "The reason why we think this is a great opportunity for us is that with the traditional gas engine, you have engines which are mostly mechanical. But with EVs, it's batteries and motors." Foxconn has plans for a global set of car manufacturing facilities—Thailand, Indonesia, India and the USA are mentioned. Liu proposes that his firm's future success will hinge on this diversified location model: "It doesn't make sense for you to make [EVs] in one place, so regionalized production for cars is very natural."

More...

GoDeal24 Introduces Mid Year Sale: Get Genuine Software and Brighten Up Your Dad's Day
GoDeal24 celebrates International Father's Day! Brighten up his Day with discount genuine software. Get Office 2021 Professional Plus at just $24.25, with which you can supercharge your domestic productivity. Windows 11 Pro can be had at a refreshing new price of $10.25. Better yet, combine the two at just $32.99. Check out other great deals on the likes of Windows 10, Office 2019, and their combos, find what you need, and save even more.

Buy Office 2021 Professional Plus at $24.25 | Buy Office 2021 Professional Plus 2-PC at $39.25 | Buy Office 2021 Professional Plus 5-PC at $65.25 | Buy Office 2021 Home and Business for Mac at $28.99 | Buy Office 2019 Professional Plus at $20.25 | Buy Office 2019 Home and Business for Mac at $26.69 | Buy Windows 10 Pro at $7.25 | Buy Windows 10 Pro 2-PC at $12.25 | Buy Windows 10 Home at $7.15 | Buy Windows 11 Pro at $10.25 | Buy Windows 11 Home at $9.98

Please use the coupon code SGO62 on the following items to avail the prices you see here.
Buy Windows 10 Pro + Office 2021 Professional Plus at $29.70 | Buy Windows 10 Pro + Office 2019 Professional Plus at $27.66 | Buy Windows 11 Pro + Office 2021 Professional Plus at $32.99 | Buy Windows 11 Pro + Office 2019 Professional Plus at $30.99

Please use the coupon code SGO50 on the following items.
Buy Windows 10 Enterprise 2019 LTSC at $9.14 | Buy Project Professional 2021 at $33.82 | Buy Visio Professional 2021 at $30.23 | Buy Windows Server 2022 Standard at $26.13 | Buy Windows Server 2019 Standard at $16.06 | Buy Windows Server 2022 Datacenter at $30.75
Check out great deals on system software you may want.Read full story

More...

Zotac Releases GeForce RTX 4090 PGF OC GPU - a Chinese Market Exclusive Model
Zotac has debuted a new flagship NVIDIA model for the Chinese market only - its latest GeForce RTX 4090 24 GB graphics card now arrives as a Prime Gamer Force (PGF) Overclocked edition, which is reported to sit in a tier above the (more familiar) AMP Extreme series. A listing on JD.com has it priced at 17,599 RMB (just under $2500), so this a serious bit of kit. Zotac PGF cards are normally tricked out with the company's best cooling solutions, which allows for greater clock speeds and power—this new model is the first example of an Ada Lovelace GPU getting togged up with Prime Gamer Force livery. The Zotac RTX 4090 PGF OC's cooler design appears to share the same overall shape from the AMP Extreme AIRO variant, but it has been updated with new shroud and backplate designs, four (software controlled) RGB lighting areas and an understated white/black aesthetic.

The RTX 4090 PGF OC edition is cooled by three 11 cm fans and a vapor chamber (akin to the AMP Extreme AIRO's solution). The card is one of the largest available on the market with dimensions of 381 mm (L) x 154 mm (W) x 74 mm (D)—beating the equivalent Gigabyte AORUS Master and its Zotac AMP sibling (by 2.5 cm length-wise). ITHome published their (mandarin language) review of the China market-exclusive flagship Zotac card earlier today. The RTX 4090 PGF appears to have a single 16-pin power connector and a 24+4 phase VRM design, with a maximum TDP rating of 525 W. An on-card BIOS switch can enable a 2625 MHz OC mode, the default clock speed is set at 2580 MHz—fairly typical for a high-end GeForce RTX 4090 model. The PGF card outdoes its AMP Extreme AIRO sibling by a small margin in overclocked mode—it is 45 MHz faster (2625 MHz vs. 2580 MHz).

More...

(PR) Intel Plans Assembly and Test Facility in Poland
Intel today announced that it has selected an area near Wrocław, Poland, as the site of a new cutting-edge semiconductor assembly and test facility. This facility will help meet critical demand for assembly and test capacity that Intel anticipates by 2027. Intel expects to invest up to $4.6 billion in the facility, which will have the capacity to expand. When completed, the facility will support approximately 2,000 Intel employees. The construction of the facility is also expected to create several thousand more jobs, in addition to eventual hiring by suppliers. Design and planning for the facility will begin immediately, with construction to commence pending European Commission approval.

Intel's planned investment in Poland, combined with its existing wafer fabrication facility in Leixlip, Ireland, and its planned wafer fabrication facility in Magdeburg, Germany, will help create a first-of-its-kind end-to-end leading-edge semiconductor manufacturing value chain in Europe. It will also serve as a catalyst for additional ecosystem investments and innovation in Poland and across the European Union.
Read full story

More...

(PR) Sony Announces New PS VR2 Games - Tiger Blade, Wanderer, Pixel Ripped 1995 & The 7th Guest VR
Today, we're happy to announce four new titles making their way onto PS VR2 in the near future. Below you can enjoy the reveal trailers plus additional details about new games such as Pixel Ripped 1995, Tiger Blade and 7th Guest VR, plus get the first look at the PS VR2 debut of the critically acclaimed Wanderer: The Fragments of Fate. These four join the ever growing PS VR2 lineup, which includes games like recently launched action rhythm title Beat Saber and upcoming games like mind-bending sci-fi shooter Synapse, horror-fueled Resident Evil 4 VR, and other new additions announced at last month's PlayStation Showcase.

Unsure what to play next? Remember there are many demos and trials of games on PlayStation Store, including Horizon Call of The Mountain, Resident Evil Village, Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy's Edge and more. Without further ado, let's introduce the new games and let their creators share more details:
Read full story

More...