Selling semiconductors, particularly application-specific standard product (ASSP) and application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) chip solutions, to Japan-based hardware vendors requires a different selling technique, according to Masatsune Yamaji, analyst for Gartner. »
NAND memory pricing slips again
Gartner is revising its overall pricing trend for NAND memory devices from down in the mid-single digits to negative 11 percent for the third quarter, followed by a similar level of decline in the fourth quarter. »
Digi-Key sensors magazine available online
If you're looking for technical and product information about sensors, electronic components distributor Digi-Key has released its second issue of its "Digi-Key TechZone" magazine online focused on sensors. »
Intel buys McAfee for $7.7B
Intel will acquire McAfee for $7.68 billion, indicating that the company's security priority now matches its strategic focus in energy efficiency and Internet connectivity. »
Digi-Key to host lighting, system design symposium
Electronic components distributor Digi-Key will host a virtual conference on lighting and system design, August 26, 2010. »
Molex launches online connector resource
Molex launches Connector.com, a new interactive blog site that will provide users with access to the latest connector industry news, trends and opinions. »
NAND pricing set to return to $1 per gigabyte
By the end of 2010, NAND flash memory pricing is set to return to the $1 per megabyte pricing level, considered key to drive the adoption of solid-state drives (SSD), but iSuppli Corp. says it may be too late to help the SSD market. »
iSuppli teardown reveals $171.05 BOM for BlackBerry Torch
The new Blackberry Torch 9800 smart phone from Research in Motion Ltd. carries a bill of materials (BOM) of $171.05, according to a teardown and cost analysis conducted by market research firm iSuppli Corp. »
Power management IC market to grow nearly 40% in 2010
The power management semiconductor market will reach $31.4 billion in 2010, up 39.9 percent from $22.4 billion in 2009, according to a new report from iSuppli Corp. This year's expansion will reverse the losses of 2009, which declined 15.8 percent, and is expected to yield the highest growth rate during the next four years. »
Touch user interfaces have made significant advances in the consumer electronics market particularly for mobile phones and notebook computers, opening the door for adoption in other applications including white goods, computer peripherals, medical equipment, and instrumentation. Synaptics made its debut in the home appliance market earlier this year with the launch of the Samsung Hauzen ZERO air conditioner.
Smaller distributors were the only ones to post sales gains in 2009. Interestingly, two of the five distributors that posted growth last year -- Interstate Connecting Components and Sherburn Electronics -- derive 100 percent of their sales from interconnect products. Both of them also target the military/aerospace industry. Here are the top 10 sales leaders by ICs, passives/electromechanical devices, interconnects and computer products as well as sales growth.

NXP offers a low-power IC aimed at MPPT applications using PV cells or fuel cells.
C&K Components offers a series of low-cost, miniature slide switches. The OS Series of RoHS-compliant switches feature a new high-temperature option for lead-free soldering.