21st FEBRUARY 2021,
- 3D printing gains traction in India due to covid push .
Following years of limited adoption, 3D printing is gradually gaining mainstream attention in India, after most industries faced covid-led supply chain disruptions. According to experts, the application of 3D printing has grown since then and demand is now stronger in sectors like pharmaceuticals, jewellery, defence, aerospace, fast-moving consumer goods, and construction. Following the covid-19 outbreak, 3D printing startups collaborated to address the shortage of several key medical equipment, including face shields and ventilator valves.
“Earlier, the automotive sector was the biggest user of 3D printing, accounting for up to 70% of all demand while the remaining 30% came from the rest. In the last few months, this percentage has reversed," said Swapnil Sansare, CEO, Divide by Zero Technologies, a Mumbai-based 3D printing firm. Reportedly India has seen increasing adoption of 3D printing technologies with growth rates of over 30% year-on-year across materials. Experts said the Centre’s schemes to boost local manufacturing and reduce dependence on China are likely to urge the adoption of 3D printing.
- Semiconductor shortage leaves U.S. lawmakers seeking elusive fix .
Lawmakers hoping to revitalize U.S. semiconductor manufacturing in response to a global chip shortage will find it tough to do in the near term, even if Congress throws billions in cash subsidies at the problem. There’s bipartisan support for increasing domestic chip manufacturing capacity with some U.S. carmakers forced to idle plants as supply chains are interrupted by the global pandemic. Biden administration officials have identified semiconductors as a strategic area for domestic investment to compete with China. The president is expected to sign an executive order in the following weeks calling for a supply chain review for critical goods, including semiconductors. The defense bill enacted in December authorized the use of federal incentives to promote semiconductor manufacturing and research in the U.S., but the bill didn’t include funding for the grants and tax credits lawmakers say are necessary to promote investment.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC)and Samsung are both considering building manufacturing plants in the U.S. TSMC announced plans to build a fab in Arizona worth $12 billion -- if it can arrange enough subsidies at the state and federal level. Samsung is considering spending more than $10 billion to build its most advanced logic chip-making plant in Austin, Texas, but plans aren’t final. "If you’re TSMC or one of the big foundries, the U.S. government is going to have to make it worth your while," said Vivek Arya, a technology analyst with BofA Securities Inc.
- Microsoft Word gets smarter, AirPods successor leaked.
Microsoft Word to get smart text prediction features like Google Docs and Gmail: The most popular desktop office and productivity suite is about to get a lot smarter, with a new smart composing option arriving in the next few weeks. However, Microsoft is positively not the first to the predictive text (in a document) party, its rival has boasted a similar feature for a while now.
Third-generation Apple AirPods with the case leak in an image, here’s what you can expect: While there’s still time before Apple reveals us, anything related to its rumored AirPods successor, a new image has apparently leaked the upcoming AirPods in all their glory, while also suggesting they could borrow touch controls from the AirPods Pro. It will sport an in-ear buds design like the AirPods Pro, allowing the use of plugs that go inside the ear rather than allowing the buds to just hang on the ear. The stem is also shorter, shorter than even the AirPods Pro’s, which goes in line with the smaller charging case. Just as interesting as the design changes, however, are the feature upgrades. That includes Force Sensor for squeeze controls, Active Noice Cancellation, Transparency Mode, and even the “pressure relief” vent. In other words, it packs many features for such a small body.
- iPhone assembler Foxconn to help launch electric cars this year.
iPhone assembler Foxconn had plans of entering the express lane with electric vehicles (EVs). The company now says it would launch its first such vehicle by the end-2021 that will be built on its own open software and hardware platform, signifying major progress in the Taiwanese electronics giant’s push into the automotive space. Two light vehicles designed using Foxconn’s platform will be unveiled in the fourth quarter, Chairman Young Liu of Foxconn’s flagship unit Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. informed reporters at the company’s headquarters in suburban Taipei on Saturday. The company may also help launch an electric bus around the same time, he said.
Foxconn has been seeking to enhance its automotive capabilities at a time when technology companies including its customer Apple Inc. are looking to expand in vehicles. Foxconn in October unveiled its first-ever EV chassis and a software platform aimed at helping automakers present models to the market faster. The company set up a joint venture with Chinese carmaker Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co. last month. Liu said the venture is currently in talks with startup Faraday Future and others on cooperation on EVs. While Foxconn will see revenue from automotive vehicle ventures grow this year, Liu expects EV-related business to start delivering a meaningful contribution to the group’s overall sales only in 2023.
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