Lmst

Electronic component scams: some companies are remarkably open about it.

If you buy components on AliExpress or similar online markets, you're probably already familiar with getting faux goods. If you're lucky, it's a clone of the actual part you wanted (transistor, opamp, whatever) with similar specs. If you're less lucky, you get a part that's the same general type, but not the one you wanted - order a transistor with particular characteristics, but receive another transistor type entirely, that doesn't work the same way.

And of course, if you're truly unlucky or you buy the cheapest listing you can find, you get a package with a completely random bit of silicon in it (order a JFET or MOSFET, receive a BJT, possibly with a different pinout...) or even a package with no actual electronics in it (receive a DIP package with proper leads on it, but cut it open and the leads aren't connected to anything, and there's no silicon die in it at all).

I happened to see this listing on AliBaba, the wholesale / manufacturer site related to AliExpress:
https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Screen-printing-TDA7729-TSSOP-28-Audio_1601262782430.html

If I read it right, they're offering to sell you a cloned part, but they'll silkscreen whatever fake info you want onto the package, so you can sell it as a genuine name-brand part. Or maybe they're offering to remark any component you want, who knows - I'm not going to contact them to find out.

Pretty brazen.

#electronics #hobby #AliExpress #fake #Chinesium #remarked #counterfeit #scam #silicon #component

🚨 BREAKING: #Google unveils "Teachable Machine" – because training a #neural network with cat photos is obviously a revolutionary concept that nobody in #Silicon #Valley saw coming. 🙄 Now you too can feel like a top-tier #AI engineer by dragging and dropping files with the proficiency of a toddler. 🍼✨
https://teachablemachine.withgoogle.com/ #Teachable #Machine #innovation #networks #HackerNews #ngated

MediaTek’s First 2nm Chip To Tape-Out In September 2025 #2nm #chip #computex2025 #dimensity #mediatek #mobile #mobilephones #production #ricktsai #semiconductorchips #silicon #tapeout

https://www.lowyat.net/2025/352259/mediateks-first-2nm-chip-to-tape-out-in-september-2025/

“#Nvidia is seeking to reduce its reliance on #BigTech companies by striking new partnerships to sell its artificial intelligence chips to nation states, corporate groups and challengers to groups such as #Microsoft, #Amazon and #Google.

This week, the #American chip giant announced a multibillion-dollar US chip deal with #SaudiArabia’s #Humain, while the #UnitedArabEmirates announced plans to build one of the world’s largest #DataCentres in co-ordination with the US government, as the #GulfStates plan to build massive #AI infrastructure.”

#ArtificialIntelligence / #silicon / #SiliconChips / #AIChips / #diversification <https://archive.md/NHg7O> / <https://www.ft.com/content/2ba1d064-242d-4a2a-a381-374d9643e23a> (paywall)

Uno de los líderes de #Silicon #Valley deja de contratar ingenieros por una triste razón: “ #Somos la #última #generación”

https://as.com/actualidad/sociedad/uno-de-los-lideres-de-silicon-valley-deja-de-contratar-ingenieros-por-una-triste-razon-somos-la-ultima-generacion-n/

Uno de los líderes de #Silicon #Valley deja de contratar ingenieros por una triste razón: “ #Somos la #última #generación” as.com/actualidad/s...

Uno de los líderes de Silicon ...

Random #AliExpress finding...

So today I discovered why I was getting weird results in a circuit I was testing the other day. It turns out that some of the 1N60P germanium diodes I have are fakes. They appear to be just a plain silicon diode with a forward voltage of ~0.6V, rather than the actual article's ~0.25V.

They're in the right DO-35 glass package and they've been marked as 1N60P, so someone's gone to the trouble of faking it well - but I can't see why. It can't possibly be that profitable to buy genuine silicon diodes, remark them, and then sell them for just a few pennies extra, can it?

It's not like the sellers that remark a ten-cent opamp as a $10 part - I can see how that's profitable.

Weird.

#electronics #fake #scam #germanium #silicon #diode #DO35 #1N60P #Ge #Si #SiGe #Chinesium

This Chinese breakthrough could change microprocessors forever
https://zurl.co/Br1yN
#ai #gpu #silicon

New EUV tool could be used in Intel 14A lithography process. #silicon #computing
https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/cpus/intel-hedges-its-bet-for-high-na-euv-with-the-14a-process-node-an-alternate-low-na-technique-has-identical-yield-and-design-rules

How the UK’s microchip industry is bouncing back after a quarter of a century.

A new wave of companies are focusing on microchips designed for clean energy technology.

https://mediafaro.org/article/20250429-how-the-uks-microchip-industry-is-bouncing-back-after-a-quarter-of-a-century?mf_channel=mastodon&action=forward

#Microchips #Silicon #Semiconductor #Tech #Cleantech #Greentech #UK #Business

#silicon #magic

Mask alignment patterns looking quite artsy

AUDIOPHILE MAN - HiFi REVIEW: SERENE PLATTER MAT FROM STACK AUDIO
Do we really need another turntable platter mat? Paul Rigby thought not until he saw this new design from Stack Audio. To read the review, click: https://theaudiophileman.com/serene-platter-mat-from-stack-audio-2/ #turntable #vinyl #platter #mat #silicon #review #HiFi #audiophile #stack

Ah, the audacious dream of a #robo-engineer rising to conquer the world of #CAD #models 🤖💡. Surely, soon we'll have #AI doodling flawless gears and cogs while human engineers sip lattes and admire the mechanical prowess of their #silicon #overlords ☕🔧. Who knew the #future of #engineering would be an AI attempting not to crash while figuring out how to draw a bolt? 🚀😂
https://willpatrick.xyz/technology/2025/04/23/teaching-llms-how-to-solid-model.html #HackerNews #ngated

🚨 #Breaking News: AI's favorite toy, #NVIDIA, is allegedly losing its shiny crown 👑! Who knew that when you stop being the only horse in the race, people might look elsewhere? 🤯 But hey, maybe that's just what happens when you're not the only one in the #silicon #sandbox anymore. 🏖️
https://mohitdagarwal.substack.com/p/from-dominance-to-dilemma-nvidia #AI #news #competition #news #HackerNews #ngated

Improvements of Intel 18A process over 3nm:
#CPU #lithography #silicon
https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/intel-details-next-gen-18a-fab-tech-significantly-more-performance-lower-power-higher-density

Beware of the #dangers of #Silicon #Dioxide!

- Silicon Dioxide is a side product of dehydration of #asbestos
- Inhaling Silicon Dioxide causes #silicosis which is a condition that can fatally damage the lungs
- Silicon Dioxide is commonly used to contain #DihydrogenMonoxide
- Silicon Dioxide is a substance frequently warned about on packages
- Silicon Dioxide is used to manufacture #5G endpoint devices
- Silicon Dioxide is used by the #military to direct the effect of #TerahertzRadiation at the intended target
- Silicon Dioxide is a chemical known to the State of #California to cause #cancer.
- Silicon Dioxide is an essential component of #Molotov Cocktails
- Substantial amounts of Silicon Dioxide are often among trash washed up by the sea
- Silicon Dioxide, even in form of medium sized crystals, is a known "chicken killer"
- Silicon Dioxide is, as known for a long time, where the #foolish man built his home
- Silicon Dioxide is a commonly used extinguishing agent for Class D fires
- Contact with Silicon Dioxide often causes bleeding and injuries up to and including death
- Silicon Dioxide is used to enhance the effect of abrasive blasting, and can even chip away at steel
- Silicon Dioxide is often shipped alongside other dangerous chemicals such as #SulfuricAcid
- Just small quantities of Silicon Dioxide in your bed can cause #insomnia

Despite all this, even today Silicon Dioxide is still used as a building material for homes! #SiliconDioxide #conspiracy

(sorry for repost, had a massive typo)