Nvidia RTX 5060 series launch shakes up mid‐range GPU market

April 15, 2025, 9:08 am

Several reports announce Nvidia’s official launch of its new GeForce RTX 5060 series, including two variants of the RTX 5060 Ti along with a standard RTX 5060 model. The announcement highlights competitive pricing and robust technical specifications, with entry prices starting at $299 for the RTX 5060 and higher for the Ti versions. This launch is set to expand Nvidia’s lineup in the mid-range GPU segment, targeting both gamers and creative professionals amid evolving market trends.

gizmodo.com / Nvidia Promises the RTX 5060 Ti Is a 1440p Beast, but Tariffs Could Change That

tomshardware.com / Nvidia announces GeForce RTX 5060 Ti and RTX 5060, starting at $379 and $299

theverge.com / Nvidia’s RTX 5060 Ti arrives on April 16th starting at $379

4 stories from 4 sources in 1 hour ago ... #hardware #innovation #gaming #semiconductors #chips +

US faces supply shock as China’s rare earth controls tighten global dependency

April 15, 2025, 7:58 am

New export controls imposed by China on critical rare earth elements have raised alarm bells in the United States, spotlighting a strategic vulnerability in its defense and technology sectors. Analysts warn that the struggle to secure alternative sources could undermine crucial military and industrial production capabilities. This scenario underscores the risks associated with heavy reliance on Chinese imports and fuels calls for boosted domestic production.

Reddit: r/NoShitSherlock

cnbc.com / U.S.' inability to replace rare earths supply from China poses a threat to its defense, warns CSIS

zerohedge.com / The US Relies Heavily On Rare Earth Imports From China

3 stories from 3 sources in 2 hours ago ... #semiconductors #data-visualization #china #defense-tech +

Trump’s Tariffs Disrupt Chip Markets, Prompt Industry Impact Assessment

April 15, 2025, 4:20 am

Two news reports detail how President Trump’s imposed tariffs are disrupting specific segments of the semiconductor industry. One report highlights that Chinese chip traders have reportedly halted price quotes due to the uncertainty generated by these tariffs, while the other explains that Taiwanese officials are assessing the potential impacts on their chip industry. Both narratives reveal immediate concerns within the chip market as industry players reevaluate competitive strategies and pricing structures in response to stringent trade measures.

appleinsider.com / US launches semiconductor probe to explain away tariff exemptions

androidheadlines.com / Trump will unveil chip tariffs over the next week

winbuzzer.com / Chinese Chip Traders Freeze Price-Setting on AI Chips Amid Political Uncertainty by US Tariffs and Export Bans

5 stories from 4 sources in 6 hours ago ... #tech-policy #chips #semiconductors #china #hardware +

Tariff Exemptions Fuel Tech Giants’ Growth and Workforce Expansion

April 14, 2025, 11:15 pm

Two news pieces report on the economic impact of newly announced tariff exemptions that have significantly benefited key technology companies. One article highlights Apple’s surge to a $3 trillion market cap, attributing much of its financial boost to tariff exemptions that saved billions. In a parallel development, Foxconn resumed iPhone hiring in China immediately following similar tariff policy changes. Both accounts underscore how strategic tariff relief is triggering decisive operational adjustments and growth in the tech supply chain.

androidheadlines.com / Trump boasts how he helped Apple with tariff pivots

theregister.com / South Korea reports tech exports surged ahead of Trump tariffs

techinasia.com / Apple remains committed to invest despite tariffs: ID gov’t

techinasia.com / Apple’s market cap hits $3t as tariff exemptions save billions

8 stories from 4 sources in 11 hours ago ... #hardware #mobile-tech #apple #china #semiconductors +

Intel Sells Majority Stake in Altera to Private Equity Firms

April 14, 2025, 6:20 pm

Two separate reports confirm that Intel is offloading a major stake in its FPGA unit, Altera, to a private equity firm as part of a strategic restructuring. The news highlights Intel's move to divest 51% of the company in order to streamline its operations amid intensifying competition in the semiconductor industry. Valuations reported differ—with one source citing an $8.75 billion figure and another mentioning $4 billion—yet both emphasize the significance of this financial maneuver and its implications for the industry's ongoing consolidation.

techinasia.com / Intel to sell 51% stake in its chip business for $4.46b

theregister.com / Intel flogs off majority stake in Altera to private equity for $4B

2 stories from 2 sources in 16 hours ago ... #venture-capital #hardware #semiconductors #chips +

Trump tariffs shake tech investments and semiconductor policies

April 14, 2025, 10:20 am

Multiple stories report on President Trump’s evolving tariff policies aimed at reshaping the U.S. electronics and semiconductor landscape. Announcements indicate plans to impose new chip tariffs while also witnessing abrupt policy shifts that have left IT projects in limbo. The discourse spans expectations of stricter measures affecting tech manufacturing investments alongside industry concerns over uncertainty. This cluster emphasizes the administration’s broad impact on technology and trade, highlighting divergent viewpoints and resulting market disruptions.

Bluesky: @appleinsider.com, @appleinsider.com

zerohedge.com / Can The Work Ethic Make A Return?

techinasia.com / Taiwan stocks may rebound on US tariff exemptions

macrumors.com / Trump Planning Semiconductor Tariffs That Will Impact Apple, No One 'Getting Off the Hook'

bgr.com / Trump’s tariffs might ruin the iPhone 17 Air for me

zerohedge.com / No, A 50% Tariff Doesn't Mean A 50% Price-Hike

androidheadlines.com / Legal battle erupts as Trump tariffs face challenge from US businesses

zerohedge.com / China Would Lose A 'Trade War' With The US... "Gradually, Then Suddenly"

cnbc.com / Apple regains $3 trillion market cap after Trump exempts tariffs on iPhones

zerohedge.com / "Things Are Breaking 'Out There'..."

zerohedge.com / Art Of The Deal

19 stories from 13 sources in 24 hours ago ... #hardware #semiconductors #tech-policy #chips #it-security +

Nvidia localizes AI chip and supercomputer manufacturing in the U.S.

April 14, 2025, 10:20 am

Multiple reports detail Nvidia’s strategic move to shift critical elements of its AI infrastructure production domestically. The announcements reveal plans to manufacture supercomputers entirely in the United States and to build AI chips in U.S. facilities, with dedicated manufacturing space in Arizona and Texas. This initiative is portrayed as a significant step toward strengthening America’s control over advanced chip technology and supply chains in an increasingly competitive global tech environment.

Reddit: r/technews

Bluesky: @arstechnica.com, @theverge.com, @verge-poster.bsky.social, @tomwarren.co.uk, @toadsanime.lostincult.co.uk

theregister.com / Nvidia joins made-in-America party, hopes to flog $500B in homegrown AI supers by 2029

techinasia.com / Nvidia to invest $500b in US AI infrastructure by 2029

wsj.com / Nvidia’s Made-in-the-U.S.A. Move Follows a Familiar Trump Pattern

techspot.com / Nvidia shifts AI supercomputer production to the US for the first time

betanews.com / Nvidia Blackwell chips and AI supercomputers to be built in the USA thanks to Trump's economic policy shift

tomshardware.com / Nvidia aims to build $500 billion worth of AI servers in the USA by 2029

arstechnica.com / Amid Trump tariff chaos, Nvidia launches AI chip production on US soil

theverge.com / Nvidia starts producing its Blackwell AI chip at TSMC’s Arizona plant

cnet.com / Nvidia Says It's Making Chips in Arizona, Supercomputers in Texas

18 stories from 13 sources in 24 hours ago ... #ai #hardware #semiconductors #chips #defense-tech +

Intel Sells 51% of Altera to Silver Lake in $8.75B Deal

April 14, 2025, 9:21 am

Intel has reached a definitive agreement to divest a 51% stake in its programmable chip unit, Altera, to Silver Lake for $8.75 billion. This strategic move is a pivotal element of Intel’s turnaround plan aimed at reducing expenditures and sharpening its operational focus. By shedding a controlling stake while retaining a minority interest, Intel seeks to leverage Altera’s independent growth potential in the competitive FPGA market.

intel.com / Intel sells 51% stake in Altera to private equity firm on a $8.75B valuation

tomshardware.com / Intel sells 51% of Altera FPGA business to Silver Lake for $4.46 billion

pulse2.com / Intel Selling Majority Stake In Altera To Silver Lake For $4.46 Billion

5 stories from 5 sources in 25 hours ago ... #venture-capital #hardware #semiconductors #chips #ai +

Meta Faces Antitrust Trial Over WhatsApp and Instagram Deals

April 14, 2025, 9:21 am

Legal challenges regarding Meta’s acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp have escalated into an antitrust trial. Regulators allege that the mergers were executed through predatory “buy-or-bury” schemes, raising concerns about monopolistic practices that have reshaped the social networking landscape. The trial will scrutinize whether these acquisitions have unfairly constrained competition in the industry.

Bluesky: @alexeheath.com, @laurenfeiner.bsky.social

techinasia.com / Zuckerberg denies suppressing competition in trial testimony

bgr.com / After ruining Instagram, Meta might be forced to break up with it altogether

androidheadlines.com / Lina Khan Says Facebook ‘Panicked’ — And That’s Why It Bought Instagram and WhatsApp

arstechnica.com / Zuckerberg’s 2012 email dubbed “smoking gun” at Meta monopoly trial

winbuzzer.com / Meta Board Appoints Former Trump Advisor Amid FTC Trial Start

wsj.com / Meta Fights to Keep Instagram and WhatsApp, as Antitrust Trial Begins

tomshardware.com / AMD splits ROCm toolkit into two parts – ROCm AMDGPU drivers get their own branch under Instinct datacenter GPU moniker

13 stories from 11 sources in 25 hours ago ... #tech-policy #mobile-applications #meta #mag7 #fang +

Samsung Launches Rugged Galaxy XCover7 Pro and Tab Active 5 Pro

April 14, 2025, 8:20 am

Multiple news pieces confirm Samsung’s release of a new rugged lineup for demanding worksite environments. The Galaxy XCover7 Pro smartphone and Tab Active 5 Pro tablet are built with military-grade toughness and powered by Snapdragon 7s Gen 3, ensuring durability under harsh conditions. Both devices promise extended OS support and enhanced security, aligning with the company’s strategy to offer robust, enterprise-grade mobile solutions tailored for sectors where resilience and performance are paramount.

Bluesky: @theverge.com, @verge-poster.bsky.social

theverge.com / You can hot swap the battery on Samsung’s new rugged tablet

androidheadlines.com / Samsung’s Galaxy Xcover 7 and Tab Active 5 Pro Pack Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 and Military-Grade Toughness

cnet.com / Samsung's New Rugged Phone Is Made for Work Sites, Has a Replaceable Battery and AI

5 stories from 4 sources in 26 hours ago ... #ai #hardware #mobile-tech #innovation #semiconductors +