Technology News

Intel – the co really is talking up SSDs at its IDF – some think this could be the inflection point re SSD adoption in notebooks and in the enterprise. CNET. http://news.cnet.com/8301-13924_3-10018837-64.html?hhTest=1&part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-5

Intel – execs at the IDF reiterated their very bullish views on the new Atom chip, saying sales are tracking ahead of plan (INTC has been publicly optimistic on this product pretty much since its launch). INTC conceded that Atom might take share from some of the co's higher margin and more expensive silicon. FT.

LCD panel market set for recovery in September, says iSuppli - After nearly three months of plummeting profitability and precipitous price plunges, the large-sized LCD panel market finally is due for a recovery in September, iSuppli predicts – Digitimes

LG Electronics said it may sell one of its plasma-display-panel production lines as part of its efforts to cut costs and improve profitability. WSJ.

NAND market update - Market research firm iSuppli cut its 2008 NAND annual flash revenue growth forecast from 9 percent to virtually zero, adding that even flat growth may not be achievable this year due to a sharp market downturn. "With the gloomy economic outlook, excess inventory, slow orders and weak consumer spending, the NAND market will remain under pressure for the foreseeable future," ISuppli also said it now forecast the average global NAND flash selling price to decline by about 60 percent in 2008, compared to its previous forecast of a 56 percent decline Reuters

NAND market - Phison: NAND flash industry trough may last another quarter - High inventory of NAND flash among leading NAND flash players has led to a series of price cuts from August but demand is still expected to be suppressed through the entire third quarter, said Khein-Seng Pau, general manager of Phison Electronics – Digitimes

Semi equipment - North America-based manufacturers of semiconductor equipment posted $905 million in orders in July 2008 (three-month average basis) and a book-to-bill ratio of 0.83 according to the July 2008 Book-to-Bill Report published today by SEMI. The three-month average of worldwide bookings in July 2008 was $905 million. The bookings figure is three percent less than the final June 2008 level of $934 million. SEMI. http://wps2a.semi.org/wps/portal/_pagr/103/_pa.103/248?dFormat=application/msword&docName=P044439