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Former NVIDIA mobile chief Mike Rayfield lands at Micron Technology
Micron Technology is adding Mike Rayfield as the brains to its newly-doubled manufacturing brawn. NVIDIA's departing mobile chief was instrumental in producing Tegra 3, the hardware behind flagship devices like HTC's One X and Google's Nexus 7. He's been given the slightly misleading job title as VP of the company's Wireless Solutions Group, which, despite the name, produces DRAM, NAND and NOR Flash memory for the global smartphone market -- and given his track record, it's likely that we'll be seeing much more of Micron's memory in the years to come
Micron first to market with phase-change memory modules for portable devices (video)
Look out silicon and magnetic storage, here comes glass. Micron has announced production of the first commercial cellphone phase-change memory (PCM) modules, a type of flash RAM that works by changing a crystal solid to an amorphous state. The 1Gb chips will share a circuit board with 512Mb of standard volatile memory, just enough to go in feature phones for now -- but the company claims it will eventually offer larger modules for smartphone and tablet storage as well. PCM could scale to much faster speeds than conventional NAND flash, since it doesn't require a time-sapping erase before rewriting -- and with read speeds of 400MB/s, it's already into regular flash territory while still just a first generation product. Once the tech gets even quicker, PCM could even replace volatile RAM, allowing more secure storage in case of a power loss and reducing device costs and power usage. That means the glassy new kid could eventually bump silicon-based storage altogether -- ending its 40-year plus reign as king of the memory substrates. To see some of the ways it trumps NAND, check the video after the break.
Micron scoops up Elpida Memory, 50-percent production boost for $2.5 billion
There's no question that Micron has shifted its focus away from PCs in favor of producing components, shipping everything from SSDs to CMOS sensors in recent years, but the semiconductor manufacturer just took a $2.5 billion step even closer to bridging its gap between other companies in the same market, including Samsung, the chip producer's top competitor. Under the deal, Elpida Memory, which is headquartered in Tokyo, will fall within the Idaho-based conglomerate's growing umbrella, netting Micron a 50-percent boost in production capability. That increase did come at great expense, however -- the transaction included $750 million in cash and $1.75 billion in future installments (1,750 easy payments of one million dollars?), which are set to continue through 2019. The acquisition was also paired with a 24-percent stake in Rexchip Electronics for an additional $334 million, which will complement Elpida's investment, yielding a total 89-percent stake for Micron. While the amount does seem quite significant, investors appear to be on board, with Micron's stock ($MU) currently up more than 4 percent since this morning. Both deals will reportedly close within the next year.
PoP Video peripheral turns iPod touches and iPhones into pico projectors for $99
While it may not be the first time we've come across such a concept, this PoP Video add-on is certainly quite different than, say, WooWee's Cinemin Swivel -- and significantly cheaper, too. The PoP Video pairs up with iPod touches (3rd / 4th generation) and iPhones (4 / 4S) via Apple's proprietary 30-pin connector, essentially turning your device into an unorthodox pico projector. According to PoP's site, the 3.5 ounce peripheral's capable of 960 x 540 video output and can give you up to two hours of "playtime" on a single charge -- achieved by way of micro-USB. It all wouldn't be worth it without the free iOS app, though, which lets folks tinker with settings and do what it's intended to do: project videos, pics as well as browsing within Safari. The $99 PoP Video is up for pre-order now, and you can get a quick glimpse of the accessory in action just past the break.
Micron appoints Mark Durcan as new CEO
In the wake of last week's fatal plane crash that took the life of its CEO, Micron Technology has appointed a successor, Mark Durcan. The former CTO has been with the company since 1984, and has -- per company bylaws -- been serving as interim chief since February 3rd. Robert Switz, the company's previous Board Director, will assume the duties of Board Chairman and Mark Adams, formerly the VP of Worldwide Sales, has been named as the company's President. In a press release announcing the appointments, the new CEO wrote that the company was "deeply saddened" to learn of the death of its top executive, and that the management team would work relentlessly to "continue to move the company forward."
Steve Appleton, CEO of Micron, dies in plane crash at 51
Sad news to report this Friday. Steve Appleton, the CEO and Chairman of Micron, died this morning in an airplane crash shortly after takeoff from the Boise, Idaho airport. He was the only one aboard, and was piloting a fixed wing, single engine kit aircraft. Appleton started working at Micron in 1983 shortly after graduating from Boise State University, first working the production line and eventually rising through the ranks to become the company's COO in 1991. He took the reins of Micron in 1994. The plane crash wasn't Appleton's first. In 2004, he and a flying partner walked away from an accident, having sustained only scrapes and bruises. He later commented on his life's passions, which included aircraft aerobatics, "I'm very fortunate, lucky to be able to experience the kinds of things that I do. If my life were to end tomorrow, I've had a full life." Steve Appleton leaves behind a wife and four children. Comments from Micron's Board of Directors, as well as Boise's mayor, Dave Bieter, can be found after the break.[Thanks, Fazzitron]
Micron Technology's new CMOS enables 30 shots a second, 720p video
A new CMOS imaging chip being developed by Micron Technology will allow digital cameras to capture as many as 30 shots a second, and will also enable video capture at an unprecedented 720p. The eight megapixel sensor -- whose pixels are only 1.75-microns across -- needs to be throttled down to two megapixels in order to achieve that 30 shot figure, but even at maximum resolution it is able to capture an impressive 10 shots per second. Don't expect to see cameras sporting the new chip right away, though, as mass production is not scheduled to begin until the first half of next year, meaning consumer products may not be available until as late as 2008.[Via Cnet]
