To stay aligned with global space industry trends and support Taiwan's efforts to establish a strong space industry, the Small and Medium Enterprise and Startup Administration (SMESA) of the Ministry of Economic Affairs is organizing the International SpaceTech Startup Supporting Program as part of Taiwan Accelerator Plus (TAcc+). The program executed by the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), aims to achieve three key objectives: attracting international SpaceTech startup talent to Taiwan, assisting Taiwan-based SpaceTech startups in exploring business opportunities and entering global markets, and fostering partnerships between enterprises and startups for international expansion.TAcc+ collaborates with global startup accelerators and incubators to attract international talent and select foreign startups with mature technologies to bring to Taiwan. These startups receive support through orientation, networking opportunities, and exposure to Taiwan's thriving space industry and technology exhibitions. For 2024, the program focuses on startups involved in satellite manufacturing system integration, sensing and imaging technologies, and critical rocket manufacturing and launching components.In this context, three international companies—Skyroot Aerospace, SpaceDreamS, and IDDK—were invited to Taiwan for this year's program, where they shared their unique technological advantages and their expectations for potential collaboration with Taiwan's ICT industry. Skyroot Aerospace, based in India, provides affordable and flexible launch services through its Vikram series rockets, specializing in small satellite constellations for applications like Earth observation and communication. French company SpaceDreamS focuses on modular ground segment solutions with its NuPad platform, reducing costs for space access. Meanwhile, the Japanese startup IDDK specializes in micro-imaging technology with its compact Micro Imaging Device (MID), designed to provide cost-effective automated solutions for space biology experiments.Skyroot Aerospace Private LimitedFounded by former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) scientists Pawan Kumar Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka, Skyroot Aerospace is based in India. The company boasts a team of more than 300 people with over 2,000 years of combined experience in rocketry and aerospace engineering, specializing in propulsion systems, avionics, and systems engineering. Skyroot's mission is to democratize space access by developing affordable, reliable, and on-demand launch vehicles.Skyroot's flagship product line, the Vikram series of rockets, caters to a variety of satellite sizes and payload capacities ranging from 200 kg to 1 ton, aimed at Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO) missions. Their Orbit Adjust Module (OAM) enhances flexibility by offering multi-ignition capabilities for precise orbit placement, making it adaptable to a range of satellite needs. Additionally, Skyroot incorporates 3D printing in its engine designs, significantly reducing manufacturing time and costs.Skyroot Aerospace's primary competitive edge lies in its cost-effective and customizable launch services. The use of advanced 3D-printed components and rapid manufacturing techniques reduces both production costs and turnaround times. Skyroot's strategic location in India provides an economic advantage with access to diverse launch trajectories.In November 2022, Skyroot successfully launched Vikram-S, India's first privately developed rocket, reaching suborbital space. This achievement not only showcased the reliability of their technology but also positioned Skyroot as a key player in the global space market.Skyroot Aerospace's visit to Taiwan aims to explore the local space ecosystem, seeking collaboration opportunities with Taiwanese companies in areas like technology transfer and joint development. The company intends to build strategic partnerships with satellite manufacturers, research institutions, and government agencies, focusing on cooperation in launch services and satellite missions. Additionally, Skyroot plans to assess market demand for its services in Taiwan and Southeast Asia, identifying avenues for expansion.Skyroot explores space collaboration with TaiwanDuring its visit to Taiwan, Skyroot's interactions with various organizations and companies have left it confident about future collaborations with Taiwan's evolving space industry. The company engaged in in-depth discussions with various Taiwanese institutions. Among these was the Taiwan Space Agency (TASA), with whichSkyroot explored joint opportunities in satellite and launch vehicle advancements."TASA's ambitions for satellite and launchpad development are very impressive." Sireesh Pallikonda, Skyroot's VP of Business Development and Launch Services proposed its Vikram series of launch vehicles to meet Taiwan's satellite deployment needs, marking the potential for significant technological cooperation. He also underscored the strategic advantage of Taiwan's location for low-inclination orbit launches, positioning it as a potential regional space launch hub.In addition to TASA, Skyroot met with leading Taiwanese universities, including National Central University (NCU) and National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU), to explore partnerships. Pallikonda mentioned that Skyroot is collaborating with NCU on two upcoming satellite launches scheduled for 2025, focusing on technology demonstration and studying ionizing radiation effects in space. In terms of Taiwan's industries, they met with local companies such as LETSCOM, DSME, Rapidtek, and LUXOR THERMAL, focusing on components that are less accessible in India, like advanced solar cells, semiconductor chips, and thermal protection systems. "We are exploring partnerships where we can find synergies and support each other."SpaceDreamS SASEstablished in 2021 in Paris and Toulouse, SpaceDreamS is the brainchild of Christian Canart, a former aerospace engineer at the French space agency CNES with over two decades of experience. The company currently employs a team of 20, combining seasoned professionals from Thales, the French giant of aerospace/space, and the European "NewSpace" sector. SpaceDreamS specializes in designing modular spaceport infrastructure, providing turn-key ground solutions to streamline space launches.SpaceDreamS is revolutionizing the ground segment of the space industry with its modular and interoperable platform, NuPad (Next-generation Universal Pad), which adapts to different spaceports and testing phases. This solution is designed for cost reduction, as it allows reusability of the infrastructure for multiple launches at various locations, thus reducing setup times and expenses. With support from CNES and the European Space Agency (ESA), SpaceDreamS aims to foster competitive advantages for European space actors through modular and cost-effective ground segment technologies.The spaceports have historically been monopolies with limited innovation, high costs, and inefficiencies. SpaceDreamS tries to address the issues by offering reusable and transportable ground infrastructure. The company provides a compelling alternative that significantly reduces the cost and time associated with space access. Their solutions are highly scalable and designed to support varying launch needs from commercial entities to governmental bodies.SpaceDreamS is a multiple winner of the France 2030 program, receiving support from national and European institutions.SpaceDreamS looks for strategic partnerships in Taiwan's NewSpace industryDuring its visit to Taiwan, SpaceDreamS would like to explore potential partnerships with local industries for manufacturing and software development and engage with universities in Taiwan for talent recruitment. They focus on establishing a presence in Taiwan by collaborating with local partners in the NewSpace sector. The company met with officials from the Taiwan Space Agency (TASA) and ITRI, where they introduced their advanced ground system solutions."The professionalism and dedication within Taiwan's space industry are impressive," Maxence Bousard-Mitout, Business Development and Finance Manager at SpaceDreamS expressed appreciation for TASA's capabilities in satellite design and manufacturing. Through these initial discussions, SpaceDreamS aims to leverage Taiwanese expertise to enhance its space services.SpaceDreamS also connected with Taiwan's academic sector, including the Advanced RocketResearch Center (ARRC) of NYCU, to explore future collaboration possibilities in aerospace technology. "The ARRC team's ongoing projects in satellite telemetry are impressive, as they blend research with practical industry applications, fostering an environment of innovation," Bousard-Mitout said.SpaceDreamS also focused on identifying industry partners for specialized components and technical support. The company was particularly interested in collaborating with DarShengMechanical Engineering (DSME) and Letscom. "The flexible approach of Taiwan's industry and its willingness to work with startups like ours is remarkable," Bousard-Mitout observed. SpaceDreamS aims to secure high-quality materials and testing facilities, thereby enhancing its position in the Asian space industry by establishing partnerships with these companies.IDDK Co., LtdFounded in 2017, the Japanese startup, IDDK, is led by a team of experts in semiconductor technologies, space industry veterans, and business strategists. Its core solution is known as the Micro Imaging Device (MID), a semiconductor-based one-chip micro-imaging technology designed for versatile environments, including space. This semiconductor-based imaging solution eliminates the need for optical lenses, making it compact, lightweight, and highly adaptable, becoming an ideal tool for conducting space biology experiments via satellite platforms.One of the major limitations of current space biology research is the reliance on the International Space Station (ISS), where experiments are costly and require long preparation times. IDDK's MID technology addresses these challenges by providing an automated, cost-effective, and frequent alternative to ISS-based research. This allows for frequent and cost-effective experiments leveraging the conditions of microgravity and space radiation, thereby driving innovations that are challenging to achieve on Earth, in areas such as drug development, regenerative medicine, and aging studies.The company's technology stands out not only for its innovative design but also for its ability to operate in unmanned satellite environments, eliminating the need for astronauts to manually adjust and monitor experiments. This opens the door to a broader range of research opportunities, making space-based biological research more accessible and scalable. Additionally, MID's patented design and its capability to perform under harsh space conditions give IDDK a strong position in the competitive landscape.IDDK's MID technology has successfully been developed and tested on Earth, setting the stage for its deployment in space. Its initial go-to-market strategy focuses on collaborating with researchinstitutions and public agencies already engaged in space biology and providing them with a one-stop service from experiment design to execution. For the global market, IDDK plans to expand into the pharmaceutical, healthcare, and cosmetics sectors, leveraging partnerships with satellite providers and targeting markets in Asia, Europe, and North America. They just signed an MOU with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai, demonstrating the commitment to global expansion and the increasing demand for space biology platforms.Oct. 9 Academia-Industry Collaboration Workshop at National Central University (NCU). Professor Loren Chang from the Space Science and Engineering department (row 1, seventh from the left). Skyroot (row 2, fifth from the right), SpaceDreamS (row 2, fifth from the left), IDDK (row 2, fourth from the right). Credit: TAcc+IDDK's examination of Taiwan's space tech ecosystem and potential collaborationsFor their visit to Taiwan, IDDK's team aims to explore partnership opportunities with local space and tech companies, research institutions, and potential investors, expand IDDK's presence in the Asia-Pacific region, and establish collaborations that can accelerate the adoption of their space biology platforms. They also seek to understand Taiwan's SpaceTech ecosystem and identify synergies that align with their mission to make space-based research more accessible, cost-effective, and frequent. IDDK also hopes to engage with local stakeholders to showcase the potential of MID technology and its applications in advancing space biology and related fields.Kohei Yoshioka, the Co-CEO & CFO of IDDK was impressed by Taiwan's advancements in space technology and its collaborative potential during the visit to TASA. Mr. Yoshioka from IDDK remarked that "engagement with TASA provided key insights into how government support in Taiwan fosters innovation in space technology." Through these interactions, IDDK saw how Taiwan's initiatives in satellite-based applications and microgravity research could align with its vision for microgravity experimentation, opening avenues for future collaboration. "We will continue discussions and explore how our platform can benefit Taiwan."In terms of exchanges with Taiwan's academic community, Mr. Yoshioka exchanged ideas with top researchers from National Central University (NCU) by participating in the International SpaceTech Startup Academia-Industry Collaboration Workshop. "Our discussions highlighted the academic interest in utilizing space environments for biological and pharmaceutical research," he noted. Taiwan's researchers expressed a strong demand for accessible and frequent microgravity experimentation, aligning with IDDK's mission to democratize space-based research. This synergy has set the foundation for a promising partnership focused on aging and drug development research.As for the collaboration opportunities with Taiwan's industry, Mr. Yoshioka mentioned that "Taiwan's satellite manufacturing sector combined with our bio-research technology can pave the way for joint product development." Additionally, he expressed interest in collaborating with companies for applications in drug testing, regenerative medicine, and commercializing space-based research. IDDK is looking forward to understanding more of Taiwan's ecosystem, reinforcing its interest in establishing a local presence, and deepening connections within Asia's rapidly growing space industry.SummarySkyroot Aerospace, SpaceDreamS, and IDDK are at the forefront of reshaping the space industry. Skyroot's innovative launch vehicles cater to a wide range of satellite operators with flexible and cost-effective solutions. SpaceDreamS is revolutionizing ground infrastructure with its modular spaceport designs, while IDDK offers biological experiment platforms in low earth orbit, leveraging its proprietary MID technology. Together, these companies are driving the next generation of space services.Oct. 24th AIoT Taiwan & TAITRONICS exhibition.Deputy Director General Chia-Ying Wu from Small and Medium Enterprise and Startup Administration, Ministry of Economic Affairs (seventh from the left), Lewis Chen - General Director of CIS at ITRI (eighth from the left).Skyroot (sixth from the right), SpaceDreamS (fourth from the right), IDDK (fifth from the left). Credit: TAcc+

New to crypto investments and finding it difficult to make informed choices? This guide offers valuable insights. It will explore some of the top new cryptocurrencies for long-term investments and provide essential knowledge to support better decision-making.Cryptocurrencies have become a new frontier for investors, with their price fluctuations offering substantial, if sometimes rapid, returns. However, it remains a high-risk venture, making careful analysis essential. By understanding which currencies show a strong potential for growth based on their market performance, investors can make more informed choices.What are Cryptocurrencies?Cryptocurrencies are decentralized digital assets built on blockchain technology and operate without centralized regulation, such as from a bank or government. They exist only in digital form, with collectible items occasionally used as physical representations, though not for actual crypto transactions. Blockchain systems record transactions as coded, open ledgers and issue new units in a decentralized manner.Top Cryptocurrencies for Long-Term InvestmentFor those seeking the best cryptocurrency to invest today, many currencies present promising opportunities. Based on thorough analysis and future projections, the following cryptocurrencies are seen as having strong return potential, particularly in the lead-up to the next crypto bull run.EthereumMarket cap: US$290 billion. Price: US$2,446.32Ethereum is favored by developers in decentralized finance, as its blockchain supports a range of applications, including smart contracts and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). From 2016 to 2024, Ethereum's price rose from around $11 to $2,983, solidifying its reputation as a solid choice for long-term investment.DogecoinMarket cap: US$22 billion. Price: US$0.1556Dogecoin, initially created as a joke by software engineers Billy Markus and Jackson Palmer, has evolved into a significant cryptocurrency, supported by a loyal community and creative memes. Despite having an unlimited supply, its rise from $0.0002 in 2017 to $0.1556 in 2024 highlights its potential, though careful monitoring is advisable.BitcoinMarket cap: US$1.4 trillion. Price: US$68,328.42The first cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, with its history created in 2009 by Satoshi Nakamoto, and remains a leader in the market. Its value has grown significantly, from $500 in May 2016 to over $68,000 in 2024, establishing it as a top choice for those focused on long-term growth.Shiba InuMarket cap: US$9.99 billion. Price: US $0.00001696Shiba Inu, created by Ryoshi as an Ethereum-based meme coin in 2020, offers an affordable entry point for many investors. With a strong growth potential and its ranking among the top 15 cryptocurrencies by market cap, Shiba Inu holds appeal for both new and seasoned investors.ToncoinMarket cap: US$12 billion. Price: US$4.75Originally developed by Telegram, Toncoin was eventually taken over by the TON Foundation, changing its name from "Telegram Open Network" to "The Open Network" while retaining the TON acronym. It presents an intriguing opportunity in the evolving crypto market.Binance Coin (BNB)Market cap: US$80 billion. Price: US$557.57Initially issued by the large crypto exchange Binance in 2017 as a token to fund trades at a discount, BNB has since grown significantly. Its price has increased from $0.10 in 2017 to $557.57 by 2024, expanding its uses beyond the Binance platform.SolanaMarket cap: US $75 billion. Price: US$163.26Since its creation by Anatoly Yakovenko in 2019, Solana has gained traction as a platform supporting NFTs, smart contracts, and decentralized finance apps. With a rise from its 2020 launch price of $0.77 to $163 in 2024, Solana has established itself as a strong candidate for long-term crypto portfolios.XTether (USDT)Market cap: US $120 billion. Price: US$1XTether is a stablecoin backed by US dollars, providing a stable investment option amid high market volatility. With a fixed 1-to-1 value with the USD, USDT is attractive for investors seeking more stability in their assets.XRP (Ripple)Market cap: US$28 billion. Price: US$0.50XRP was created in 2013 by OpenLabs, the same founders of Ripple, a digital payment processing company that dates back to 2004. XRP can be used on the Ripple network to facilitate transactions, including fiat currencies and other digital currencies. Rising from $0.006 in 2017 to $0.509 in 2024, XRP continues to hold strong potential for long-term investment.US Dollar Coin (USDC)Market cap: US$35 billion. Price: US$1Like USDT, USDC is a stablecoin backed by the USD, designed to maintain a 1-to-1 peg with the dollar. It is powered by Ethereum, enabling global transactions, and offers a reliable choice for those preferring long-term stability over volatility.While all these cryptocurrencies show potential, investors may benefit from diversifying across multiple options. Especially it's easy to access to cryptocurrency market just by using smartphones. It's crucial to actively monitor the crypto market and make timely decisions, as market trends are highly dynamic. Stablecoins offer an option for those prioritizing stability, while other cryptocurrencies may provide greater growth opportunities.Proper market awareness and informed choices are essential for anyone looking to benefit from the potential of the cryptocurrency market.Credit: Pexels.com

Lithium batteries now form an integral part of modern-day living and can be seen in multiple applications such as power tools, vacuum cleaners, mobile devices, and electric bicycles. Holtek, with its extensive development involvement in lithium battery management products for many years, has accumulated a rich array of research and development experience. Holtek will continue to build upon this experience and fully intends to extend its charger series of MCUs as well as its lithium battery management AFE/MCUs series to meet the lithium battery charger application needs for a wide range of diverse market areas.Charger MCUsThe Holtek charger MCU series, the HT45R/F5Q, incorporates a number of technology advantages to meet the basic specification needs of chargers but also offers additional functions to improve charger safety and functionality. The MCUs have a predictive protection mechanism that can detect the battery status before charging commences to provide additional safety. In addition, the charging management process supports a customized charging curve design that can adapt to the needs of different batteries. For production efficiency optimization, Holtek MCUs include up to two fully integrated 14-bit DACs, which can implement both precise voltage and current control. By using the "Charger Volume Production Fixture" platform, the calibration time can be reduced from 60 seconds to 10 seconds. This time reduction will provide significant improvements in production efficiency and also reduce production line manpower. These MCUs also provide support for battery identification and online updating of the program library using a CAN Bus, ensuring that the charger used can adapt to newly shipped batteries which will extend battery life and compatibility.Lithium battery management AFE/MCUHoltek's range of lithium battery management devices is divided into AFEs and BMS MCUs. These have a complete array of lithium battery safety protection mechanisms that can adapt to different design requirements. The battery detection and protection functions are able to precisely monitor and control over-voltage and under-voltage conditions and have an additional function to detect when the battery pack is disconnected. There is also a fully integrated power component protection function to detect and protect from short-circuit situations which can set the response time in accordance with the product needs to ensure battery pack stability. The battery balancing function will reduce any voltage difference to extend battery life and its ultra-low power consumption mode can reduce the standby current to only 0.1µA, thus providing extended standby times.The Holtek lithium battery management devices can support up to eight battery strings, but during 2025 the company expects to also release further devices that will support 10, 13, 16, and 24 strings. These new devices will meet the lithium battery pack management requirements for products in high-voltage and large-capacity applications. To provide assistance to designers in order to reduce their development time, Holtek provides a "Charger Development Workshop" and a "Lithium Battery Management Development Workshop". With an easy-to-use graphical interface, chargers and lithium battery management products can be rapidly developed removing the need for writing code. More details are available on the Holtek official website or if preferred contact Holtek's sales representatives and agents.

Jump into a world where the rules are yours to set and break. Welcome to game servers – a digital playground where anyone can build, manage, and host their own multiplayer games. Whether a seasoned gamer or simply curious, creating a game server can be an exciting venture, opening up endless possibilities for multiplayer experiences. Here's a deep dive into the essentials of setting up a multiplayer world and bringing gaming dreams to life.Start with a Solid Foundation: Set up Server To build a successful server, choosing the best VPS (Virtual Private Server) is essential. A VPS provides dedicated resources, ensuring smooth, lag-free performance. This level of control and reliability allows full customization, from the number of players allowed to specific game mods. Many options are available, but opting for a VPS provider with strong performance and support is a smart choice.Choosing the Game Selecting the right game to host is an important step. Different games have varying requirements, and some are better suited for dedicated servers than others. Popular choices include Minecraft, ARK: Survival Evolved, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, and Rust. Each game has its own community and gameplay mechanics, so it's best to choose one that resonates with the intended group of players.Once a game is chosen, reviewing its server requirements is essential. The game developer's documentation typically includes instructions for setting up a dedicated server, offering a step-by-step guide to get started.Setting Up the Server The setup process can vary by game, but the following steps offer a general guide:1. Select a Hosting Method: Options include hosting locally or renting a VPS. Hosting locally is cost-effective but can tie up a personal computer and lead to connectivity issues. A VPS provides better performance and 24/7 uptime, enhancing the experience for players.2. Install Game Server Software: With the VPS ready, the next step is to install the game server software, which is often available for download directly from the game's site. Following installation instructions and ensuring the VPS meets the game's requirements are key.3. Configure Server Settings: This is the customization phase. Player limits, game modes, maps, and server rules can all be adjusted to create a unique experience for everyone joining the server.4. Port Forwarding: If hosting from home, port forwarding may be necessary to allow external players to connect. The router's manual typically provides guidance for this process.5. Firewall Configuration: Adjusting the firewall to allow traffic through the ports used by the game server is important to avoid connectivity issues.Ways to Invite Other Players With the server live, it's time to spread the word. Sharing the server's IP and connection details allows others to join in the new multiplayer world. For those looking to build a community, creating a Discord or social media page provides a place for players to interact, share experiences, and offer feedback.Hosting events can also boost engagement. Game nights, themed challenges, or unique contests add excitement and keep the player base active and interested.Maintaining the Server The real work begins after players start joining. Regular maintenance and updates keep the server fresh and engaging. Here are a few best practices:Listen to Player Feedback: Community input is invaluable. Encouraging players to share their ideas can lead to improvements and shows that feedback matters. Regular Updates: Adding new content, mods, or maps maintains interest. Seasonal events, new game modes, or special challenges prevent stagnation and keep the experience fresh. Monitor Performance: Lag and downtime can drive players away. Using monitoring tools to track server health and addressing issues promptly is crucial for player retention.Building a CommunityOne of the most rewarding aspects of running a game server is the community that forms around it. This goes beyond hosting a game; it's about creating a space where people can connect, collaborate, and compete. Recognizing player achievements and fostering a positive environment encourages loyalty and makes the server a go-to place for social and gaming experiences.Starting a Game Server Journey Running a game server is a unique opportunity to create a digital world where imagination runs free. With the right tools and dedication, it's possible to build a multiplayer world that brings people together, fosters friendships, and creates memorable experiences for everyone involved."

Smiths Interconnect is thrilled to announce that its DaVinci 112 high-speed test socket received the prestigious Best Test Measurement Award of the Year at the Global Electronics Achievement Awards (GEAA) ceremony held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Shenzhen. This annual event honors industry leaders and companies making significant contributions to global electronics innovation.Organized by ASPENCORE, the Global Electronics Achievement Awards recognizes the industry's elite, including companies, managers, and products that have demonstrated exceptional performance and leadership. The award review committee, comprising senior ASPENCORE industry analysts and user groups from Asia, the United States, and Europe, selected the DaVinci 112 test socket for its outstanding commercial performance and technical innovation.Representing Smiths Interconnect at the ceremony were Frank Zhou, Global R&D Director, and Eason Xu, Sales Director of China Semiconductor Testing Division. Together with industry peers, they celebrated the achievements of the year and the bright future of semiconductor technology.Photo: Smiths Interconnect Global R&D Director Frank Zhou came to the stage to receive the award.Credit: Smiths InterconnectThe DaVinci 112 high-speed test socket is engineered to meet the rigorous demands of chip testing. It supports large-size chips up to 130x130mm with more than 30,000 input/outputs and a coplanarity tolerance of up to 0.65mm, effectively preventing connection issues due to poor coplanarity and ensuring superior signal integrity.Credit: Smiths InterconnectSmiths Interconnect's R&D team developed an innovative mechanical structure to prevent socket warping, a common challenge in high-pin-count and high-power testing applications. This design enhancement guarantees reliable ground contact, delivering improved power transmission and signal isolation. Additionally, the DaVinci 112's use of advanced IM conductive materials offers robust mechanical stability, making it an ideal choice for high-speed, high-power chip testing in sectors such as high-performance computing, data centers, and mobile devices.Frank Zhou, Global R&D Director of Smiths Interconnect Semiconductor Test Division, shared his pride in the DaVinci 112's recognition, stating, "We are honored by the positive feedback from both customers and the market. Smiths Interconnect remains committed to pushing the boundaries of technology, embracing innovation, and prioritizing customer needs as we look forward to introducing the next game-changing products in our DaVinci series."

For poker enthusiasts who haven't explored tech tools to enhance their game, a range of valuable benefits may be overlooked. In today's competitive environment, professional players rely on software to improve performance, using tech tools to make a meaningful difference in gameplay. These tools offer insights that can deepen understanding, support smarter decision-making, and improve overall success.Whether the goal is to analyze opponents, track statistics, study Game Theory Optimal (GTO) strategies, identify gameplay weaknesses, or simply refine overall technique, these software solutions are designed to support the journey toward more strategic and informed poker play.Hand2NoteFor players looking to analyze their game, track results, and view the HUD (head-up display) of opponents at the table, Hand2Note (H2N) offers one of the most comprehensive solutions. Widely used by professional players, it boasts a variety of features that cater to all skill levels.At the beginning stages, players can benefit from its fundamental features, while more advanced options provide valuable insights as skills progress. Beyond tracking and analysis, this tool allows for in-depth examination of opponent behavior, helping to build strategic understanding and enhance confidence in each game.GTO WizardWith a vast library of over a hundred million pre-solved solutions, GTO Wizard is a leading Game Theory Optimal (GTO) software designed to deepen understanding of GTO strategy. Mastery of GTO has become essential in modern poker, and consistent practice with GTO Wizard's real-game simulator offers a competitive edge.This software provides real-time feedback, detailed hand analysis, a personalized dashboard, and a user-friendly interface, making it a valuable tool for developing poker skills. Equipped with GTO Wizard, players can refine their approach, making it a solid companion for navigating reputable poker sites while enhancing gameplay.JurojinJurojin makes it possible to play on multiple tables without having to organize them manually. It is an intuitive multi-tabling tool with advanced AI technology. For players who frequently play multiple tables, time management is crucial—every second counts, and minimizing distractions is essential.Jurojin streamlines all organizational tasks, managing pot odds, bet amounts, and betting history, with everything arranged and bet sizes preconfigured. Additionally, Jurojin offers hotkeys for quick and efficient action execution, making multitabling smoother and more focused.EquilabMany powerful tech tools are available for poker, but Equilab stands out as a simple, straightforward, and highly effective option. This tool enables players to calculate their odds of winning in any given game. By inputting each player's hand range, Equilab provides a clear view of winning probabilities, allowing players to evaluate their strategic approach.Additionally, Equilab allows users to analyze the board (flop, turn, and river) and estimate their equity at any stage of the hand. For those looking to deepen their understanding of the game, setting up various scenarios, predicting equity, and then checking the accuracy of those predictions can be beneficial. Consistent practice in this manner can lead to a better grasp of odds and equity over time.ICMizerFor poker tournament enthusiasts seeking tools to facilitate quick and accurate decision-making at the tables, ICMizer is an essential resource. Utilizing the Independent Chip Model (ICM), it evaluates the value of chips in tournaments by considering payout structures, stack sizes, and blind levels.With ICMizer, users can input tournament parameters and stack sizes to calculate each player's equity based on ICM principles. The tool offers valuable insights into risk-reward ratios, making it an excellent resource for developing precise strategies for various scenarios and enhancing decision-making in tournaments.Poker CaptionsThere are some special helper programs called Captions that are designed to improve your gaming experience. These programs include 888Caption, StarsCaption, and PatyCaption.They bring additional features to poker room software, including a HUD with important details about the current hand, converting all chips to BB for easy reading of bets and pot sizes, presetting bet sizes for various situations, and auto-closing all unnecessary windows and ads. This tool enhances gameplay convenience, allowing players to concentrate on analyzing hands and making crucial decisions.Freebetrange (FBR)Freebetrange offers a range of features designed to help players create, learn, manage, and implement their preflop strategies. It is the leading preflop tool relied upon by many professional players for training with their preflop charts. The software comprises four main sections: the smooth editor, which provides an intuitive and powerful range builder to assist in organizing preflop strategies.The trainer section includes two modes: a real game simulator or classic mode, and a range drawing mode, where users can practice recalling specific ranges from memory and then verify their accuracy. The third section, the viewer's section, presents preflop strategies from the editors in chart format, facilitating a clearer understanding of the ranges to play in various situations.Finally, there is both a free and paid library section that offers ready-made preflop charts crafted by game professionals.FlopzillaFlopzilla is another powerful and efficient tech tool that can help improve poker skills. It provides detailed analyses of board textures and hand ranges, excelling at visualizing and calculating how specific ranges interact with different turns, flops, and rivers. With its intuitive and straightforward interface, Flopzilla offers a variety of advanced features, making it an excellent choice for players seeking to deepen their understanding of poker strategies.The software also includes customizable options, allowing users to load and save hand ranges and perform equity calculations.The world of casinos and poker games has seen revolutionary advancements in recent years, from the rise of online casinos to the integration of VR and AR technologies. However, one of the most significant developments in poker is the creation of tech tools that assist players in enhancing their games.After reviewing this article, it's clear that these tools simplify gameplay and accelerate learning. They can significantly improve chances of winning and enhance the overall poker experience, making it worthwhile to explore them during the next gaming session at any reputable casino.The internet provides easy access to a multitude of gaming channels, allowing players to enjoy a wide range of gaming experiences from the comfort of their homes. This accessibility enhances the overall enjoyment of gaming, offering opportunities to explore new titles and connect with other gamers. However, it's essential to play wisely and maintain awareness of one's gaming habits to ensure a balanced approach. Keeping an eye on time and spending can help create a more enjoyable and responsible gaming experience.

pxCode provides a no-code web development tool like WordPress that significantly shortens the learning curve for webpage designers, saving them from having to learn how to split a webpage layout into sections and write code. More than that, pxCode's tool allows webpage designers to export high-quality responsive code to meet wide-ranging customization needs, thereby largely cutting down development costs and time. For traditional webpages to properly display across today's growingly diverse mobile devices, web developers have to transform them into responsive web design (RWD) so that they render well on screens of all sizes. This imposes a great burden on development engineers.According to pxCode founder Chris Chang, when transforming a traditional website into RWD, development engineers have to split the webpage design into multiple sections, write the code, and then rearrange the layout. The process is complex and cumbersome. In particular, webpages made with no code or low code tools generally have a large amount of useless code. They are a huge hassle for development engineers to work on. There are a lot of design-to-code solutions available on the market but their usability has room for improvement. pxCode automates the complex work of splitting webpage layout, making web development 20 times more efficientAs a seasoned veteran in web development, Chang established pxCode with his partners in 2023. The aim is to provide an automated tool that creates high-quality responsive webpage code and thereby saves developers from the tedious work of writing line after line of code and checking if the code matches the design. Not only does the tool meet developer needs, but it also enables them to create applications faster and more efficiently. pxCode's tool can automate 80% of code writing. The code it generates is easy to read, modify, and integrate so that developers can focus on designing the programming logic, user interface, and appealing features. Making the web development job at least 20 times more efficient, pxCode's tool has more than 200,000 registered users worldwide.Chang commented that the traditional approach wherein web developers manually write code corresponding to the page layout is not only time-consuming but also error-prone. A minor mismatch may result in a significant impact on brand image. Combining AI and manual editing capability, pxCode's tool features high precision. It ensures the generated HTML code is 100% correct while staying true to the original webpage design with minimum human interference. Furthermore, pxCode provides a collaborative environment that facilitates collaboration between designers and developers so as to boost project efficiency. Last but not least, the user's original design, for example, a Figma file, can be directly imported to pxCode's tool and converted to an ideal HTML structure.For example, pxCode's tool allows developers to preview the webpage with just a simple click to see how it renders on different browsers and screens of different sizes. They can also share the webpage URL with others for real-time feedback and updates, thereby increasing project efficiency.Boasting speed and quality, pxCode expands into global marketsFor example, it takes one to two days for a front-end web developer at a well-known web design firm in New York to split a webpage layout into sections. That is, just splitting the webpage layout into sections for a 30-page project requires one to two months. Now with pxCode' tool, it takes about two weeks for one of the firm's developers to complete three projects and split the layout for more than 100 webpages. pxCode' tool helps the firm effectively reduce operating expenses and boost front-end web developers' work efficiency. Although pxCode's tool has made great achievements, the current code naming quality has room for improvement. To address this, pxCode hopes to make use of the generative AI services made available by Amazon Web Services (AWS) through its participation in the Startup Terrace Kaohsiung AWS JIC program. As a matter of fact, it is now incorporating Claude 3.5 Sonnet, a large language model (LLM) on Amazon Bedrock, a fully managed service that makes high-performing foundation models (FMs) from leading AI companies, for code naming optimization as well as proof-of-concept for transforming image files and metadata into program code. It is currently able to achieve up to 80% accuracy in generating code combined with CSS naming and other functions, resulting in significant man-hour savings. After further fine-tuning, this feature will be made available to users in the upcoming product upgrade.According to Chang, two foreign companies offer similar tools and services to pxCode. Customers indicate that pxCode's tool outperforms competitors in terms of development speed and code quality. In 2024, pxCode is undertaking all-out efforts to expand into the U.S. It hopes to leverage the Startup Terrace Kaohsiung AWS JIC program to make its product even more competitive so as to gain ground in the global marketplace going forward.pxCode’s AI responsive code editor makes web development 10 times fasterPhoto: pxCode

Over the last couple of years, cryptocurrency has changed from just being obscure tech into a technology that is highly embraced by innovators from various industries, finance included. These two coins, Ethereum and Bitcoin, have been on the frontline, disrupting all we ever knew about finance. We are talking about smart contracts, DeFi, EFTs, and many more innovations that have been brought forth by crypto.Bitcoin and Ethereum are the two most popular cryptocurrencies. Currently, Bitcoin is leading in popularity with a market cap of $1.43 trillion. Ethereum then follows with a market cap of $ 316.68 billion. However, compared to Bitcoin, the Ethereum Price is quite manageable for most people since it is still trying to pass the $ 3,000 mark. On the other hand, the price of Bitcoin already hit a high of $73,000. The good thing is that even without the full amount to purchase one whole token, you can buy a portion of the token.Anyway, the difference in pricing does not change the impact that both coins have had in the finance sector. This article will give some insight into the advancements that both Bitcoin and Ethereum have brought into the finance world.Financial inclusion for the unbankedAccording to the World Bank, more than 1.4 billion adults had no access to financial services in 2022. Well, a good chunk of these people remain unbanked or underbanked because they live in areas where financial services have a problem reaching. Actually, this has kept them away from saving, investing, obtaining credit, managing financial risks, and many more. And here is where cryptocurrencies come in. Now, with the permissionless and pseudonymous nature of Bitcoin, a good number of the unbanked have been given the opportunity to participate in international forms of finance. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) reported that by 2023, the global population with mobile phones was 78%. This is just 11 points higher than the people with access to the internet. However, ITU still suggests that that gap is becoming smaller.Therefore, with only an internet connection, people are able to access financing through Bitcoin. People wouldn't need to provide their financial information or any form of identification in order to transact globally, whether it is receiving or sending money. In fact, there are volumes of trading platforms that allow Bitcoin or Ethereum users to trade using hundreds of payment methods, including cash, online wallets, and even gift cards.Decentralized Finance"The Ethereum blockchain has played a crucial role in enabling the development of blockchain-based financial services, particularly within the realm of DeFi. In this ecosystem, traditional financial institutions and banks are not required as intermediaries for providing services to customers. Instead, DeFi operates on a peer-to-peer model, allowing anyone with an internet connection to access a wide range of financial services.Most of the DeFi projects have been built on the Ethereum platform because of the functionality of smart contracts. The latest project in town is the Azura platform, launched on 22 October 2024 by 21-year-old Jackson Denka. Well, Denka, in an interview with Fortune, said that by using Azura, people can be able to trade anything from anywhere around the world.Popular DeFi projects under the Ethereum blockchain include Uniswap, Aave, Lido, and EigenLayer. With such applications, financial services such as trading, asset management, lending, and others can be done in a decentralized manner using smart contracts instead of traditional centralized institutions. In fact, Uniswap now allows users to buy crypto using their Venmo balance using MoonPay. Uniswap made this announcement on 31 October 2024 on the X platform. Now, more than 60 million Venmo users can participate in DeFi using the Uniswap Platform.With DeFi, finance has been made more transparent, accessible, composable, and efficient. The financial space is getting much easier to operate from any corner of the globe.Financial automation using smart contractsSmart contracts are likely familiar to players exploring DeFi, raising questions about their functionality. These contracts are programmatic agreements built on blockchain platforms that execute automatically based on predefined conditions. At the heart of Ethereum, smart contracts have made significant advancements in the blockchain realm, enabling a wide range of decentralized applications and transactions.Smart contracts have opened up a wide range of opportunities and possibilities. DeFi lending protocols use smart contracts as collateral to secure loans. Again, NFT marketplaces have gained efficiency by automating transactions using smart contracts in place of lawyers and accountants. Other applications of smart contracts include:1. Prediction markets2. Derivative contracts3. Transparent supply chains4. Decentralized insuranceThe many applications of smart contracts do not stop them from being immutable, highly composable, and deterministic. In fact, their nature allows financial services operating on the Ethereum blockchain to combine in a way we had never imagined before.In conclusionCryptocurrencies are rapidly and steadily becoming the new norm in the financial world. The uses of Bitcoin and Ethereum, especially, have become a powerful force few could have imagined twenty years ago. It's likely that within the next decade, the financial industry will experience massive transformation thanks to these two cryptocurrencies. However, as with any investment, it's important to approach these opportunities wisely and make informed, responsible decisions.

To meet the strong market demand for translation tools, translation technology developments have been well underway for years. However, machine translation of natural languages has mostly been based on statistical models or linguistic rules coupled with vocabulary and sentence correlations built from a large parallel corpus. These types of tools are mostly for general-purpose use and are only good for translating commonly used terms or simple everyday conversations. They are inadequate for professional applications such as translating books and financial reports. These types of translation tasks often require qualified human translators but it may take longer and cost more.According to Universal Language AI COO Yu-De Fei (Alan), a financial report is generally longer than 200 pages and has more than 200,000 words. It takes months to translate a financial report. In the case of a tight deadline, the company will need to hire multiple professional translators and pay a higher fee to have its financial report translated in time. When it comes to translation for medical, financial, mechanical, and legal sectors, translators with field-specific knowledge are needed. Not only are they hard to find but they are also expensive to hire. Many companies are endeavoring to use generative AI to develop automated translation solutions. Lingo Bagel focuses on the translation of financial reports and medical documents. It collaborates with multiple translation agencies to allow the expertise of professional translators to deliver maximum benefit. Lingo Bagel also builds dedicated translation models for companies to guarantee top-quality and top-speed translation services.Using a dedicated model coupled with a professional terminology database, Lingo Bagel completes financial report translation in 60 minutesWith traditional translation, the process takes a long time, the quality may be poor and it is difficult to find professional native speakers. To address the three major pain points, Universal Language AI, established in 2023, used AI coupled with a group of accountants' expertise to develop Lingo Bagel. Its solution has been successfully used by a great many customers. First of all, Universal Language AI worked with dozens of accountants to build a professional terminology database containing more than 2,000 terms compliant with the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Secondly, it built a dedicated AI model for financial reports, which together with the professional terminology database ensures the terms used in the translation are correct and consistent. To speed up the translation process, Universal Language AI incorporated a systematic workflow, which enables Lingo Bagel to complete the translation of a 200-page, 200,000-word financial report in 60 minutes. Alan noted that Lingo Bagel can precisely translate Chinese financial reports containing professional finance and accounting terminologies into English even if they come in different structures. Lingo Bagel has helped multiple small and mid-size accounting firms complete the translation of financial reports totaling more than one million words and one thousand pages. With respect to translation speed, Lingo Bagel completed the translation of a nursing book that has 400,000 words and 800 pages into Chinese in five days for Taipei Medical University. According to a translation agency that the university approached for a quote, the same task would cost NT$1 million and take 18 months. With Lingo Bagel, the cost was reduced to just one-tenth and the amount of time saved was far more significant. Apart from financial reports and medical books, Universal Language AI has also expanded into game and press release translation. For example, Lingo Bagel translated a Japanese game for a gaming company. The translated script was given back to the game marketing team in a snap for proofreading and polishing, significantly shortening the upgrade cycle. Lingo Bagel also translated a Korean press release for a gaming company. The task was assigned in the morning and completed in the afternoon on the same day. The amazing speed largely boosted the efficiency of press release distribution.Leveraging Startup Terrace Kaohsiung AWS JIC resources to target global marketsAs a seasoned entrepreneur, Alan learned of the Startup Terrace Kaohsiung AWS JIC program and immediately pushed for Universal Language AI to participate in the program. He hopes that the startup resources made available through the project will accelerate Universal Language AI's growth and help expand its footprint in the global marketplace.According to Alan, Lingo Bagel uses Amazon Rekognition from Amazon Web Services (AWS), which automates image recognition and video analysis, to quickly identify and extract the text on the customer's user interface and perform comparisons across different languages. On top of that, it uses Amazon Bedrock, a fully managed service that makes high-performing foundation models (FMs) from leading AI companies, to generate UI text and polish translation results, thereby optimizing Lingo Bagel's service quality and performance. Lingo Bagel currently offers translation in multiple languages, including Chinese-English, Chinese-Korean, Chinese-Japanese, Korean-English, and Japanese-English two-way translation services. Universal Language AI is reaching out to translation agencies across the globe for partnership opportunities.In addition, Universal Language AI plans to work with publishing houses in Taiwan to translate more foreign language books into Chinese, allowing people in Taiwan to read more quality books.

The memory technology market has experienced significant fluctuations in recent years, marked by production cuts and shifting prices. The beginning of 2024 saw a gradual recovery, driven by rising demand for DDR4 and DDR5 RAM modules, as well as high-bandwidth memory (HBM). These trends created opportunities for inventories to stabilize and spurred companies to shift support back toward memory component manufacturing.As shifts in pricing and production methods continue, electronic component procurement specials seek competitive advantages through cost-saving strategies for memory chips.Price Escalations in Early 2024The first half of 2024 experienced an escalation in memory prices due to supply chain disruptions and imbalances. In January, solid-state drive (SSD) prices surged by 15 to 35%, driven by high demand for NAND, DRAM, and CXL advancements, while high-capacity SSD allocations remained limited.In the first quarter, 3D NAND wafers and enterprise and client SSD costs went up by 23 to 28%. Forecasts for Q2 indicated NAND Flash prices would increase by another 13 to 18%. Analysts expected Micron, a major memory manufacturer, to increase costs by over 20%.At this point, the DRAM market still had lower demand and, consequently, less dramatic cost fluctuations. Inventory levels were decreasing, but they were not yet at a healthy level. Forecasts indicated DRAM contract prices would increase, but only by three to eight percent.As manufacturers recognized the turning point in the market, Samsung announced a strategic shift toward high-value products. After reducing production by up to 50% for certain items the previous year, the company ramped up 32-gigabit DDR5 and HBM3E production to cater to the increasing demand for high-density memory products, particularly in AI applications.Supply chain disruptions and further price hikesAs of October, memory module prices have increased every quarter in 2024 as manufacturers report supply imbalances and respond to supply chain disruptions. In April, Western Digital announced AI demand was increasing HDD market activity, contributing to a cyclical recovery after several quarters of weak demand. The manufacturer consequently warned customers to expect changes in NAND Flash and hard drive prices. Samsung followed Western Digital's lead and raised enterprise SSD prices by 20 to 25% due to supply shortages and increased interest in AI.A significant challenge arose in April when a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck Taiwan. This disaster led to widespread production halts and delays in pricing negotiations, with forecasts predicting potential price increases of up to 20% across various memory products. Following the earthquake, Micron temporarily suspended quoting activities, resulting in a 25% increase in prices for LPDDR5 and DDR5, alongside extended lead times exceeding 12 weeks for certain components.Adding to the supply chain complexities, a strike at Samsung began in July, resulting in about 20% of workers ceasing production. The strike included workers from the device experience and semiconductor divisions nationwide, with early reports suggesting the consumer electronics side of Samsung's business would be most affected. The NSEU, which represents about 30,000 members, accounts for a quarter of the company's workforce in South Korea.Operations resumed on August 1, but the possibility of disruption highlighted how the supply chain continues to be subject to disruption, especially with companies like Samsung controlling one of the largest shares of the memory market.AI: A Driving Force for Memory ProductsThe growing popularity of HBM, especially among AI customers, prompted manufacturers to pivot toward this higher-margin product. Samsung is one of the companies leading this trend, as they have pivoted production away from components like DDR5 to support HBM3. Samsung has since joined forces with Nvidia to provide HBM3 and maintain packaging for Nvidia's in-demand AI GPUs. Nvidia recently qualified Samsung's HBM3E chips, and Samsung plans to allocate existing DRAM capacity to HBM3E production.Shifts like these are what lead to end-of-life notices as manufacturers prioritize newer technologies. DDR3 was the first to fall in this instance, as Samsung and SK Hynix announced their exit from DDR3 in May. Prices consequently increased by 20% as supply dwindled, a trend expected to persist through the end of the year. DRAM module costs were similarly subject to change, with market intelligence sources indicating costs would increase by another 10% to 15% throughout Q2.Even with the pivots towards HBM capacity support, supply is unable to match demand. Major players Micron and SK Hynix signaled around mid-year that tight supply conditions would persist into 2025. Both companies had already sold out of 2024 product capacity by June, with 2025 allocation depleting quickly.Demand shows no signs of slowing down, which means manufacturing will likely continue to struggle with meeting demand. Industry leaders anticipate AI applications will sustain profitability through the latter half of 2024. As demand continues to expand, key manufacturers are prepared to implement further price increases, with Micron announcing a 15% increase for LPDDR5 at the start of the third quarter.Adjusting to Evolving Pricing DynamicsAs 2024 approaches its end, evolving pricing dynamics persist for the memory market. Suppliers like Samsung are advocating significant price hikes, and some reports estimate increases of up to 12% in the fourth quarter. Unsurprisingly, there have been noticeable pushbacks from customers, leading to speculation that a more moderate growth of 5 to 8% may be more realistic as buyers resist steeper price jumps.The market shows signs of stabilization as major manufacturers like Micron, Samsung, and SK Hynix have largely recovered from earlier losses, particularly in Q2. Coupled with growing customer pushback on inflated costs, this is driving suppliers to reassess pricing strategies. As a result, the anticipated Q4 price increases are lower than expected, signaling a potential for more balanced pricing moving forward.Strategic Recommendations for Procurement ProfessionalsKnowing how global supply chain trends affect supply and demand cycles is crucial for navigating market complexities. Staying agile and informed is the key to thriving in this ever-evolving memory commodity supply chain.To navigate the complexities of the current memory market, procurement, and supply chain professionals can implement the following strategies:1. Monitor Market Trends: Stay informed about fluctuations and strategic shifts in production priorities, particularly concerning HBM and DDR5.2. Build Buffer Stocks: Consider building buffer stocks to mitigate risks associated with supply constraints and price increases. This proactive approach can help maintain stability in your supply chain.3. Diversify Suppliers: Expand your supplier base to ensure a consistent supply of high-demand memory products. Relying on multiple sources can reduce the impact of disruptions from any single supplier.4. Leverage Strategic Partnerships: Form strategic partnerships with key manufacturers to secure better pricing and priority access to critical memory components. These relationships can provide a competitive edge in a tight market.5. Adapt to New Pricing Models: Be prepared to adjust your pricing strategies in response to suppliers' transitions, such as Samsung's shift to a quarterly pricing model.Preparing for the Future of Memory TechnologyAs the memory market evolves, characterized by significant price fluctuations and ongoing supply chain challenges, cost savings and strategic sourcing will be pivotal in navigating further uncertainties in 2025. Staying informed about market trends and implementing proactive strategies will be essential for procurement professionals to maintain competitive advantages.About Fusion WorldwideFusion Worldwide is the preeminent open-market distributor of electronic components and products. We source, inspect, test, and deliver a broad range of components to a large and diversified customer base that includes OEMs, CMs, and ODMs across a wide array of verticals. Founded in 2001, Fusion is headquartered in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and maintains offices and quality centers in major manufacturing centers around the world.For more information about the impact of AI on the memory, hardware, networking, and other commodity groups within the electronic component supply chain – visit fusionww.com and download The State of the Industry Report | Volume Two: The Impact of AI on the Electronic Component Supply Chain.