Electronics enthusiasts have had a lot to celebrate this week: the Intel 4004 turned 50; semiconductor sales were reported to be strong; the productronica 2021 trade fair took place in Munich; and Elektor opened registration for a free upcoming webinar about GitHub. Plus, the pioneer edition of the World Ethical Electronics Forum (WEEF) has enabled engineers, executives, and thought leaders from around the world to discuss and ponder many of the most pressing ethics-related issues facing our industry.

The Intel 4004 Turns 50!

On Monday, November 15, engineers and makers around the world celebrated the Intel 4004’s 50th birthday on social media. And, of course, Intel acknowledged the milestone on its site. Want to learn more about the 4004 and its impact on the electronics industry? Check out the recent article, “The Birth of the Microprocessor: The Intel 4004,” which appears in the special November 2021 edition of Elektor. As you’ll see, the details about the 4004 are intriguing: manufactured on a 2" wafer; pMOS technology on a 10 µm process; die area of 12 mm2; a maximum clock frequency of 740 kHz; up to 92,000 instructions per second; power dissipation of 750 mW (typical); and a hand layout using Rubylith masking film.
 
Intel 4004 article
 

Semiconductor Sales Up 27.6%

Despite supply chain issues and other COVID-19-related obstacles, global semiconductor sales reached $144.8 billion in Q3 2021, SIA recently reported. That’s a 27.6% increase over the third quarter of 2020. “More semiconductor units were shipped during the third quarter of 2021 than during any other quarter in the market’s history,” the Association added. So, which regions logged the highest increases? The Americas led the way with a 33.5% increase. Europe came in second with a 32.3% increase, followed by Asia Pacific/All Other with a 27.2% increase. AMD is currently the top semiconductor sales leader (including foundries). MediaTek and Nvidia followed. Will the positive news carry into the 2022? Stay tuned.

Learn About GitHub with Elektor

With than 315,000 views on YouTube, Elektor’s video “How to Code (Download) or Clone Something from GitHub” has been a helpful production for pro engineers, makers, and students alike. That’s why Elektor’s editorial team will run a new webinar on the subject next month. Join us on December 9, 2021, for the free webinar, "My Way Into GitHub." During the hour-long session, Elektor engineers Clemens Valens and Mathias Claussen will cover GitHub basics, like the process of downloading files and repositories, GitHub’s drag-and-drop capabilities, and how to publish your work. Don’t miss out. Register today.

Elektor at productronica 2021

Elektor is exhibiting live in at productronica 2021 this week in Munich, Germany. If you visit the venue, head over to booth A1.420 to chat with our team, including Elektor engineer Mathias Claussen. You can also get to know the start-ups that won the 2021 productronica Fast Forward competition. Congrats to the winners!
 
booth A1.420 productronica
Visit Elektor at booth booth A1.420
 
>>> Breaking News @ productronica 2021: AISLER Plans to Ship the First World-Wide Carbon Neutral Circuit Board in 2022. Read more

Raspberry Pi Addresses Supply Issues

Raspberry Pi CEO Eben Upton recently posted that he expects supply chain issues to remain a reality well into 2022. He noted that access to some products like the Raspberry Pi Zero and the 2-GB Raspberry Pi 4 will be limited. “We’ll only end up making around seven million units in 2021: pretty much exactly what we did in 2020,” he explained. “The result has been a shortage of some products, notably Raspberry Pi Zero and the 2GB variant of Raspberry Pi 4.” To address the situation, he said temporary solutions are in place, such as the reintroduction of the 1-GB Raspberry Pi 4 for $35.
 

4004 News, Plus Semiconductor Updates and More

Subscribe to Elektor’s weekly Electronics News Byte tag for important updates about all the topics covered in this article, from the 4004 to GitHub. And make sure you sign up for Elektor’s E-Zine to receive new DIY electronics projects and news briefs each week.