July 15, 2026

Five Test Considerations to Prepare for Q-Day Quantum advances push companies toward quantum-safe cybersecurity as experts warn Q-Day could arrive by 2028. Firms must test post-quantum cryptography and hybrid defenses now to counter harvest-now, decrypt-later attacks without slowing networks. EE Times

Sponsor Vapor Phase Profiling Thermal profiling the vapor phase soldering process – especially those with vacuum – is challenging. ECD's M-VP™ sealed barrier can take it. Learn more. ECD

Why Are Chinese EVs So Much Cheaper Than American Ones? Chinese EV makers, led by BYD, cut costs through vertical integration, large-scale production and localized supply chains, outperforming Western rivals. Premium EVs from Lucid and Rivian offer advanced features but still struggle with reliability. BGR

Redesigning Material Logistics for High-Mix EMS Production High mix electronics manufacturing requires reliable material management. This white paper explains how BMK enhanced traceability, inventory accuracy and picking efficiency using integrated automated storage, digital workflows and reel-level visibility. Technical Paper

PsiQuantum has a plan to make a massive quantum computer out of light PsiQuantum pursues a photonic quantum computer with custom chips, photons and cryogenic cooling. Its billion-dollar effort targets drug discovery and materials breakthroughs while testing whether quantum machines can deliver results. MIT Technology Review

Sponsor actnano Materials with Nordson Equipment actnano's PFAS-free, cure-free coatings save energy and boost safety. And they are compatible with Nordson conformal coating systems. Upgrade your system today. Learn more! Nordson Electronic Solutions

New York becomes first U.S. state to impose AI data center ban New York Governor Kathy Hochul imposed a one-year ban on new large-scale AI data centers requiring 50 megawatts or more, citing grid strain and rising electricity costs. Supporters praised the pause, while critics warned it could weaken New York’s AI competitiveness and investment. CNBC

Novel Lead-Free Solder Alloys Based on Sn-Ag-Cu-Sb In this work, thermal performance of five Sn/3.2Ag/0.7Cu/xSb (x is in the range of 4.5 to 6.5 wt.%) alloys were compared to select the optimized Sb content. Technical Paper

Technical Papers ■ Flux-Free, Reliable, Efficient: Soldering with Formic Acid ■ Redesigning Material Logistics for High-Mix EMS Production ■ Unlocking Academic-Industry Synergy: A Collaborative Model for Hands-On Electronics Manufacturing Education ■ Viscosity Does Not Equal Rheology: What Solder Paste Measurements Really Tell You ■ Salvaging Electronic Components: A Reliable Method for Reducing Electronic Waste and Ensuring Economic Reuse ■ Digital Warehouse Automation in High-Mix PCB Assembly ■ Evaluation of Techniques for Intentional Contamination of PWB Substrates for Quantitative Cleanliness Analyses ■ Scaling SMT Traceability ■ The Drawbacks of Internal Recycling Systems for Solder Dross ■ Engineering ESD-Safe PCB Assembly for High-Reliability IoT and Industrial Electronics MORE TECHNICAL PAPERS

Sponsor Removal/Milling of Underfilled Parts: AVX1000M High precision milling with zero adjacent clearance. Auto laser height measurement of board and component. Learn more. Air-Vac Engineering

Apple in talks with startup that shrinks AI models to run on an iPhone Apple is evaluating PrismML's AI compression technology, which shrinks large language models to run efficiently on iPhones. The startup claims faster, lower-power on-device AI with minimal performance loss, potentially advancing Apple's privacy-focused Siri, and health AI capabilities. CNBC

Electronic Design Industry Rides Chip Wave, APAC Leads Q1 2026 Growth Growing in-house chip development boosted global demand for EDA tools, semiconductor IP, and design services, driving first-quarter 2026 revenue up 12.7% to $5.7 billion. New entrants, including hyperscalers, fueled strong growth in AI-driven design, verification, and IP solutions. EE Times

How To Strip Tin-Lead Solder From SMT Pads for RoHS Is it possible to scrub the pads of a PCB to bring it back into compliance? 63-37 solder was mistakenly used to hand solder parts. Board Talk

Sponsor Automation in Transition The world of automation is changing. What does this mean for customers? And what impact is the transformation having on providers? Find out more from a panel of experts. SCHUNK

How I Turned AI to the Dark Side A cybersecurity researcher warns that major AI models still succumb to jailbreaks that bypass safety guardrails and produce dangerous instructions. The findings urge AI companies to address systemic flaws, improve transparency and strengthen oversight. IEEE Spectrum

IBM Shares Crashed 25% In Worst Day Ever—Here’s Why IBM said unexpected customer spending shifted toward servers, storage and memory, while weak z17 mainframe demand, cybersecurity disruptions and delayed deals weighed on Q2 results. Despite execution issues, IBM reaffirmed confidence in its strategy and long-term growth. Forbes

Technical Cleanliness Assessments to Reduce Manufacturing Defects This paper will detail a Contamination Assessment Protocol that conforms to the guidelines in VDA19 Part 2 which will not only enable areas with the highest risk of contamination to be targeted for improvement measures but will also provide documentary evidence of the effect of any such improvements. Technical Paper

Sponsor Latest 3D AOI System from Viscom iS6059 PCB Inspection Plus. Its new and faster sensor technology, data processing and analysis functions all stand for the best 3D AOI performance that meets the highest requirements. Viscom

Google DeepMind chief Demis Hassabis calls for U.S. to spearhead AI standards body Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis urged the U.S. to establish a federally overseen AI standards body to evaluate advanced models for cybersecurity, biological and national security risks, arguing stronger oversight is essential as global AI competition intensifies. CNBC

Gartner Survey Shows 72% of Supply Chain Leaders Revisit Final Approvals for Network Decisions at Least Once, Causing Delays Gartner found 72% of supply chain leaders revisited network investment approvals, delaying projects. The firm urged companies to design adaptable strategies that address turbulence, protect margins and improve decisions in volatile markets. Gartner

Sponsor EZ-FLO High Precision Ceramic Dispense Tips The ceramic molding process allows for smaller more precise inner diameters with a glass-like finish, giving you the ultimate control. Learn more. DL Technology

Solving Motion, Connectivity, and Efficiency Challenges in Factory Automation Engineers address factory automation challenges by designing precise, efficient, connected, and serviceable systems. The session reveals strategies to improve performance, reliability, data collection, and maintenance in industrial applications. EE Times

A New X-Ray Source Technology for Demanding SMT Inspection The paper contains data and images from Nano Focus tube, plus data from reliability and stability tests using a real-life system and not test rigs. Technical Paper

China rare-earth price dip ends seven-quarter rally, tight supply keeps magnets in focus China's largest rare-earth suppliers lowered their third-quarter 2026 concentrate transfer price for the first time in eight quarters, easing cost pressures for magnet makers. However, the modest cut does little to resolve the market's persistent supply-demand imbalance. Digitimes

Apple's iOS 27 public beta arrives with Siri AI, faster app launches, and more Apple released the first public beta of iOS 27, introducing Siri AI, faster performance, and enhanced parental controls. While most features support existing devices, advanced AI capabilities require Apple's latest iPhones, iPads, and Macs with at least 12GB of RAM. TechSpot

Sponsor Precision BGA Rework Services for High-Reliability Electronics Proven solutions for BGA replacement, reballing, site dressing, and repair that help restore functionality, improve reliability, and extend the life of assemblies. Circuit Technology Center

Samsung Electronics Reclaims Global Smartphone Lead from Apple Samsung Electronics regained the global smartphone market lead in Q2 with a 24% share, overtaking Apple's 20%. Strong Galaxy S26 sales, competitive pricing, aggressive promotions, and reduced budget offerings from Chinese rivals fueled Samsung’s rebound after one quarter. The Chosun