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Revenue

Consolidated revenue grew 8% year-over-year to $8.7 billion and adjusted EBITDA margin increased year-over-year to 65%. The Company's cash and cash equivalents at the end of the fiscal quarter were $11,553 million, compared to $12,647 million at the end of ...

Broadcom Q2 revenue grew 8%

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Business Wire

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Analog Devices

--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Analog Devices, Inc. (Nasdaq: ADI) today announced that the Company’s Executive Vice President ... About Analog Devices, Inc. Analog Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADI) is a global semiconductor leader that bridges the physical and digital ...

Analog Devices to Participate in the Stifel 2023 Cross Sector Insight Conference

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Earnings call

Broadcom Inc. may not be a company most people think of when it comes to AI. But the semiconductor business makes networking and other chips that are crucial to stringing together the large clusters of machines inside data centers that help power the technology.

https://www.bing.com/th?id=OVFT.n8aIZ3AQc0pEZlI3-I9JDC&pid=News

3 things Broadcom CEO Hock Tan said about AI on its earnings call

https://www.bing.com/th?id=ODF.t3F4eXZUTDaqQci8YlUgMw&pid=news

The Business Journals

The chipmaker projects revenues related to generative AI will double in the next year even as it faces questions of possible business "cannibalization" by the tech.

https://www.bing.com/th?id=OVFT.tLt1zNdeZ_CwVtkfKTqkRC&pid=News

Chipmaker Broadcom joins generative AI gold rush

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Risk

Broadcom

Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:AVGO) at last check was buoying at $811.70 on Friday, June 02 with a rise of 2.75% from its closing price on previous day. Taking a look at stock we notice that its last check on previous day was $789.

Broadcom Inc. (AVGO) Is Touching $811.70: At This Price, The Risk Is Justified.

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Earnings

Here's what investors need to know about the earnings, and what analysts think about the stock. By The Numbers: Broadcom issued earnings of $10.32 per share, ahead of a $10.08 estimate, on revenues of $8.

https://www.bing.com/th?id=OVFT.rRPAAJ2b0x57eQXrEH_diC&pid=News

Broadcom Earnings Beat: Unanimous Price Target Hike By 4 Analysts

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Business Insider

Georgia Institute of Technology

The Motley Fool

Investors got exactly the news they wanted on Friday. The economy appears to be doing well, withstanding the pressure of higher interest rates without causing a big disruption in the labor market thus far. Major market benchmarks climbed sharply at midday, with the Dow Jones Industrials leading the way with a gain of nearly 2%.

https://www.bing.com/th?id=OVFT.jbSeCzvxgDxHIlpMun3THS&pid=News

Stock

2 Tech Stocks Leading the Market Melt-Up Friday

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Broadcom CEO Hock Tan offered no new information about the pending merger between his company and VMware, during an earnings call Thursday where he revealed a winning frame for the chip giant, and continued to talk about generative AI stirring up demand.

https://www.bing.com/th?id=OVFT.N-IbAPlXZNvooFne0PWaJC&pid=News

Broadcom CEO Hock Tan Bullish On AI, Hopeful On VMware Deal

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Corporation

Volatility

Hits 5

ON Semiconductor Corporation (NASDAQ:ON) at last check was buoying at $86.72 on Friday, June 02 with a fall of -1.40% from its closing price on previous day. Taking a look at stock we notice that its last check on previous day was $87.

ON Semiconductor Corporation (ON) Volatility Hits 5.76% : Keep Your Head Up

Get the most recent info and news about Broadcom on HackerNoon, where 10k+ technologists publish stories for 4M+ monthly readers.

Broadcom Inc. designs, develops, and supplies a range of semiconductor devices with a focus on complex digital and mixed signal complementary metal oxide semiconductor based devices and analog III-V based products worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Semiconductor Solutions, Infrastructure Software, and Intellectual Property licensing. It provides set-top box system-on-chips (SoCs); cable, digital subscriber line, and passive optical networking central office/consumer premise equipment SoCs; Wireless local area network access point SoCs; Ethernet switching and routing application specific standard products; embedded processors and controllers; serializer/deserializer application specific integrated circuits; optical and copper, and physical layers; and fiber optic laser and receiver components. The company also offers RF front end modules, filters, and power amplifiers; Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and global positioning system/global navigation satellite system SoCs; custom touch controllers; serial attached small computer system interface, and redundant array of independent disks controllers and adapters; peripheral component interconnect express switches; fiber channel host bus adapters; read channel based SoCs; custom flash controllers; preamplifiers; and optocouplers, industrial fiber optics, motion control encoders and subsystems, and light emitting diodes. In addition, it provides mainframe and enterprise software solution and cybersecurity solutions. Its products are used in various applications, including enterprise and data center networking, home connectivity, set-top boxes, broadband access, telecommunication equipment, smartphones and base stations, data center servers and storage systems, factory automation, power generation and alternative energy systems, and electronic displays. The company has a collaboration agreement with Liqid Inc. Broadcom Inc. was incorporated in 2018 and is headquartered in San Jose, California.

Most consumer radio products (think 802.11b/g/n, a.k.a WiFi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, Thread...) nowadays somehow make use of the ISM band around 2.4GHz. This band was chosen by multiple technologies for a series of reasons, the prominent one being that it's unlicensed. Its success, however, brought with it a key problem as well: overcrowding and interference. While most of us have experienced inter-device interference (ever scanned for WiFi and got back a list of 666 networks in range?), a more subtle form is what you could call intra-device interference, i.e. that experienced by devices that host more than one radio. The typical example in consumer electronics would be devices that support both WiFi and Bluetooth, but more esoteric combinations exist. The problem is simple to understand: let's say you have a WiFi radio with its antenna and a Bluetooth radio right next to it with its own antenna. They don't know about each other, so there is a high chance that they might transmit at the same time (the higher their combined duty cycle, the higher the chance). If they do, and if they happen to be transmitting close in the frequency domain, their transmissions will interfere with each other. Mitigation strategies Interference is usually solved by multiplexing over whichever domain possible. Physical separation Physical domain multiplexing would be a fancy expression for "keeping the antennas far from each other", which is one of the best practices in designing these systems. However, this approach is usually limited by the size of the product you're designing. If the PCB is a few centimeters long, that's as far as you can place antennas. Frequency separation Frequency domain multiplexing can potentially help a lot more. A good example of this is channel management in 802.11b/g/n: the 2.4GHz spectrum is divided in up to 14 channels (or as few as 11 in certain countries) each with a bandwidth of 22 MHz and a channel separation of 5 MHz, and WiFi access points select the channel that looks the least busy. Bluetooth uses a more dynamic approach called frequency hopping, in which the spectrum is split into a high number of channels and the radios jump from one to another following a pseudo-random pattern. This makes it less likely that a single, strong source of interference can disrupt a connection; however, a "uniformly" noisy 2.4GHz environment, or a very  close source with strong harmonics, will still be an issue. 802.15.4 (the standard on which Zigbee and Thread are based) uses 16 channels, (unintuitively) numbered from 11 to 26, with a bandwidth of 2 MHz and a channel separation of 5 MHz. Channel management is similar to WiFi, with the whole network being on the same channel and no frequency hopping. Channel changes are allowed, but a policy on when and how to do that is not standardised. Packet Traffic Arbitration as a solution PTA (Packet Traffic Arbitration) tries to help with time domain multiplexing. What that means is that one of the radios can act as a master, the other as a slave, and the master will decide (arbitrate) access to the air medium to avoid that the radios transmit (or, to a degree, expect to receive) something at the same time. PTA is described in IEEE 802.15.2 (2003) Clause 6. However, PTA is a recommendation, not a standard, so implementations vary in the details. The most common form of it uses 3 signals, usually called REQUEST, PRIORITY and GRANT. The slave can assert REQUEST to signal that it needs to access the air medium. Optionally, it can assert PRIORITY to influence the master's arbitration in its own favour. The master is responsible of asserting GRANT in response when it sees fit. This is where implementations diverge in the details of how this decision is taken. Some keep GRANT asserted whenever they are not transmitting, even if REQUEST is not asserted. Others will GRANT immediately on REQUEST if the medium is free, otherwise complete their transmission and then GRANT. However the GRANT happens, once it is asserted the slave will transmit and de-assert REQUEST when the medium is no longer required. This is also implementation dependent, as some slaves will de-assert immediately after transmitting while others, expecting an immediate reply, will wait some time before releasing the medium. There are also 4 wire (using an extra FREQ signal), 2 wire (omitting PRIORITY) and 1 wire (using just GRANT) variations, which are however less common. In any case, the master role is usually assigned to the WiFi radio in the system, as WiFi is usually the technology with the highest duty cycle among the ones involved. Getting practical with the CYW43143 and EFR32 For a series of reasons, PTA has not been used much recently. The most frequent use case (certainly the one that shifts the biggest amount of ICs) would be Bluetooth + WiFi in laptops and mobile phones, which is better served by so called combo chips. These integrate 2.4GHz WiFi, Bluetooth and 5GHz WiFi in one package, eliminating the need for PTA traces between 2 chips while also saving on BoM cost and PCB surface, which are both at a premium on mass marketed, portable devices. However, at , in a recent design we needed to do PTA at all costs. The system had the CYW43143 WiFi 2.4GHz radio (originally by Broadcom, then acquired by Cypress, in turn acquired by Infineon). The other 2.4GHz technology involved was Thread, a mesh network stack based on 802.15.4 (same as Zigbee) and IPv6. This of course ruled out a wifi-bluetooth combo chip. Our radio choice was a Silicon Labs EFR32. Elimo Engineering The board was based on an Allwinner A13 SoC running a heavily customised build of OpenWrt.The board already followed best practices to separate the antennas and frequency separation does not help much (Thread is less frequency-agile than WiFi, in which Access Points can move channel at any point in time); as a result, interference did occur frequently and PTA came to the rescue. Kind of. Enabling PTA The EFR32 played nice; Silicon Labs provides several libraries (called plugins) with its Thread stack, and one of them is a PTA library, which can be configured to use up to 3 wires, with different polarities, different request logics etc. The only significant limitation is that it only implements slave logic, but that was not a problem in our case (the 43143 only implements a master, so they fit perfectly). After a bit of configuration and a rebuild, the EFR32 was using REQUEST and PRIORITY as expected, as verified with a logic analyser (via the trusty !). sigrok First trouble As you can see from the GRANT line trace above, though, something was wrong on the other side. Despite running a ping at 1Hz on the Thread network, the (active low) GRANT line being stuck low meant that the 43143 was essentially not doing any arbitration and always giving the go ahead. This was the result of ignorance and (wrongly) assuming that the functionality would be enabled either by the driver that we used, or by the firmware that is loaded to the 43143 when the module is loaded. Here begins the trouble. brcmfmac brcmfmac The Cypress application note about coexistence ( ) covers both the proprietary, Cypress-only SECI interface (which can only be used between Cypress chips) and the "standard" PTA interface, and for the latter it mentions that certain NVRAM parameters need to be set. AN214852 USB - SDIO disagreements So far so good, except that setting NVRAM parameters is not as straightforward as you might hope. A look at the kernel module code shows that for SDIO chips, the module will load a firmware blob from and an file with NVRAM parameters. Easy peasy. brcmfmac /lib/firmware/brcm nvram.txt In our system, however, we use a USB interface to the 43143, and unfortunately the approach the module takes for USB chips is different: only a firmware blob is loaded, no trace of an nvram file. So, PTA requires custom NVRAM, the IC is USB and the USB code does not use an NVRAM file: kind of a nasty roadblock, since I (again, wrongly) thought that modifying the blob was a no-go. brcmfmac Compare the code from (note argument 1 is 0 and argument 3 is NULL, meaning nvram file is not loaded) ... brcmfmac/usb.c ret = brcmf_fw_get_firmwares(dev, , brcmf_usb_get_fwname(devinfo), , brcmf_usb_probe_phase2); (ret) {
brcmf_err( , ret); fail;
} /* request firmware here */ 0 NULL if "firmware request failed: %d\n" goto ... to the one from (note argument 1 is BRCMF_FW_REQUEST_NVRAM, argument 4 is not null): brcmfmac/sdio.c ret = brcmf_fw_get_firmwares(sdiodev->dev, BRCMF_FW_REQUEST_NVRAM, sdiodev->fw_name, sdiodev->nvram_name, brcmf_sdio_firmware_callback); OpenWrt to the rescue Thanks to the help of a couple of folks (PaulFertser and rmilecki) from the IRC channel on freenode, however, I had a couple of lucky breaks. #openwrt-devel First, the blob that is loaded for USB devices is a fairly standard TRX binary format. $ ./otrx check brcmfmac43143.bin
Found a valid TRX version Second, the blob contains the nvram parameters as zero terminated ASCII strings, and they are all just appended at the end. $ strings brcmfmac43143.bin

[SNIP]

extpagain2g=0
pdetrange2g=0
triso2g=3
antswctl2g=0
maxp2ga0=82
mcsbw202gpo=0x75333333
mcsbw402gpo=0x97544444
legofdmbw202gpo=0x75310000
cckbw202gpo=0x1111
swctrlmap_2g=0x0a050a05,0x0a050a05,0x00000000,0x00000000,0x000
xtalfreq=20000
otpimagesize=154
tempthresh=120
temps_period=5
temp_hysteresis=5
rssismf2g=0x8
rssismc2g=0x8
rssisav2g=0x2
loopbw2g=100
txalpfpu=1
aci_detect_en_2g=1
rxgaintempcoeff2g=60
$ Together with , a TRX format editor/checker written by rmilecki, this allowed me to use an hex editor to alter the blob and add the parameters from AN214852. otrx Easy, right? Nah. Deciphering the scripture Unfortunately, there is no documentation about said parameters outside of AN214852 and, even there, you are only given an example for a "4343W board" without explaining how to adapt them to other boards/ICs or what they do specifically. Of course the example parameters for the 4343W did not work on the 43143, so some guesswork was needed. As you can see in the logic trace above, using the values in the AN, the GRANT line was being toggled once in a while, and it was no longer stuck low. A sign that PTA was enabled, but something more was wrong. In fact, you can also see that the GRANT line was only sporadically toggling. Time to dig into the meaning of coexistence parameters from the AN: boardflags= zbcxpadnum= zbcxfnsel= zbcxgcigpio= 0x1 0x040201 0x233 0x123 and a few lines below, this slightly confusing addition: Boardflags= Boardflags2= 0x00000001 /* SECI coex */ 0x00000080 /* Board support legacy 3/4 wire */ This is accompanied by the following parameter bit maps: So, the general idea was that and would enable coexistence, and they should be set to and to do so. boardflags boardflags2 0x01 0x80 was reasonably simple: a the bitmap makes it obviously about which GPIO is used by which signal. On our board, GRANT is on GPIO1, PRIORITY on GPIO2 and REQUEST on GPIO4, so this needed to be changed to . zbcxpadnum 0x010204 is kind of a mystery still: the AN only mentions GCI, which seems to stand for Global Coexistence Interface, but says nothing more about it. From a quick Google search it seems GCI is a serial protocol, so this is probably not related to us. However, not defining this parameter seemed to go back to GRANT being always low. For lack of better understanding, I set it to the example value of . zbcxgcigpio 0x123 The key problem however was hiding behind , which controls, it seems, the muxing of different functions to different pins. The example of is not correct for the 43143, on which the PTA functions seem to be on position 3 for all GPIOs, probably giving us a value of for . This is a guess, since as you can see in the screenshot below, the 43143 datasheet does not specify the value. However, the "Legacy BT coexistence" function is always listed in 3rd place, so I decided to give it a go. zbcxfnsel 0x233 0x333 zbcxfnsel Taking it for a spin Let's add the parameters we decided above to the binary (see the last two lines): Now, TRX has a CRC, so these changes make the CRC wrong; luckily, prints out both the expected and the computed CRC: otrx $ ./otrx check brcmfmac43143.bin
Invalid data crc32: 0x4dc00fe3 instead of 0x2a665d76 Let's fix the CRC (taking into account the binary endianness, we need to reverse the CRC bytes) Now, let's place this new binary in and do a cold reboot (because will skip downloading the firmware if one is running already) to let the kernel module load the new binary. /lib/firmware/brcm/ brcmfmac A test with running on the wifi interface while pinging a host on the Thread network shows the following: iperf3 As hoped, the 43143 is now a PTA master and the EFR32 correctly honours the GRANT signal.

Reverse Engineering Broadcom Chips To Enable Packet Traffic Arbitration for 2.4GHz Co-Existence

257 Stories To Learn About Linux

Was it Smart to Switch from Linux to ChromeOS Flex?

Dive into the new year’s top cloud and infra-tech trends, straight from a cloud and infrastructure technology fanatic. If you know me, you know I spend an inordinate amount of time thinking about cloud and infrastructure technology – and if you don’t know me, now you do. Without further adieu, here are the top 10 cloud and infra-tech trends to watch in 2023: 1. Kubernetes Everywhere Kubernetes is the great infrastructure equalizer, which is leading to its ubiquity. Today you can find Kubernetes in the cloud, in the data center, in the IT closet, on containerships, and in warplanes. In addition to the standard enterprise use cases, I predict that this year you'll start to see it show up in more consumer tech like home security systems, and maybe even refrigerators and toasters. I mean, who doesn't dream of the day when we can execute ? kubectl dispense ice I'm just kidding about that last part, but Kubernetes is finally helping developers and admins achieve the dream of "write once, deploy anywhere," and that's why you'll continue to see strong growth for Kubernetes in 2023. 2. Everything as Code? Yes, Please! Organizations with high technical maturity will seek to expand on their success with Infrastructure as Code and Configuration as Code with tools like Terraform and Ansible by codifying even more of their stack. Security as Code and Compliance as Code are the next likely targets for these organizations, with offerings already available for them to build on. Look for even more "as Code" solutions, like Observability as Code, for example, to hit the scene this year. 3. The Rise of Environments as a Service While high technical maturity organizations have reaped the benefits of the "as Code" movement, low technical maturity organizations have largely been left in the dust. Fearing the business impacts that their lack of agility will bring, these companies will seek solutions that enable them to reap the same benefits without the time and personnel investment.  Environments as a Service will be the likely answer for them. Environments as a Service is an abstraction built on top of the "as Code" solutions, enabling the rapid provisioning and easy management of cloud and infrastructure stacks, without exposing the technical complexity needed to use those tools. 4. WebAssembly Gains a Foothold What started as a new standard to create higher-performance webpages has morphed into a technology that will likely supplant the need for Linux containers in the years to come, but not without a large undertaking. This is the year that we'll start to see some bleeding-edge organizations take WebAssembly into prime time, and others will quickly follow suit. WebAssembly is likely the next major transformation in cloud and infrastructure technology, like hypervisors, cloud, and Kubernetes before it. If this space is your bread and butter, don't sleep on WebAssembly! 5. A Mad Rush to the Edge Edge computing really started to gain momentum in 2022, with solutions available from all the major cloud providers and many niche players as well. Edge computing brings applications out of the traditional data center or cloud and moves them closer to the end user. This has benefits for companies deploying applications, like reduced bandwidth and increased performance, but more importantly, it can also help them improve their outward-facing security posture and improve their applications' user experience.  That's why we'll see even more companies rush to adopt this tech in 2023. 6. Microsoft Azure Becomes an Even Bigger Threat to AWS Once a running joke in the cloud arena, Microsoft's Azure has become a real force to reckon with. Azure has made huge strides in its service offerings over the past few years – and, when coupled with the Microsoft sales juggernaut, has led to many companies choosing Azure as their primary cloud platform. Look for Microsoft to capitalize on this momentum with even more compelling service offerings and service improvements in the coming year. If I were projecting a "winner" in the cloud wars over the long term, right now I would say it's going to be Azure, not AWS. 7. Google Cloud ... I'm Sorry I've long been on the Google Cloud bandwagon. I like the simplicity of their services and their early adoption of Kubernetes (which makes sense, as they invented it). However, as a business Google Cloud isn't doing well. In fact, I'm not even sure they deserve to be in the same discussion as Azure and AWS anymore. Whatever your personal feelings about their offerings, the market is clearly speaking, and it's saying "no" to Google Cloud. If you're a technology decision-maker in your organization and you're actively promoting Google Cloud, I would think critically about how that may impact your own long-term viability. 8. VMware Begins the Slow March of Death Given VMware's acquisition by Broadcom last year, this should come as little surprise. VMware is now a legacy platform and enterprises will start treating it as such, much like iSeries and Mainframe before it. That's not to say that VMware is going away anytime soon. In the organizations where it exists, it'll likely remain for many years, perhaps even a decade or more to come. However, most companies will start actively divesting from VMware-based infrastructure in 2023. If you're a VMware admin, you're likely to start seeing declining job opportunities and wages in the short and medium term. So unless you're ready to retire, it's time to start specializing in a new area, like cloud or Kubernetes. Kubernetes is in many ways the new VMware and is in critical demand, so I would recommend starting there. 9. AI Enhanced Infrastructure In 2022 we saw seemingly huge advances in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. Tools like DALL-E, Stable Diffusion, and ChatGPT have wowed many, and VC firms are pouring money into more tech. I expect that we'll see some crossover into the cloud and infrastructure space in 2023. Probably through enhancing the "as Code" movement, observability, cost optimization, and security. 10. Security is Even More Paramount I feel like this is true every year, but it needs to be said. I'm constantly dismayed by how cavalier many organizations are about their security. As companies put more and more of their data in the cloud, security becomes even more important. I've heard that data is the new gold, and if you think that's true, then you wouldn't want to leave your gold on the side of the road, you'd want to put it in a Vault. Unfortunately, many organizations today are doing the digital equivalent of leaving it on the side of the road. As hacks and leaks become more pervasive in 2023, I expect more companies will start to take their cloud security seriously, which will mean more tools, more people, and more spending in this area. Also published . here

2023 Will Be the Year of Kubernetes (and Other Predictions in the Cloud and Infrastructure Industry)

Either way, this was needed to wash out some of the nonsense in our space. In 2000, the dot-com bubble . This was the end of an overheated market where adding dot-com to a business name could add seven to eight figures to your valuation. Protractors of the internet celebrated what they thought was the impending death of the internet and these "tech scammers." burst Losses exceeded in the dot-com bubble. Amazon alone is worth approximately at the time of writing. Priceline, Ebay, Broadcom, and Google changed the way the world does business, even though some of these stocks declined in value by up to 80% during the of the dot-com bubble and even up to two years after. $1.7 trillion $1.12 trillion popping However, the capitulation turned out to be a great catalyst to drive user-centric businesses to thrive post-bubble burst. It also encouraged VCs to back those who a product-market fit. I think we're at a very similar point for crypto. This can wash out a lot of garbage. Looking back on this last bull cycle, a lot of us were on the signs of a blow-off top. It never came. have waiting In retrospect, we were still overheated. We watched NFTs of rocks selling for as much as . Valuations of public equities with blockchain in their names skyrocketed. As the old saying goes: As the tides go out, we can see who's been skinny-dipping. $1.8 million Join the community where you can transform the future. Cointelegraph Innovation Circle brings blockchain technology leaders together to connect, collaborate and publish. Apply today Skinny-dipping seems to be rampant as all markets have seen record amounts of leverage over the past two years. When prices go down with high-leveraged markets, margin calls multiply the downward movement of asset pricing as those who are over-leveraged have to sell what they need to avoid being liquidated. This helps push asset prices down as they sell, imposing more sell pressure on themselves. A variety of projects had either systemic or hefty . These are practices that are hopefully washed out with the tide. Builders and cofounders during bullish momentum used shortcuts, tradeoffs, greed and bad decisions to ignore downside risk — much like the dot-com era. flaws overleverage These founders/builders promised to build out the digital asset infrastructure, however, they've potentially built out something just as valuable: risk mitigation practices. Much like drove other businesses to look internally, this could do the same for crypto. Enron and Worldcom of 2001 I hope these companies can find a way out of this mess, but either way, this serves as an example for future builders in this space. If you're building a project, consider avoiding using third parties for treasury management with a utopian view of an 8% yield. If you're a hodler, it's undoubtedly safer to have your funds in cold storage and not be tempted by the short-term interest. And if you do participate in the short-term objectives, make sure you fully understand what's happening to your assets and the downside risk. How can projects and companies better mitigate the risk of exposure to such events? For starters, don't be tempted to lengthen runway and operating capital by lending out part of your treasury. Falling back on the old line of "not your keys, not your crypto" is a must in risk mitigation for treasury management. Some treasuries were caught up in multiple of centralized lending protocols lately. capitulations With treasury management, assume you're wrong in every bucket of asset allocation and mitigate against it. If you're a project or entity in our space, don't get love drunk only when things are going parabolic. Always have a risk assumption based on the trends adversely reversing because, inevitably, all hype cycles will. Using leverage is a prime example of a practice to consider steering clear of. We're in an industry where 10x multiples can be seen as "small." In my opinion, after seeing the recent capitulation, there's no need to get greedy and use leverage from a business perspective. If your protocol needs to be engaged in yield, decentralized options have performed exactly as they've been designed to perform vs the downfall of centralized lending and borrowing platforms. Either way, this was needed to wash out some of the nonsense in our space. The capitulation fire has been burning hot, but when it's done, a new ecosystem can emerge with better practice and insight. The information provided here is not investment, tax or financial advice. You should consult with a licensed professional for advice concerning your specific situation. This article was published through Cointelegraph Innovation Circle, a vetted organization of senior executives and experts in the blockchain technology industry who are building the future through the power of connections, collaboration and thought leadership. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Cointelegraph.

Long-Term Health of the Crypto Industry Needed This Culling

A graffiti artist famously became a millionaire after he accepted stock for painting the walls of Facebook’s first office. This was possible because of the artist’s willingness to take a bet and receive stock-based compensation instead of $60,000 in cash. The artist’s outsized reward was certainly rare, but stock-based compensation is increasingly not. Stock-based compensation has become a popular way for companies to pay their employees. It helps startups preserve some cash, and at larger companies, equity has been seen as a great way to incentivize professionals to build value with the company over time. The equity someone receives as remuneration for their work varies by role, seniority, location, company stage, and even industry. Generally, experienced or senior professionals, including directors or executives, earn a significant portion of their total compensation from equity. In contrast, someone who is earlier in their career will have the bulk of their total compensation come from cash in the form of their annual salary. However, a good rule of thumb for many roles in the tech industry is that up to one-third of the total compensation might be stock-based. If you’re interested in great rewards, a career with a heavy tilt toward stock-based compensation could be right for you, depending on your risk tolerance. According to Blind, these are the top 10 companies you might want to bet your career on for future upside, as they tend to offer 33% or more of their total compensation as equity. Median annual salary: $170,000
Median stock-based compensation: $160,000
Median bonus: $16,500
Median total compensation: $345,000
Stock-based compensation ratio: 46% Snap Median annual salary: $170,000
Median stock-based compensation: $122,953
Median bonus: $29,500
Median total compensation: $302,600
Stock-based compensation ratio: 41% Pinterest Median annual salary: $180,000
Median stock-based compensation: $125,000
Median bonus: $20,000
Median total compensation: $310,000
Stock-based compensation ratio: 40% Lyft Median annual salary: $165,000
Median stock-based compensation: $110,000
Median bonus: $26,000
Median total compensation: $285,000
Stock-based compensation ratio: 39% Instacart Median annual salary: $187,000
Median stock-based compensation: $120,000
Median bonus: $29,000
Median total compensation: $330,000
Stock-based compensation ratio: 36% Airbnb Median annual salary: $174,500
Median stock-based compensation: $100,000
Median bonus: $17,500
Median total compensation: $280,000
Stock-based compensation ratio: 36% Coinbase Median annual salary: $175,000
Median stock-based compensation: $110,000
Median bonus: $28,000
Median total compensation: $322,500
Stock-based compensation ratio: 34% Stripe Median annual salary: $150,000
Median stock-based compensation: $90,000
Median bonus: $30,000
Median total compensation: $264,623
Stock-based compensation ratio: 34% Broadcom Median annual salary: $160,000
Median stock-based compensation: $100,000
Median bonus: $24,000
Median total compensation: $297,750
Stock-based compensation ratio: 34% Databricks Median annual salary: $200,000
Median stock-based compensation: $100,000
Median bonus: $10,000
Median total compensation: $300,000
Stock-based compensation ratio: 33% Roblox What is stock-based compensation? Stock-based compensation can make up a significant portion of a professional’s total compensation. It can represent as much as half of a professional’s total compensation in the tech industry, where companies have long offered equity to supplement cash salaries. Startups and other companies might offer stock options, allowing professionals to purchase stock at a fixed price or “strike price.” The award seeks to align rewards, encourage a professional to participate in the company’s growth, and later benefit from a higher share price. Mature startups and public companies might provide employees restricted stock units, which is stock that does not need to be purchased but needs to meet certain situations to be awarded, such as staying at a company for a certain amount of time, such as three, four or five years, or through an IPO or sale to another company. Companies generally grant restricted stock units as a fixed dollar amount or number of shares of stock. An offer that includes restricted stock units might be something like $200,000 over four years or 1,000 shares in four years. In the first example, an employee might receive 500 shares after the first year if the shares are each worth $100. The bottom line Big tech companies like , , , and Netflix may be known as the “it” companies with some of the highest compensation to offer, but they are noticeably absent from Blind’s list. Instead, the up-and-comers, including some pre-IPO companies like Instacart and Stripe, are some of the best bets for those hoping their equity pays out higher later. Amazon Apple Google Meta If your risk tolerance allows, choosing a job offer with a higher equity split can be a good bet if you believe the company will be more valuable in the future. Methodology Blind identified the companies with the highest ratio of stock-based compensation by comparing the median annual salary, stock-based compensation and total compensation offered across all roles in the United States. Total compensation includes bonuses. All figures are in U.S. dollars. For example, a company with a median annual salary of $150,000, median annual stock-based compensation of $100,000, and median annual total compensation of $300,000 would have a stock-based compensation ratio of 33%. All data is self-reported by verified professionals on the anonymous professional community Blind. Also published on Teamblind’s blog

10 Companies to Bet the Future of Your Career On

Why Cybersecurity Firms Should Stop Bragging

It’s a common concept that companies should always strive to own the critical pieces of technology that drive their success. Without that ownership, you don’t really own your unique selling proposition. In fact, you could say you are borrowing it from the technology owner who isn’t competing with you yet. While in concept this seems simple to address with the “build it in house” approach, most product managers recognize that when it comes down to it many digitally based products are an amalgam of interconnected first and third-party services that in their aggregate make the end product. Take, for example, Apple, which builds their phones using screens from Samsung and LG, cameras from LG, Sharp and O-film, and Wi-Fi chips from Intel and Broadcom. Each of these manufacturers is providing components that make the iPhone, but the heart of the device is the Apple silicon chip, which carries a design spec owned by Apple and that runs iOS, an Apple-owned operating system. Apple has decided that competing with commodity screens, cameras, etc. takes the backseat to the experience of using iOS powered by and tuned to their proprietary processor. The power of this strategy does not go unnoticed, as we’ve seen with Google’s recent decision to release the Pixel 6 powered by their proprietary Tensor processor. Product managers need to decide which services require resources to stay competitive and the services that should be off the shelf. The “build in house” method ends up sapping resources and saddling your business with monolithic tech stacks and mounds of technical debt. The Product Capability Assessment To help understand where to invest time in a product, I like to take advantage of a set of evaluation matrices I call the Capability Assessment. I designed this assessment to provide visual cues for understanding the role of a feature or component along with three important evaluation scales. This first scale is a measure of the amount of development time required. At one end of the scale are the no-code solutions and at the other end is custom code. Development Effort: The second scale to consider is a measure of the applicability of the component to broad use cases vs industry-specific narrow use cases. Use Cases: P The third scale measures the performance of the component as implemented today. One end of this scale encompasses poorly performing tech, while the other end is your best-in-class features. It’s important to recognize that performance is a measure of a feature/components delivery against expectations. Best in class functionality are those features a user would describe as the best implementation on the market. erformance: While these three scales make up a three-dimensional plot of your product’s capabilities, plotting and interpreting the results in a Cartesian view is less useful than plotting two views using a matrix chart both designed to inform investment decisions. Use Cases Matrix In this first view, we plot the components of the product along the Development Effort scale (x-axis) and the Use Case scale (y-axis). Using this approach, we can visualize and draw conclusions about our product based on what features/components show up in each of our four quadrants. : In the top right, we find features/components that to implement would require a significant investment in development while being very specific to a particular industry. Items in this quadrant are items you’ll want to own in your product. These are the features/components that differentiate you from the competition. No one else in your competitive space has access to this capability. Differentiators : In the top left quadrant, we find features/components that are industry-specific, but for which there are solutions in the market you can license to enable with low code requirements. I consider these features table stakes for the industry, but not differentiators. Anyone can license the same features and gain the same benefit. Table Stakes : On the bottom right quadrant, you have features/components that are not industry specific and require more development effort. This includes supporting tech that needs to be integrated into your specific ecosystem. For a typical business, this might include CRM systems that need to tie into transaction data, or fraud software that needs pipelines of data from a data warehouse. These features are required for the business to function, but don’t contribute to the product story. Functional Enablers : Finally, on the bottom left quadrant, we find those features/components that are low code and generic in applicability. This is where we find everyday business tools like ticketing systems, word processors, and other business platforms. These are the tools that enable your business to function but don’t contribute to the product story. Business Tools Based on this chart, you're able to make some inherent conclusions about where to spend your development effort. Ideally, your teams invest effort in Differentiators but you’ll often find that not to be the case. Visualizing use cases in this way often leads to interesting philosophical discussions about areas of focus. Are you spending way too much time on Functional Enablers that are needed but not pushing the product story? Are you investing in a Differentiator that’s available off the shelf from 3rd parties? Or perish the thought, perhaps you have someone putting development effort into a Business Tool. While this analysis should help you assess where to put your effort, the second view on this data can help you diagnose the success of that effort. The Performance Matrix This view of the product changes our perspective from trying to understand where to put effort and instead of spending some time gauging the success of the efforts. To build this view, we’re looking at development effort along the X-axis and performance along the Y-axis. : Found in the top right quadrant, those items that require more investment in resources that we consider being best in class. Here’s where your efforts pay off by setting the industry standard for the feature/component. Winners : In the top left quadrant are the best-in-class tools you’ve licensed. They’re the best of breed and help you distinguish yourself as a high level performer. Free Rides : In the bottom right quadrant are the features/components you’ve spent time on that are performing poorly. These are the items you’ve built that don’t deliver on expectations. Flounders : The bottom left quadrant is where you find the features/components your product uses that hamper performance. These features/components are not reliant on custom development and are replaceable. Millstones Similar to the previous assessment, we can use the Performance Matrix to better understand your product and make some critical decisions. I believe all products need one feature/component in the winner category. In Google speak the Winners are your 10X’s the features you do ten times better than the competition. While it’s natural to have new features start as flounders, too many features in this category can mean you’re splitting resources too thinly. Flounders need to be invested in to make them winners or retired. Millstones are those features/components that are holding back your product. They’re easy to replace because of the low effort and could help your product perform at a higher level. Bringing it all together The magic comes when you combine both analyses together. When looking at the Performance Matrix with the knowledge gleaned from the Use Case matrix, you’ll be surprised at the conclusions you can extract. Perhaps some of your flounders are not performing because you’re spending effort building a capability that’s table stakes. It could be technology that’s best licensed from others that focus on that capability. To me, this is equivalent to a small retail website trying to build their own shopping cart experience. Compared to the best in class (e.g. Shopify) it’ll be hard for the retailer to meet the expectations customers have for the shopping cart experience. A small retail site doesn’t differentiate on the shopping cart experience, instead, it needs to focus on merchandising, customer acquisition, and conversion. The best bet in this scenario is to license software from a shopping cart provider and convert the Flounder into a Free Ride. Maybe your Winners aren’t Differentiators in your product strategy. This suggests a strategy pivot to better align the product story with performance. There’s lots of examples of start-ups that pivoted their business towards a Differentiator that wasn’t quite aligned to their product strategy. Following the retail example above, perhaps the retailer built the best shopping cart experience, perhaps having this feature in the winner category would suggest a pivot to a different business model. This is how Shopify got started. The industry’s leading ecommerce platform was born out of an attempt to create an online store for snowboarding equipment. The Performance Matrix is useful for illustrating a long-term roadmap. Finding the requisite Differentiators on a Performance Matrix and showing their movement over multiple years is an easy way to show a long-term roadmap vision without the specificity that timelines require. It’s often the case that product managers get mired in the weeds of feature requirements and stakeholder management, but having a firm grasp on what your product does, what makes it different, and how you plan to win is crucial to the role. Investing in a capability assessment you can illustrate with a simple visualization grounds your decision-making and strategy so you can explain it to others. Capability Assessments also serve as a high level roadmap to help illustrate progress and the direction of travel. Who knows, it may even help you pivot around capabilities your teams excel at delivering and lead you in an entirely different direction. Featured image by on JESHOOTS.COM Unsplash

These Capability Assessments Help in Focused Product Development

Here we go again. An increase in cases due to a new highly has thrown a wrench into most employers’ . COVID-19 contagious coronavirus variant return-to-office plans Only one week into 2022, central business districts remain barren, despite many employers’ previously announced expectations that workers come back to the office to start the new year. More than seven out of 10 professionals in the U.S. (71%) said their company had postponed its return-to-office plans because of the omicron variant of COVID-19, according to a new survey of 3,167 verified professionals in the U.S. from the Blind. professional social network The remaining 29% reported no such changes at their workplaces. Return to office: Which companies have pushed back their plans? Blind found that most tech companies moved their return-to-office dates, perhaps unsurprisingly, as many of them embraced flexible work policies. Survey responses from verified professionals at , Cisco, Credit Karma, Cruise, DocuSign, eBay, Expedia, , Intel, Lyft, MathWorks, Microsoft, Oracle, Peloton, Pinterest, Roblox, SAP, Twilio and Uber confirmed the delayed office reopenings, some of them indefinitely. Apple Google A few companies have pushed back their plans by as little as one month, even amid the uncertainty caused by the omicron variant. “Already pushed back a month,” said a verified Credit Karma professional, referring to the personal finance company’s new mid-February return date in a discussion of return-to-office plans. In contrast, many financial services companies, generally loathe in allowing work from home, have also held off on bringing employees back. American Express, Bloomberg, Charles Schwab, Goldman Sachs, Vanguard, Visa and Wells Fargo have altered their return to the office. “RTO was originally scheduled for now, but they finally caved at the last minute and pushed it back because of omicron,” said a verified Charles Schwab professional. “So stupid that they are forcing us back at all.” How are employers responding to the omicron variant? More than two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, some employers have not yet honed their workplace policies. Fewer than one in three professionals in the U.S. (31%) said their company requires employees who work in the office to get tested for COVID-19 at least once a week, according to Blind. The other 69% reported no such rule at their companies. The results indicate many employers may be waiting to implement President Biden’s vaccine mandate, which also gives workers the option to be tested for the coronavirus weekly. The U.S. Supreme Court is currently reviewing the mandate. A majority of verified professionals at Apple, Bloomberg, Broadcom, Cruise, Goldman Sachs, Micron Technology, Roblox, Salesforce and Wayfair confirmed their companies require COVID-19 testing to work in the office in Blind’s survey. While many companies have taken steps to verify their employees are vaccinated against COVID-19, Blind found few companies have yet to require a “booster” shot. About one in four U.S. professionals (24%) said their company had announced a requirement to get a booster COVID-19 vaccine, according to the survey from Blind, compared to the 76% who said no such policy exists. Bloomberg, Broadcom, Credit Karma and Goldman Sachs are some of the employers with a COVID-19 booster requirement for employees. The bottom line The coronavirus pandemic continues to test the mettle of employers. The omicron variant has forced many companies to rethink and push back return-to-office plans. A large majority of U.S. employers have asked their workforces to continue to work from home for another month or longer, with some companies giving up on setting a return date entirely, according to a new survey from Blind. Methodology Blind conducted an online survey of 3,167 verified professionals in the U.S. on its platform from Jan. 4 to 5, 2022, to understand how employers responded to the COVID-19 omicron variant. Also published on the Teamblind blog.

Omicron Variant is Drastically Slowing Down Return-to-Office Plans in US Tech Companies

A popular topic as of late, Zero Trust, can mean many different things to many different people. Let’s break this down further and understand both sides of the market. Terms You Might Also Hear Microsegmentation Zero Trust Security Zero Trust Architecture Zero Trust Network Zero Trust Network Access Zero Trust Principles Zero Trust Execution Secure Access Service Edge (SASE pronounced “sassy”) Application Perimeter Cloud Workload Protection Problem Statement Traditional company networks are built like an M&M - hard shell on the outside, smooth on the inside. Networks have a firewall perimeter for security to keep bad guys out, but fewer security controls inside the network. Everyone inside is “trusted” by default. If an attacker breaches the network in this model, they can easily exploit other systems and steal data because of fewer restrictions. With companies doing more with mobile and cloud services via , the concept of a perimeter you can protect yourself disappears and trust becomes even more important. Digital Transformation Market Solution Enter Zero Trust. “Zero trust” means that no one “entity” is trusted by default from inside or outside the network. It’s an alternative network and application design with a security model that isolates computer networks, systems, and users from one another. No users, no systems, no applications, and no workloads are to be trusted, internally or externally, to the business environment. Isolation stops bad guys who get at one system or one piece of sensitive data from getting at others because all systems and resources are locked down by default. Players in the Space Banyan Security Odo Palo Alto Cisco Illumio Symantec / Broadcom Product Space Predictions Cybersecurity professionals will continue to push for zero trust principles. This will, in turn, drive demand up for professionals with experience in this space. Where there is a demand for professionals in a specific discipline, product companies will follow quickly behind to either enhance or subvert the talent needed. Digital Transformation initiatives at companies are changing cybersecurity landscapes and associated threats and are creating more desire for zero trust solutions. High tech companies like Google, Netflix, etc., will implement versions of zero trust principles that the product industry will mimic. The cybersecurity product industry will set zero trust as a base expectation - experts and vendors alike will cite that future breaches can be avoided by implementing zero trust principles. Regulators will catch on to zero trust and start asking questions. Soon they will cite deficiencies for not having zero trust principles implemented. Internal Audit teams will do the same. Cybersecurity budgets at large companies will continue to surge and this will be a significant portion of spending. Differentiation among product players will become more of a challenge. “The only way to get to zero trust is to bury your computer in concrete” Challenges for Products Buyers Zero Trust is Not Important Yet - Cybersecurity spending is dominated by regulatory and compliance drivers. Zero trust isn’t important to regulators yet. Zero Trust is Really Hard - Zero trust is a high effort for very little visible reward. Implementations take a really long time and require deep knowledge of how applications and infrastructure integrates into upstream and downstream systems. Technical Debt only makes this worse. Zero Trust Requires Homework - Zero trust requires a company to know much more about their IT applications than most companies ever do. How Players Will Be Successful in this Market Make zero trust implementation less complex. Products that create an easy-path to implement “zero trust principles” onto existing technology stacks with limited management overhead will win. Enable the zero trust way of operating. Offer complementary products that enable the zero-trust principles or that ease the path into zero trust. How Will Product Buyers Get What They Need? . Corporate buyers rarely have the financial latitude to buy the “best of” anything, so scale and interoperability matter. Use your limited capital to buy products in this space with the most integrations for your environment. Scale . Buy for what can work now on-premises and in cloud-hosted environments. Plan for Now References - why zero trust is really hard to do Why Zero Trust is an Unrealistic Security Model - a simple framework that is all but simple to execute. Most companies never get those five steps completed, but it’s good to have something to shoot for. Forrester’s Five Steps to a Zero Trust Network - a core component of zero trust architecture Microsegmentation - the coding you must do tomorrow because you took a shortcut in order to deliver the software today. Technical Debt - want to get really, really deep? Start here. For the hardcore techies only. NIST SP 800-207 Zero Trust Architecture

Grasp The Zero Trust Product Market Space Concept Quickly

Another alternative for Nintendo Switch has been announced. The GPD Win 3, a new PC handheld console is promising amazing specs and power. At first glance, the new Windows running handheld looks like a mixture of a Nintendo Switch and Dell's UFO console, but its foldable 5.5-inch 720p screen and the build-in keyboard make it more interesting. There is also a fully integrated gamepad with two joysticks, four triggers, a directional pad, and four action buttons. It has intake air vents on the rear, and an exhaust vent on the top. There is also a USB-A port, power key, headphone jack, and built-in microphone. The bottom is where you’ll find the loudspeakers and a USB-C Thunderbolt 4.0 port. Finally, there are two customizable buttons on the rear side of the controller grips, which also contain rumble feedback. The price of the new GPD Win 3 may though make interested gamers hesitate a bit. At a starting price of 799 US dollars, the console has to keep all its promises and do not disappoint its fans. One can also play online casino games in it. The Nintendo Switch has been out for over 3.5 years now, so maybe it's time for a change? A Nintendo Switch that runs Windows - that's what many PC gamers dream of. That dream could soon come true as a new handheld console has popped up on a crowdfunding platform that looks extremely promising. The GPD Win 3, a new pc handheld has been announced as Nintendo Switch’s replacement. Although the Nintendo Switch has been available for over 3.5 years, the console is still very popular today. So, it is no wonder that numerous manufacturers around the world are trying to copy the handheld's recipe for success. One company that has already made a name for itself with hardware enthusiasts is GPD. The Chinese company is known for its ultra-compact yet powerful Windows handhelds - most recently the GPD Win Max made a name for itself. Now the experts are working on a new model that should inspire all future gamers: the GPD Win 3. At first glance, the Windows handheld looks like a mixture of a Nintendo Switch and Dell's UFO console. The highlight of the handheld: Instead of a foldable 720p display, the screen can be pushed up this time, giving the user access to the built-in keyboard - an interesting construction that makes the screen prone to scratches. Hopefully, a protective film is already pre-installed on the GPD Win 3. GPD Win 3 is the Nintendo Switch Alternative The built-in hardware of the GPD Win 3 is promising. The top version of the Intel Core i7-1165G7 processor is used with 16 GB of RAM. The capacity of the PCIe SSD is very high at 1 TB. On the other hand, that of the battery is rather low - just 44 Wh is specified in the data sheet. For such a compact handheld, this was perfectly fine, but the battery should admit defeat after 3 hours of demanding games at the latest. There is no dedicated graphics card, but since the resolution of the display is only 720p, it should also be possible to run current games without any problems with reduced settings on the integrated graphics unit of the Intel processor. Even The Witcher 3 runs at around 60 FPS, as a video from the developer proves: According to the information from GPD, this is a model with the weaker i5-1136G7. The performance of the i7 processor could possibly be even higher. The GPD Win 3 should also be able to be easily connected to a monitor via a separately sold docking station - the handheld is also provided with so many other connections. Good to know: GPD Win 3: Price and availability of the PC console The GPD Win 3 is currently only available on the Indiegogo crowdfunding platform. The version with the i5 processor costs 799 US dollars, the more powerful version with the i7 processor costs 899 US dollars. A comparable laptop with similar hardware specifications often costs even more. The Nintendo Switch Lite costs only a fraction - but is it worth buying the slimmed-down console? Is the Nintendo Switch Lite worth it? For PC enthusiasts, the GPD Win 3 could turn out to be the Nintendo Switch alternative they have been waiting for so long. After the crowdfunding phase, however, the prices of the two handheld consoles are likely to increase somewhat - at least that has always been the case in the past. The Nintendo Switch Lite is a stripped-down version of the normal Switch. The TV function is no longer available, and the display is 0.7 inches smaller. But what the Switch Lite has lost in these places, it brings back in another place as a thoroughbred handheld console. The handy design and the low weight (270 grams) stand out very positively in mobile use. The battery performance could although be more generous. One of the lowest prices on the Internet for the console is 210 US dollars. If you do not care about a smaller display and in contrast find it better, do not mind the lower battery performance, then Nintendo Switch Lite may still be worth it. Are there other alternatives? In case you are not a fan of Nintendo or you do not want to waste so much on this new handheld pc, there are other handheld consoles that could work as substitutes. LYRA You can buy this handheld console for 149 US dollars. LYRA is perfect for gamers who love old classics. Powered by Rasberry Pi CM3L, the console promises to bring the history of gaming in your hands. What does this mean? LYRA can emulate all the classic consoles of the classic era. Get ready for a nostalgia trip. The handheld console can also function as your personal computer and not only as an entertainment system. So, it is already doing more than Nintendo’s Switch Lite. And now about the specs, console is being powered by the Broadcom BCM2837B0, Cortex-A53 (ARMv8) 64-bit SoC which is a 1..4GHz 64-bit quad-core processor. It comes with 1GB of RAM and a 5″ TFT LCD with a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels. Google Stadia / xCloud Another alternative could be a cloud gaming service. Although for this service fans are not sure how to feel. Many believe that a lot was promised but nothing was delivered. Fans and websites were calling the service a sham, as it was unable to deliver many of the initially presented functions and a run in lower resolutions and sometimes in lower detail settings than an Xbox One X. Stadia has a calculated graphics power of 10.7 teraflops and is theoretically stronger than the PS4 Pro and Xbox One X combined. In case you would like to give the service a try it would cost you a 9.99 US dollars per month. majority of the open world games New consoles and gaming services come out all the time. Keep your eyes and ears open if you do not want to be left behind.

The GPD Win 3: A New Alternative for the Nintendo Switch

We released our first batch of dynamic tech company news pages, combined business overviews with mentions on Hacker Noon and around the web via the Bing News API. The anchor text clicks through to the pages, and to see the designs fullscreen, just click on the images. To learn more, check out the about tech company news page post. To request an edit or the creation of tech company news page, please visit this form . Adobe Company News Amazon Company News Apache Company News Apple Company New Broadcom Company News Comcast Company News Facebook Company News FedEx Company News General Motors Company News Google Company News HP Company News IBM Company News Intel Company News Mastercard Company News Microsoft Company News Netflix Company News Nvidia Company News Oracle Company News Slack Company News Tencent Company News Tesla Company News Twitter Company News Uber Company News To learn more, check out the about tech company news page post. To request an edit or the creation of tech company news page, . please visit this form

22 Tech Company News Pages

Guide: How to Emulate a Raspberry Pi Cluster with Docker Compose

“What are the greatest inventions of the past 1,000 years?” If you invite people to submit a list of the three most influential inventions in human history, the answers will vary greatly. There are so many impressive achievements that helped the world move forward. Paper. Fertilizers. The printing press. Electricity. Automobiles. Airplanes. The telephone. The microprocessor. The Internet. The list of potential candidates is long. Technological innovation is amongst humanity’s greatest achievements. And, no doubt, a person’s choices will reflect their own interests and perspective. Most of the above-listed inventions were genuinely disruptive. They improved the quality of people’s lives immeasurably, created fantastic new opportunities and opened new markets. But how many people would mention the corporation? My guess, not that many. At first sight, an imaginary “legal” person doesn’t measure up to other life-changing inventions of the past. And yet, don’t dismiss the corporation too quickly. Israeli historian Yuval Noah Harari (author of the non-fiction bestsellers “Sapiens” and “Homo Deus”) places the “legal fiction” of the corporation or “imagined reality” among humanity’s most ingenious inventions. Think about it. The corporation has played and still plays a crucial role in the commercialization of the most disruptive innovations (as well as the development of new ideas). All it takes is an “imaginary” legal person that exists independent from its founders, investors, and managers. The corporation allows investors to exit and trade their shares without dissolving the business. And if the CEO leaves (for whatever reason) the corporation continues to exist as well. Modern corporations have become the main players in the economy. They have encouraged entrepreneurship and economic risk-taking for decades. The corporation has been an effective way to enable the aggregation of capital for productive purposes. You see them everywhere (all over the world), in many forms, operating alone and in groups. Startups. Joint ventures. Multinationals. Conglomerates. Some of them are extremely powerful and richer than entire countries. But it’s not all great. Besides the success stories, the “imagined reality” of the corporation has caused serious problems since its inception. Misuse. Fraud. Pollution. Greed. Unethical and overly risky behavior. A corporation offers the opportunity for people to hide behind and misappropriate its corporate veil at the detriment of usually weaker parties and society as a whole. Perhaps, it is this mixed history that explains the exclusion of the corporation from the list of “greatest inventions.” It certainly explains the ambivalent feelings that many people have towards corporations and the corporate world. And whenever there is a crisis in the corporate world or the economy more generally, the same questions continue to pop up: What — or Who — is a corporation for? What should be the focus of a corporation? It’s All About the Money Is the business of a corporation doing business and making money? Or, do they have a broader purpose in society? Do large corporations also have a social responsibility to help improve the world? I received these questions during an online webinar last week. The interest in the purpose of corporations was mind-blowing. Most of the 150+ participants believed that profit-making and maximizing shareholder value were the main goals of a corporation. But they also felt that a purely financial and commercial purpose fell short in these difficult times. We have created a “mechanical financial world” which is all about the money. High-frequency traders are a great example. Even though they only count for a small part of all traders out there, they are responsible for two-thirds of all stock market transactions. They use super-fast computers and custom-built high-frequency trading algorithms to take advantage of movements in the market. The increased uncertainty and volatility in stock markets during the current crisis make high-frequency trading very lucrative. Where most financial institutions are losing big-time, high-frequency traders are benefiting from the disaster. This is not a problem in itself, but it has put them in the spotlight. Mainstream media have started to satirize high-tech frequency traders for not contributing in any way to solving the crisis. The reality is quite the opposite. High-tech frequency traders attract the most talented mathematicians to help them make their computers faster, more flexible, and more independent. Some of these traders require these math employees to sleep in tents in the office (taking self-isolation to the next level). This clearly helps avoid virus transmission, but also (and this was the main reason of the isolation) potentially leads to “microsecond” improvements in the quality of the algorithm, helping high-frequency traders beat the competition and make more cash. The argument now is that these mathematicians should contribute to solutions that deal with the crisis and help mitigate the social and economic consequences, instead of only pursuing a money-driven goal. Whatever you think of this example, I guess it’s fair to say that “crises reveal.” Difficult, stressful moments expose the true colors of both individuals and organizations. And, too often, difficult moments reveal the worst of the corporate world. Stakeholder Capitalism However, it would be a mistake to judge the corporate world purely based on such anti-models. Many companies do take the health and safety of stakeholders very seriously. CEOs send emails, write blogs, and post videos in which they explain why flagship shops are closed (social distancing), online shops are upgraded, and top managers’ salaries are cut. Also, they postpone dividend distributions and delay share buyback programs — everything to retain customers and avoid layoffs. And there is more. Corporations and their managers have become increasingly innovative when it comes to engaging with stakeholders. They look for opportunities for their companies to improve the world. They generally focus on three areas: Healthcare and the front-line responders. Education Small businesses They donate their products or make services available. Shoes for healthcare workers, latex gloves for responders, webcams for teachers, etc. Some companies also provide improvised products/services. Think sanitizers made by breweries, ventilators manufactured and assembled by car companies, and face masks donated by fashion and lingerie companies. Improvisation is everywhere right now. And yet, participants at the webinar asked how sincere and altruistic initiatives can be distinguished from window-dressing exercises — a fair question. After all, history shows that we go back to “business-as-usual” as soon as a crisis is over. There was a lot of shareholders-versus-stakeholders talk after the global financial crisis of 2009. But things soon went back to normal. For instance, CEO-Worker compensation ratios — which dropped dramatically in the aftermath of the crisis — soon began to increase, as well. We have short memories and anti-corporate feelings dissipate quickly when the economic situation improves. Much as a crisis reveals our true colors, good times also make us forgetful and forgiving. So, will it be different this time? Many of my academic colleagues doubt it. They have a hard time to “unlearn” what they’ve preached for so many years (the only purpose of a company is shareholder wealth maximization). According to them, a stakeholder view is confusing. How can you serve multiple masters with different, and often conflicting, interests? According to them, trying to find a balance is illusory and could even hurt the corporation (including all its stakeholders) in the future. They seem to forget that a CEO doesn’t solely define the corporation. A corporation isn’t a single person. A corporation is a team. It’s a complex, evolving ecosystem of people (employees, consumers, investors, founders of startup companies, and other organizations) committed to working together as a team to reach a complex mix of different goals. Like any team, a corporation is a multi-faceted entity that cannot be reduced to a simple formula. At least, reducing it to simple formula is both dishonest — it obscures the reality of the thing it describes — and counter-productive — in the sense, that any suggestions for improving performance are likely to miss the target. And, of course, serving multiple masters is difficult. But, embracing the messy reality of building a successful team that delivers a meaningful experience for everyone is surely a better, more human option than the pursuit of financial gain. Accelerating the Future Stakeholder capitalism isn’t equal to corporate social responsibility. It’s a necessary strategy to ensure that corporations remain relevant in a fast-changing world. Ironically, corporations that seem to embrace a stakeholder-oriented purpose outperform their peers when it comes to stock market returns. To convince the participants of the webinar, I referred to the ten best-performing stocks of the last decade (only taking large-cap corporations into account). The list was published by the financial and investing advice company “ .” What was so good about the list was that most of the companies weren’t household names. Also, they operated in entirely different industries and sectors. The Motley Fool Netflix (media-services provider) Domino’s Pizza (restaurant chain) MarketAxess Holdings (financial services) Exact Sciences (healthcare) DexCom (medical devices) Cheniere Energy (energy) Transdigm Group (aerospace) Broadcom (semiconductors) Fair Isaac (computer) United Rentals (construction/industrial) If you had invested $1,000 in each of these companies in January 2010, you would have made a total of $271,730 in ten years. On this view, defending stakeholder capitalism is not only about fairness or doing the “right thing.” It is about maximizing performance for the benefit of all. It is about money and meaning. So, what made these companies such an excellent investment in the 2010s? Some companies operated in growth markets (streaming service and aerospace components). But there is more. Nine out of ten companies take their stakeholders exceptionally seriously. They understand that the digital transformation has forced them (and has also given them the tools) to engage and co-create with their stakeholders. My explanation would be that their strategies revolve around five Cs: culture, community, collaboration, co-creation, and communication. They invite stakeholders to share ideas, they have established grievance mechanisms and created an open culture that allows stakeholders to identify themselves with the corporation, learn, and participate in the decision-making process. The coronavirus crisis is accelerating the future. It’s a tipping point that encourages corporations to promote socially desirable values. It makes most of us realize that a mere focus on profits and investors will hurt companies and society. Are we entering a more human world?

How the "Great Lockdown" is resetting business.

The is a series of small single-board computers developed in the United Kingdom by the Raspberry Pi Foundation to promote the teaching of basic computer science in schools and developing countries. The original model became far more popular than anticipated, selling outside its target market for uses such as robotics. It does not include peripherals (such as keyboards and mice) and cases. However, some accessories are packed in several official and unofficial bundles. Raspberry Pi The organization behind the Raspberry Pi consists of two arms. Raspberry Pi Foundation developed the first two models. After the launch of the Pi Model B, the Foundation set up Raspberry Pi Trading. At that time, Eben Upton was the CEO. Furthermore, the Foundation developed the third model, the B+. Raspberry Pi Trading is responsible for developing technology while the Foundation is an educational charity to promote the teaching of basic computer science in schools and developing countries. What’s new in Raspberry Pi 4? With this feature, you can now connect two displays to this desktop computer, and that too in 4K. Dual display (4K) support: The new Raspberry Pi 4 comes with a new, updated processor and RAM, which guarantees you a new desktop experience. Better performance: The Pi 4 comes with Gigabit Ethernet, along with onboard wireless networking and Bluetooth. Fast networking: Raspberry Pi 4 comes in three variants based on RAM: 1 GB, 2 GB, and 4 GB. RAM: The new Raspberry Pi 4 has upgraded USB capacity: along with two USB 2 ports, you will find two USB 3 ports, which can transfer data up to ten times faster. USB 3: Technical specifications Broadcom BCM2711, Quad-core Cortex-A72 (ARM v8) 64-bit SoC @ 1.5GHz 1GB, 2GB or 4GB LPDDR4-2400 SDRAM (depending on model) 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz IEEE 802.11ac wireless, Bluetooth 5.0, BLEGigabit Ethernet2 USB 3.0 ports; 2 USB 2.0 ports. Raspberry Pi standard 40 pin GPIO header (fully backward compatible with previous boards) 2 × micro-HDMI ports (up to 4kp60 supported) 2-lane MIPI DSI display port 2-lane MIPI CSI camera port 4-pole stereo audio and composite video port H.265 (4kp60 decode), H264 (1080p60 decode, 1080p30 encode) OpenGL ES 3.0 graphics Micro-SD card slot for loading operating system and data storage 5V DC via USB-C connector (minimum 3A*) 5V DC via GPIO header (minimum 3A*) Power over Ethernet (PoE) enabled (requires separate PoE HAT) Operating temperature: 0 – 50 degrees C ambient * A good quality 2.5A power supply can be used if downstream USB peripherals consume less than 500mA in total. Setting up the Raspberry Pi 4 What you will need There is a USB Type-C port included in the device. You need a power supply with at least 3.0 A power. A power supply: You will need this to store its files and the Raspbian OS. The minimum storage requirement is Many sellers provide micro-SD cards with the Raspbian OS pre-installed, so you’re ready to go. Micro-SD card: 8 GB. To start using the Raspberry Pi 4, you need a USB keyboard and a USB mouse. Both are mandatory for the first installation. After setting it up, you can also use Bluetooth keyboard and mouse. Keyboard and mouse: To display the content inside the computer, you need a TV or computer screen, and a cable to link Raspberry and the display. If your monitor has speakers installed in it, Pi 4 will use it. The port required here is a micro-HDMI port. If you have a different cable like standard HDMI, DVI, and VGA cable, then you will need their respective micro-HDMI converters. For instance, if your monitor supports VGA, then use a VGA-to-micro-HDMI adapter with it. This way you will be able to use your VGA cable. TV/Computer screen: These are the essential requirements needed before setting up the Raspberry Pi 4. You can also install add-ons like a protective case, headphones/speakers, and Ethernet cable. Setting up the SD card If your SD card does not have the Raspbian operating system, you can do it yourself. All you need to do is to use a laptop with an installed SD card slot. Most of the latest laptops have this feature. Download Raspbian OS via NOOBS Using NOOBS to install the Raspbian operating system is the easiest way to go. Most importantly, advanced users who want to install a particular operating system should refer to this guide to . install operating system images Steps to download and transfer NOOBS to the micro-SD card Visit the . Then click on the box which has NOOBS written on it. Raspberry downloads page The simplest method is to download the ZIP file. Make sure you are aware of where you are downloading the file, so it will be easy to find it in the future. Format your SD card. If it has older files of Raspbian or any other personal files, back them up first, then proceed. Now extract the files from the ZIP file you downloaded from NOOBS. Open another explorer window and navigate to the SD card. Use “Ctrl+A” to select all the files first, then use “Ctrl+C” to copy all of them. Now go to your SD card folder, and paste all of it by pressing “Ctrl+V”. The files are now stored in your micro-SD card. Now you can eject the micro-SD card. Connect the Raspberry Pi 4 Install all the required components into the mini device. The set up has to be done in a particular order to make sure that the components are safe. First, insert the micro-SD card on the underside slot of the Raspberry Pi 4.Take the USB port of your mouse cable, and connect it to the USB port on Raspberry Pi 4.Connect the keyboard in the same way.Make sure you plug your screen into a socket and turn it ON.Connect the TV/computer monitor to your device using a micro-HDMI cable, or an adapter if required. Insert the micro-HDMI female part into the port named in Raspberry Pi.To connect Raspberry Pi 4 to the internet via Ethernet, connect an Ethernet cable linked to a WiFi router or a broadband connection.If your screen has speakers embedded in it, the Raspberry Pi will use those. If you do not want to use those speakers or there are no speakers on your monitor, you can use external audio devices like headphones and speakers by connecting them via a headphone jack.Booting the Raspberry Pi 4 HDMI0 This computer does not have a power button, so as soon as you connect the power supply and turn it on, it boots up. You should see a red LED light glowing in the device. This is an indication that Raspberry is connected to power. Soon, as it boots up, you will see raspberries on the left of your screen. After a few seconds, the Raspbian desktop will appear. Finishing the setup When you start the Raspberry Pi 4 for the first time, you will see the pop-up. This will guide you to the initial setup. Welcome to Raspberry Pi Click “Next” to start the setup.Then set the country, language, and timezone. Click “Next” again.Enter a new password.Connect to a WiFi network by selecting its name and entering the password.Let the wizard check for updates and if there are any, install them. This may take a little while.Click or to finish the setup. Done Restart What’s next? Check out these digital projects, controlled using Raspberry Pi 4. Robot Antenna Rock band Turtle race Applications I hope by now that you have understood the set up of Raspberry Pi 4. Now let us have a look at some cool uses of this device. 1. Stop motion camera You know that everybody loves stop motion. To create your digital stop motion camera, you will need a Raspberry Pi 4 and a dedicated camera module. The process of creating a camera is time-consuming. You will need Python, a camera with a tripod, and a well-lit area. For satisfactory results, it will take time and practice. You’ll need a breadboard to mount a button (unless you already have a suitable plunger button that can be connected to the Raspberry Pi’s GPIO), and a Python script to snap each image. 2. Web server Wow, you can now configure your Raspberry Pi 4 to host a website. It can host your blog, too. There are two ways to do this. Either install Apache and its associated libraries. Or install a full LAMP stack, with PHP and MySQL alongside Apache. Setting up FTP is recommended. Once these steps are completed, you can add the HTML files into the \www\ directory, and your web server is ready. Or you can install a specific website like WordPress. To get your website online, you will need a static IP address from your service provider. If you find this method expensive, go to . No-IP.com 3. Network monitoring tool Do you want to monitor devices in your network? Are you concerned about the lack of connectivity? Then the best solution for you is to create a network monitoring tool. There are many tools available on the internet. The Nagios tool is one of the best tools, as it is easier to configure and operate. With the Nagios tool, you can easily monitor up time, and view a visualization of the devices connected. To use the Nagios tool, simply flash its disk image to the SD card installed in your Raspberry Pi 4. 4. Stream live video to YouTube Another way to take advantage of a Raspberry Pi 4 is to live stream to YouTube. To live stream, a compatible USB camera is necessary. Be prepared with your YouTube channel with the libav-tools package installed. There is a detailed tutorial of streaming a video live on YouTube, available in the Raspberry Pi 4. You can visit that for the detailed instructions. 5. Learn to code When this device had its inception in 2012, one of its primary motives was to teach kids to code. However, it isn’t just kids who can learn to code. Adults and elders can also take advantage of the in-built coding tools available on the Raspberry Pi 4. There are many pieces of software available in Raspbian which provide basic programming skills. But the most important is Scratch. Designed to cater to all levels, Scratch is a block-based programming tool, that eschews the complexities of inputting lines of code. Instead, you simply drag the commands into place. You can see the impact of your commands in the code view and export the code as a program to run. Scratch is simple enough to manipulate lights installed in the Pi’s GPIO and complex enough to program basic games. If you want to buy this awesome desktop computer, visit their official . site Now a days people are also using Pi devices for Artificial Intelligence projects learn about . AI Final word With this article, I have tried my best to explain to you about the Raspberry Pi 4, and the setup process. I hope you got a good idea about the device now. Feel free to comment on your favorite Raspberry project, and do remember one thing,

Raspberry Pi 4: What is it and how can you use it?

DevOps is in full throttle. Take a look at the supportive predictions from well-known organizations: According to is projected to grow from , at a during the forecast period. , MarketsAndMarkets DevOps market size USD 2.90 Billion in 2017 to USD 10.31 Billion by 2023 CAGR(Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 24.7% By 2024, DevSecOps will be automated to the extent that included in the continuous delivery pipeline, according to this . 60% of new applications will have complete security and compliance assessment IDC community The global is predicted to reach , according to a new report by , Inc., representing an during the forecast period. DevOps market size USD 12.85 billion by 2025 Grand View Research 18.60% CAGR The popularity of DevOps is not hidden. Tech giants such as , , , , and many more have adopted DevOps and delivering a superior experience to their customers. Since faster software development and delivery become essential, approaches like Agile and DevOps are all the rage these days. Amazon Netflix Target Walmart Facebook I believe successful DevOps stories are significantly less than the hype DevOps has created in form of debates, summits, posts, and graphics. The real picture of DevOps can’t be seen in the numerical figures; it should be viewed in a number of organizations benefitted by it. Let’s come to the point. Here, I compiled the list of Top DevOps Consulting and Services Providers companies globally to help you craft successful DevOps story. Note : This unbiased list of Top DevOps Service Companies is intended to make the selection process of DevOps outsourcing company easy for you. This comprehensive list is not a result of overnight effort. I have taken the help of Google and platforms like LinkedIn, Forbes, Clutch, GoodFirms, social media presence, and overall ratings . We all know that the definition of best doesn’t exist. Best is subjective and depends on various factors such as time, cost, requirement, and suitability. In order to narrow down the choices, I’ve kept the following factors in mind: Team size Founded year Diversity of portfolio Global presence Experience Cost Social media presence Important Note: I am not favoring any company neither I have any experience working with any of them. I am amazed by the number of people searching and and that’s why I ended up creating this list. ‘Top 10 DevOps Services Providers’ ‘Top Devops Outsourcing Companies’ The company order doesn’t matter here. I’ve kept it in a random order and I’d request readers to consider the same. Here is the quick list of Top 10 DevOps Consulting and Services Providers Sogeti TCS Accenture CA Technologies SPEC INDIA SSW Datacom Tech Mahindra Micro Focus XenonStack Let’s get into details of each: 1. Sogeti: is a leading technology service provider and part of Capgemini Group, a global leader in digital transformation. They hold expertise in providing cutting-edge solutions including cloud, cybersecurity, digital manufacturing, and emerging technologies with strong technology supplier partnerships. Sogeti Sogeti is UK based DevOps company that provides end-to-end DevOps service with the help of best-in-class tools, experienced DevOps team, and right devops practices. To ensure successful devops transformation, they prioritize cultural change that devops brings. 10000+ Company Size: 1967 Founded Year: UK, USA, and other countries Location: Digital Assurance & Testing, Cloud services, Testing Services, Tech Product Engineering, etc. Other Services: 2. TCS: is a globally well-known leader in IT services and digital business solutions. With an aim to simplify and transform businesses, TCS is one of the top employers globally representing 151 nationalities across 46 countries. TCS TCS delivers exceptional Enterprise Devops Consulting and Services including advisory and implementation with the use of excellent tools and strong partnerships. TCS is a reliable name in the IT industry ensuring excellent customer experience regardless of the services you opt. 300,000+ Company Size: 1968 Founded Year: India, USA, UAE, UK, and other 40+ countries Location: Application Development and Maintenance, Business Process Outsourcing, Enterprise Solutions, IT Infrastructure Services, Engineering, and Industrial Services, etc. Other Services: 3. Accenture: is one among the Fortune Global 500 companies and a global technology service provider helping enterprises embrace digital way of working and living. Covering the majority of the industries and business functions, they offer services in strategy, consulting, technology, operations, and digital. Accenture Accenture’s devops services helping clients to deliver applications faster and with the quality-driven approach. Accenture DevOps platform can help you bring business, deployment, and operation teams together to automate the processes. 300,000+ Company size: 1989 Founded Year: India, USA, Philippines, and 52 other countries Location: Accenture Strategy, Accenture Consulting, Accenture Digital, Accenture Technology, and Accenture Operations Other Services: 4. CA Technologies: is ranked as the largest independent software corporation in the world and a subsidiary of Broadcom Inc. The company delivers system software, application software, and B2B software focusing on agile software development and DevOps. CA Technologies CA Technologies, headquartered in New York, USA is a DevOps company offering end-to-end DevOps processes that enable automated software development ensuring security, scalability, and continuous delivery. With hands-on experience and skillful Team of DevOps Experts, they help clients achieve new business heights by accelerating development and delivery. They possess expertise in agile management, automated testing, and continuous delivery to create a fully automated devops pipeline. 10,000+ Company size: 1976 Founded Year: USA and 35 other countries Location: Advanced Analytics, Release Management, API Management, Cloud Solutions, AIOps, API Development, Mobile App Development, Industry Solutions, Products, Consulting, etc. Other Services: 5. SPEC INDIA: is a DevOps consulting company based in India, providing digital solutions and business IT services covering wide-ranging industry verticals. They’ve been helping enterprises grow with scalable, futuristic and feature-rich solutions for over 30 years. Their clients range from large enterprises, SMEs, to Fortune 100 companies. SPEC INDIA With an aim to leverage experience and expertise to deliver excellence, SPEC INDIA’s DevOps services are used widely by many Enterprise clients and they are experiencing a cultural and technical shift in software development. Not only DevOps but they also hold expertise in DevSecOps which prioritizes security at initial stages rather at the end of the software development life cycle. 300+ Company Size: 1987 Founded Year: India and USA Location: Enterprise Mobility, Custom Software Development, Startup IT Solutions, Cloud Deployments, Business Intelligence Solutions, IoT Solutions, Technology consulting Other Service: 6. SSW: offers scalable and extensible custom software solutions with core expertise in Microsoft technologies. Their clients range from bus companies, government organizations to large accounting companies. SSW SSW is one of the Australia based DevOps Company, with a combination of supporting tools and culture, they help companies integrate DevOps in a development environment to improve overall quality. 200+ Company Size: 1990 Founded Year: Australia Location: Software Development, Web & Mobile App Development, Business Intelligence, and Cloud Services Other Service: 7. Datacom: is Asia Pacific’s leading locally-owned IT service providers with 50 years of experience in technology. Their portfolio has a large number of diverse clientele and solutions. Datacom Being New Zealand’s leading DevOps Company, Datacom’s Devops as a Service is aimed at bringing agility through training, consulting, and implementation by experts in order to improve overall performance. 5000+ Company size: 1965 Founded Year: New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, US and UK Location: IT Management, Cloud services, Custom Software Development Other Services: 8. Tech Mahindra: delivers innovative and customer-centric IT experiences to worldwide enterprises including Fortune 500 companies. Tech Mahindra is the highest ranked Non-U.S. company in the Forbes Global Digital 100 list (2018) and in the Forbes Fab 50 companies in Asia (2018). Tech Mahindra Focusing on velocity and connectivity, their highly-experienced team possesses the expertise to help the large enterprise in successful devops implementation. 100,000+ Company size: 1986 Founded Year: India, USA, and other 50+ countries Location: Enterprise Architecture, Business Process Services, Infrastructure and Cloud Services, Next-Gen Solutions, Integrated Engineering Solutions Other Services: 9. Micro Focus: is one of the largest pure-play software companies focusing on building, selling, and supporting software. From mainframe to mobile to cloud, they help companies maximize ROI through high-quality software solutions. Micro Focus In the spectrum of hybrid IT, they focus on modernizing core business system that can help integrate Enterprise DevOps to build the software at pace. 10,000+ Company Size: 1976 Founded Year: US, UK and India Location: Hybrid IT Management, Security & Governance, Predictive Analytics Other Services: 10. XenonStack: is a software company developing platforms for DevOps, Data Integration, Analysis, and Security. They also offer big data solutions, enterprise application development, and decision science. XenonStack They are one of the top devops consulting services and solutions companies helping enterprises to enable continues delivery pipeline across the platform with a focus on increased efficiency. 50+ Company Size: 2011 Founded Year: India and USA Location: Managed Cloud Services, Application Migration Solutions, Big Data Engineering, IoT Platforms and Solutions, Machine Learning & Artificial Intelligence, Business Intelligence Other Services: While researching, I came across some other leading DevOps outsourcing companies that are worth adding in the list: Other Top DevOps Services Provider Companies: 11. Appnovation: is Vancouver based global digital solution and managed service provider helping many popular brands in driving growth through scalable digital solutions. Appnovation Appnovation’s DevOps consulting services help enterprises improve software quality, automate the processes, adopt the right DevOps culture, and build an agile software release cycle. 200+ Company Size: 2007 Founded Year: Canada, USA, UK, Europe and India Location: Digital Strategy, Development & Engineering, User Experience & Design, Data and Analysis Solutions, Cloud Services, Business Process Management, Mobile Solutions Other Services: 12. Sumo Logic: is among the most powerful machine data analytics services globally having expertise in delivering best-in-class cloud solutions. Sumo Logic They offer a number of apps for accelerating continuous delivery pipeline in any environment to simplify complex processes and challenges. 300+ Company Size: 2010 Founded Year: USA and India Location: Cloud Management, Sumo Logic Apps, Monitoring and Troubleshooting, Cloud SIEM, Cloud Migration Other Services: 13. ECS Digital: , a London based company specializes in offering enterprise solutions to meet the evolving needs of businesses since 2003. Their focus is to leverage Enterprise DevOps and agile testing and help their clients deliver faster and better products. ECS Digital With the years of experience and right skills, they are dedicated to transforming traditional software development methodologies to DevOps pipelines through the adoption of DevOps culture across the organization. 100+ Company Size: 2003 Founded Year: UK and Singapore Location: Enterprise DevOps, Agile Testing, Training Other Services: 14. ANATAS: is a leading IT service consultancy having offices in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. They offer enterprise cloud transformation right from planning, implementation, strategy, and maintenance. They are helping enterprises to adopt enterprise cloud computing to work collaboratively. ANATAS One of the leading DevOps Companies in Australia, ANATAS consultants help companies optimize DevOps and automation processes through dependency management, monitoring, automated testing, and infrastructure automation to build software at pace. 50+ Company Size: 1996 Founded Year: Australia Location: Integration Architecture and Testing, SOA, Testing and Quality Assurance, Cloud-Native Application Development, and Enterprise Architecture Other Services: 15. 8th Light: is a leading custom software development company dedicated to building software from mobile to microservices. 8th Light A premium DevOps provider headquartered in Chicago, aiming to build software at high velocity, 8th Light assists companies in reducing cost and time by streamlining and automating deployments with a DevOps culture. 100+ Company Size: 2006 Founded Year: USA, UK Locations: Blockchain, Mobile Development, Web Development, Consulting, Managed Services Other Services: 16. Aim Consulting: , an Addison Group company, is an industry leader providing technology consulting and solutions delivery. Aim Consulting With years of consulting experience in DevOps, they’re helping organizations to realize DevOps benefits through improved quality, reduced time to market, automation, and modernized software process. 300+ Company Size: 2006 Founded Year: USA Locations: Application Development, Cloud and Operations, Data & Analytics, Digital Experience & Mobile Other Services: 17. Cloud Technology Partners: With a core focus on cloud technologies, , a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company helps clients with designing, building, and implementing IT solutions across industries. CTP As they are the premier USA based cloud service provider, they make the best use of right toolset and people to assess devops maturity and automate processes with the help of DevOps experts. 200+ Company Size: 2009 Founded Year: USA, UK and Europe Locations: Cloud Adoption, Application Migration, IoT, Compliance, Digital Innovation Other Services: 18. Eficode: is a Nordic-based software development company offering design, consulting, developing, and automation engineering through DevOps with a customer-centric mindset. Eficode Eficode is an European DevOps company based in Germany, Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden and Finland, specialized in creating DevOps culture by combining the right tools, operating methods, training, and supportive technologies to build software in an agile and efficient manner. 200+ Company Size: 2005 Founded Year: Europe and Nordic Region Locations: Cloud Service, UX Research, Design, Software Development Other Services: 19. Contino: is a global technical consultancy helping enterprises transforming people, process, and technology to create a modern way of working through DevOps and cloud solutions. Contino One of the premium DevOps Company in London, they help organizations leverage Enterprise DevOps with strategy, automation, and implementation to accomplish agility and efficiency. 250+ Company Size: 2014 Founded Year: USA, UK and Australia Locations: Cloud Platform Build & Migration, Cloud-Native Software Development, Data Platform, and Analytics Other Services: 20. Versent: is a leading technology solution provider in Australia and consults to a number of high profile clients in the finance, telecommunications, media, public sector, and utility industries. Versant They offer the best devops practices to enable faster, a continuous delivery pipeline through a collaborative culture. 200+ Company Size: 2014 Founded Year: Australia and Singapore Locations: Cloud, API, Managed Services, Big Data Solutions, Security Solutions Other Services: I tried to leave no stone unturned in providing you with Top DevOps Consulting and Services Companies. If you feel anything is missing, you can help complete this list via mentioning the names in a comment below!Let us make this post a valuable read! You Can Help!

Top 10 Global DevOps Consulting and Service Providers

If you’re new to the world of IoT, chances are you’ve heard a number of terms and acronyms thrown around and wondered about their differences or whether you should purchase a Raspberry Pi or an ODROID. That main reason I became curious about how interchangeably these boards were being used was because some of the main intro to embedded systems labs at MIT (6.08, 6.111, 6.115) teach , PSoCs, and FPGAs. programming microcontrollers I first started hearing about the different types of boards around 2012, around the time Arduino and Raspberry Pi were becoming popular. I’ve mostly used microcontroller development boards due to their ease of integration into smaller projects (usually small IoT devices won’t require high computing power or peripherals like RAM). Another thing that I didn’t realize at first was that the terms referred to the integrated circuits (ICs), and that a development board had to be built around the IC to make them useable or to interface external components. Microcontroller (MCU) Atmel ATMEGA32U4-AU AVR Microcontroller from Tindie A small computer on a single integrated circuit. They are generally less complicated that SoCs (a SoC can have a microcontroller as one of its components). They contain at least one CPU (processor core), memory (RAM, flash, ROM), and programmable I/O peripherals. They are designed for embedded applications, as opposed to microprocessors used in personal computers or other chips used for more general purpose applications. Many IoT devices that are automatically controlled (using some form of a feedback controls system) use microcontrollers. Their main advantage is that they reduce the size and cost of a similar system using separate microprocessors/memory/input/output devices. They can be used for data collection, sensing, actuating physical devices, and low-energy applications, among other uses. Some common microcontrollers at the Atmel AT89, MSP430 from Texas Instrument, and ESP32/ESP8266. You can usually find development boards that include a microcontroller (such as the Arduino Uno, Intel Galileo, TI Launchpad, or BeagleBone Black), thus removing the necessity of designing a PCB for the microcontroller. Microprocessor Intel Core i7 microprocessor A microprocessor is a device that incorporates the functions of a CPU on a single IC (or a few). It is a clock-driven, register-based digital integrated circuit that accepts binary data as input, processes it according to an instruction set stored in its memory, and provides output. Different instrument sets determine the different architectures of microprocessors (AMD x86 and x86–64, PowerPC, ARM). More common architectures today are generally 32-bit or 64-bit, with some reduced instruction set computing (RISC) microprocessors that — as expected — have reduced instruction sets. There are other devices that are multi-core (Intel Xeon processors, AMD Phenom II). Historically, AMD and Intel are known as the companies with the fastest CPUs with their dual-core and quad-core CPUs. Nowadays, CPUs are almost all implemented on microprocessors, causing the two terms to be practically interchangeable. When comparing the microprocessors in laptops, you generally consider the number of cores, the clock speed, the cache size (like RAM, but the memory is stored on the CPU itself so it’s faster), and other aspects like hyperthreading (running multiple threads simultaneously from a single CPU, which is something you can do nowadays) or dynamically increasing clock speed when the need arises. System on a Chip (SoC) AMD Am286ZX/LX, SoC based on Intel 80286 (from Wikipedia) An integrated circuit with all the components of a computer, including a CPU, memory, I/O ports, and secondary storage. They consume less power and take up less space than a multi-chip design, and are common in embedded systems. Compared to the motherboard-based architecture, the CPU, graphics, hard-disk, USB-connectivity, ROM/RAM, and memory interfaces are all integrated (a motherboard would connect all of the components separately or as expansion cards). SoCs are usually built around a microcontroller, built around a microprocessor (found in mobile phones), designed for a specific application, or designed as a programmable SoC with some reprogrammable aspects, similar to FPGAs. Compared to microcontrollers, SoCs usually have far more pins and more systems integration of different peripherals. Note that system-on-a-chip can refer to many things on the market, and it generally refers to a single chip that does everything that used to take up multiple chips (some still require peripheral such as RAM or flash, so the name may be misleading). Some common ones are the Cypress Semiconductor Programmable System on a Chip (PSoC) and Altera System on a Programmable Chip (SOPC). On that topic, PSoC solely refers to the family of microcontroller-integrated SoCs produced by Cypress Semiconductor, although there are other programmable SoCs that exist. has some useful knowledge on current conventions within SoCs. This StackExchange thread Field-programmable gate array (FPGA) Xilinx Spartan FPGA from Wikipedia An FPGA is an integrated circuit that can be configured by a consumer after manufacture (“field-programmable”). Its configuration is specified using a hardware description language (HDL). They contain programmable logic blocks (like AND and XOR) and a hierarchy of reconfigurable interconnects that “wire together” the blocks. These blocks can also contain memory elements (flip-flops, etc.) The biggest companies for delivering FPGAs include Altera and Xilinx. Compared to microcontrollers, they are faster, parallelizable, and have more design flexibility (trading companies often hire FPGA programmers to program their trading strategies in order to beat out competing firms). They are generally more expensive and more difficult to use, but contain the same ICs, logic components, and programmability. Common FPGAs are the Xilinx Spartan and Virtex Series and the Altera Stratix and Cyclone Series. (More info at ) this StackExchange thread Complex Programmable Logic Device (CPLD) An Altera MAX 7000-series CPLD with 2500 gates from Wikipedia A programmable logic device that’s slightly less complex than an FPGA. It primarily consists of a macrocell with logic expressions and operations. It doesn’t require an external configuration ROM (needed by FPGAs) and has less internal state storage and layered logic than FPGAs. CPLDs have thousands to tens of thousands of logic gates, while FPGAs can have up to several millions. They are primarily manufactured by Altera, Atmel, Cypress Semiconductor, Lattice Semiconductor, or Xilinx, and are programmed in VHDL, Verilog HDL, or Standard Test and Programming Language (JAM/STAPL). Programmable Logic Device (PLD) This is a more generic terms that refers to an electronic component used to build reconfigurable digital circuits — they differ from logic gates, which have a fixed function, as PLDs don’t have functions after being manufactured. Different types of PLDs (in approximate order of complexity from least to most) include the programmable logic array (PLA), programmable array logic (PAL), generic array logic (GAL), complex programmable logic device (CPLD), field-programmable gate array (FPGA), and other variants. Some of the terms used to describe PLDs are trademarked by specific companies (PAL was owned by Monolithic Memories, Inc. (MMI) and currently held by Lattice Semiconductor, for example). Low-complexity devices are programmed in PALASM, ABEL, or CUPL, while higher-complexity devices are programmed in the higher level Verilog and VHDL languages. Digital Signal Processor (DSP) Texas Instruments DSP processor from Analog Devices A specialized microprocessor optimized for digital signal processing. While other microprocessors may have general functionality for executing digital signal processing algorithms, they aren’t usually optimized for continuous processing in real-time. DSPs usually have better power efficiency and are used in mobile phones or devices with power consumption constraints. The algorithms used require a large number of mathematical operations to be quickly performed (FIR filters, Fast Fourier transforms (FFTs), matrix operations). Instruction set architectures commonly used to increase parallelism in DSPs include SIMD, VLIW, and superscalar architecture. Integrated Circuit (IC) Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EPROM) ICs from Wikipedia A set of electronic circuits integrated into one small flat chip of semiconductor material (usually silicon). This results in a chip that is orders of magnitude smaller than a circuit that would have to be built by hand using separate electronic components. These chips are usually mass-produced, and are used in tons of electronics. ICs can be classified into analog, digital, and mixed signal ICs. Digital integrated circuits can contain logic gates, flip-flops, multiplexors, and other circuits, and are usually produced as MCUs, DSPs, or microprocessors. The most advanced ICs are generally microprocessors (“cores”). They can also be classified as logic ICs, memory chips, interface ICs, power management ICs, and programmable devices. Analog ICs can include sensors, power management devices, RF chips, and operational amplifiers (op-amps), which process continuous signals and perform functions such as amplification, active filtering, mixing, and demodulation. They ease the burden on circuit designers by providing an efficiently designed analog circuit that can be difficult to design from scratch. Mixed-signal ICs can create functions such as analog-to-digital converters (ADC) or digital-to-analog converters (DAC), digital potentiometers, as well as clock/timing ICs. Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) Bitfury 55nm ASIC H-Board from Cryto Store An integrated circuit customized for a particular use (as the name implies). For example, some ASICs are designed for digital voice recording or parallel computing. In Bitcoin (or altcoin) mining, ASICs can be designed to solve specific hashing algorithms. Under some definitions, you can consider a GPU an ASIC, such as NVIDIA GPUs, which are meant for graphics computing. They perform better than CPUs in this specific task due to a compact design (less space and material used), power dissipation (battery life), and speed of computation. Usually the discourse between GPUs vs. ASICs is within the altcoin mining community, which usually discusses ASICs in the context of chips designed to solve a specific complex algorithm. Application-specific standard products (ASSPs) are between ASICs and industry-standard circuits. While ASICs combine a collection of functions designed for a single customer, ASSPs are used as off-the-shelf components. Their uses include USB interface chips, controller chips for a PC, and a chip for a modem. Electronic design automation (EDA) A simple PCB designed in EAGLE A category of software tools for designing electronic systems for integrated circuits (ICs) or printed circuit boards (PCBs). The tools create a design flow for chip designers to create entire semiconductor chips with billions of components. Their simulation software includes transistor, logic, behavior, hardware emulation, and field solvers. For design, they usually inplement schematic capture, layout, and logic synthesis. Analysis includes formal verification to prevent deadlock, equivalence checking, static time analysis for worst-case scenarios, physival verification to prevent physical defects and to check for physical manufacturability, and clock domain crossing verification (like linting) to check for issues in clock domains. Major companies producing EDAs are Altium (Altium Designer), Cadence Design Systems (Verilog, OrCAD), Autodesk (EAGLE), National Instruments (Multisim), and WestDev (Pulsonix). There is also KiCAD, an open-source EDA software, as well as many web-based EDA tools, some of which are web-based versions of the aforementioned EDAs. In terms of some of the differentiations between commonly purchased development boards, knowing the difference in the hardware makes purchasing a board a lot easier. If you’re just starting out, you usually don’t care too much about specifics, and you’ll want a board that’s easy to interface with pin-outs that make sense for whatever project you’re building (you’ll also want systems compatibility with whatever peripherals may be relevant to you). ODROID ODROID C-2 from Wikipedia A series of single-board computers capable of running Android and Linux distributions (the name comes from “open” + “Android”). The hardware features a SoC with a ARM CPU and an on-chip GPU. SD cards are used to store the operating system, and the outputs include USB 2.0, USB 3.0, HDMI, and a 3.5 mm jack. There are also lower-level output pins with general-purpose input/output (GPIO) pins supporting common protocols such as I2C. There are also some models with an 8P8C Ethernet port and an eMMC port. Common models are the ODROID-C1, ODROID-C2, and the ODROID-XU4. Raspberry Pi Raspberry Pi Zero from Wikipedia A series of single-board computers developed for the purpose of teaching basic computer science in schools. The models all featured a Broadcom SoC, with an ARM CPU and an on-chip GPU. SD cards are used to store the operating system, and the outputs include USB ports, HDMI ports, a 3.4 mm jack for audio, and lower-level GPIO pins supporting I2C and other protocols. There are also some models with an 8P8C Ethernet port and an eMMC port. Common models are the Model A, Model B, and Zero. Arduino Arduino Uno from Wikipedia An open-source hardware and software company and user community that produces single-board microcontrollers and microcontroller kits. Their hardware contains an Atmel 8-bit AVR microcontroller with flash memor and a single or double row of pins that can connect to add-on modules (“shields”) and can be addressable via a I2C serial bus. Most models are pre-programmed with a boot loader for uploading programs to the on-chip flash memory. Some of the I/O pins can produce pulse-width modulated signals and receive analog inputs. Common boards are the Arduino Pro, Arduino Mega, and Arduino Yun. As it turns out, there isn’t a ton of standardization in terms of how IoT systems are built and maintained — at least not universally. There are certainly standards that have been set over the past few decades with regards to the protocols and operating systems used that are optimized for smaller devices, but there’s enough variability that how you choose to build your system is dependent on what you value — CPU efficiency, memory, cost, etc. As for the devices themselves, there’s a reason why Arduino is so popular — it takes away all of the mess of having to choose a processor and figuring out layouts for a board and figuring out the programming environment and presents everything neatly packaged such that a 9-year-old child can program an Arduino to turn on an LED. Sticking with the familiar environment that Arduino presents removes a lot of headache, but it doesn’t allow you to explore the greater possibilities of integrating devices that aren’t in the Arduino ecosystem — which is very much a possibility. Sites like Digi-Key (and to varying degrees SparkFun, Adafruit, and Tindie) have a huge array of embedded devices and integrated circuits (ICs) far beyond the scope of Arduino. I’d recommend checking out similar sites if you’re working on a larger scope project. If you liked this post and want to hear more about my thoughts on hardware, computer science, or even life as a university student, feel free to follow me or find me elsewhere online! @sharontlin Twitter @sharonlinnyc Facebook @sharon-lin GitHub

FPGAs, SoCs, Microcontrollers— A Quick Rundown of IoT Devices

There’s been a lot of talk about the next “revolutionary” wave in telecom networks starting to roll out, aptly dubbed “ ”, or “5th Generation” of cellular network standards. For those who are already able to stream on their phone with ease, though, this begs the questions — what’s the big deal and why should I care? 5G This article will hopefully clarify what 5G technology actually is and how it’ll affect far more than just our ability to watch cat videos on the train. I’ll cover the basic vocabulary, technological concepts, and discuss how/when it’ll actually be implemented. Let’s start with the basics. What is 5G and why is it any better than the status quo? To understand 5G and its relevance, we first need to examine its predecessors (with each iteration rather uncreatively named 1G, 2G, 3G, 4G) and how it built off of them: Introduced in the 1980s, was the first mode for mass wireless communication, allowing us to make simple calls between mobile phones. The data transfer speed was about 0.01 MB per second. 1G was introduced a decade later in 1991, offering greater security through its use of digital encryption, as opposed to analog signals, and greater speed (3.1 MB per second). It also allowed for regular, text-only SMS messages to be sent. 2G came out in 1998 and made way for the eventual smartphone revolution, offering higher speeds (14.4 MB per second) and bridging mobile devices to the Internet. 3G The current standard, , was released in 2008. The most notable change here was the incredible jump in speed to 300 MB per second, allowing users to engage in activities like high-definition media streaming. 4G/LTE That brings us to 5G. It offers the same fundamental features as its predecessors (SMS messaging, cellular voice calls, and internet connectivity), largely built upon the core of 4G LTE technology. There are four notable changes here, though: bandwidth, which is expected to reach up to 1 GB per second, decreased latency times (less than a millisecond), energy efficiency, and greater capacity. network The relevance of the speed is pretty self-explanatory, but to put that number in perspective, a full 1080p HD movie is typically between 2 GB to 3 GB. For potential applications like self-driving cars (discussed below) which generate up to petabytes (1 million GB) of data at a time, this is a game-changer. Relatedly, the lowering of latency, which is a delay in the actual process of transferring data, is also a pretty big deal. No matter how large the data packets you can transfer at a given moment (bandwidth) are, the speed is rate-limited by the actual rate at which the information gets from point A to B (latency). This is why currently even on high-bandwidth internet, your Netflix app might still pause and load to process more data. Reread this paragraph if you didn’t understand it — latency is going to come up a lot in just a bit! Energy efficiency is relatively straightforward. 5G will consume less power on devices, meaning longer battery lives, and perhaps by extension, less carbon waste from charging devices less often. As for greater network capacity, this is quite possible the most important change of all. With the rapid expansion of the Internet of Things, more and more devices are being designed for use on cellular networks, meaning that we an infrastructural change to accommodate this (and future) demand. need OK, so 5G includes some pretty big technological improvements. I’m still not seeing how this will affect my day-to-day life, though. This is a fair statement, and a sentiment I shared at first as well. The core logic likely underlying such a claim, though, is the fallacy that cellular networks exist primarily to be used by cell phones. While 5G certainly will allow for a much quicker user experience in that regard, there are also several very different technologies it will altogether . Below are brief explanations on some of the most exciting (in my opinion): revolutionize 5G’s low latency (in tandem with powerful edge-computing algorithms) would allow autonomous vehicles to respond quickly to any sudden environmental shifts, while also potentially communicating with nearby vehicles to optimize traffic and route times. To clarify, edge computing essentially designates a significant portion of computational activity to the car itself, rather constantly relaying information back and forth all the way between the car and a remote server (thus placing less burden on the cellular networks). 4G networks even then aren’t able to handle such high-speed, high-volume transfers of information, nor send data with low enough latency to keep passengers safe. Self-driving cars: Virtual reality is the placement of a user (typically with a headset) in a completely simulated, digital world. Augmented reality is the placement of digital constructs on top of a live feed of the real world. In both cases, the user is interacting in real-time with their environment. When this is being done without the need for cellular connection (ex: the landscape for the VR world is downloaded locally, or the AR object layered on the world is pre-configured) that’s not an issue. When the user needs to interact in real-time with the digital environment over a cellular connection, though (ex: Facebook’s virtual reality world), it’s only with the low latency of 5G that there can be a seamless, responsive experience. Virtual and augmented reality: This is essentially real-time, haptic feedback on a machine, is perhaps the most interesting prospect. In surgery, for example, a surgeon could in theory control robotic equipment to perform the surgery with, which allows him/her to make much more precise movements than just the human hand. With tactile internet then, the device they’re using will be able to buzz/move/etc. at certain positions so that the doctor controlling the equipment can feel what the machine “feels”, such as the firmness of a bone or pumping of blood through an artery. This allows them to benefit from the senses of a human, while using the precision of a machine. To be able to simulate what something like over the internet in response to real world events, though, requires a (perceived) instantaneous transfer of information, which only the low-latency of 5G can allow. It’s possible the same technology could even be used for remotely performed surgeries. Tactile internet: feels Here, it’s a general combination of 5G’s core capabilities (high-speed, low latency, larger capacity) that creates the possibility of smart cities. The smart city is basically applying IoT capabilities to every function/service in a city, ranging from the power grid to public transportation. For example, (self-driving) buses could target locations with the highest population density at any given moment (as determined by connected security cameras), eradicating the need for constant, permanent bus stops as the system evolves. Everything connected to the internet is suddenly optimized to interact with the rest of the city. Smart cities: These are just a few example, but as you may have noticed, 5G’s low latency is the key to unlocking quite a few capabilities. It’s crazy to think that these revolutionary technologies, all of which we’ve been discussing for decades, have been limited primarily by data speeds, rather than a product development issue itself. Speaking more broadly, we now have the opportunity to create entire industries that were once stuff of science fiction. The ability to quickly transfer information will rarely again serve as a bottleneck for innovation. Often, we connect to cellular networks when we just don’t have access to WiFi or ethernet. In a world with 5G though, that 5G service becomes the preferred default (speaking from a technological standpoint — pricing/general implementation is a whole different ball game, as discussed below). It sounds like 5G is going to be everywhere. What resources do telecom companies need so that they can offer it? Offering 5G will soon enough be a baseline expectation, meaning that those who can’t keep up will be left behind. As I’ll explain below, though, keeping up isn’t such an easy task. There’s two core resources to discuss here: spectrum and fiber. Spectrum is a collection of all the frequencies (of the electromagnetic spectrum) at which wireless signals can be deployed between a wireless tower and the device being used. It exists in three main forms: unlicensed, licensed, and shared. is pretty straightforward, and it’s what we typically expect. It consists frequencies that anyone can use, like a WiFi connection (in this case, the spectrum is between a device router and a router, rather than a tower). There’s not really a limit on the use here, as its freely available and locally hosted. Unlicensed spectrum , however, isn’t as easy to get ahold of. The government holds a highly competitive auctioning process so that companies (such as AT&T, Verizon, etc.) can own certain frequencies across the country for their cellular networks. Companies bid based on frequencies and locations that they’d like to own, both of which are variables that depend entirely on the specific company’s intentions (different frequencies are optimized for different applications/technologies). It may seem odd that the government is essentially putting the country’s airwaves for sale, but if spectrum wasn’t sold on a per-company basis, multiple companies using the same frequencies in the same area would for all practical purposes destroy the signals being sent. Licensed spectrum allows third-parties that don’t own specific frequencies of spectrum to use the frequencies for their own purposes. Despite the competitive process to get spectrum, there are places at which as little as no purchased spectrum is being used. This allows those with spectrum licenses to generate passive income, while also optimizing the use of resources by creating opportunities for other businesses (who, for example, may be smaller and couldn’t compete in the spectrum bidding war). Shared spectrum The FCC has announced that the 5G spectrum auction begins on November 14, 2018, and we can expect the bids to get astronomically high, as spectrum is generally regarded to be a relatively rare resource. Mobile spectrum alone is estimated to be worth $500 billion. Some believe more spectrum will be made available as the technology to communicate over more frequencies is developed, but at least for now, availability is scarce. The market will only get more competitive in the meanwhile. The other key component telecom companies will need in order to offer 5G is fiber. Fiber is shorthand for fiber-optic technology, which transmits information by sending pulses of light through wires made of optical fiber. It’s essentially wired internet, and it’s incredibly fast (as in, equal to the speed of 5G). This may seem a bit confusing, as I’ve been going on endlessly about the power of 5G as a wireless connectivity service, so requiring fiber optic cables sounds like it’s going against what we’re trying to do with wireless technology. This is actually quite a prominent and dangerous misconception about 5G. It turns out that to reach the speeds that 5G requires, the signals need to be at very high frequencies (meaning that the spectrum companies bid on in a few months are significantly higher frequencies than what we use for technologies like 4G). With a quick flashback to high school physics, you may remember that a higher frequency indicates a shorter wavelength. In this case, it means that 5G signals can only travel up to about 100 meters during the day with absolutely no obstruction (such as the walls of a house), and significantly less with obstruction. As a result, to make 5G a reality, we’re going to need to set up millions of “stations” (which are essentially antennas sending out the 5G signal) all across the country, in places ranging from our neighborhoods to our highway. These stations are built upon fiber optic cable, which can carry the massive volumes of information that we want for hundreds of miles with pretty much no degradation. Because of how easily the signals can be interrupted, we may even end up bringing stations into our houses at some point as well. Essentially, the underground, wired fiber brings all the data to the 5G stations that will be everywhere, and from these stations, the “5G part” happens when the signal is wirelessly transmitted to our device. To clarify, the reason 5G is so fast isn’t just because it’s right next to the stations. The waves themselves can carry far more information than 4G could, and the actual process of transmitting the information doesn’t have nearly as high of a latency. The technology is more powerful (though I concede you could make a valid argument saying the distance constraint actually nullifies this claim), but it also happens to have constraints. It seems like spectrum has been mostly dealt with. What about fiber, though? Doesn’t requiring millions of stations render 5G useless? It’s certainly not useless (or I wouldn’t be writing this much about it). However, it’s definitely not something we’re going to see in mass market applications for a while. In order to actually make 5G accessible to the average consumer, we’re going to first need fiber laid across pretty much the entire country. Right now, it exists primarily just in large cities (and even then, there’s no station present for 5G). Stations can just be added to existing infrastructure like lamp posts, but this effort is still an undertaking will cost up to $150 billion and take around five years, as per a Deloitte estimate. The current situation also means that 5G technologies will first come to urban areas, then suburban, and likely much later, rural as well. While companies, such as AT&T, have already begun preparing 5G networks for deployment, it’s important to remember this isn’t true 5G. As explained by 3GPP, the organization which writes the standards, “5G will remain a marketing & industry term that companies will use as they see fit” until the standards are published (which was only this past December). Case in point: AT&T’s supposed 5G network essentially just leverages 4G LTE technology. How are policymakers preparing us for this future? This has actually become quite a big issue that’s manifested itself several times in the past year alone. 5G is for all intents and purposes an arms race between two countries: the United States and China. That said, given the current situation, most seem to agree that China has pretty much already won. Sure, part of the reason both countries are taking 5G so seriously is because of its direct application to technologies like self-driving cars and their economic implications. What’s really on their mind, though, is artificial intelligence. Once 5G networks are operational, that’s more of data being generated, processed, and transferred. Artificial intelligence algorithms are taught and improved based on data, meaning that they get better when they’re fed more data (so long as its useful data). Whichever country can implement a true 5G network first is essentially going to end up light years ahead of the other in artificial intelligence because of this advantage, which in turn pretty much guarantees geopolitical dominance for eternity (or at least, a really long time). worlds This calls into question how exactly China is currently ahead. The most apparent way is from an infrastructure standpoint. With regards to the millions of local stations that I mentioned need to be created for 5G to be operational, it’s estimated that China has built over 350,000, while the United States has only built about 30,000. Less obvious, but equally important, is the spectrum distribution process. The highly competitive spectrum auctioning process among numerous cellular carriers in the US leaves a dent in the wallets of the participants, meaning their ability to actually invest in technology development after they buy the rights to it is hurt quite badly. In China, on the other hand, there’s only a few major players, all of which are government owned. This means that they can still invest heavily in developing 5G stations across the country after their auctions because it’s ultimately the Chinese government that’s footing the bill. Some have suggested that the US should change their spectrum auction process to basically turn the entire network into a shared spectrum, which is allocated by a non-carrier third party. The Trump administration seems to be quite open to this “nationalized” 5G network concept, though details about how to pay for things like building the stations aren’t known (and there also hasn’t been any talk of cancelling the auction yet). This race is why the Trump administration blocked Broadcom (a Chinese company) from purchasing Qualcomm (a US company), as Qualcomm is generally regarded to be America’s 5G leader alongside Intel. Some policy experts also believe it’s the real reason behind the recent tariffs placed on Chinese imports, with a supposed intention of stunting China’s massive investment in the technology. Overall, the situation isn’t going too well here for America. China’s network is expected to roll out in early 2019, while the timeline in the United States still remains quite unclear. Heavier investment is needed to compete. Alright, so 3,000+ words later, what are the major takeaways here? 5G allows us to develop all sorts of fantastical new technologies, but it’s several years away from being a reality. Geopolitically speaking, it’s crucial to develop a full-fledged 5G network as soon as possible, which is why we need policymakers to take more action in this domain. I’ll conclude with a quote from the World Economic Forum for some final perspective: “Economists estimate the global economic impact of 5G in new goods and services will reach $12 trillion by 2035 as 5G moves mobile technology from connecting people to people and information, towards connecting people to everything.” It may not be here tomorrow, but there’s no doubt about it: 5G is the future. Sources: , , , , , , , , , , , . NBC Wired CNN Deloitte World Economic Forum Cisco 5G.co 1 5G.co 2 Spectrum Futures Network World Axios Forbes

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