No Tech Day is a time to set aside the luxury gadgets for 24 hours "to raise awareness of how much we all rely on and use gadgets in our everyday life, and think what life is like for people in the developing world who do not have the same access to technology and energy."

Smart Modular Technologies has reported a profit for the fiscal second quarter as improved customer demand and higher pricing lifted revenues by nearly half.

NXP, the Dutch chipmaker bought by KKR & Co. four years ago, plans to raise at least US$1 billion to cut debt in a deal that would be this year's largest initial public offering, two people with knowledge of the matter said.

OmniVision Technologies has completed the acquisition of Aurora Systems, which makes components for digital projectors ranging from handheld ones to home theater systems.

Taiwan's central bank has said its easy monetary policy is over after it left key rates unchanged for the fifth consecutive quarter to support the island's still-fragile economic recovery.

China has overtaken the US for the first time in the race to invest in wind, solar and other sources of clean energy.

Qualcomm has updated its financial guidance for the second fiscal quarter ending March 28, 2010. Revenues are estimated at US$2.55-2.65 billion compared to its prior guidance range of US$2.40-2.60 billion. Diluted EPS is now expected to be US$0.56-0.58 compared to its prior guidance range of US$0.49-0.53.

In recent years, many top universities in Taiwan have seen lecturers leave for China, attracted by the vibrant development there and more attractive packages. And Hong Kong universities are eyeing not just Taiwanese students, but also lecturers.

Mobile analytics firm Flurry has attempted to measure Apple's influence on the portable gaming market, and its analysis concludes that iPhone games now account for about one-fifth of all revenues for portable game software in the US.

Flextronics has entered into an agreement to produce solar modules for Q-Cells. Flextronics said the deal positions it as the leading EMS player in the clean tech market.

Samsung Electronics expects global smartphone sales to double to 393 million units by 2013, according to the head of the company's mobile communications business.

Hwang Chang-gyu, former president of Samsung Electronics, was named to a government committee to oversee national research and development projects, officials said yesterday.

China Unicom doesn't use Google search boxes on its phones and only works with companies that abide by Chinese law, according to Lu Yimin, president of the telecom company.

Taiwan's high court has warned the former head of United Microelectronics Corp. he risks being arrested after shouting at the judges and walking out of his trial for illegal investment.

IDC analysts have said the global chip industry will grow in 2010 but offered one of the least optimistic industry revenue forecasts so far this year, saying the global recession remains a problem.

The largest semiconductor companies will need to shoulder much of the burden for the expensive R&D projects facing the chip industry, including the development of 450mm equipment and the inspection tools needed for EUV masks, said Dan Armbrust, the new CEO at Sematech.

Japan's exports in February jumped 45.3% from a year earlier, fueled by robust global demand for cars and electronics, according to the finance ministry.