A technologist from Sun Microsystems has commented NAND vendors are going down the wrong path by racing each other in process technology--at the expense of customer needs. He was also critical of SSDs for servers, saying the emerging technology is still too expensive.

China-based foundry Grace Semiconductor Manufacturing has announced the successful development of its 0.13-micron embedded flash process.

Intel said it had issued updated firmware for the Intel X25-M consumer SSDs that resolves the password bug. The firmware is available on Intel's Web site.

India expects one trillion rupees (US$21 billion) of investments over a five-year period ending March 2012 for renewable-power generation, according to the chairman of Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency.

Demand for semiconductor equipment is showing signs of a return, but it remains too early to say that a broad-based recovery is at hand, said Applied Materials CEO Mike Splinter.

China's exports and new loans tumbled in July and industrial output rose less than estimates, underscoring government concern that the economy is yet to establish a solid recovery.

Singapore revised slightly higher its economic growth in the second quarter, but warned US consumption must pick up to sustain the recovery.

Back-end production capacity will be reduced at a plant in Mie Prefecture, Toshiba's main NAND flash memory production site, and shifted to a subsidiary in Thailand. Some procedures will also be outsourced to a foundry in Taiwan.

Typhoon Morakot pounded Taiwan over the weekend with powerful winds and torrential rain. The number of people listed as missing and feared dead went up from eight to 29, the government's National Fire Agency said. The typhoon has caused at least NT$832 million (US$26 million) in agricultural damage.

Elpida Memory and Numonyx have delayed their scheduled foundry ramp by six months or so.

Despite a rebound in business, Applied Materials is set for more layoffs and cost-cutting, according to an analyst.

Infineon Technologies and Golden Gate Capital have announced that Infineon's wireline communications division will become Lantiq after the closing of the recently announced transaction.

China will maintain its current macroeconomic policy stance aimed at bolstering domestic spending as the nation continues to experience fallout from the global recession, Premier Wen Jiabao said.