Microsoft acquires LinkedIn

Besides the implications for CRM and a single identity for workers best covered by Ben Thompson and James Allworth (see links below); there are also important ways in which this acquisition will also be valuable for ERP (enterprise resource planning) in Microsoft Dynamics, and inter-/intra-corporate collaboration, whether via Yammer or other applications. This could also be significant if service applications can be built upon Dynamics (CRM + ERP) and LinkedIn like what we are doing at HWTrek to bridge collaboration and visibility from the entire supply chain from downstream suppliers to manufacturers to hardware developers/companies to retail. Understanding changes in personnel and positions are equally important in navigating and managing the supply chain. One insight we gained is seeing that personnel changes in the supply chain can impact the schedule of hardware manufacturing just as the availability of a component. Also, as employees move from one company to another, it provides another channel for platform evangelism and adoption.

More fun stuff from Microsoft:

  • Satya Nadella: The Partnership of the Future: Microsoft’s CEO explores how humans and A.I. can work together to solve society’s greatest challenges. — Slate
  • …and Minecraft will be headed to China! Sam Machkovech: Microsoft has finally found a legal path to publishing Minecraft on Chinese PCs — Ars Technica

4.0

This week on the HWTrek blog, we’ve talked about 4.0s in Industry, Supply Chain, and Supply Chain Service:

Here’s some more on the topic that we think you might like:

IoT

  • Junko Yoshida: How do you manage and remotely monitor millions, or even billions, of deployed IoT devices? EE Times
  • Tastier Tomatoes? Tomatoes + MEMS + sensors + internet = Internet of Tomatoes. MIT Technology Review
  • Ben Dickson: Decentralizing IoT networks through blockchain. TechCrunch
  • Jeff Kerns: Can New Technology Provide an Infrastructure-Free IIoT? Machine Design
  • Hitachi, Mitsubishi Electric, and Intel Jointly Propose IoT Testbed for the Manufacturing Industry at IIC, and Obtain Approval. Press release

Videos – Shenzhen

Wired just completed a series of short video documentaries about the electronics manufacturing ecosystem of Shenzhen, check them out here:

  • Episode 1: Exploring the Shenzhen ecosystem: The Silicon Valley of hardware
  • Episode 2: The maker movement has been appropriated by Shenzhen’s frenetic manufacturing industry. How does Shenzhen see open source hardware?
  • Episode 3: Evolution of “shanzhai” – or copycat manufacturing – in Shenzhen has created an ecosystem that could transform traditional models of business, distribution and innovation. 
  • Episode 4: Government control & gentrification are changing Shenzhen—can the “Shanzhai” supply chain survive & be taken global?

Podcasts

We love listening to podcasts, here are a few recent episodes that we recommend:

  • Karaoke nightmares, new Bluetooth specifications, Apple HomeKit/Home app, and more, this week on the IoT Podcast with guest Matt Turck talking VC views on IoT
  • IoT Hardware security—semi & fully invasive chip level attacks—and more on the The Amp Hour Electronics Podcast with guest Dmitry Nedospasov

HWTrek Expert Community

Check out some members of the expert community on the HWTrek platform below. Have a great weekend!

T&F Manufacturing is engaged in high-end product manufacturing focusing on smart wearables. Their factory provides automated assembly, mold making, injection molding, leather manufacturing, and SMT as well as OEM/ODM services. Check out their line of smart watches here.

TF

SOC Processor for IOT solution is offered by the Ingenic Semiconductor, a fabless technology company, designing CPUs for mobile and consumer System-on-Chip (SoC) solutions. They offer an array of powerful devices for IoT development, see them here.

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NexPCB, is an EMS provider of affordable, premium-quality PCBs. NexPCB tailor their services to small to mid-sized companies, especially hardware startups that wish to lower their overall costs, but maintain supreme quality.

nexpcb

HLH Prototypes offer a massive range of product development, prototyping and manufacturing services from their own ISO:9001 accredited modern facilities located in Shenzhen, China. Among their solutions are: Low volume Injection Molding, Plastic Injection Molding, Composite Materials Tooling and Parts, Prototyping and CNC Machining.

HLH

Golden Tiger Precision is an expert of mechanical components manufacturing. They create high precision, high complexity and high quality ME solutions in a very short time frame.
Golden Tiger Precision