140: Physics Is the Same Everywhere

Embedded.fm · 25 Feb 2016 · 1h 17m

What this episode covers

Andrew 'Bunnie' Huang, creator of the Novena open source laptop and author of Hacking the Xbox, discusses his new book, The Essential Guide to Electronics in Shenzhen, which he funded via Crowd Supply. He explains the cultural and economic differences between prototyping in China versus the US, noting that Chinese factories use manual assembly with higher defect rates but lower upfront costs. Huang also reflects on the value of open hardware for privacy, the challenges of self-publishing physical books with unique features, and his desire to use his engineering skills to help society.

Mentioned

Companies
Crowd Supply, No Starch Press, Digi-Key, Apple
Products
Novena, Hacking the Xbox
Tools
Google Translate

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 00m

    Cultural Differences

    Hosts Dave Jones and Chris Gammell discuss cultural differences between the US and Australia, touching on manufacturing costs, shipping, and local politics. They critique an IEEE Spectrum e-reader review, discuss the HP CEO scandal, and explore the rise of open-source hardware companies like MakerBot and DIY Drones. The conversation also covers the importance of learning basic discrete electronics for troubleshooting and the impact of 3D printing on manufacturing.

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 06m

    Ludibrious Luxating Layout

    Hosts Chris Gammell and Dave Jones discuss the impact of Chinese New Year on electronics supply chains, with Jones detailing his switch to local PCB manufacturer Circuit Labs in New Zealand for faster turnaround. They explore the economics of local vs. overseas manufacturing, the rise of low-cost smartphones and webcams, and the challenges of open-source hardware projects like Open Source Ecology. The conversation also covers new Wi-Fi modules from Texas Instruments, the discontinuation of Leslie Green's analog design book, and the enduring legacy of Jim Williams' application notes.

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 16m

    Monster Scale Production

    Hosts Chris Gammell and Dave Jones discuss Gammell's new pro bono engineering initiative, the extreme low costs of components in Shenzhen's markets, and the massive scale of Boeing's 737 production lines. They analyze the security vulnerabilities of IoT devices, the rapid copying of Kickstarter products by Chinese manufacturers, and the VC funding logic behind the failed UBEAM juicer startup.

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 10m

    A 2013 Recap - Year-end Yarn Yakking

    Hosts Chris Gammell of Contextual Electronics and Dave Jones of EEVblog discuss a wide range of hardware engineering topics, including the complexities of part numbering, version control in production, and the challenges of sourcing obsolete components. Jones details his experience with a Kickstarter campaign for his Microcurrent device, highlighting the impact of currency exchange rates on unit economics and the decision to manufacture locally in Australia. The conversation also covers the technical limitations of a new 10 GHz USB sampling oscilloscope, the decline of the hobbyist kit market due to cheap contract manufacturing, and the value of lab notebooks for patent defense.

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 07m

    Jersey Jeff Jactitation

    Dave Jones from EEVblog and Chris Gammell discuss recent travels, including Jones's visit to the Thomas Edison National Historical Park and surplus electronics shops in Los Angeles. They analyze the economic realities of manufacturing, specifically challenging the feasibility of bringing production back to the US and the volume pricing myths surrounding the Raspberry Pi. The episode also covers the Ninja Blocks Kickstarter project, TI's new web-based MSP430 compiler, and the continued availability of the 6502 processor.

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by Embedded.fm. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.