# An interview with Alvaro and Jen from the URE Podcast

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2017-10-15
- Length: 1h 08m
- Episode: 363
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2017-10-15-an-interview-with-alvaro-and-jen-from-the-ure-podcast
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/363-an-interview-with-alvaro-and-jen-from-the-ure-podcast/

## Summary

Alvaro Prieto and Jen, hosts of the Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast, discuss their backgrounds in firmware engineering at companies like Apple, Amazon, and Planet. They contrast the high-volume, rapid-cycle nature of consumer electronics with the flexible timelines of industrial hardware, highlighting challenges like silicon errata, OTA update strategies, and the difficulty of finding competent firmware engineers. The conversation covers reverse engineering techniques, including protocol analysis and firmware dumping, inspired by creators like Micah Elizabeth Scott and Dimitri Greenberg.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2017-10-15-an-interview-with-alvaro-and-jen-from-the-ure-podcast#t=0) Introduction: Alvaro Prieto and Jen from Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast
- [1:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2017-10-15-an-interview-with-alvaro-and-jen-from-the-ure-podcast#t=100) Backgrounds: Firmware work at Apple, Amazon, and Planet
- [5:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2017-10-15-an-interview-with-alvaro-and-jen-from-the-ure-podcast#t=349) Consumer vs. Industrial: Development cycles and volume economics
- [13:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2017-10-15-an-interview-with-alvaro-and-jen-from-the-ure-podcast#t=811) Firmware Constraints: Processor selection, testing, and manufacturing
- [22:59](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2017-10-15-an-interview-with-alvaro-and-jen-from-the-ure-podcast#t=1379) OTA Updates and Iterative Development: Bootloaders and lazy testing
- [32:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2017-10-15-an-interview-with-alvaro-and-jen-from-the-ure-podcast#t=1972) Silicon Risks: Early access parts, errata, and high-volume testing
- [41:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2017-10-15-an-interview-with-alvaro-and-jen-from-the-ure-podcast#t=2463) Manufacturing: Contract manufacturers, China vs. US, and scaling
- [56:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2017-10-15-an-interview-with-alvaro-and-jen-from-the-ure-podcast#t=3374) Reverse Engineering: Protocols, firmware dumps, and community
- [1:05:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2017-10-15-an-interview-with-alvaro-and-jen-from-the-ure-podcast#t=3944) Conclusion: Podcast details and career advice

## Topics

- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)
- [Connected products & IoT](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/connected-products-and-iot)
- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises

## Mentioned

- Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast (other)
- Apple (company)
- Amazon (company)
- Planet (company)
- Micah Elizabeth Scott (other)
- Dimitri Greenberg (other)
- John McMaster (other)
- PC104 (other)
- ORCAD (tool)
- Mentor Graphics (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [001 - Success!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2017-08-15-001-success) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)
- [073 - REPP.show](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2025-02-01-073-repp-show) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)
- [130: Criminal Training Camp (Repeat)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2018-05-25-130-criminal-training-camp-repeat) (Embedded.fm)
- [037 - 2020 Survey Results](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2020-08-04-037-2020-survey-results) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)
- [399: Hey, What's Going On?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2022-01-21-399-hey-whats-going-on) (Embedded.fm)

## Citing this page

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