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Cover StoryIn a number of advanced semiconductor fields, including microprocessors, NAND Flash memory and dynamic random access memory (DRAM), the difference in competitiveness between the industry leader and rest of the pack is growing. As the global financial crisis leads to shrinking demand and surging capital loads, competition based on corporate resources is intensifying.
International CES is held every year, showcasing all the latest trends in electronic equipment. This year, reflecting the economic situation, the number of attendees had dropped by about 20% to about 110,000. Even so, the show still gave a taste of the development lab for cutting-edge electronics, and was far more active than many had been expecting.