Asianometry

Discover the fascinating history of Visa's dominance in the debit card market. Starting from their rocky beginnings in the 1970s, they turned adversity into opportunity during the 1980s. Learn about the strategic moves that cemented Visa's grip on 60-75% of debit transactions in the U.S. The discussion delves into competition, technological advancements, and the rise of signature debit transactions, unveiling the ongoing challenges and antitrust concerns shaping this critical payment landscape.

Dive into the fascinating world of Directed Self-Assembly (DSA) in semiconductor manufacturing. Discover how it complements traditional photolithography and its potential to revolutionize production by reducing costs. Learn about its history, mechanisms, and the hurdles it faces in adoption. The ability of DSA to 'heal' errors in EUV lithography could change the game for high-volume manufacturing. This innovative approach promises efficiency and precision in crafting the next generation of chips.

Discover the bizarre world of China’s bandit phones, featuring extraordinary designs like Olympics-branded and cigarette pack models. Learn how a university student pioneered a company that thrived amidst relaxed regulations. Explore the innovative Shanzhai phones that combined creativity with imitation, catering to unique user needs. Unravel the contrasting paths of Byrd and K-Touch in a fiercely competitive market, and witness the rise and fall of an entire industry as larger corporations took over.

Saudi Arabia’s ambitious wheat self-sufficiency program, launched in the 1980s, aimed to curb food imports but led to unforeseen consequences. The country pumped more groundwater than oil, jeopardizing its water resources. As the population grew, the sustainability of this policy became increasingly questionable. The podcast explores the critical challenges of water scarcity, the reliance on fossil aquifers, and the environmental impacts of vast agricultural investments. It also highlights ongoing efforts toward more sustainable practices amid dwindling supplies.

The Boeing 787 is a marvel of modern engineering, showcasing innovative design amidst a digitized world. This aircraft utilizes advanced composite materials to achieve impressive efficiency and aerodynamic performance. The podcast dives deep into how these materials revolutionized wing design, significantly reducing weight. It also highlights the challenges and triumphs of integrating computational methods like Computational Fluid Dynamics to optimize the aircraft. An exploration of how cutting-edge technology redefines the future of aviation!

AT&T aimed to dominate the computer market in the 1980s by leveraging UNIX technology. They introduced the WE32000 CPU and the Unix PC, hoping to challenge IBM's reign. However, the venture quickly stumbled due to competition and a less-than-stellar graphical user interface. Despite its multitasking capabilities, the Unix PC couldn't compete with faster rivals like the Macintosh. Ultimately, AT&T's ambitious leap into personal computing ended in disappointment, underscoring the lessons learned in the unforgiving tech landscape.

Dive into the fascinating world of computer cooling technologies! Discover how heat management has evolved from the early days of vacuum tubes to the sophisticated liquid cooling solutions we have today. Learn about groundbreaking methods like immersion cooling used in supercomputers and how recent advancements tackle the heat generated by AI accelerators. Explore the challenges tied to these innovations and the interplay between technological progress and cooling efficiency.

In the early 2000s, the Japanese press referred to Sony, Sanyo and Sharp as the 3S. Sanyo has this fascinating history. A ubiquitous Japanese electronics brand I saw all the time growing up. The company rode a wave of economic growth and globalization. But like other Japanese companies of this first generation, they failed to adapt. In today's video, the life and times of Sanyo. Get all episodes of Asianometry, Sharp Tech, Sharp China, Stratechery Updates and Interviews, Greatest of All Talk, and Dithering as part of Stratechery Plus for $15/month or $150/year. Listen to Stratechery. Listen to Dithering. Listen to Sharp China. Listen to Sharp Tech. Listen to Greatest Of All Talk.

In June 2025, Nippon Steel acquired US Steel, with the US government retaining a "Golden Share". Nippon Steel first announced the $14.9 billion acquisition back in December 2023. And the Japanese steel giant has pursued the deal despite competing American bids, union disapproval, and seemingly insurmountable political opposition. US Steel was once the world's biggest steel company and remains America's third largest steelmaker. They now face considerable challenges. Nippon Steel was also once the world's largest steel company. And they now face substantial challenges. The two are now together. In this video, Nippon Steel's historic acquisition of US Steel. Get all episodes of Asianometry, Sharp Tech, Sharp China, Stratechery Updates and Interviews, Greatest of All Talk, and Dithering as part of Stratechery Plus for $15/month or $150/year. Listen to Stratechery. Listen to Dithering. Listen to Sharp China. Listen to Sharp Tech. Listen to Greatest Of All Talk.

Unlike other state-owned oil giants like Saudi Arabia's Saudi Aramco or Norway's Equinor...Brazil’s Petrobras was founded without meaningful oil reserves. Bit strange isn't it? But for decades, Brazilians believed that their country had oil. And they persisted in that belief despite words and data saying otherwise. And their faith was rewarded! Turns out there was oil in Brazil. It just wasn't on land. In this video, how Brazil learned to drill its deepwater oil. Get all episodes of Asianometry, Sharp Tech, Sharp China, Stratechery Updates and Interviews, Greatest of All Talk, and Dithering as part of Stratechery Plus for $15/month or $150/year. Listen to Stratechery. Listen to Dithering. Listen to Sharp China. Listen to Sharp Tech. Listen to Greatest Of All Talk.