One of the Russian government’s most elite hacking groups has adopted an attack, known as Clickfix, to compromise devices belonging to sensitive organizations in Ukraine, the latter country’s CERT center is warning.
Clickfix has emerged as an effective attack technique that attackers, primarily financially motivated criminals, began using in the last year or so. Websites under the control of the attackers display a CAPTCHA that requires the visitor to copy a jumble of text and paste it into the terminal. The text contains scripts that, once entered, perform malicious actions, typically by installing malware or exfiltrating sensitive data. Ukraine’s CERT said Wednesday that Sandworm, an advanced hacking unit inside the GRU, Russia’s military intelligence arm, is now using the technique.
“GhettoVibe,” “ScoutCurl,” and many more
The Clickfix attacks began in the spring and have continued through the summer. The campaign has resulted in the network compromise of at least one organization when a connected device was found to be infected by FreakyPoll, the name of one of Sandworm’s custom malware packages. Ukrainian authorities discovered 10 compromised websites that displayed a PowerShell command as part of a fake CAPTCHA that said it had to be passed to ensure a real human was behind the visiting device’s keyboard.
Once the user entered the script, it could install malicious Visual Basic scripts and other malicious wares that went on to install a variety of Sandworm malware. Typically, the first malware to run was a reconnaissance program that gathered information from the infected device. Machines deemed important would then receive follow-on malware that backdoored the system.
“The command, as an example, could be intended to load and save a VBS file in the Startup directory,” a translated version of Tuesday’s advisory stated. “One of the variants of such a program was called GHETTOVIBE. At the next stage, in order to determine the importance of the cyberattack object, the SCOUTCURL software tool can be loaded onto the attacked computer, which is a PowerShell script that performs basic reconnaissance by collecting and exfiltrating information about the computer: basic characteristics, programs, files, Internet browser data, etc.”
Released back in 2018, Crashphalt is a free and eccentric multiplayer game in which players do ground-pounds to send out seismic ripples, striving to punt each other off-screen. It’s got an “overwhelmingly positive” Steam user review reception, as of writing, but that’s not entirely a judgement on its quality. You see, Crashphalt is a hit today partly because you need it to run an online multiplayer mod for Toby Fox’s wonderful RPG Undertale.
Of Crashphalt’s 555 currently existing user reviews, the vast majority were written over five years after release, and either totally disregard or cruelly dunk on Crashphalt. An example: “10/10 Funny Undertale game, will never play this.”
Scraped together mid-escape, this motley crew consists of the Iron Bucket Knight, the Explosive Cutie, the One-Eyed Codger, the Money Whiz, and a mysterious nun picked up by the roadside… Every single one of them is deathly afraid of kicking the bucket, yet they have no choice but to grab their guns and face the fight head-on! Dinoblade
Your mission is to flee the island within 12 hours. But as you reach the coastline,a despair-inducing Storm Wall blocks your path. As the monsters multiply, a dark conspiracy slowly begins to unravel…
Fancy weapons, special Weapon Parts, Relic fusion, Tarot Cards, elemental effects, random events… Every pickup is another experiment in weapon customization.
Stack up Projectiles and become a “Fireworks Master”, or pour everything into a single shot and melt an entire health bar—your weapons, your rules. Mix and match them to create Transmutation chains, endless Ultimates, looping triggers, exponential damage scaling, and more. Every time your build comes together, it turns into a wildly satisfying run you will not want to put down.
As you venture deeper, [Character Talents] and [Team Talents] will help you grow ever stronger. Higher difficulties bring tougher enemies—and better drop rates. They also unlock the unique [Chaos Battle Scar] mode, where every Battle Scar comes with both a boon and a curse. High risk, high reward.
Screenshots
SystemRequirements
Minimum
OS: Windows 10
Processor: Intel I5-12600KF
Memory: 4 GB RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 1060
Support the game developers by purchasing the game on Steam
InstallationGuide
TurnOff Your Antivirus Before Installing Any Game
1 :: Download Game 2 :: Extract Game 3 :: Launch The Game 4 :: Have Fun 🙂
Flip between 2D and 3D perspectives, discover hidden paths, solve puzzles and more.
The story behind the design, inspiration and challenges leading to launch.
We’ve all experienced a time when we’re surrounded by people yet feel completely out of place. That’s the exact feeling Dodo Duckie starts from: a duckling raised among chickens, convinced something is wrong with him because he just can’t fit in.
A few years ago, we were an unproven team pitching a massive, overly ambitious game to publishers. Getting backing for a project of that scale is incredibly difficult in India’s indie scene, and the passes we got back eventually forced a practical question: What can we actually build and see through to the end completely on our own?
The answer turned out to be a duck.
I’m Samhith, the creative director at BornMonkie, a small indie studio in India that I run alongside my sister and producer, Samveda. This is the story behind our debut puzzle platformer, Dodo Duckie – now available on Xbox Series X|S and PC.
Even though Dodo’s search for belonging comes from a deeply personal place for us, we wanted his adventure to feel like a warm hug. It’s a bright, cozy world where his clumsy attempts to fit in are played for laughs, turning a heavy theme into a light-hearted journey about playful discovery.
Quacking the Code
Back in the day, many of the studios we look up to started their journeys with iconic mascot platformers. Looking back, we realized we had accidentally followed in their exact footsteps with Dodo Duckie.
We built our first prototype back in 2019, but as a busy service studio, the game became a long-term labor of love. For years, we chipped away at it on and off between client jobs and a million other prototypes. Early on, we made a radical design decision: remove the jump mechanic entirely from a 3D space.
We initially assumed this unique switching mechanic would be our main hook. But as players tested the game, they showed us something else: they were falling for DodoDuckie before they even understood the puzzles. That feedback changed how we looked at our own game. We realized Dodo’s personality was the front door, and our puzzle design was the reason to stay once you walked through. Juggling service work meant it took until 2025 to fully realize this vision, but we’ve finally built a home we can’t wait for players to enter.
Getting Dodo Just Right
Getting the game to actually look right was a massive hurdle, we spent two to three months iterating on prototypes we just weren’t happy with. The turning point came when our Art director, Vincent Boichut, joined the team and diagnosed the real problem. Because we were balancing tight resources, we only had the budget to build a single set of assets that had to work perfectly across two perspectives. Everything had to be read clearly, whether players saw it head-on in 3D or flattened into 2D.
That restraint became our superpower. It’s the real reason the world leans toward clean shapes, rounded edges, and vibrant colors. What looks like a purely stylistic choice was actually born out of a need for perfect readability, though we’re thrilled it happens to be extremely cute, too.
Finding Our Wings
Underneath the puzzles is a story we care about deeply. Dodo grows up among chickens, trying desperately to fit in before learning that his differences are exactly what make him special. It’s a struggle our team knows intimately. Growing up in India’s highly competitive culture, pursuing a creative career in game development meant fighting against strict expectations and risking isolation just to do what we love. Dodo’s journey is ours.
Because of that, we chose to tell his story without heavy dialogue, leaning instead on animation, physical comedy, and character expression. We wanted the emotional beats to feel like a Pixar short, landing purely through what you see, making Dodo’s story universal no matter what language you speak.
Our journey has finally come to life. Dodo Duckie is now available on Xbox Series X|S and PC!
If there’s one thing we hope players take away from our little bird’s story, it’s this: a leap doesn’t have to look graceful to count.
Sometimes it just has to happen.
Dodo Duckie
BornMonkie
☆☆☆☆☆ 1
★★★★★
$11.99
You’re a DUCK! with one special cap that gives you the power to switch between 2D and 3D. Use it to explore, switch perspectives, solve puzzles and save your chicken friends.
There’s been a change to NASA’s launch of six satellites for solar storms research. Space.com reports that those satellites “were originally slated to lift off on a United Launch Alliance Vulcan Centaur rocket but have now been assigned a SpaceX Falcon Heavy, according to a NASA mission update.”
[NASA’s Sun Radio Interferometer Space Experiment mision — or SunRISE] will fly to space as part of a rideshare mission sponsored by the U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command. Though it’s not stated specifically in the NASA release, that may be a hint as to why the mission’s rocket was changed. On its most recent launch [U.S. Space Force mission USSF-87], Vulcan experienced an anomaly in one of its solid rocket boosters — the second such incident to occur during the rocket’s four launches to date. Vulcan succeeded in delivering the USSF-87 payload to its designated orbit on that launch, but the recurrence of the booster issue during ascent prompted the Space Force to pause national security launches on Vulcan until it could be addressed. Which mission SunRISE will be manifested on has not yet been released, but Space Force’s Space Systems Command [SSC] has already shifted other launches between Vulcan and SpaceX’s Falcon 9…
Falcon Heavy is SpaceX’s heavy-lift launch vehicle… that consists of three modified Falcon 9 first stages, and has launched 12 times since it debuted in 2018. Four of those have delivered national security payloads to orbit, with the most recent of those, USSF-52, launching in December 2023. Falcon Heavy’s most recent flight overall occurred this past April, when it sent the Viasat-3 F3 telecom satellite to orbit. Falcon Heavy’s next mission will lift off with NASA’s Nancy Roman Space Telescope, currently set for no earlier than Aug. 30. SunRISE is scheduled to launch later this year…
Sientists will use data collected by the satellites “to improve prediction models for impending space weather, which in turn could lead to mitigation plans to better thwart the effects of such solar events on orbital infrastructure.”
Thanks to long-time Slashdot reader schwit1 for sharing the article.
New Blood’s comic book golden age noir detective immersive sim shooter, Fallen Aces, just got a beefy new update: Its second episode, Shadow of Death, is playable right now, while the usually $15 game is on sale for $12 until August 8.
Fallen Aces – Episode 2: Shadow of Death – OUT NOW – YouTube
I’m kind of allergic to playing games in early access, so I haven’t touched Fallen Aces since I fell in love with its first few levels back in 2024. Those levels were fun, the stealth tense, the combat beautifully slapstick, and the pulpy story engaging. But I mean it as a compliment when I say that the Episode 2 trailer shows a practically unrecognizable game.
It’s got car chases, sprawling city environments, medieval broadswords, and I lost track of how many new guns. Shout out to the cartoony Mateba Model 6 Unica in there, a.k.a the cyberpunk detective gun. The more games that sport this beautiful Italian oddity, the better.
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New Blood’s entire main lineup of the 2020s has been slow to cook, but the three games have justified that time with ambitious increases of scope. Ultrakill’s recent layer of Fraud looks like its most striking and unique yet, while Gloomwood’s development updates with monster serums, armored pig constables, nonlethal takedowns, and Rat Mode give me a “how did we even get here” feeling like looking at my phone and seeing an Uber driver in the ocean or something. In a good way.
New Blood likes to start its games cheap and raise the price as value is added in early access, so it’s long been curtains for Fallen Aces’ launch price of $10. 15 bucks is hardly shabby, though, and you can take advantage of that nice compromise $12 sale for the next two weeks on Steam.
Keep up to date with the most important stories and the best deals, as picked by the PC Gamer team.
The shift from an idea to a physical product is not as easy as one thinks. It requires a critical and meticulous process. Any hardware company sees this as a high-stakes journey that should be taken seriously. Detailed engineering is important, especially when creating PCB layouts, to ensure everything functions correctly. Since detailed technical expertise is required, most startups opt to collaborate with experienced PCB professionals. Cad Crowd is a reliable platform that helps businesses work with professionals specializing in PCB design to turn a concept into a production-ready unit.
1. The critical role of shop drawings
In product development, shop drawing services serve as the instruction manual for fabrication. Concept sketches and general drawings would just reflect the overall idea of the project. It shows how it looks in real life. But it is the shop drawings that contain the detailed information on how it will be built or constructed. In shop drawings, it contains the methods, materials, finishes, and every bit of detail. It shows a technical guide, comprehensive enough for the fabricators to assemble it. It is important that the shop drawings are accurate and detailed to avoid costly reworks and ensure they will be functionally aligned with design intent. An expert
2. Differentiating schematics from shop drawings
In the production of a prototype, schematic and shop drawings are equally important. But they each serve different purposes and functions. A schematic technical diagram shows the electrical logic of the unit. It consists of how the electrical components are connected and how the current flows in the circuit. On the other hand, shop drawings show how each element is connected to the others. It’s more about the physical build and placement of the components inside the device. Here, dimensions, spacing and mounting are important to be accurate so that the manufacturers don’t have to guess or assume how it fits together.
A production failure does not necessarily mean the idea is weak; it could be due to manufacturing errors. This happens when the production experiences challenges and struggles that look small but are actually critical. Development issues include inaccurate measurements, poorly designed PCB traces, screws not compatible with the holes, and some other misalignments. To avoid this, it is important that there’s technical documentation from an experienced PCB layout designer to ensure every detail is defined. The instructions should be clear enough to be understood correctly, and there should be a set tolerance. Detailing this helps in reducing the risk of costly errors and improves chances of production success.
4. PCB design as the product foundation
For every electronic product, the Printed Circuit Board (PCB) is one of its core parts. It acts as the main body or system that allows the parts to operate and function together. When the PCB is well-designed, it ensures stability in its performance and efficient power distribution. This makes it safe to use when working or in operation. It is important that the PCB design is professionally done since every small error is critical and may affect the reliability of the product. It could lead to system crashes, overheating, or shortened product lifespan. This is why investing in high-quality PCB design is a sound and smart choice to ensure production success and secure future mass production.
5. Bridging the gap with PCB design firms
There is a drastic and dramatic difference in working with PCB design firms. Since they have access to experienced and professional engineers, it becomes easier to handle technical knowledge. Having them on board transforms even complex and rough prototypes into organized and reliable PCD designs. PCB design firms have a deeper understanding of how to balance product performance with manufacturing efficiency. This way, they can optimize the PDC board design to improve its quality. This is why having the PDB design firm handle the technical layout is a sound choice, so the firms can just focus on marketing, product strategy, and testing.
6. Design for manufacturing (DFM) essentials
Design for Manufacturing (DFM) is an important aspect of the manufacturing process since it acts as the guidelines to ensure a product is built at scale. This means that it is manufactured efficiently and consistently. In DFM, technical drawings are used to ensure compliance with manufacturing standards. DFM designers ensures that the prototype can be manufactured seamlessly without delay. It handles proper trace widths, spacing, accessibility, and clearances for manufacturing machines. This helps ensure a smoother transition in prototype development.
Printed Circuit Boards have a standard file format called Gerber files. This contains all the detailed information needed to produce the physical board accurately. This means that it has all the defined layers of the PCB and acts as the blueprint for it. Manufacturers rely on these files since these are the ones that are being sent out to them once the PCB layout is approved. In simple and common terms, it acts like the “PDF”. It is considered the final output to reference and follow during the manufacturing process. Its importance is critical, since it will be the final instruction and the basis for the success of prototype production.
8. Creating an accurate bill of materials (BOM)
One of the important documents in PCB manufacturing and electronics prototyping is the Bill of Materials (BOM). This document is a detailed list of all the components needed to build the unit. It includes even the hardware parts. The BOM includes not only the parts description but also the part number, manufacturer, and specifications. BOM, combined with PCB shop drawings, ensures a smooth production process. BOM experts help the procurement and manufacturing team to lessen the risks of incomplete orders or missing parts. It is critical that the BOM is done accurately to ensure it is a reliable reference to avoid project delays.
9. Thermal management in PCB layouts
It is only natural for electronic components to generate heat during operation. This is why there is thermal management to control the PCB and electronics design. This ensures that the components would not be damaged because of uncontrolled heat. It is critical to clearly define and demonstrate how heat is managed within the unit. Professional PCB designers know how to carefully and accurately design components in a way that heat is managed inside the unit. They can add cooling pads or a ventilation opening to help with heat transfer. A well-prepared design layout improves the overall performance and durability of the device.
10. Signal integrity and high-speed design
Now that electronic devices are faster and more advanced, PCB design must keep pace and maintain strong signal integrity and high-speed performance. Signal integrity determines the way the electrical signals travel across the circuit board without any interference. It is important that the flow is designed properly to prevent issues such as loss or data corruption. PCB assembly designers know how to handle this by carefully planning layout and routes. They have a deeper understanding of how to handle interference and create smooth communication between the components. They ensure that the unit functions better, faster and is reliable enough to match today’s expectations.
Even if the circuit works perfectly, if it does not fit the enclosure, then it won’t be feasible. The mechanical integration ensures that the casing and PCB are aligned properly without issues. Not only that, but it has to be fitted so that there’s no looseness or tightness in space or gaps. To resolve this, engineers use 3D modeling tools to visualize how the elements will fit into the case. This also helps them check for clashes, if any, and fix them before production starts.
12. Component sourcing and lifecycle management
In every electronic prototyping, material components play a crucial role. The prototype engineering designers don’t just choose the component because of its performance but also because of its long-term availability. The production cares about how long it can run in the market, so it’s important to choose materials that are stable in the supply chain to avoid discontinuation. When a component is not available at a certain time, it may affect future production and could lead to a change in PCB design layout. This will be costly and may incur a delay in production since it will be redesigned and tested again. It is important to account for material selection to ensure smoother production continuity.
13. The importance of layer stackups
Layer stackups are used by PCBs to fit complex circuits into a compact space. Instead of just fitting in all connections into one surface, they distribute power, ground, and signal paths on different layers. This improves the overall performance and reduces interference. While it is a more advantageous way of improving signal stability and overall performance, it affects the physical thickness of the board. If the board is too thick, it may not be able to fit properly in the enclosure. It is important that the engineering designer knows how to efficiently stack layers to make it a reliable design.
14. Prototyping for regulatory compliance
In every production, compliance is important. This is one of the most overlooked aspects during the prototyping phase. When this is missed, the startups are generally planning their failure. The design firms have to make sure that their design layout is compliant with safety and interference standards like UL, CE, and FCC. As technical as it sounds, experienced and reliable PCB designers know how to navigate through this and create layouts that are aligned with the standards. They ensure that the boards will pass and lessen the risks of redesign.
The unit design defines the unit cost. It is important to note how each design preference and material selection directly impacts the final cost of the unit. Every adjustment can lead to either savings or loss. There should be a perfect balance between the functionality and durability of the parts to make it cost-efficient. This is why it is important to work with experience electronics design firms since they know what materials and design layouts are suitable for every function. They know what materials can be used as alternatives to cut costs without compromising quality. Optimizing the design early can help the business produce products that are competitive in the market.
16. Solder mask and silkscreen details
In PCB manufacturing, design elements such as solder mask and silkscreen layer may look simple, but actually play important roles. The solder masks are used as the protective layer to prevent oxidation. This coating improves the overall durability of the board. On the other hand, silkscreen contains printed labels and orientation markers. This serves as the guide during assembly. It shows how the parts should be placed. Both are equally important to improve the whole assembly and significantly create smoother communication between the manufacturing and design teams.
17. Use of via stitching and power planes
To ensure that the electronic device has a stable and reliable performance, Layout design expert designers use features such as power planes and via stitching. Power planes help distribute steady voltage across the entire board, ensuring consistent power. Via stitching are small conductive connections that improve electrical grounding. The PCB design ensures that the device will function without experiencing issues such as voltage drops or crashes. To do that, adding features such as via stitching and power planes can help with consistent power delivery. This makes it a reliable design layout.
18. Managing tolerances in physical assemblies
During the manufacturing process, despite being accurate and clear with the shop drawings and instructions, it is still not always a 100% perfect fit. There are instances wherein the machines can’t produce the exact size intended. This is why it’s important for the shop drawings to include tolerances. This allows the hardware to fit together even with slight or a bit of deviation. Tolerances are to be set in a way that they are balanced. It shouldn’t be too tight, not too loose. Having just the right tolerance is an ability only a professional and experienced PCB designer can have. When it is clearly defined, the production would be smooth and seamless.
Exploded views are drawings that show a more detailed look at a certain component or part. It shows how it is separated and how it fits together. This allows the viewers to have an insight into how it will assemble instead of just imagining from a full drawing. This helps the fabricators to understand how the PCB, battery, and casing will interact with each other. It is a step-by-step guide on how to fit correctly. With this, it ensures the smooth production without delay.
20. Version control and engineering changes
Shop drawings do not always get approved on the first try. It goes through numerous revisions and iterations. It is important to have an efficient version control system to document all revisions. This ensures that the right and updated drawings are used and not the superseded ones. Each adjustment, whether a dimension change or a layout change, is to be properly documented. Whenever there is an issue or an improvement identified, an Engineering Change Order (ECO) is issued to update the shop drawings. These records serve as a traceable documentation of the design change.
21. Choosing between rigid and flexible PCBs
In electronics, one of the most important decisions is knowing what type of PCB will be used. Some may use rigid PCBs when it comes to devices such as computers. And when the devices are compact like smartwatches, flexible PCBs are used. While both function well, flexible PCBs require advanced engineering and cost more. And when this is used, the shop drawings should indicate in the drawing the design requirements, bend areas, and allowable bend radii. Professional PCBs know what the most suitable and smart solution is for the device.
22. Designing for testability (DFT)
One of the most important practices to test the functionality of the device or unit is Design for Testability, or DFT. This includes having test points in the unit or device to allow manufacturers to conveniently check if it’s working. To do this, there’s a metal contact pad in the testing points so it can easily verify if the board is functioning. The test points are included in the shop drawings as well, so the manufacturers can easily know where to test. Electrical checks are often done once the unit is fully assembled. DFT is a practical and efficient practice in troubleshooting. It allows the engineers and technicians to do quality control and ensure that the unit is production-ready.
23. Surface mount technology (SMT) vs. through-hole
In PCB manufacturing, electric components are attached using surface-mount technology (SMT). This is typically used in making the products or devices feel smaller, lighter, and easier to assemble. The most common devices that use this are laptops, smartphones, and any other compact units. One mounting practice is a through-hole component. This uses metal pins that pass through drill holes in the PCB. Then, it was soldered on the opposite side. While this type of method is a bit slow and takes a lot of space, it is known for its stronger mechanical support. It is a more suitable choice for unit components that are exposed to physical stress.
24. Environmental protection and potting
There are devices that are more exposed to harsh conditions and environments. These devices would need additional protection to withstand it. This includes exposure to moisture, dust, dirt, and temperature changes. The shop drawings from the CAD drafting expert would have to indicate the protective measures the unit has to keep it safe, durable, and still reliable. There are different ways to protect the unit. It could be the usage of gaskets, sealed enclosures, as well as adding a waterproof coating. Another way is potting. It is the process where the unit is covered fully with liquid resin or protective compound that hardens into a solid. This helps in shielding the device, extending its lifespan.
25. The value of 3D PCB modeling
Now that the world can take advantage of advanced software and technology, modern PCB design has also kept pace. Engineers and 3D modeling design designers use and create 3D models of the electric boards and assemble them before the production even begins. This gives the whole team a glimpse or view of what the model will look like, and from there they can identify potential issues or clashes. Using 3D models helps in reducing reworks and improving the overall coordination among multiple disciplines. It allows them to collaborate and address issues that could impact the production. It can also be used to check adjustments and generate other designs as preferred or recommended before committing to production.
In every production, time is one of the most valuable resources. Whenever there’s a delay in prototyping, there is a cost impact. It affects not only the testing schedules but also investor presentations and product launches. This is why it is important that the PCB design has a quick turnaround for prototyping design services. This can only be achieved when the drawings are complete, detailed, and accurate. Doing this makes it possible to lessen reworks that may arise during the production period. A managed schedule also allows the design team and manufacturing team to work seamlessly.
27. Solder paste stencils and tooling
In assembling PCBs, metal stencils are used to apply solder paste to the board. It is important that this is done with utmost accuracy since it could affect the electricity flow. The shop drawings should indicate where a paste layer has to be applied. This helps manufacturers or stencil makers to know where the opening should be placed. When the stencil is not designed well, it could lead to solder bridges. This is why precision is important to practice, as errors could mean damaged components and failed production.
28. Component orientation and polarity
In electronics, parts orientation is extremely important. One can tell how the batteries only work in a certain direction. This is called polarity. Most of the electrical components, such as diodes, LEDs, capacitors, and other integrated circuits, rely on this to function properly. So, if these parts are misaligned, the device could fail or even be damaged. To avoid this problem, it is important to clearly indicate in the shop drawings the correct orientation of each part. This helps the engineers and the manufacturers not to guess how it should be oriented. This way, they know if there’s a malfunction in the part instead.
29. Managing ground loops and noise
Grounding is considered one of the most complex parts of electronic product design services. It is also technically sensitive as it involves stability in performance by directing electrical noise away. When the grounding layout is not designed well, there is a risk of “ground loops”. This means that electrical currents circulate around unintended pathways. Prevention of this could be done by carefully planning ground planes and connections within the PCB layout. It is important to ensure proper design that lessens electromagnetic interference. This way, it improves the signal integrity and maintains reliable operations.
PCB copper thickness and weight matter in the design. It plays a major role in the overall performance and durability of the board. The higher the copper weight is, the more electrical current it can handle or carry safely without overheating. There is a specific range of thick copper weights that are used. The standard is 10z copper for the low-to-moderate power applications. There are also units that will need thicker copper, and this happens when they handle higher currents. This shows how the copper thickness determines the performance when it comes to electrical current. It is directly related to the suitability of the copper to the unit.
31. Fiducial marks for automated assembly
Fiducial marks are used to automatically align the components during the production or assembly stage. These are the ones that are most of the time located in the PCB corners or near the key component areas. Fiducial marks should be accurately stated in the shop drawings to ensure that the manufacturers can add them to the layout. If these are forgotten or left out, there’s a tendency for the components to misalign and cause connection issues. These markers allow precise alignment, which makes it reliable, especially during mass production.
32. Managing wire harnesses and connectors
Electronic units do not only include one part or component. It has several parts that help it to run and operate. It includes PCBs, batteries, displays, and other modules. These parts are connected using wires and connectors. It has to be ensured that the connections are organized and reliable. The drawings from the technical design engineer must include detailed wire harness documentation, specifying wire lengths, coding, and thickness. This ensures careful assembly and prevents serious problems. Planning wire harness design layout improves the safety and durability of the product.
33. The use of “keep-out” zones
To establish safety, “keep out” zones are used in areas where no components, copper traces, or any electrical features are allowed to be placed. It protects critical areas of the board, such as mounting holes, PCB edges, connectors, and other points where they may be physical contact during the installation process. Doing this prevents accidents during assembly by clearly specifying keep-out zones in the shop drawings, designers or engineers would know areas not to touch. It makes the whole design and production safe and makes the unit more durable and reliable.
The last stage of the prototyping process is ensuring that the product will pass Quality Control. In this, it is checked to ensure that it matches the shop drawings and the defined design specifications. There is an established, detailed checklist of inspections of every aspect of the product. In QC, one way to troubleshoot problems is by referencing documentation. This way, it is easy to diagnose problems and address them early on. Quality control ensures the product can function the way it is intended to. Passing it means it is now ready for production.
35. Scaling to mass production
The next step of an approved prototype is mass production. This stage focuses more on the consistent manufacturing of the units, so detailed documentation is required. To do this, the shop drawings and specifications should be complete and accurate to ensure that there will be no mishaps. They are the technical guide and instructions to build identical units of the same quality and performance. Mass production is an even harder stage since it requires great accuracy and consistency, and definitely costs a lot more resources. Small design errors could impact major issues that may incur delays and additional costs. This is why it is important to be fully organized to build a production-ready design.
How Cad Crowd can help
To make an idea production-ready or market-ready, it is important to master shop drawing and PCB design. Ultimately, the technical expertise this requires could be overwhelming. This is why PCB designers are there to help in simplifying the technical complexity of it and speed up the whole development process, all while reducing costly errors. Cad Crowd is here to make it happen. This platform connects businesses with experienced and reliable PCB designers who are tailored to their project needs. With this, complex ideas can be transformed into production-ready units. Get a quote today!
MacKenzie Brown is the founder and CEO of Cad Crowd. With over 18 years of experience in launching and scaling platforms specializing in CAD services, product design, manufacturing, hardware, and software development, MacKenzie is a recognized authority in the engineering industry. Under his leadership, Cad Crowd serves esteemed clients like NASA, JPL, the U.S. Navy, and Fortune 500 companies, empowering innovators with access to high-quality design and engineering talent.
Warner Bros. Discovery filed a lawsuit this week accusing Amazon of interference with contractual relations, breach of contract, and unfair competition.
As reported by Deadline, the lawsuit alleges Amazon has been “hurriedly seeking to pirate away a number of contracted employees,” including Pia Barlow, an HBO Max marketing executive who recently joined Amazon MGM Studios. Warner Bros. (whose pending acquisition by Paramount has been paused for at least a few months) said Barlow’s employment contract was “not set to expire until October 31, 2027.”
“In blatant disregard of established California law, Amazon has gone rogue by attempting to induce Plaintiffs’ employees with term employment agreements to breach those agreements with impunity, backed up with the ready assurance that Amazon will defend and indemnify them should they be held to account for their blatantly unlawful acts,” Warner Bros. said.
The company also accused Amazon of seeking to “tortiously induce another WBD employee to breach their term employment agreement, which was not set to expire until December 2027,” although that executive (believed to be HBO programming executive Francesca Orsi) ultimately stayed at Warner Bros.
Deadline noted that this lawsuit is likely to renew debates about whether term employment agreements are actually enforceable under California law.
Business AI integration is becoming a global phenomenon. This advanced technology is no longer exclusively reserved for huge enterprises. Startups and SMEs can improve operations and reduce costs through AI integration services.
A successful launch will involve careful planning and a clear strategy. An experienced AI-focused IT firm like Atlantic BT is here to help businesses navigate this new era.
The 10-Point Checklist to Determine If Your Business Is Ready for AI Integration
Here is a 10-point checklist to determine if your business is ready for AI integration. It covers everything from planning to execution.
1. Do You Have Clear Business Goals for AI Implementation?
There is a purpose for every AI tool. It’s designed to address a specific challenge. Common struggles include customer support response times and the automation of repetitive tasks. Then, AI tools can look into the solutions.
Don’t introduce AI because it’s trending. Bring it on board because it facilitates production.
What are the existing challenges?
How do you want AI to solve the problems?
What can AI do to improve business performance?
Which KPIs will measure success?
2. Have You Identified the Right Business Processes for AI Automation?
Choose the high-impact process first for better early ROI.
3. Is Your Business Data Ready for AI Systems?
Mass, reliable data points help train AI. Incomplete or outdated data will limit AI’s ability. Data readiness is crucial for success. Work with your team to see if your data is:
Well-organized and stored appropriately
Accurate
Properly documented with the correct details and information
Accessible across relevant departments
4. Do You Have Proper Data Management and Governance Practices?
Aside from data quality, there are often legal compliance requirements on how information is stored, collected, and used. In the US, the government is generally supportive of the use of AI in business, as long as it is done responsibly.
Depending on the industry and state, some examples include:
Privacy compliance
Access controls
Data ownership
Regular quality audits
5. Does Your Current Technology Infrastructure Support AI Integration?
AI integration for businesses can hit a wall when the infrastructure is outdated. Legacy systems should be upgraded for a smooth implementation. You need modern, scalable architecture to meet your future growth.
Review your existing infrastructure, such as:
Cloud capabilities
System integrations
API availability
Computing resources
Cybersecurity measures
6. Do You Have the Right AI Tools or Technology Partners?
Building an in-house IT team is not feasible for many companies. That’s why you should partner with a local IT firm.
Atlantic BT works with businesses to identify practical solutions for long-term success. Each strategy is customized and scalable to meet your needs.
7. Does Your Team Have the Skills Needed to Work With AI?
Business leaders, operational teams, and analysts should receive appropriate training on:
AI capabilities
Data interpretation
Process improvement
Change management
It removes the skill gaps and maximizes the implementation effectiveness. Training programs should accompany deployment.
8. Are Your Employees Ready to Adopt AI-Based Workflows?
AI integration is a relatively new concept. Some employees may not be so familiar. Every member should understand the benefits and how to work with it. It boosts their productivity and morale.
Explain to the team about things like:
Why is AI being introduced
How it supports their work
What changes to expect
Where human expertise remains essential
9. Have You Created an AI Implementation Strategy and Roadmap?
Successful AI initiatives happen through meticulous planning. Create a roadmap that defines:
Project phases
Budget
Timelines
Stakeholder responsibilities
Success milestones
Risk management plans
A structured roadmap provides a defined scale-up path. You can minimize disruptions through systematic planning.
10. Can Your Business Measure AI Success and ROI?
Every AI initiative should include measurable outcomes. This is how you know whether it is successful.
Common success metrics include:
Cost savings
Productivity improvements
Customer satisfaction
Revenue growth
Reduced processing times
Error reduction
Regular performance reviews help refine AI models. You can continuously enhance efficiency while saving costs.
AI introduces tremendous opportunities for businesses. But it requires strategic implementation and preparation. Before you dive in, answer the 10 questions above to check your business’ readiness. Contact an IT firm to personalize solutions that fit your business objectives and goals.
Samsung has pulled back the curtain on its new foldable phones, and there’s plenty to be excited about. The new Z Flip 8, Fold 8, and Fold 8 Ultra bring powerful silicon, slick software, and a few new camera tricks.
One of my favorite upgrades is the fact that all three devices are equipped with silicon-carbon batteries. This is the first time that Samsung is using this tech in its phones, coming a while after most rivals adopted it. While I’m happy to see silicon-carbon batteries in these new devices, I’m more excited about what this means for the Galaxy S27 series.
What do you want to see most from the Galaxy S27 phones?
63 votes
How is Samsung using silicon-carbon batteries?
Hadlee Simons / Android Authority
Silicon-carbon batteries offer higher energy density than conventional batteries. That means increased battery capacity without a physically bigger battery, or a physically smaller battery while maintaining the same capacity. Samsung seems to be taking both approaches on its new devices.
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra has a 5,000mAh battery in what is fundamentally the same chassis as the 4,400mAh Galaxy Z Fold 7. Meanwhile, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 features a short, wide form factor and an extremely thin design. Even so, it still ships with a respectable 4,800mAh battery. Finally, the Galaxy Z Flip 8 has the same 4,300mAh battery capacity as its predecessor, but in a thinner design.
The Galaxy foldables are the first Samsung phones to use silicon-carbon batteries, and this bodes well for the Galaxy S27 range.
Samsung hasn’t confirmed whether it’ll bring silicon-carbon batteries to the Galaxy S27 series. Nevertheless, it seems like a foregone conclusion that — unless we have another Galaxy Note 7 saga — the company’s next-generation flagships will have this new battery tech.
One downside to silicon-carbon tech is that it’s more prone to expansion than conventional batteries. Manufacturers address this issue by using only a small amount of silicon content, along with reinforced structures and other technologies. Needless to say, this is a complex endeavor. So if Samsung can safely integrate this new battery tech into its technologically advanced, ultra-thin foldables, then it shouldn’t be a problem for the Galaxy S27 series.
What does this mean for Galaxy S27 phones?
Joe Maring / Android Authority
I’m very intrigued to see which route Samsung takes with the Galaxy S27 range, especially with the base model. The vanilla Galaxy S26 brought a 4,300mAh battery, but this slightly larger capacity was accompanied by a small jump from a 6.1-inch display to a 6.3-inch panel. So it stands to reason that the base S27 could maintain this capacity while switching to a smaller screen and/or thinner design. Alternatively, the company could maintain the Galaxy S26’s design while increasing the battery size.
Silicon-carbon battery technology also bodes well for the rumored Galaxy S27 Pro. This phone is tipped to arrive with a 6.47-inch display, likely putting it between the S26 and S26 Plus. One questionable leak points to a 5,000mAh battery, matching the S26 Ultra. The claim doesn’t sound so unlikely now that Samsung has embraced this new tech.
Silicon-carbon batteries could theoretically enable a Galaxy S27 or S27 Edge without major endurance compromises.
As for the Galaxy S27 Ultra? I’m not expecting a 6,000mAh or 7,000mAh battery on par with rival brands, but a ~5,300mAh to ~5,500mAh cell doesn’t seem so far-fetched after the Z Fold 8 Ultra’s arrival. This would mark the first battery capacity upgrade for the Ultra series since 2021’s Galaxy S21 Ultra. Samsung could even offer a more modest upgrade to reduce the phone’s weight, thickness, or overall size. A ~5,400mAh battery would also be reaching the limit for single-cell batteries in markets like the EU, which enforce strict regulations on larger batteries. Any bigger, and Samsung would have to splash out on a dual-cell battery design in the unlikely event that it wants to compete with the likes of OnePlus, Xiaomi, and HONOR.
Silicon-carbon batteries would also be essential if Samsung decides to launch a Galaxy S27 Edge. Last year’s Galaxy S25 Edge brought an impressively thin and light design, but it was largely undone by the 3,900mAh battery. It’s no wonder that colleague Ryan Haines reported that the phone’s battery life “dropped like a stone.”
Even if the Galaxy S27 series only brings modest capacity upgrades, we could still see fantastic battery life thanks to Samsung’s battery optimization smarts. The company has long had a reputation in the Android space for wringing every drop of juice out of its phones. Colleague Zac Kew-Denniss also praised the S26 Ultra’s endurance despite the 5,000mAh battery. So imagine what the company could do with even larger batteries.
The hard part might be done for Samsung
Paul Jones / Android Authority
I’ve waited almost two years for Samsung to adopt silicon-carbon batteries. Instead, the company was content to stick with the same capacity, or offer a tiny increase at best. I’m sure that safety and reliability (and presumably costs) were at the heart of Samsung’s decision to wait, but now that the first Galaxy phones have this tech, the floodgates are open.
It seems like a no-brainer that the Galaxy S27 phones will adopt this new battery solution, given the complexities of integrating silicon-carbon batteries into foldables in the first place. But even if the S27 series doesn’t see much larger batteries, this paves the way for design improvements and smaller devices while freeing up space for other features.
Either way, Samsung now has the tools to fit bigger batteries into its phones. Now, we just need to see more of it.
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