On Monday, we told you that Tim Cook was taking his first tour of China as Apple’s CEO. Although we’ve heard some gossip about Cook’s intentions for the visit, the nature of the trip is still somewhat of a mystery.
Well Apple helped fill in a couple of blanks for us this morning, as it told Bloomberg that the CEO spent part of his time in China visiting Foxconn’s new Zhengzhou manufacturing plant… Read More
Now the new iPad is here, attentions have begun to turn to Apple’s next big thing. While it is true that the iPhone 5, or more likely the “New iPhone” will be that device, the proposed Apple Television is the thing that we are all getting excited about.
There are plenty of things we don’t know yet about what Apple has up its sleeve. In fact, it’s true that we know absolutely nothing for certain. As is so often the case, we are running on rumors and guesswork right now, not least when it comes to a potential release date.
The latest rumors surround just that, with Business Insider reporting that the Apple Television will debut in 2013… Read More
Japanese electronics maker Sharp said today it will form a strategic global manufacturing partnership with Foxconn parent Hon Hai Precision Industry Co that will see the latter take eleven percent ownership in the former. In a nutshell, an assembly company has just purchased a stake in a manufacturer.
Things get really interesting knowing that Hon Hai’s Foxconn is Apple’s long-standing manufacturing partner producing iPhones, iPads and Mac notebooks, but also PlayStation 3s, Xbox 360s and a host of other consumer electronics products for Western companies.
On the other hand, Sharp is currently on Apple’s list of supply chain partners and has allegedly produced 2.71 million Retina display panels for the new iPad, with plans to ramp up production in the second quarter. This strategic partnership should also help Foxconn and Sharp together battle LG and Samsung for Apple orders. Read More
The China Morning News is reporting that Foxconn, Apple’s goto manufacturing partner, is currently in the middle of a significant hiring binge. The company hopes to increase numbers by 20,000 at its Taiyuan plant in Northern China.
According to the report, the push is in preparation for the production of the next-generation iPhone. The handset isn’t expected to hit the market until later this year, but Foxconn is said to have already received orders from Apple… Read More
In wake of numerous reports on the poor working conditions at some of the factories in its supply chain, Apple erected a new section of its website entitled “Supplier Responsibility.”
The page includes a number of resources, including monthly reports showing the company’s progress. And according to the latest update, working conditions are already improving… Read More
The controversial topic surrounding inhumane working conditions at Foxconn plants (often likened to sweatshops) has entered a new phase as monologuist Mike Daisey backtracks on his unpleasant claims, now admitting they were partly fabricated from sensationalist news reports.
As you might recall, the whole thing gained traction as the New York Times published a lengthy piece on the conditions of Apple’s supply chain in China. Other mainstream outlets immediately picked up the story as consumer groups began demanding an ethical iPhone. The public backlash also pushed Apple to list its suppliers for the first time. CEO Tim Cook dismissed the allegations as “patently fales”, insisting that “We care about every worker in our worldwide supply chain.”
Now, as the popular NPR radio program This American Life retracted their story based on Daisey’s highly acclaimed show “The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs”, the monologuist ran a post on his personal blog this morning basically saying that even though he spiced up his original report, the basic premise on workers’ plight in China sweatshops still holds true… Read More
Apple has been the subject of much ire and speculation over its perceived lack of support for the United States and its scarcity of jobs, but now the company is hitting back with a few choice numbers it believes shows that the opposite is in fact, true.
Apple notoriously gets all its products from Foxconn in China, with Brazil now also becoming a source for all those devices with an Apple logo on the back. This has led to Apple being on the receiving end of much bad press over labor conditions at Foxconn’s factories as well as the question being raised of why doesn’t Apple build its products on US soil.
But as Apple is keen to point out, the iPhone and iPad maker does actually have its fingers in many US-based pies, creating and sustaining over 500,000 jobs in the process… Read More
We’ve been talking about Foxconn’s new Brazilian factory for several months now. The plant is not only expected to help the manufacturer meet overwhelming demand for iPads and iPhones, but also make the devices cheaper for Latin American customers.
Due to outrageous import taxes, the two-year old iPhone 4 costs a staggering $1000 in Brazil. And the iPhone 4S is nearly $1500. Apple fans in the country are hoping that those prices will drop substantially, now that Foxconn is making them in Brazil… Read More
In a special edition of ABC’s Nightline program last night, correspondent Bill Weir traveled to Apple’s main manufacture, Foxconn, to get an inside look at working conditions inside of the plant. During the program, Weir showed workers working on the assembly line, the dormitories they live in, and more.
Apple, Foxconn, and the FLA have today released statements to ABC regarding a few of the things said during last night’s program. Apple responded to a claim one worker made, after she said that she carves the aluminum shavings from 6,000 iPad logos per day… Read More
Apple has been in the media as of late for their manufacturing plant Foxconn. Many have profiled the plant as having terrible working conditions, but when we got an inside look last night, things didn’t look as bad as previously depicted. The FLA is currently inside of Foxconn inspecting conditions and is poised to publish a report soon.
Today, at another China plant that manufacturers screens for the iPhone, two workers who claimed they were poisoned on the job have prompted a new petition… Read More
Asymco analyst Horace Dediu published an interesting report this morning that attempts to figure out what Apple pays to manufacture each iPhone. Over the last 5 years, the handset has quickly become Apple’s largest money-maker.
Dediu uses a number of resources, including manufacturing information that has recently come to light thanks to ABC’s “A Trip to the iFactory” documentary, to determine what Apple spends building each iPhone, from parts to shipping… Read More
After facing criticism from both the media and human rights organizations, Apple has opened up the doors to its manufacturing plants for the world to see. This has allowed the Fair Labor Association in to do an inspection, and ABC to do a report.
If you haven’t seen ABC’s “A Trip to the iFactory” yet, you should really watch it. The documentary actually doesn’t make Foxconn, Apple’s largest manufacturing partner, look as bad as the media has made them out to be. But were they hiding anything? Read More
Yesterday ABC aired a documentary called “A Trip to The iFactory” where they tried to depict the conditions Chinese workers at Foxconn have to live in.
We don’t want to spoil it for you, but you’re not going to learn much more than you already knew about Foxconn. However, it’s still interesting to have a glimpse at where your iPhone and iPad are made… Read More
ABC’s 25 minute documentary ‘A Trip to the iFactory‘ just aired on Nightline, where correspondent Bill Weir traveled to Foxconn for the world’s first full view of the operation inside. For those unfamiliar, Foxconn is the factory where Apple’s and other top brands’, products are manufactured.
In recent years, the Shenzhen, China based Foxconn has had a negative vibe in the public’s view. People have viewed Foxconn as exploiting workers, hiring people underage, and causing workers to become so depressed they commit suicide.
ABC was granted the first inside look at the factory, showing working and living conditions workers are under to produce our favorite Apple products. But did the way ABC portrayed Foxconn match public perception, or did it bring a whole different view (spoiler alert)? Read More
U.S. television network ABC was granted the rights to produce a documentary profiling Apple’s main manufacturer, Foxconn. This is the first inside look of the manufacturing plant, where many say workers are under harsh condition to produce our favorite Apple devices.
ABC’s documentary premiers tomorrow on its Nightline program at 11:35 PM EST. Before it premiers, ABC has released a teaser and gallery of photos, giving us a brief look inside of Foxconn… Read More
Apple and its overseas manufacturing partners have been taking quite a bit of heat over the last month. Reports of underage employees, 60+ hour work weeks and other poor working conditions have been constantly grabbing headlines.
But just as we have reported on the bad things, we must also report the good. It appears that in the face of criticism, Foxconn, Apple’s largest supply chain partner, has decided to substantially increase its workers’ wages… Read More
Apple’s latest legal hiccup, this time with display maker Proview, looked set to escalate into all-out war when the plaintiff suggested a ban on the importing and exporting of iPads in China. The latest on the situation may serve to calm fears in Cupertino however, with the news that such a move may not be easy to execute according to Reuters.
A full ban on the iPad would obviously prove disastrous for Apple, with the device being manufactured in China. A ban on exporting the tablet would effectively shut iPad sales down across the globe.
Thankfully for us, though not so much for Proview, Chinese customs authorities are erring on the side of caution, suggesting that a ban may be too difficult to enforce due to Apple’s huge popularity… Read More
As most of you know, Apple has been catching a lot of flack recently regarding the poor working conditions at some of its overseas manufacturing plants. Last week, protestors delivered a petition with over 250,000 electronic signatures to the company calling for a change.
Tim Cook has already commented on the situation, saying that Apple is doing more than any other company in the industry to improve the working conditions of the factories in its supply chains. And today, the CEO reiterated the point at the Goldman Sachs Technology and Internet Conference… Read More
After recently joining the Fair Labor Association, Apple confirmed that non-profit has already started inspection in Apple’s suppliers factories, including Foxconn:
Apple® today announced that the Fair Labor Association will conduct special voluntary audits of Apple’s final assembly suppliers, including Foxconn factories in Shenzhen and Chengdu, China, at Apple’s request. A team of labor rights experts led by FLA president Auret van Heerden began the first inspections Monday morning at the facility in Shenzhen known as Foxconn City.
I can only praise Tim Cook for the positive impact he is trying to make.
Foxconn, Apple’s largest manufacturing partner, has been back in the media spotlight over the last few weeks. Last month, the New York Times pointed to the company in its report on the poor working conditions in Chinese factories.
Foxconn has since been the target of activists and protestors, but now it’s found itself in the sights of a different breed. It seems that the world’s largest component manufacturer has been hacked by a new group called Swagg Security… Read More
