Another significant bottleneck in mass production of the TrueDepth camera system for iPhone X has been removed with news that Taiwanese supplier Himax Technologies has now started shipments of a key Face ID component to Apple.
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iPhone X’s laser dot projector is solely produced by Lumentum
Apple's new TrueDepth camera in iPhone X uses a dot projector to achieve its magic and a new report claims that US-based laser diode supplier Lumentum is now the only company that has won orders from the Cupertino giant for that crucial part.
Android makers delay their own plans for 3D camera sensors
Android vendors have reportedly discovered just how complicated and difficult it is to reliably mass-manufacture cutting-edge depth sensors that iPhone X's Face ID relies upon, and have now delayed plans to use 3D-sensing camera technology in their own flagship devices.
Apple has reportedly withdrawn some of its staff working at a micro-LED lab in Taiwan
Recent reports have claimed that Apple has withdrawn some of its technological staff working at a micro-LED research and development lab in northern Taiwan after LuxVue encountered bottlenecks in commercialization of this promising power-sipping display technology.
Toshiba sells flash chip business to a global consortium that includes Apple
Toshiba is the world’s second-biggest producer of flash chips and now the company has sold that lucrative business to Bain Capital LLC , an international consortium that includes Apple and in which Japanese firms hold more than a 50 percent interest.
iPhone X production woes continue with poor TrueDepth camera yields
iPhone X is slated to arrive on November 3, but Apple and its suppliers are still experiencing reported problems with mass production of sophisticated 3D facial scanning sensors for the handset's TrueDepth camera, according to a report Tuesday by Japanese outlet Nikkei.
2018 iPhones to boost camera resolution as Apple orders “above 12-megapixel” sensors
Apple does not boost the megapixel count on iPhone cameras every year, but 2018 iPhones are expected to feature higher-resolution cameras, according to a supply chain report Tuesday.
Samsung planning $7 billion flash memory production boost ahead of iPhone 8
Samsung Electronics on Monday disclosed plans to invest $7 billion over the next three years to expand its flash memory chip production in China’s northwestern city of Xi’an.
Apple estimated to build only 500,000 HomePods for December launch
David Ho, president of Taiwanese contract manufacturer Inventec Appliances, suggested during an earnings conference today that a high-profile smart home device his company has received orders for would be faced with constrained launch supply in December.
iPhone screen supplier Japan Display needs cash injection to switch to OLEDs
Apple supplier Japan Display is considering seeking a possible capital injection from strategic investors and buyout funds to help finance a shift from its ailing LCD smartphone business to OLED technology, widely believed to be adopted by Apple's premium iPhone 8 model.
Apple seeks tax breaks for suppliers to build iPhones from scratch in India
A limited run of “Assembled in India” iPhone SE models is now rolling from the assembly lines in India, run by Apple's contract manufacturer Wistron, but the Cupertino technology giant is now seeking extend tax breaks for its suppliers to build iPhones in the country from scratch.
Apple buys pricey production equipment for iPhone 8’s printed circuit board
Apple has puzzled industry watchers by investing tens of millions of dollars in production equipment for iPhone 8's rigid flexible printed circuit board, which connects chips with parts such as the display, camera and so forth, ET News reported Friday.
The company will use this component for iPhone 8's touch screen panel.
The reason the move has raised questions is because Apple lacks its own production plant to install the equipment and the fact that it contracted three different suppliers to build this crucial iPhone 8 component, including Interflex and Youngpoong Electronics.
According to a source, one of the three suppliers recently decided to back out for reasons unknown, prompting Apple to take matters into its own hands. The Cupertino technology giant is now leasing the equipment it bought to suppliers to ensure it gets the parts it needs.
Additionally, the company is seeking to find a new supplier in Taiwan.
Sources speculate the supplier likely backed out due to low profitability and Apple's exacting standards when it comes to production quality. The iPhone maker is expected to order a hundred million units of the rigid flexible printed circuit board for iPhone 8.
“To fill the loss, Apple is supporting the other two suppliers to beef up production,” said the source. Rigid flexible printed circuit boards are much more difficult to build than the conventional ones.
iPhone 8 mockup via iDropNews