Rumors

Rivals worried that iPhone 8 will gobble up the entire supply of OLED screens

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 17, 2017

Apple's 2017 iPhone refresh should include an all-new iPhone 8 model widely expected to ditch the traditional power-hungry LCD technology in favor of the power-sipping OLED screens. Given Apple's scale and pent up demand for a refreshed iPhone industrial design, Apple's rivals are now worried that the company will eat up all the available supply of small and mid-sized OLED panels. According to DigiTimes, Apple's competitors are now rushing to secure production capacity for OLED panels, which could cause shortages.

Apple may extend iPhone 6s battery replacement program to iPhone 6 (updated)

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 17, 2017

According to a rumor by Japanese blog Mac Otakara, Apple may extend its iPhone 6s battery replacement program to iPhone 6 following reports from iPhone 6 owners who claim to have been plagued with the same issues as their iPhone 6s counterparts.

UPDATE: an unnamed source inside Apple corporate told AppleInsider that there are no immediate plans to offer a battery exchange program for iPhone 6 devices. “We constantly evaluate service statistics,” said the source. “There are no plans or grounds for a wide iPhone 6 battery exchange program at this time.”

LG teases big 5.7″ screen, smaller body, waterproof design & more for upcoming G6 flagship

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 13, 2017

LG Electronics is teasing an upcoming G6 flagship smartphone in a new 45-second teaser video posted to its YouTube channel yesterday.

Listing some of the things people apparently want in an ideal smartphone, the clip seems to tease a minimum-bezel 5.7-inch waterproof phone (you'll recall that Apple's iPhone 8 is rumored to feature increased IP68-rated water resistance).

Although it does not specifically mention G6, the clip asks you to “imagine how your wishes will come to life” before hinting it’ll all happen in February, when G6 is expected to be formally announced at Mobile World Congress.

iPhone 8 rumored to feature increased IP68 water resistance like Samsung’s Galaxy S7

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 13, 2017

iPhone 7 files as Apple's first smartphone with IP67-rated dust and water resistance, but the next iPhone should be even more water resistant.

According to The Korea Herald on Friday, unnamed industry sources in the know have stepped forward saying iPhone 8 will feature the IP68 rating protection.

iPhone 8's improved water resistance is “part of drastic upgrades” marking the 10th anniversary of the device, sources told the Korean newspaper.

iPhone processor supplier TSMC hints it might build chips in America

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 13, 2017

As we reported this morning, iPhone manufacturer Foxconn and its Japanese subsidiary Sharp are considering setting up an $8 billion LCD panel production plant in the United States. According to another report, semiconductor maker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSMC) has also expressed interest in taking advantage of business-friendly incentives proposed by incoming U.S. President Trump.

As a reminder, TSMC currently churns out Apple-designed silicon for latest iOS devices and is also said to have landed a lucrative contract to build next-generation A11 chips for future Phones and iPads.

Apple suppliers Foxconn and Sharp could build $8 billion LCD plant in USA

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 13, 2017

Apple's key suppliers—iPhone assembler Foxconn and its Japanese subsidiary Sharp—say that rumored plans calling for establishing an LCD manufacturing plant in the United States are “still on the table”. Company officials made that comment in response to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's “Make in America” call, Japanese outlet Nikkei reported Friday.

An unnamed Sharp executive told Nikkei that such a decision must be made “carefully”.

Apple’s failed sapphire plant will now build server cabinets for its global data centers

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 10, 2017

Apple's failed sapphire crystal manufacturing facility in Mesa, Arizona will be repurposed to produce server assembly cabinets for the Cupertino firm's global data centers, according to a notification published by the Federal Register and cited yesterday by Business Insider.

Apple already has authority to produce certain components for consumer electronics in a special zone that exempts it from customs duty payments, but now it's looking for approval from the Foreign-Trade Zones Board to produce “finished products and foreign status materials and components” in the Mesa factory.

Foxconn reports first ever annual sales decline since going public 25 years ago

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 10, 2017

iPhone manufacturer Foxconn Technology Group posted its first ever sales decline since it went public back in 1991, Japanese outlet Nikkei reported Tuesday. The outlet expectedly blames “lukewarm demand” from Foxconn's biggest client Apple and the “saturated smartphone market” for the 2.81 percent drop in annual sales.

For context, Foxconn earns more than half of its revenue from doing business with Apple. The Taiwanese company is also known as Hon Hai Precision Industry and assembles iPhones and other gadgets like PlayStation consoles, notebooks, wearable devices and so forth on a mass scale.

New details surface about Hulu’s live TV service

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 10, 2017

In a new report Tuesday, Mashable's Pete Pachal took a closer look at the early build of an upcoming live TV service from Hulu. Having seen Hulu's new iPhone, iPad and full-screen TV apps, Pachal shared his thoughts on the service. Hulu CEO said last week that the new service would be priced at under $40 per month.

The Wall Street Journal said earlier in the month that Hulu did manage to strike a deal with CBS to put both live streaming and on-demand content from CBS's various channels on Hulu's service.

Sketchy report says Apple working with German optics maker Carl Zeiss on AR glasses

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 10, 2017

Bloomberg recently alleged that Apple is considering a digital glasses gadget for a possible release some time in 2018. In a Facebook post published Tuesday, well-known blogger Robert Scoble claims that the Cupertino firm has partnered with German lens specialist and optical instruments maker Carl Zeiss on the project, which should develop augmented reality optics for the digital glasses.

Apple to adopt forging process for iPhone 8 stainless steel frame

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 10, 2017

KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has predicted that iPhone 8 will be switching to an all-glass design akin to iPhone 4 with a stainless steel metal frame rather than aluminum. Today, trade publication DigiTimes shed more light on the matter.

Quoting supply chain sources, the report states that Apple will adopt a stainless steel forging process for the new chassis frame instead of the traditional CNC machining process although the metal frame will need to be further refined by CNC machining.

Apple Music’s upcoming Carpool Karaoke show will feature a different host every episode

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 9, 2017

Apple's upcoming show, Carpool Karaoke, will consist of sixteen half-hour episodes that will air on Apple Music and feature a different host every episode, Variety reported Monday.

Based on James Corden's Carpool Karaoke viral segment during CBS's Late Late Show, Apple's version will use a format that is more of an interview series with outside-the-box pairings like Billy Eichner in the passenger seat, surrounded by the band Metallica, or former NFL star and talk show host Michael Strahan and NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon.