DigiTimes

Apple reportedly shaking up supply chain to preserve more profits

Cody Lee ∙ November 20, 2013

Apple has long been known for its supply chain prowess, mostly thanks to one man: Tim Cook. Before taking over the CEO position in 2011, Cook was the company's chief operating officer and oversaw a number of successful product rollouts that garnered impressive profits.

But according to a new report, the iPad-maker isn't resting on its laurels. Apple is apparently adjusting its supply chain model from having OEMs being responsible for both component procurement and production, to purely production, as it moves to raise its product margins...

Rumor: Foxconn’s Zhengzhou plant stops iPhone 5c production

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated August 4, 2016

The world's top contract manufacturer, Taiwan-based Foxconn, is responsible for approximately one-third of total iPhone 5c volume and now the company is allegedly winding down handset production at its factory in Zhengzhou, northern China, and shifting capacity to the flagship iPhone 5s, according to "industry sources" who spoke to DigiTimes, an industry publication with a mixed track record.

The story somewhat corroborates last week's article by a Chinese blog which said another iPhone 5c manufacturer, Pegatron, slashed iPhone 5c production significantly because the flagship iPhone 5s was selling better to early adopters than the iPhone 5c, which is basically the last year's iPhone 5 repackaged in colorful cases...

Five-inch iPhablet to comprise one out of each four iPhones in 2014

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 11, 2013

Analysts think Apple will respond to competition by producing not one, but two large-screen iPhone models in 2014. According to Piper Jaffary's Gene Munster (infamous for its Apple-branded television set prediction), the iPhone 6 will make its debut in September 2014 and it’s going to be a “blockbuster” release thanks to a blown up screen.

His peer, Peter Misek over at Jeffries, thinks the iPhone 6 will offer a 4.8-inch screen. If anything, Samsung has managed to prove that phablets sell: the company predicts shipping a total of hundred million units of the five-inch Galaxy S4 smartphone and the 5.7-inch Galaxy Note 3 devices this year.

Whichever way you look at it, phablets have quickly gone from a niche category to being the hot new form factor. How does this change in market dynamics affect Apple?

New report reaffirms iPad mini with Retina display will be in short supply at launch

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

When Apple announced the new iPad mini with Retina display at its media event last week, the only launch date given was 'November.' The move seemingly confirmed previous chatter that the company has been having a hard time making the tablet.

And today, a new report out of Taiwan adds to the narrative, claiming that the mini's initial supply constraint is directly related to its hi-res display. Apparently Sharp, who is responsible for 40% of the Retina mini panels, is seeing poor yield rates...

iPhone 6 may adopt IGZO screens as Sharp finally commercializes tech

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 21, 2013

Apple has long wanted to make a switch from the traditional LCD IPS display technology utilized on iOS devices to Sharp's cutting-edge IGZO technology.

Unfortunately, Apple's been unable to offer an IGZO iPhone because the struggling Japanese giant had been facing tremendous technical hurdles preventing mass production of these sophisticated panels.

According to the latest supply chain chatter, Sharp has now successfully commercialized production of IGZO panels for smartphones and will begin manufacturing them at its Kameyama Plant Number 2 before the end of 2013...

Rumor: Apple’s $149-$229 iWatch is coming in second half of 2014

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 27, 2013

It's been a while since we heard anything on the Apple smartwatch front so today's report by the Taiwanese trade publication DigiTimes (I know, don't start) asserted that the iWatch is at least a year away. Specifically, the publication claims that the iWatch is expected to release in the second half of 2014.

The device is expected to retail for between $149 and $229. More details right after the break...

Apple on a hiring spree for Taiwan’s upcoming R&D center

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 15, 2013

Earlier in the month, VR-Zone learned Apple was looking to establish a research and development (R&D) center in Taiwan where talented engineers will be working on the next-generation of iPhone product development, reporting directly to Apple’s headquarters in California.

DigiTimes today expands on the story, reporting the company is now actively recruiting engineers to fill a bunch of various roles, including packaging, quality control, hardware and software. Apple's recruiting efforts are said to have already attracted the attention of many IT engineers in Taiwan...

Apple allegedly shifting iMac production from Quanta to Pegatron

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 5, 2013

If a new report by the somewhat reliable DigiTimes is to be taken at face value, then Apple may shift production of its all-in-one iMac desktop from the current manufacturer Quanta to Pegatron. Now, Pegatron already builds older iPhones, has reportedly been commissioned to build Apple's rumored plastic iPhone and used to make iMacs.

Nowadays most iMac orders are being fulfilled by Quanta, which also assembles the majority of MacBook Air and MacBook Pro notebooks...

iPad to keep losing ground until new models arrive

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 29, 2016

During the June quarter, sales of Apple's iPads declined fourteen percent from a year earlier. And as Mac and iPod shipments dropped, too, the iPhone stood out as Apple's lone booming product - the company sold twenty percent more handsets than a year earlier.

Analysts and suppliers now speculate iPad shipments will keep on falling due to stiff competition in the table sector and the aging lineup - at least until Apple's blockbuster Fall brings us an iPad 5, a cheaper iPad mini and maybe even a Retina iPad mini...

Apple reportedly ordering large amounts of touch panels for next-gen iPads

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 19, 2013

The somewhat reliable Taiwanese trade publication DigiTimes yesterday changed course to say a second-generation Retina iPad mini upgrade is in fact launching this Fall, contrary to previous reports by Economic Daily News and NPD DisplaySearch, which called for a 2014 launch.

And in another sign of production ramp-up, DigiTimes reports that Apple's touch panel suppler TPK is expecting its third-quarter performance to improve due to significant One Glass Solution (OGS) touch panel orders from Apple...

DigiTimes: iPad mini with Retina display coming in October

Cody Lee ∙ July 19, 2013

The inexact DigiTimes is reporting this morning that the next-generation iPad mini will feature a Retina display, and is expected to be introduced in October. The report is in direct contradiction to the publication's own scoop from earlier this week.

On Monday, the Taiwanese outlet added to speculation that Apple was delaying the launch of its Retina iPad mini until 2014 due to panel shortages. But apparently, LG has made significant progress with its production, and it's back on track for the fall...

Suppliers say Apple ramping up iDevice chip orders

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 18, 2013

We've witnessed recently a mishmash of wildly unlikely predictions, genuine-looking iPhone 5S production shots, plenty of various other leaks and big media confirmations, all seemingly pointing to Apple flexing its manufacturing muscle ahead of upcoming new product launches.

Hot on the heels of this chatter, a Taiwanese trade publication chimed in Thursday claiming Apple's chips suppliers are seeing a boost in orders from Apple, which could be interpreted as another solid indication that the company is ramping up production as it gears up for the next iDevice refresh cycle...