Production

Apple upping iPhone orders from Pegatron, iPad touch modules from Wintek

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 21, 2012

A pair of reports from Asian trade publication DigiTimes appeared this morning, asserting Apple's iPhone orders from contract manufacturer Pegatron are on the rise while the company is also looking to source more touch panel modules from Wintek in the following quarter. According to the first story sourced from market watchers, "Apple continues to raise its iPhone orders to Pegatron as well as placing orders for new iPad".

Pegatron, whose plants are up for inspection by the Fair Labor Association, reportedly found itself under fire over Asustek Zenbook orders, according to a story by Chinese-language Commercial Times (Google translation).

You may also recall that Pegatron is rumored to be keeping its fingers crossed to land manufacturing orders for the so-called iPad mini that the usually credible Wall Street Journal raved about.

Rumor: Sharp joins the Retina party, but brings only 2.71 million iPad panels

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 20, 2012

Last week, Bloomberg reported that Apple's long-time supplier and frenemy Samsung has fulfilled the bulk of orders for the new iPad's stunning 2,048-by-1,536 pixel resolution display, marketed under the Retina moniker. Piggy-backing on that story, Reuters chimed in with claims that LG Display is also filling iPad Retina display panel orders.

A new report by DigiTimes, a hit-and-miss Asian trade publication, asserted this morning that Sharp too is supplying Retina display panels for the tablet. Apple is known for sourcing components from multiple suppliers in order to reduce risks and squeeze the best prices possible. Unfortunately, quality issues with the highest-resolution display on a mobile device meant Sharp delivered lower-than-expected Retina shipments, pegged at 2.71 million units...

Workers’ plight at Foxconn sweatshops is real despite fabricated facts, monologuist says

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated July 24, 2016

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...

LG Display also tapped as panel supplier for new iPad

Cody Lee ∙ March 14, 2012

Yesterday, we reported that Samsung was the sole manufacturer of the Retina displays Apple is using in its new iPad. Although Sharp and LG were expected to be the main panel suppliers for the tablet, word is that they couldn't meet Apple's tough QC standards.

But it appears that this may not be the case — at least for LG anyways. Reuters is reporting today that it has heard from an anonymous source that LG Display is also filling Retina display panel orders for the new iPad...

Jony Ive explains some of the secrets to Apple’s sauce

Cody Lee ∙ March 12, 2012

Jonathan Ive has made quite a name for himself over the past few years. And for good reason too. Apple's SVP of industrial design is largely responsible for creating the look and feel of several popular products, including the iPod and the iPhone.

The London-born designer has a reputation for being fairly quiet, and rarely does media interviews. So you can imagine our surprise when we found out that Mr. Ive recently opened up to the London Evening Standard about a broad range of topics...

Rumor: 7.85-inch iPad moving closer to production

Cody Lee ∙ March 5, 2012

A new report from DigiTimes surfaced this morning claiming that the oft-rumored 7.85-inch iPad is moving closer to production. The site points to an article from United Evening News, a Taiwanese newspaper, which says Apple has just picked suppliers for the tablet.

DigiTimes doesn't have the best track record in providing accurate Apple information, but we've seen a number of reports over the past few months regarding a mini iPad. And these particular claims appear to have some kind of basis...

Brazilian-made iPhone 4 units now on sale, still expensive

Cody Lee ∙ February 24, 2012

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...

Apple responds to ABC’s iFactory documentary

Jake Smith ∙ Updated November 19, 2017

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...

Poisoned iPhone factory workers release petition calling for reform

Jake Smith ∙ Updated December 6, 2016

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...

What it actually costs Apple to build an iPhone

Cody Lee ∙ February 22, 2012

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...

Workers claim Foxconn hid underage workers before FLA inspection

Cody Lee ∙ February 22, 2012

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?

Rumor: images leaked of the iPad 3’s Retina display in production

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 3, 2018

We know, these iPad 3 rumors are starting to get a bit ridiculous. In the last two days we've seen images of the purported tablet, and learned that its processor may (or may not) be called the A5X.

Now 9to5Mac is reporting that it has come across photos of what appears to be an iPad 3 Retina display production line. The images were uncovered on a Chinese forum along with some interesting details regarding the tablet...