Foxconn

iPhone with sapphire glass display allegedly in trial production

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 24, 2014

According to a new rumor by Taiwan's Apple Daily, Apple's favorite contract manufacturer, Foxconn, has ostensibly commenced trial production of the next iPhone, using sapphire as a display glass cover. The initial production run has been pegged at 100 units.

This doesn't mean that the next iPhone will in fact ditch Corning's Gorilla Glass for sapphire-strengthened display, mind you. Apple currently uses sapphire to protect iOS device cameras and Touch ID fingerprint sensor on the iPhone 5s from scratches and dings.

Earlier today, a video excerpt from ABC's upcoming interview with CEO Tim Cook and other Apple executives brought the official confirmation of Apple's plan to exclusively produce sapphire crystal glass components at its new facility in Mesa, Arizona...

Foxconn managers arrested for allegedly accepting bribes

Cody Lee ∙ January 23, 2014

According to a new report, Taiwan police officers have arrested around a dozen managers at Foxconn on suspicion of soliciting several million in bribes from iPhone parts suppliers. Vendors reportedly had to pay 2.5% in kickbacks and other off-the-books fees to secure orders.

The group of arrested employees includes some pretty high-level Foxconn executives like Deng Zhixian, director general for Foxconn's committee of surface mount technology, and retired senior vice president Liao Wancheng, who police think was the mastermind of the scheme...

Apple ships 1.4 million iPhone 5s units to China Mobile ahead of Friday’s launch

Cody Lee ∙ January 14, 2014

After several years of negotiations, and following months of rumors, Apple announced in December that it had finally inked a deal with China Mobile. The carrier will officially start offering the company's smartphone on January 17.

And it looks like they're expecting a big turnout. According to a new report from The Wall Street Journal, Apple supplier Foxconn has shipped roughly 1.4 million iPhone 5s units to China Mobile ahead of Friday's historic launch...

Apple again reported to be working on iPhones with 4.7 and 5.7-inch displays

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

Since just before Apple unveiled the iPhone 5s last September, we've been hearing rumors that the company's eighth-generation handset is going to feature a larger display. Reports are calling for sizes from 4.8-inches all the way up to 6-inches.

But there's also another theory—first started by Reuters last June—going around that Apple is working on two larger screen iPhone models: one with a 4.7-inch display and one with a 5.7-inch display. And a new report out of China adds to the mix...

WSJ: Foxconn ramping up iPhone 5s production

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

Yesterday we reported that online iPhone 5s availability had improved, with shipping estimates lowered to 3-5 days. Now, this newfound inventory could be the result of greater production yields, lower demand, or both.

But according to The Wall Street Journal, it's likely the former. The news outlet is reporting this morning that Foxconn has boosted production capacity for the iPhone 5s, at the expense of the 5c, at the request of Apple...

Foxconn looking to invest $40 million in new US plant

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

As part of its ongoing efforts to expand its North American operations, Foxconn is looking to invest over $40 million over the next two years building a high-tech manufacturing facility in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Bloomberg is reporting this week that the company, which counts Apple as its largest client, will spend $30 million on the new plant and $10 million in research and development at Carnegie Mellon University...

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...

Tim Cook joins board of China’s top Beijing university

Ed Sutherland ∙ October 22, 2013

As China becomes more important to Apple's bottom line, the iPhone maker will need to grease the wheels to ensure products are timely approved. In a step in that direction, Apple CEO Tim Cook has joined the advisory board of a prestigious engineering university - which also happens to include a number of prominent Chinese politicians.

Cook, who is also a Nike board member, has added his name to a panel assisting Tsinghua University's School of Economics and Management (SEM), according to a report. As markets such as North America and Western Europe mature and growth slows, tech companies like Apple view China as a way to take up the slack...

New report claims Apple launching 55″ and 65″ 4K TV sets in 2014

Cody Lee ∙ October 22, 2013

Apple may not be ready to introduce its TV set at today's iPad event, but the project does appear to be nearing completion. This according to comments made by Advanced Research's Masahiko Ishino, in a recent interview with Bloomberg.

Citing anonymous sources, the Tokyo-based analyst tells the news outlet that the Cupertino company is preparing to begin selling ultra-high definition televisions next year. The TV will come in 55" and 65" flavors, with a frameless design...

Why would Apple cut iPhone 5c production down?

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated April 13, 2018

That is twice in two weeks that we hear Apple has asked suppliers in China to cut down on production of the iPhone 5c. Although the first report from Chinese website C Technology came more as a rumor than an actual fact, today's WSJ report that echoes the same information definitely gives more credence to the claim.

This is the ideal news for Apple naysayers, downers, and other AAPL bears. Clearly, if Apple is cutting down orders on the iPhone 5c, then it must mean the device isn't selling as well as expected. But is that really the truth?

Foxconn: yes, interns worked overtime and even nights

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated November 30, 2016

Foxconn, the Tiawanese electronics assembler closely linked to Apple and other electronics firms, admits student interns who helped build Sony Playstation 4 consoles worked both overtime and at night in its China factories. Foxconn is the world's leading contract manufacturer whose fortunes are closely tied to Apple's.

In a statement last week, Foxconn said there were "a few instances" where interns worked shifts which violated company policies. However, the company which also assembles iPhones and iPads for Apple, said "immediate actions" will be put in place to prevent further incidents...

WSJ: Apple cutting iPhone 5c production, increasing 5s orders

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

Apple has asked its iPhone suppliers in China to cut down on production of its iPhone 5c model, according to a new report by The Wall Street Journal. This is the second time we've heard this in as many weeks.

Last week, it was reported by Chinese web site C Technology that Apple had cut their iPhone 5c orders in half—from 300K units per day, to 150K—spawning speculation that the device isn't selling very well...