Supply

iPhone 7 demand reportedly starts fading as iPhone 8 rumors continue picking up steam

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 1, 2016

Apple has enjoyed success with the new iPhone 7 family as the Jet Black iPhone 7 Plus models saw strong demand, in some part due to Samsung's Note 7 debacle. But demand for latest iPhones may have started to fade recently, forcing Apple to cut back on orders, Taiwanese supply chain sources told trade publication DigiTimes.

That's especially true with the rumor-mill in high gear regarding next year's massive iPhone 8 upgrade and all the talk of the so-called Tenth Anniversary iPhone gaining all-glass, bezel-free industrial design and a wraparound OLED displays akin to that on the Galaxy S7 edge.

10.5-inch iPad Pro rumored to target education and enterprise markets

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 24, 2016

Apple may position its rumored new 10.5-inch iPad Pro model as the go-to tablet in the education and enterprise markets, if a report Tuesday in DigiTimes is anything to go by. The Taiwanese trade publication learned from Asian supply chain makers that the Cupertino firm's decided to add a new screen size to the lineup because existing 9.7-inch models proved too small and the 12.9-inch iPad Pro too expensive for business users and students.

Panel suppliers struggling to meet Apple’s large order volume for OLED iPhones

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 17, 2016

For all the talk of Apple's rumored switch to the superior, power-sipping organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display technology for next year's iPhones, it's increasingly looking like OLED screens will be limited to a single model.

That's because panel manufacturers are currently struggling to meet Apple's expectedly large order volume and stringent quality requirements. That OLED screens are far more difficult to produce than LCDs isn't helping either.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and Jungah Lee said today that four main OLED panel suppliers—Samsung Display, LG Display, Sharp and Japan Display—are currently suffering from yield issues, with constraints potentially continuing into 2018.

Apple screen supplier Japan Display could receive government bailout

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 11, 2016

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Apple supplier Japan Display could receive a bailout of around ¥75 billion ($703 million) from the government-backed fund Innovation Network Corp. of Japan (INCJ), which is its largest shareholder with a 36 percent share.

People familiar with the matter said that the display maker might receive new financing from INCJ through an issuance of subordinated bonds and may possibly get “additional support” from the fund.

Apple aggressively boosting MacBook Pro orders with 15M estimated shipments in 2016

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 8, 2016

As the Internet keeps whining about supposed lack of features on the new MacBook Pro (let's bring back the floppy drive, shall we?) and Apple's master plan to make us buy more dongles, the Cupertino firm appears confident in the face of strong criticism that its latest notebook is indeed going to appeal to the general public and mainstream users.

According to supply chain chatter echoed by Taiwanese trade publication DigiTimes, Apple's been pretty “aggressive” in placing orders for the new MacBook Pros.

AirPods may not ship until January 2017

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 1, 2016

After Apple shared disappointing news that the much vaunted AirPods aren’t quite ready yet and won't meet its self-imposed late-October deadline, a new report from Chinese-language Economic Daily News re-published Tuesday by Taiwanese trade publication DigiTimes suggests that Apple's first-ever wireless earphones may not actually go on sale before January of next year.

Note 7 recall has Apple boosting iPhone 7 orders to snatch market share from Samsung

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 25, 2016

Samsung is expected to lose a few billion dollars over the ill-fated Note 7 which got discontinued after numerous reports of spontaneous battery fires. The Note 7 debacle has created an opportunity not just for Apple and Google, but just about every vendor out there that builds high-end smartphones.

According to DigiTimes, Apple has now increased iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus orders for the crucial holiday quarter as it looks to snatch some market share from Samsung.

Apple in negotiations with Sharp to supply OLED screens for new iPhones

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 30, 2016

Bloomberg is reporting that Apple is in negotiations with Japanese consumer electronics maker Sharp to supply organic LED displays (OLED) for future iPhones. Any potential agreement is contingent upon Sharp’s production capability. The rumored discussions reportedly stem from Apple’s desire to secure multiple suppliers for organic LED screens and minimize exposure to any single supplier.

Apple boosting iPhone 7 component orders significantly ahead of the holiday quarter

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 28, 2016

Unfazed by analyst reports predicting lower iPhone 7 sales this year versus the iPhone 6s in 2015, Apple is now reportedly increasing part and component orders for the handset, touch panel makers told Taiwanese trade publication DigiTimes. Component orders for the holiday quarter are said to be 20-30 percent higher, according to Taiwan-based touch panel makers TPK Holding and General Interface Solution.

Apple has ramped up chip and component orders for Apple Watch Series 2

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 9, 2016

Apple appears confident that the new Apple Watch Series 2 will be twice as successful as the original model and has reportedly ramped up chip and component orders for the device, according to Taiwanese trade publication DigiTimes that has solid sources in Asian supply chain.

iPhone 7 is shipping out to various countries in preparation for launch

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 7, 2016

First iPhone 7 shipments are now going out worldwide in preparation for launch, according to a report Wednesday by Taiwanese trade publication DigiTimes. Apple's supply chain is now loading up with first iPhone 7 shipments, sources entrenched in Apple's supply chain told the publication.

Two days ago, iPhone manufacturer Foxconn reportedly shipped 371,000 units of the iPhone 7 to retailers and carriers in Italy, the Netherlands, the United States and the United Kingdom.

Suppliers gearing up for production of iPhone 8’s curved-glass chassis

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 31, 2016

In 2017, the iPhone should undergo a top-to-bottom industrial design overhaul with a number of hardware improvements planned for the handset, such as a wraparound AMOLED display curved at both sides like that on Samsung's Note 7 and the Galaxy S6/S7 range, as well as an all-new glass enclosure.

According to a recent Chinese-language Commercial Times report cited by DigiTimes, Taiwanese suppliers are now ordering machinery for the production of curved glass chassis for next year's iPhone lineup. The glass casing should help differentiate the Tenth Anniversary iPhone, as the media affectionally calls the device, and give Apple fans more reasons to upgrade.