LG unable to meet iPad display demand
LG Display's CEO said Thursday that the company had been unable to fulfill orders for displays used in Apple's iPad, but promised "without fail" to catch up with demand by Q2 2011.
Chief executive Kwon Young-soo explained that LG was currently running "at full capacity," but still experiencing production shortages of the iPad display. "Demand (from Apple) keeps growing and we can't meet it all."
LG is considering increased production for iPad products, but "overall supply is likely to remain tight until early next year," Kwon said. He then set a target of second quarter 2011 for LG to meet orders for the displays.
iPad demand has surpassed even Apple's own expectations. Tim Cook, Apple's Chief Operating Officer, admitted Tuesday that the company had been caught off guard by the high demand for the iPad. 3.27 million iPads were sold through the end of Apple's most recent financial quarter.
In spite of a backlog of iPad orders, Apple announced Monday that it would release the iPad in 9 more countries this Friday, fulfilling its goal to launch in these countries by the end of July.
In April, Apple announced that the international launch of the iPad would be delayed by one month. The Cupertino, Calif., company cited surprisingly strong demand as the cause of the delay. However, some analysts have pointed to LG's display shortages as a limiting factor in the production of the device.
According to Reuters' coverage of the LG executives' comments, "Apple may have to delay launches of the iPad for some countries due to tight component supplies and strong demand."
LG also announced Thursday that it was investing over $500 million in production of mobile phone and tablet sized displays. Last year, Apple prepaid $500 million to LG for a guaranteed 5-year supply of LCD screens for Macs and handheld products.
Chief executive Kwon Young-soo explained that LG was currently running "at full capacity," but still experiencing production shortages of the iPad display. "Demand (from Apple) keeps growing and we can't meet it all."
LG is considering increased production for iPad products, but "overall supply is likely to remain tight until early next year," Kwon said. He then set a target of second quarter 2011 for LG to meet orders for the displays.
iPad demand has surpassed even Apple's own expectations. Tim Cook, Apple's Chief Operating Officer, admitted Tuesday that the company had been caught off guard by the high demand for the iPad. 3.27 million iPads were sold through the end of Apple's most recent financial quarter.
In spite of a backlog of iPad orders, Apple announced Monday that it would release the iPad in 9 more countries this Friday, fulfilling its goal to launch in these countries by the end of July.
In April, Apple announced that the international launch of the iPad would be delayed by one month. The Cupertino, Calif., company cited surprisingly strong demand as the cause of the delay. However, some analysts have pointed to LG's display shortages as a limiting factor in the production of the device.
According to Reuters' coverage of the LG executives' comments, "Apple may have to delay launches of the iPad for some countries due to tight component supplies and strong demand."
LG also announced Thursday that it was investing over $500 million in production of mobile phone and tablet sized displays. Last year, Apple prepaid $500 million to LG for a guaranteed 5-year supply of LCD screens for Macs and handheld products.
Comments
Chief executive Kwon Young-soo explained that LG was currently running "at full capacity," but still experiencing production shortages of the iPad display. "Demand (from Apple) keeps growing and we can't meet it all."
Sometimes it makes you wonder if you can trust anything these Asian suppliers say. They are competing with Apple and also a vendor. With the leaks and the knock offs, stealing IP and everything else, how long can these relationships last? It is definitely the Achilles' heel for Apple.
Sometimes it makes you wonder if you can trust anything these Asian suppliers say. They are competing with Apple and also a vendor. With the leaks and the knock offs, stealing IP and everything else, how long can these relationships last? It is definitely the Achilles' heel for Apple.
But without the controller software/OS to drive these displays and the associated chips and other bits of hardware, a single manufacturer would be hard-pressed to create and market a competitive product.
That's too bad because I'm really really liking my iPhone 4's display. Going back to 3GS displays and even my computer display, I can really feel the difference that a high pixel density screen brings.
But without the controller software/OS to drive these displays and the associated chips and other bits of hardware, a single manufacturer would be hard-pressed to create and market a competitive product.
Sure but they make displays for anyone who wants one, passing on whatever they learn from Apple.
Sometimes it makes you wonder if you can trust anything these Asian suppliers say. They are competing with Apple and also a vendor. With the leaks and the knock offs, stealing IP and everything else, how long can these relationships last? It is definitely the Achilles' heel for Apple.
If Apple has been careful, it shouldn't be a problem. All LG really needs to know are the design requirements of the panel, they don't have to know anything about the rest of whatever it goes into.
I also don't think it would make sense for LG to intentionally constrain panel supply in the runup to their own tablet. That would invite too much suspicion, and if they lose panel sales to a competing supplier, then that's money they aren't making.
No Retina Display in Gen. 2?
Sadly, I guess that means we will NOT see the same "Retina Display" in the next update to the iPad then. If LG is saying they won't even catch up on current IPS display production at this size, it would seem to indicate that the next refresh (assuming Apple sticks with an annual update cycle for iPad) will see the iPad v2 continue to use the same display until a higher density display can be manufactured en masse.
That's too bad because I'm really really liking my iPhone 4's display. Going back to 3GS displays and even my computer display, I can really feel the difference that a high pixel density screen brings.
I don?t think that was ever a possibility to begin with. Even if Apple made the iPad display with double the resolution (4x the pixels) like the did when going from the 3GS to the iPhone 4, it still wouldn?t be a "Retina Display? is we use 20/20 eyesight (1 arc min) as the minimum level for which this term can be used.
Sadly, I guess that means we will NOT see the same "Retina Display" in the next update to the iPad then. If LG is saying they won't even catch up on current IPS display production at this size, it would seem to indicate that the next refresh (assuming Apple sticks with an annual update cycle for iPad) will see the iPad v2 continue to use the same display until a higher density display can be manufactured en masse.
That's too bad because I'm really really liking my iPhone 4's display. Going back to 3GS displays and even my computer display, I can really feel the difference that a high pixel density screen brings.
(I just hope Steve doesn't tell everyone to just hold the iPad further away to make it seem like a retina display).
lol Another email from Jobs saying ?You?re holding it wrong"?
I know that HP has a touchscreen, but I am dubious about Apple doing the same with laptops and desktops. Holding your hand horizontally toward a touch screen for any length of time is tiring. With a trackpad you can rest the heel of your hand to provide support. I think Apple has better ergonomic sense than creating a touchscreen just because other manufacturers has done so.
I also don't agree with the idea that iOS4 and Mac OS X will be fully merged. They will likely share more cross functionality than they do now, but retain separate focus ? respectively, touch and keyboard/trackpad.
I am also looking forward to a higher resolution iPad. The distance you hold the device from the eye makes a difference, so no need to match the iPhone4 Retina Display.
Holding your hand horizontally toward a touch screen for any length of time is tiring.
Why is it that so many people keep saying this even though the solution is stupid obvious? Just redesign the back of the iMac so it can be taken off its stand and put flat on the desk. The iMac's chin becomes a wrist rest.
Go check out the picures of the Wacom Cintiq is you need help imagining how this could work.
There are other reasons why a direct touchscreen interface is poorly suited to Mac OS X, but I think they could eventually be solved as well, if Apple wanted too.
It's just really aggrevating to hear the same reason over and over, even though it has already been addressed many times in the past.
Sometimes it makes you wonder if you can trust anything these Asian suppliers say. They are competing with Apple and also a vendor. With the leaks and the knock offs, stealing IP and everything else, how long can these relationships last? It is definitely the Achilles' heel for Apple.
What are you trying to say?
I wouldn't be surprised if Apple were looking into this. I'm not technically minded by any stretch of the imagination but would it be feasible for Apple to manufacture all it's own parts?
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LOL, I thought LG was a huge company. If they can meet the demand it's good news for the iPad.
It tells us that the iPad is hugely popular, but also that the panel is unique as well, nobody else seems at this stage even close to coming up with a competing product, half a year into the iPad being revealed.
It tells us that the iPad is hugely popular, but also that the panel is unique as well, nobody else seems at this stage even close to coming up with a competing product, half a year into the iPad being revealed.
BINGO
i have seen some ipads on the staten island ferry
they look so nice .sadly few and far between.
Sometimes it makes you wonder if you can trust anything these Asian suppliers say. They are competing with Apple and also a vendor. With the leaks and the knock offs, stealing IP and everything else, how long can these relationships last? It is definitely the Achilles' heel for Apple.
Agreed, you'd think SJ would be looking at finding ways to avoid this even if it means building his own automated fabrication plants here or abroad. Catching up by Q2 in 2011? Sheesh!
It tells us that the iPad is hugely popular, but also that the panel is unique as well, nobody else seems at this stage even close to coming up with a competing product, half a year into the iPad being revealed.
Yes and I often wonder what all those folks bought after they wrote how they'd not buy an iPad but rather the 'far superior' one from ... various names inserted here.