Apple orders 10-inch tablet displays and robust glass panels
Apple has placed mass orders for 10-inch displays as well as strong glass panels and connectors to go with them, according to two separate reports out of the Far East that peg the components for the company's much-anticipated tablet device.
According to DigiTimes, Foxconn's panel-making subsidiary Innolux will serve as the primary supplier of 10-inch panels for the forthcoming multi-touch device while Wintek -- Apple's primary iPhone display panel purveyor -- will be tasked with filling many of the remaining orders.
Citing sources from the iPhone maker's component suppliers, the Taiwanese rumor site also reports that the Cupertino-based company has been "seeking solutions to strengthen the glass of the 10-inch panel for the" tablets, a move which contributed to delaying the device's launch until the first-quarter 2010.
Foxconn's optical glass processing subsidiary G-Tech Optoelectronics will reportedly provide this unidentified glass strengthening process, while Taiwan-based optical film maker Wah Hong Industrial has also been tapped to supply components that will aid in the effort.
Based on an analysis of the shipping schedules of Apple's upstream component suppliers, DigiTimes predicts that Apple could announce its new tablet device in January with volume shipments to follow by March.
Separately, Taiwan's "Economic Daily" newspaper also reported Monday that Cheng Uei Precision has received large orders for new flat-panel Tablet PC connector parts, but oddly suggests the company is unlikely to start delivering those parts to Apple until the third quarter of 2010.
Last Summer, AppleInsider was first to report that Apple would base its long-awaited tablet device around a 10-inch display and that the device was bound to turn up no earlier than the first quarter of 2010.
Media reports from last Wednesday claim Apple recently booked the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco for Tuesday Jan. 26 for an unknown event, suggesting an unveiling could be less than a month away.
According to DigiTimes, Foxconn's panel-making subsidiary Innolux will serve as the primary supplier of 10-inch panels for the forthcoming multi-touch device while Wintek -- Apple's primary iPhone display panel purveyor -- will be tasked with filling many of the remaining orders.
Citing sources from the iPhone maker's component suppliers, the Taiwanese rumor site also reports that the Cupertino-based company has been "seeking solutions to strengthen the glass of the 10-inch panel for the" tablets, a move which contributed to delaying the device's launch until the first-quarter 2010.
Foxconn's optical glass processing subsidiary G-Tech Optoelectronics will reportedly provide this unidentified glass strengthening process, while Taiwan-based optical film maker Wah Hong Industrial has also been tapped to supply components that will aid in the effort.
Based on an analysis of the shipping schedules of Apple's upstream component suppliers, DigiTimes predicts that Apple could announce its new tablet device in January with volume shipments to follow by March.
Separately, Taiwan's "Economic Daily" newspaper also reported Monday that Cheng Uei Precision has received large orders for new flat-panel Tablet PC connector parts, but oddly suggests the company is unlikely to start delivering those parts to Apple until the third quarter of 2010.
Last Summer, AppleInsider was first to report that Apple would base its long-awaited tablet device around a 10-inch display and that the device was bound to turn up no earlier than the first quarter of 2010.
Media reports from last Wednesday claim Apple recently booked the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco for Tuesday Jan. 26 for an unknown event, suggesting an unveiling could be less than a month away.
Comments
I predict we are gona see reports of "evident" suggesting a 7 inch display tomorrow, and more "evident" for a 10 inch the day after...
I was always told 7-inches is big enough.
Reality: Women lie
That being said, you can NEVER... EVER trust anything from DigiTimes.
I was always told 7-inches is big enough.
Seven-inch is too small for two-handed typing and too big for thumb typing. A 10-inch form factor seems better for two-handed typing. I wonder which size it will be, or maybe both will be made.
Thumb typing could still be possible when it's in portrait mode, for those who prefer it.
In landscape mode - full size two hand typing is probably the way to go. But the keyboard will cover half of the screen at that point.
We still don't know the aspect of the screen, do we? If they want a 10" device to slide into a jacket pocket, it has to be really wide screen... like that Vaio P series or something. But it's probably not gonna be pocket size. I'm guessing 3:2 aspect.
This would be a perfect opportunity to explore the glare and reflection reduction properties of various materials as well as their strengthening abilities.
I can't recall one incident where a original flat panel LCD screen (matte film applied at the factory) has ever shattered or cracked due to pressure or a slight drop.
Also I have already seen a 10" or so touch screen device from Asia nearly three years ago.
A guy had one and was testing a device while on vacation. It could get on the internet, had a SD slot, camera etc.
Quite a handy device and very desirable as it fits neatly into a inside jacket pocket, it was quite long.
10 inches sounds very big for this device. I know this is the same rumor going around since at least 18 months ago, and its probably true at this point. I just think 10" is big. I'm typing on an 11.2 inch netbook and trying to imagine.
Ten inches is just about right to accommodate an almost-full-size keyboard. Turned vertical, it would contain a full-size page of typical nine-inch-tall book.
The iPain has returned.
FWIW, a Word document with standard margins measures 9.7" diagonally.
You must be setting your margins wide in order to increase the page count of your reports!
We need stronger glass -- good thinking Apple. Too many people drop and shatter their iPhones and iPod Touches. Anything to make the glass more resiliant to cracking, chipping and breaking is a plus!
People tend to drop them when light reflects off them and blind sides them. Hopefully these tablets will be matte or no sale.
We need stronger glass -- good thinking Apple. Too many people drop and shatter their iPhones and iPod Touches. Anything to make the glass more resiliant to cracking, chipping and breaking is a plus!
If you think the glass on this thing won't crack if you drop it you are living in denial. A far as I'm concerned this is an Apple leak designed for marketing purposes. Means literally nothing to me.
If it was iPhone aspect ratio, about 5.6" x 8.4".
These are not counting the frame around the display.
Not unreasonably big, but I think I'd still prefer something about halfway between the current touch and those dimensions, as a good compromise between size and portability.
Oh well, I'm anxious to see what Apple releases even though I can't imagine myself getting one.
Seven-inch is too small for two-handed typing and too big for thumb typing. A 10-inch form factor seems better for two-handed typing. I wonder which size it will be, or maybe both will be made.
Keyboard can be zoomed - shrunk - split - dragged wherever.