Reported Foxconn hiring spree could signal 'iPhone 5S' mass production
A report out of the Far East on Tuesday claims Apple manufacturing partner Foxconn is hiring a large number of workers to handle production of the next-generation iPhone.
According to China Business News (via CNET), a recruitment firm responsible for Foxconn's plant in Zhengzhou, Henan Province, has started "large-scale" hires for a ramp up to build what one source called the "iPhone 6."
The person went on to say that Foxconn has already started production of the next-generation handset, and is aiming to fill assembly line positions with the mass recruitment. Currently, the plant has about 210,000 workers, much less than the 300,000 people employed there during peak manufacturing in 2012.
As the seasonal hires file onto the production floor, it is widely believed that Foxconn is preparing to enter the mass production phase of the so-called "iPhone 5S," a handset thought to carry over the design of the iPhone 5, but with upgraded internals. This "S version" would be in line with Apple's iPhone hardware update cycle, which brings design overhauls every other year.
The publication's tipster speculates that the Zhengzhou plant is working on a substantially different iPhone, with a borderless design and an aluminum and carbon fiber shell that will cut weight by 40 percent compared to the iPhone 5.
Images of supposedly "leaked" parts have surfaced on the Web for Apple's iPhone 5S, as well as a cheaper "iPhone Lite" model that could boast a colored plastic shell.
AppleInsider was first to reveal potential schematics of both the iPhone 5S and iPhone Lite, as well as 3D renderings depicting how the two handsets are expected to look.
According to China Business News (via CNET), a recruitment firm responsible for Foxconn's plant in Zhengzhou, Henan Province, has started "large-scale" hires for a ramp up to build what one source called the "iPhone 6."
The person went on to say that Foxconn has already started production of the next-generation handset, and is aiming to fill assembly line positions with the mass recruitment. Currently, the plant has about 210,000 workers, much less than the 300,000 people employed there during peak manufacturing in 2012.
As the seasonal hires file onto the production floor, it is widely believed that Foxconn is preparing to enter the mass production phase of the so-called "iPhone 5S," a handset thought to carry over the design of the iPhone 5, but with upgraded internals. This "S version" would be in line with Apple's iPhone hardware update cycle, which brings design overhauls every other year.
The publication's tipster speculates that the Zhengzhou plant is working on a substantially different iPhone, with a borderless design and an aluminum and carbon fiber shell that will cut weight by 40 percent compared to the iPhone 5.
Images of supposedly "leaked" parts have surfaced on the Web for Apple's iPhone 5S, as well as a cheaper "iPhone Lite" model that could boast a colored plastic shell.
AppleInsider was first to reveal potential schematics of both the iPhone 5S and iPhone Lite, as well as 3D renderings depicting how the two handsets are expected to look.
Comments
Unless I'm mistaken, this would be the first rumor that a future generation iPhone, with an aluminum and 'carbon-fiber' shell, has begun production.
http://www.slashgear.com/apple-looking-at-carbon-fiber-for-the-next-ipad-18114998/
http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-icloud-phone-2011-8
http://www.idownloadblog.com/2012/09/26/apple-carbon-parts/
Quote:
Originally Posted by AppleInsider
(...)
As the seasonal hires file onto the production floor, it is widely believed that Foxconn is preparing to enter the mass production phase of the so-called "iPhone 5S," a handset thought to carry over the design of the iPhone 5, but with upgraded internals. This "S version" would be in line with Apple's iPhone hardware update cycle, which brings design overhauls every other year.
The publication's tipster speculates that the Zhengzhou plant is working on a substantially different iPhone, with a borderless design and an aluminum and carbon fiber shell that will bring cut weight (?) by 40 percent compared to the iPhone 5.
(...)
Hey, Mikey Campbell.....do you think you could possibly read over (as in proofread) what you type before you post the article. It's not like you're writing a Moby Dick-like-chapter-long DED article, just a few one & two sentence paragraphs.
Indeed, imo all we got so far are the low cost iphone leaks.
Quote:
Originally Posted by herbapou
Indeed, imo all we got so far are the low cost iphone leaks.
All the rumors suggested a polycarbonate case which is a hard and durable plastic and was used for the previous generation MacBook. CFRP or Carbon-Fiber Reinforced Polymer is much stronger and is used in the Boeing 787, F117 fighter, B2 bomber and even the original B1 as well as many other high tech applications. It is not even fair to compare it to polycarbonate or to call it a plastic (which it technically is). Although it is a much superior material, it is also more difficult and therefore more expensive to mass produce. For this reason, I was expecting Apple to first apply it to the Mac Pro which is a much lower volume product but with a high margin. If Apple were to apply CFRP to the iPhone, I would expect it to be used for the iPhone 6, not the so called "low cost" iPhone.
Quote:
Originally Posted by masterkona
I am more confident than ever that Apple's plastic iPhone is really a carbon fiber reinforced plastic iPhone. The "Plastic iPhone" will not be cheap by any definition. It will be a mid range iPhone for people who want a strong device with tons of storage, that can be used primarily to send emails, make calls, and listen to music. Additionally the "large" iPhone will be the iCloud phone and will cost $100 more than the iPhone 6, but will include free iCloud service. This device will be for people who need large screen, have a lot or movies and music, but don't need the performance of the newest processor.
http://www.slashgear.com/apple-looking-at-carbon-fiber-for-the-next-ipad-18114998/
http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-icloud-phone-2011-8
http://www.idownloadblog.com/2012/09/26/apple-carbon-parts/
I would imagine that a CFRP (the "P" is for polymer not plastic) case for the iPhone would be more expensive to produce than the current aluminum case and would not be suitable for a low cost iPhone. It makes more sense to me that it would be applied to the premium model iPhone (ie the iPhone 6) which presumably would be a higher margin, lower volume model. I tend to believe that the so called "low cost" iphone will have a polycarbonate case which would be much less expensive to produce in high volumes. Hopefully we shall soon see.
The "iCloud phone" arrived with iOS 6.
Frankly we don't know if any of those "leaks" of plastic iPhones were real.
Honestly none of them looked convincing. To me they are about as convincing as all of the "tear drop" iPhone leaks we had 2 years ago.
Funny how there are always a lot of false leaks on "S" year upgrades.
Anyway we can't say conclusively that a low cost iPhone will be plastic.
I find it interesting that the original tipster from Foxconn made no mention of a plastic low cost iPhone in this report about Foxconn upping hires for the 5S launch.
AppleInsider insinuated that there is a plastic phone being produced with no real knowledge from this particular tipster.
If the Foxconn tipster that probably has more info than any of us didnt mention a ramp up in production for a plastic phone that would likely need as many units as possible why are we still perpetuating this information??
One day iPhone displays will be made from synthetic diamond.
Quote:
Originally Posted by herbapou
Indeed, imo all we got so far are the low cost iphone leaks.
Quote:
Originally Posted by blackbook
Frankly we don't know if any of those "leaks" of plastic iPhones were real.
Honestly none of them looked convincing. To me they are about as convincing as all of the "tear drop" iPhone leaks we had 2 years ago.
Funny how there are always a lot of false leaks on "S" year upgrades.
Anyway we can't say conclusively that a low cost iPhone will be plastic.
I find it interesting that the original tipster from Foxconn made no mention of a plastic low cost iPhone in this report about Foxconn upping hires for the 5S launch.
AppleInsider insinuated that there is a plastic phone being produced with no real knowledge from this particular tipster.
If the Foxconn tipster that probably has more info than any of us didnt mention a ramp up in production for a plastic phone that would likely need as many units as possible why are we still perpetuating this information??
True
I have not concluded anything. I only stated this is the first rumor of a CFRP product being in production already. If there is any truth to this rumor, I doubt that it is for a "so called" low-cost iPhone and it is more likely for an "iPhone 6". Also, if there is a "low-cost iPhone, I believe it will have a Polycarbonate case.
Already claims of iPhone production cuts are on everyone's wagging tongues. There's always the frantic rush of bad news for Apple. Timid Cook should be defending the company against all the BS rumors that are constantly being spread. Not as though he has the ability to make anyone believe what he says is the truth. There's absolutely nothing to instill confidence in Apple and Timid Cook. There's nothing worse than watching a once profitable company's share price being slowly overtaken by a company like Netflix. I hear there's very little money to be gained from the media content business. Apparently, Netflix shareholders haven't heard that news. Hey, Timid Cook, wake up and smell the rotten fruit or you're going to have a shareholder revolt on your hands.
Quote:
Originally Posted by masterkona
I am more confident than ever that Apple's plastic iPhone is really a carbon fiber reinforced plastic iPhone. The "Plastic iPhone" will not be cheap by any definition. It will be a mid range iPhone for people who want a strong device with tons of storage, that can be used primarily to send emails, make calls, and listen to music. Additionally the "large" iPhone will be the iCloud phone and will cost $100 more than the iPhone 6, but will include free iCloud service. This device will be for people who need large screen, have a lot or movies and music, but don't need the performance of the newest processor.
http://www.slashgear.com/apple-looking-at-carbon-fiber-for-the-next-ipad-18114998/
http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-icloud-phone-2011-8
http://www.idownloadblog.com/2012/09/26/apple-carbon-part
Guess you couldn't find any older rumors to believe in.
Originally Posted by AppleInsider
... with a borderless design and an aluminum and carbon fiber shell that will cut weight by 40 percent compared to the iPhone 5.
Cool. If true. But that 40 percent reduction will probably be in the shell's weight. Not the overall device weight. The heaviest component in an iPhone's is the battery.
But it would be awesome to have a more or less borderless screen, at least on the long edges. I think the current LCD technology requires a certain amount of space to attach electrical leads to the panels after they're cut out of a large sheet. Maybe Apple has patented some new process to reduce that space. There is, of course, a slight chance that Apple has developed IGZO-based OLED panels for the next iPhone, which may allow for narrower bezels.
Sadly more emphasis has been on screen size by the pundits than OS. I do think the iphone should be a little wider but all this talk about a 5 inch phone is just noise. Apple was pressured to institute a dividend, spend its cash, and the stock has been destroyed. Now they want a cheap phone and big phone. TC has to give us something tangible so that we are not clinging to every rumor and discontinue the "this sounds interesting to us and tv needs work bs!". I am fan but i am starting wonder what is going on with this company....
"The lack of an icon on the Home Button PROVES that the cheap iPhone won't have the App Store!" :rolleyes:
Shut up and go away.
Instead of wondering what is going on with Wall Street, who are responsible for the damage done to Apple.