Apple shops for third flash memory supplier

Following a failed joint venture with Samsung and amidst a major ramp in iPod production, Apple Computer is reportedly shopping around for a third supplier of the NAND flash memory used in its popular iPod nano and iPod shuffle music players.

According to a report released by research firm InSpectrum, the iPod maker is likely to tap South Korea-based Hynix Semiconductor, which it recently asked to submit price quotes for low-density NAND flash memory.

Although Samsung and Toshiba are Appleâ€™s primary flash memory suppliers, DigiTimes claims that Apple will shift to Hynix for its low-density 1GB and 512MB (used in the iPod shuffle) while Toshiba strives to fulfill strong demand from SanDisk — the worldâ€™s largest supplier of flash memory data storage card products.

With increased output of flash memory leading into November, and partly due to a planned ramp at Hynix, contract prices for low-density flash have started to decline, the firm added.

InSpectrum forecasts that supply and demand should return to equilibrium in December, with present demand for memory cards, MP3 players and USB drives "remaining vibrant."

Last month, Apple reportedly voided a $3.8 billion joint investment plan with Samsung after the Korean-based company and its U.S. subsidiary pleaded guilty to price fixing charges.

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13 Comments

robin hood

said about 18 years ago

Cheaper iPod shuffle's?

cosmonut

said about 18 years ago

Quote:

Originally posted by Robin Hood
Cheaper iPod shuffle's?

If this is accurate, the shuffle will stay 512MB and 1GB for a while.

maccrazy

said about 18 years ago

Quote:

Originally posted by CosmoNut
If this is accurate, the shuffle will stay 512MB and 1GB for a while.

They're a year old in Jan - Steve will be telling us how successful it has been and will then "replace" it (ie update it!)

chris cuilla

said about 18 years ago

Quote:

Originally posted by MacCrazy
They're a year old in Jan - Steve will be telling us how successful it has been and will then "replace" it (ie update it!)

Question is how?

Display? Possibly. Apple may have come up with some approach that works better than anyone else at this size/price/capacity point.

Form factor? Definitely possible. I vote for a small disk-shaped device that has the click wheel on the front.

Colors? Possible.

Capacity? Not likely.

Pricing? Possible.

Pricing/bundling changes? Definitely possible.

That's all I can think of.

the_snitch

said about 18 years ago

I say the shuffle will be replaced in jan with a newer model. 512mb/1gb is still reasonable, but the shuffle is quite large compared to most flash disks/memory sticks these days. Its even thicker than the nano!

They will most likely bring out a very small flashdisk nano, that could be put on your keyrings (where my sandisk 512mb micro stick is), and perhaps use the white/black 2 color choice, and the clear resin exterior. Of course this is now "scratch proof" :P