Sam OliverAccording to DigiTimes, Taiwan-based Cando, a subsidiary of AU Optronics, will begin shipping 9.7-inch touch sensors for the iPad in September or October. The sensors will be crafted at the company's newly revamped production line.
"Overall output of the newly reformed 4.5G plant will be mainly for iPad touch sensors with a monthly capacity of almost one million units," the report said.
The new plant is said to have a capacity of 70,000 glass substrates per month. Each of those substrates can cut 16 units of touch sensors for the iPad and its 9.7-inch display.
Before the iPad launched, numerous reports indicated that various production issues led to limited availability. Touch panels, in particular, proved to be a problem, as Apple reportedly switched orders for the parts to Wintek just before the iPad U.S. debut in early April.
In July, LG Display admitted it was unable to keep up with demand for the iPad, with the company incapable of fulfilling orders for displays.
Limited supply, along with strong demand, forced Apple to delay the international launch of the iPad by one month in April. And availability in the U.S., particularly of the 3G model remained constrained for months.
But recently, iPad shipping times on Apple's website improved to 24 hours, suggesting production issues have been resolved. In addition, Apple is quickly expanding the retail presence of the iPad before the holiday shopping season.
Andrew Orr
William Gallagher
Sponsored Content
Malcolm Owen
Christine McKee
25 Comments
To bad Apple cannot find a manufacturer of this item in the US where we need jobs desperately not Taiwan where their economy is pretty good. That is why we are in this bad financial condition because of exporting these jobs to other countries.Give us a chance to say MADE IN THE U.S.A.
To bad Apple cannot find a manufacturer of this item in the US where we need jobs desperately not Taiwan where their economy is pretty good. That is why we are in this bad financial condition because of exporting these jobs to other countries.Give us a chance to say MADE IN THE U.S.A.
If people like to do this job ... you open something with this opinion.
To bad Apple cannot find a manufacturer of this item in the US where we need jobs desperately not Taiwan where their economy is pretty good. That is why we are in this bad financial condition because of exporting these jobs to other countries.Give us a chance to say MADE IN THE U.S.A.
I’d be happy to pay you 15¢ an hour.
To bad Apple cannot find a manufacturer of this item in the US where we need jobs desperately not Taiwan where their economy is pretty good. That is why we are in this bad financial condition because of exporting these jobs to other countries.Give us a chance to say MADE IN THE U.S.A.
Love to see it, but if it happens you can say goodbye to the $499 price point. Imagine the iPad being manufactured by Americans in a union shop. It would be a beautiful thing but you could probably put a one in front of the $499 and nobody would buy it.
I can only assume it's the low price point that compels people to buy a crippled device in the first place. This Sunday I sat down on the couch with my glossy iPad to watch the season opener of my favorite NFL team. I went to the official website to look at some stats and discovered it's all flash based. So another site I can add to the list that I can't see. Worthless.
Love to see it, but if it happens you can say goodbye to the $499 price point. Imagine the iPad being manufactured by Americans in a union shop. It would be a beautiful thing but you could probably put a one in front of the $499 and nobody would buy it.
I can only assume it's the low price point that compels people to buy a crippled device in the first place. This Sunday I sat down on the couch with my glossy iPad to watch the season opener of my favorite NFL team. I went to the official website to look at some stats and discovered it's all flash based. So another site I can add to the list that I can't see. Worthless.
Since it is worthless to you I'll pay the shipping if you would just send it to me.