Sam Oliver
Instead, displays for the iPad 3 will be provided exclusively by Samsung and LG, KoreaIT News said it has "confirmed" in a report published this week. It added that while Sharp was in fact developing display panels for a so-called "iPad 3," the company "failed in initial supply."
Mass production of third-generation iPad panels reportedly began in late 2011. That production is said to have begun with Samsung, while LG picked up full capacity at the beginning of 2012.
The report reiterated rumors that the next iPad will feature a XQGA high-resolution 2,048-by-1,536-pixel display. Production of the new iPad will occur at Foxconn and, as with last year, the new model will go on sale soon after it is announced.
Sharp has been working on its own oxide material for LCD displays made of indium, gallium and zinc, known as IGZO. Recent reports claimed that Apple planned to switch to Sharp's IGZO displays for its next iPad.
Adopting IGZO technology could allow Apple to make the iPad even thinner while still sporting a 330 dots-per-inch screen resolution. Non-IGZO displays may require dual-LED light bars to illuminate a "Retina Display," which could add thickness to the touchscreen tablet.
The latest news out of Korea claims that Sharp's oxide semiconductor TFT panels "failed to pass Apple's approval process for mass production." With Samsung and LG as its primary suppliers, Apple reportedly plans to purchase more than 65 million LCD panels for the third-generation iPad this year.
Apple is expected to unveil its third-generation iPad in March, matching the timeframe with which the iPad 2 was unveiled in 2011. Apple will hold an event next week to make an education announcement, but numerous reports have indicated that no new hardware will be unveiled at the New York City media briefing.
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64 Comments
apple needs to get away from samsung as supplier, stop feeding the beast that steals your IP
apple needs to get away from samsung as supplier, stop feeding the beast that steals your IP
a nice sentiment, but far easier said than done if they are the only people capable of making what you require in the necessary quality and quantity...
Rumor: Apple had requested test panels from Sharp but had decided long ago that it wasn't what they wanted for the iPad 3 (for reasons only Sir Jonny knows) and there was never any deal to be a supplier. Someone leaked that Sharp was supposed to be to try to play games with the stock value. Nothing more or less (same as many of the rumors)
So Retina Display (265ppi) feasible for the early 2012 release or will the sourcing and other consumer issues affect its release?
*hint* Apple gave Sharp over 500 million last year to build displays to them. Apple would not have given Sharp the money if they failed the approval process.