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Claims of Apple Investing Billions in Sharp and Toshiba LCD Factories Revived

MacRumors

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
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iphone_4_glass.jpg


Last December, a report out of Japan claimed that Apple and Toshiba were set to invest over $1 billion in a new LCD factory to produce displays for the iPhone. And just a few days later, a nearly identical rumor popped up involving Sharp, leading to confusion over whether there was an error or if Apple was pursuing major investments with both companies.

More clarity came to the situation in January when Apple announced as part of an earnings conference call that it had made $3.9 billion in long-term investments with three companies in order to secure components over a two-year period. We concluded that the investment was most likely related to displays, with the Sharp and Toshiba deals appearing to make up a significant share of the total investment.

By April, word came that Sharp had been tabbed to supply displays for the sixth-generation iPhone, presumably set for release in 2012. The new poly-silicon (p-Si) displays reportedly have electrical components embedded into the glass surface, allowing for thinner and lighter displays.

Reuters now revives the rumors with a new report focusing on Apple's claimed investment in Sharp's factory while also referencing the Toshiba deal. The investments are presented within the context of Apple's patent dispute with Samsung, a dispute that some have suggested may be driving Apple to decrease its reliance on Samsung for components.
Apple Inc plans to invest in a Sharp Corp factory to secure a supply of LCD screens for iPhones and iPads, sources said, triggering expectations Apple may step up orders to Japanese parts makers.

The proposed move, along with an investment in a new LCD factory of Toshiba Corp, comes as Apple and key supplier Samsung Electronics battle in courts over patent disputes, spurring talk that Apple may diversify suppliers.
Click to expand...
Sharp's shares jumped slightly today after brokerage firm MF Global FXA Securities issued a research note highlighting the probability of an investment by Apple, apparently spurring Reuters to summarize what its sources have been indicating for some time.

Apple already appears to be shifting away from Samsung for production of its custom processors for its iOS devices, with TSMC reportedly beginning trial production of Apple's next-generation A6 system-on-a-chip. Today's report also indicates that flash memory manufacturers Elpida and Toshiba are hopeful that Apple will look to diversify its suppliers in that area as well.

Article Link: Claims of Apple Investing Billions in Sharp and Toshiba LCD Factories Revived
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2011/08/17/claims-of-apple-investing-billions-in-sharp-and-toshiba-lcd-factories-revived/
ArtOfWarfare

ArtOfWarfare

macrumors G3
Nov 26, 2007
9,560
6,059
Seriously?

A6 and sixth generation screens?

Was any other unreleased Apple product so completely ignored in favor of its even further away from release successor?

It makes me seriously pissed how little word there is on the iPhone 5 and how much there is on the iPhone 6. Like, I know that the iPhone 5 is having more stuff than the iPhone 6, but not anywhere near as many times as much as it should be. It's more like, 2 iPhone 5 articles per iPhone 6 one instead of 5-10 iPhone 5 per iPhone 6.
 
King Flamez1

King Flamez1

macrumors regular
Feb 27, 2011
117
0
Toronto, Canada
ArtOfWarfare said:
Seriously?

A6 and sixth generation screens?

Was any other unreleased Apple product so completely ignored in favor of its even further away from release successor?

It makes me seriously pissed how little word there is on the iPhone 5 and how much there is on the iPhone 6. Like, I know that the iPhone 5 is having more stuff than the iPhone 6, but not anywhere near as many times as much as it should be. It's more like, 2 iPhone 5 articles per iPhone 6 one instead of 5-10 iPhone 5 per iPhone 6.
Click to expand...

im sorry the ratio of articles bothers you to such a degree
 
R

Ryth

macrumors 68000
Apr 21, 2011
1,591
157
Anyone know why the Apple store is down?

Say's "We're Updating the Store"

New product update? :eek:
 
I

Intarweb

macrumors 6502a
May 30, 2007
561
0
All this money they're investing in other countries should be invested here in the States. All they're investing in here are stores and offices. How about striking a deal with Toshiba and Sharp to make factories here? Apple has massive power right now. How about throwing a bone or two to the country that made you?
 
T

troop231

macrumors 603
Jan 20, 2010
5,822
553
Ryth said:
Anyone know why the Apple store is down?

Say's "We're Updating the Store"

New product update? :eek:
Click to expand...

I can't even connect to the store, probably just a server glitch. Doubt any new products are coming today.
 
FriarNurgle

FriarNurgle

macrumors regular
Jan 2, 2011
233
0
Intarweb said:
All this money they're investing in other countries should be invested here in the States. All they're investing in here are stores and offices. How about striking a deal with Toshiba and Sharp to make factories here? Apple has massive power right now. How about throwing a bone or two to the country that made you?
Click to expand...

Could you imagine how much an iPod shuffle would cost if they tried to produce it here in the states? Maybe when the entire factory can be automated... but even then it's still cheaper to produce in another country given overhead here in the US.
 
J

JJhenley

macrumors newbie
Aug 11, 2011
6
0
Repair tracking site has been down in the UK since 10am this morning. Just as my iPad is in for repair as well.

Damn,,...
 
nylonsteel

nylonsteel

macrumors 68000
Nov 5, 2010
1,552
490
re investing billions in japan lcd

sounds good to me
back in the day sharp and toshiba were solid

thats what you get samsung for messin wit aapl

i say good choice aapl

"let it roll..." - ufo
 
A

alent1234

macrumors 603
Jun 19, 2009
5,688
170
Intarweb said:
All this money they're investing in other countries should be invested here in the States. All they're investing in here are stores and offices. How about striking a deal with Toshiba and Sharp to make factories here? Apple has massive power right now. How about throwing a bone or two to the country that made you?
Click to expand...

as long as it's OK to dump all the toxic waste near your house and away from NYC it's OK by me
 
A

ade2bee

macrumors regular
Dec 13, 2009
168
0
FriarNurgle said:
Could you imagine how much an iPod shuffle would cost if they tried to produce it here in the states? Maybe when the entire factory can be automated... but even then it's still cheaper to produce in another country given overhead here in the US.
Click to expand...

The majority of people in the UK have that attitude too... Well if we did pay extra for industries then we wouldn't be going down the toilet...
 
chrmjenkins

chrmjenkins

macrumors 603
Oct 29, 2007
5,325
158
MD
I don't think thinness and lightness of the display matter that much anymore. I feel that the iphone 4 is plenty thin, and going skinnier hurts rather than helps. What they should be focusing on are things like power consumption, brightness, pixel density, gamut, width of side bezel, etc.
 
AZREOSpecialist

AZREOSpecialist

Suspended
Mar 15, 2009
2,354
1,278
ArtOfWarfare said:
Seriously?

A6 and sixth generation screens?

Was any other unreleased Apple product so completely ignored in favor of its even further away from release successor?

It makes me seriously pissed how little word there is on the iPhone 5 and how much there is on the iPhone 6. Like, I know that the iPhone 5 is having more stuff than the iPhone 6, but not anywhere near as many times as much as it should be. It's more like, 2 iPhone 5 articles per iPhone 6 one instead of 5-10 iPhone 5 per iPhone 6.
Click to expand...

Stop smoking pot.
 
MacAddict1978

MacAddict1978

macrumors 68000
Jun 21, 2006
1,653
883
ArtOfWarfare said:
Seriously?

A6 and sixth generation screens?

Was any other unreleased Apple product so completely ignored in favor of its even further away from release successor?

It makes me seriously pissed how little word there is on the iPhone 5 and how much there is on the iPhone 6. Like, I know that the iPhone 5 is having more stuff than the iPhone 6, but not anywhere near as many times as much as it should be. It's more like, 2 iPhone 5 articles per iPhone 6 one instead of 5-10 iPhone 5 per iPhone 6.
Click to expand...

For starters, nothing was said about the iPhone 6. It was about manufacturing the A6 processor (the A5 has been out for awhile now, like months and has been powering the iPad 2, so YES, this is news.) And um, I'm already sick of the iPhone 5 posts and its not even out... sorry if you've missed all the millions of words about the iPhone 5 and the endless rumors.

As for what the article was actually about, it would be a smart move for Apple. Several competitors have partnerships in display manufacturing (primarily 2 camps). Samsung and Sony are in a deal on displays, and those are Apple's two bigger rivals these days. This is smart for supply purposes as well as to get them out of bed with newly formed enemies.
 
M

MackyMoto

macrumors newbie
Apr 20, 2007
4
0
Editors???

"By April, word came that Sharp had been tabbed to supply..."

That should be "tapped", as in tapped on the shoulder.

Just sayin'.
 
Rocketman

Rocketman

macrumors 603
Dec 2, 2001
6,191
1,186
Claremont, The intellectual capitol of the world.
Shifting away? I don't think so. Apple still sells iPhone 3GS and of course based on that, will be selling iPhone 4 for the forseeable future. Samsung is safe. Apple has all its major suppliers maxed out. iPad2 only came into supply-demand balance 5 months after release. Is that some sort of electronics device record or what?

Apple needs all these guys to make enough displays for touch, pad, phone, mac, and who knows, TV? China is coming, China is coming, to Apple.

The day they are able to keep up, Apple will increase the specs to solve that problem. The production contracts these folks have are medium term.

Look at Apple's latest server space lease. 7 years. Apple is in it. Its suppliers, the ones that can keep up with both production and yield will win too.

Retail space is also a medium term proposition. They are in it, and growing.

Rocketman
 
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