Apple Suppliers 'Scrambling' to Produce Enough iPhone 6 Displays After Issues With New Backlight

[age234]

You guys... optimum is the keyword. My iPhone4 lasts me 2 days of normal use. But its not my media center either. A phone is a phone is a phone. Apple won't cater to the "I use it only for 5 hours a day (for gaming or movies) and how dare it running out of juice" people.

When the iPhone was launched, Steve billed it as an iPod + Web Browser + Phone. The addition of the App Store went even further in diversifying it.

The hell it isn't a media center. It has always been billed as a media device that happens to have a phone app. You don't need to white knight for Apple, as it does the company no good. If people clamored for an 11mm phone that got 2 days of battery life with moderate media use, I bet Apple would deliver.

 

[theFly]

This is the same rumor that occurs every year. They're so consistent, I'd pull on my aluminum hat and say they're leaked via the Samsung/HTC/Xiamobi to try and get potential switches to do so before the phone launches.

 

[Boatboy24]

Tim is going through his iPhone launch playbook now:

"Part leaks to fire up interest? Check.

Leak rumor about production issues to cause panicked buying? Check.

Awesome! All that's left is to run through the keynote and count the cash!"

 

[wovel]

How about... Just checking if everything works before mass producing a whole bunch of them?

I bet they never thought of that.

The problem is, no one is clamoring for a thinner phone. I bet if you asked 1000 people if they want the thinnest possible iPhone, or an iPhone 1-2mm thicker that has longer battery life, no protruding camera lens, and no production issues (i.e. they can actually buy one), more than 900 would choose the latter.

I bet they never thought of this either. Are you sure Apple doesn't know what design is most likely to appeal to the widest audience? The flagship iPhone is the #1 selling phone (the only thing even close is the next lower iPhone..) While you have your made up survey, I imagine Apple has done some actually research into what people want in a phone and then they decide on the best balance of features and design.

You are of the mistaken belief that 90% of the people on earth must think like you do.

 

[kdarling]

Not sure how the myth got started of Cook being some kind of production guru. He certainly hasn't proved it.

For example, there was the problem with iPhone 5 production, where Foxconn workers rebelled over impossible demands. Apparently no one did a realistic test run, to find out that it was just not possible to build them that fast, to the required tolerances.

In addition to that production problem, millions of iPhones reportedly had to be later sent back to the factory, due to the lack of proper tools to assemble the iPhone 5 without scratching or denting its anodized aluminum case.

Then there was the miscalculation about the mixture of iPhone 5S and 5C models, where he overestimated the 5C demand and lost 5S sales because of lack of product. This was significant enough that Cook had to explain it in a quarterly call.

That's just off the top of my head. Cook might have been some kind of parts supply guru, but he's obviously not great at managing production. Perhaps he's just too nice a guy, who believes everything that his underlings tell him.

 

[wigby]

Wasn't Cook supposed to be the expert at this kind of thing? Between the ugly design and the supply issues, I Miss Jobs

Just because Cook isn't an expert at keeping these mundane details a secret doesn't mean he isn't an expert at executing them.

This kind of thing happens always in every supply chains of every size. There will be a dozen more snafus like this that we won't hear about too.

 

[rdlink]

The problem is, no one is clamoring for a thinner phone. I bet if you asked 1000 people if they want the thinnest possible iPhone, or an iPhone 1-2mm thicker that has longer battery life, no protruding camera lens, and no production issues (i.e. they can actually buy one), more than 900 would choose the latter.

Especially with all of the people who put ugly ass Otterboxes on their phones...

 

[scotty321]

An unconfirmed rumor designed specifically to try to drive the stock price down... and people here are accepting it as fact. This is Reuters... they devise news stories to help Wall Street make profits on price swings.

 

[wovel]

When the iPhone was launched, Steve billed it as an iPod + Web Browser + Phone. The addition of the App Store went even further in diversifying it.

The hell it isn't a media center. It has always been billed as a media device that happens to have a phone app. You don't need to white knight for Apple, as it does the company no good. If people clamored for an 11mm phone that got 2 days of battery life with moderate media use, I bet Apple would deliver.

You nailed it. The problem with many of the anti-thin crowd is they believe everyone in the world must feel like they do. They have all been making these complaints for several years and the iPhone has been the #1 selling phone for that same time period. Therefore, I think we can safely assume the anti-thin crowd is just wrong.

They will then say "those people didn't buy it because it was thin, they compromised for other features." Some of them did, some of them didn't. Here endeth the lesson. You now understand the nature of design.

 

[wigby]

Not sure how the myth got started of Cook being some kind of production guru. He certainly hasn't proved it.

For example, there was the problem with iPhone 5 production, where Foxconn workers rebelled over impossible demands. Apparently no one did a realistic test run, to find out that it was just not possible to build them that fast, to the required tolerances.

In addition to that production problem, millions of iPhones reportedly had to be later sent back to the factory, due to the lack of proper tools to assemble the iPhone 5 without scratching or denting its anodized aluminum case.

Then there was the miscalculation about the mixture of iPhone 5S and 5C models, where he overestimated the 5C demand and lost 5S sales because of lack of product. This was significant enough that Cook had to explain it in a quarterly call.

That's just off the top of my head. Cook might have been some kind of parts supply guru, but he's obviously not great at managing production.

And yet we all got our iDevices on time.

You do understand that these rumor sites need to create stories in order to sell ads, right? How can you compile a bunch of headlines in your head and determine that Cook is good at his job or not? Apple is selling 3x more units than when Jobs was in charge. They are also making 3x more revenue. Unfortunately, 3x more leaks come with that and 3x more headlines follow.

 

[decimortis]

There we go, the good ole production issue.

I was wondering when they'd start the supply constraints rumor as well. Gotta whip the public into a frenzy and get the peeps in queue for launch day. Works every time.

D.

 

[rdlink]

Not sure how the myth got started of Cook being some kind of production guru. He certainly hasn't proved it.

For example, there was the problem with iPhone 5 production, where Foxconn workers rebelled over impossible demands. Apparently no one did a realistic test run, to find out that it was just not possible to build them that fast, to the required tolerances.

In addition to that production problem, millions of iPhones reportedly had to be later sent back to the factory, due to the lack of proper tools to assemble the iPhone 5 without scratching or denting its anodized aluminum case.

Then there was the miscalculation about the mixture of iPhone 5S and 5C models, where he overestimated the 5C demand and lost 5S sales because of lack of product. This was significant enough that Cook had to explain it in a quarterly call.

That's just off the top of my head. Cook might have been some kind of parts supply guru, but he's obviously not great at managing production. Perhaps he's just too nice a guy, who believes everything that his underlings tell him.

Cook has been "managing production" for Apple for 13+ years. He is a God at it. His supply/logistics/manufacturing chain is the envy of every major company that sells mass produced products. When you're working with companies on the other side of the planet and pushing the envelope on design and materials glitches are going to come up. Remember the white iPhone 4? The G4 Cube? The biggest difference between now and in the past is that every rumor blog and web "analyst" in the world spends an obsessive amount of time scrounging for every scrap of information they can find about Apple, so it's nearly impossible for them to hide some of the same issues that every other company in the world deals with on a daily basis, with nobody caring enough to pry into their business.

 

[MentalFloss]

Wasn't Cook supposed to be the expert at this kind of thing?

No. He was supposed to be an expert in supply chain management, which has nothing to do with whether or not the suppliers are able to catch up with a new technology on time for a new product.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supply_chain_management

 

[samcraig]

You nailed it. The problem with many of the anti-thin crowd is they believe everyone in the world must feel like they do. They have all been making these complaints for several years and the iPhone has been the #1 selling phone for that same time period. Therefore, I think we can safely assume the anti-thin crowd is just wrong.

They will then say "those people didn't buy it because it was thin, they compromised for other features." Some of them did, some of them didn't. Here endeth the lesson. You now understand the nature of design.

Your post makes little sense to me.

And how many people choose the iPhone because of how thin it is?

 

[HiRez]

I bet the exact opposite, which is probably why apple is going in that direction. If you don't mind having a thick ugly phone, just stick a battery pack on it.

So the iPhone 4S and 5S were "thick ugly phones" then? Who has ever said that?

 

[newyorksole]

Lmao you people act like when Steve was CEO Apple did NO wrong .

You remember the stress cracks in the white iPhone 3G ?

Remember the delayed white iPhone 4 ?

MobileMe/iOS 2 rollout ?

Ping ?

Antennagate ?

All under Steve . Also, the design on the 3G/3GS was far from amazing . Those are Apple's ugliest iPhones, not the 6 .

 

[Swordylove]

I bet they never thought of this either. Are you sure Apple doesn't know what design is most likely to appeal to the widest audience? The flagship iPhone is the #1 selling phone (the only thing even close is the next lower iPhone..) While you have your made up survey, I imagine Apple has done some actually research into what people want in a phone and then they decide on the best balance of features and design.

You are of the mistaken belief that 90% of the people on earth must think like you do.

Just because people like iPhone, doesn't mean people like every single aspect and detail of it.

 

[doelcm82]

Remember the white iPhone 4? Delayed for month? And I think Jobs were very much involved in that

That was the real Steve Jobs. Imaginary Steve never had any missteps.

 

[rdlink]

Lmao you people act like when Steve was CEO Apple did NO wrong .

You remember the stress cracks in the white iPhone 3G ?

Remember the delayed white iPhone 4 ?

MobileMe/iOS 2 rollout ?

Ping ?

Antennagate ?

All under Steve . Also, the design on the 3G/3GS was far from amazing . Those are Apple's ugliest iPhones, not the 6 .

Bingo. And that doesn't mean Jobs still wasn't a genius. When you innovate you make mistakes. If you're not making mistakes you're not making a difference.

 

[doelcm82]

This kind of thing happens always in every supply chains of every size. There will be a dozen more snafus like this that we won't hear about too.

And a dozen more that we do hear about, even though they are minor, already solved, or not even true.

 

[jamezr]

Not sure how the myth got started of Cook being some kind of production guru. He certainly hasn't proved it.

For example, there was the problem with iPhone 5 production, where Foxconn workers rebelled over impossible demands. Apparently no one did a realistic test run, to find out that it was just not possible to build them that fast, to the required tolerances.

In addition to that production problem, millions of iPhones reportedly had to be later sent back to the factory, due to the lack of proper tools to assemble the iPhone 5 without scratching or denting its anodized aluminum case.

Then there was the miscalculation about the mixture of iPhone 5S and 5C models, where he overestimated the 5C demand and lost 5S sales because of lack of product. This was significant enough that Cook had to explain it in a quarterly call.

That's just off the top of my head. Cook might have been some kind of parts supply guru, but he's obviously not great at managing production. Perhaps he's just too nice a guy, who believes everything that his underlings tell him.

Great points...isn't this the same rumor we hear EVERY year about iPhone production problems? There is always some kind of urgent part/supply problem.

 

[Rogifan]

Not sure how the myth got started of Cook being some kind of production guru. He certainly hasn't proved it.

For example, there was the problem with iPhone 5 production, where Foxconn workers rebelled over impossible demands. Apparently no one did a realistic test run, to find out that it was just not possible to build them that fast, to the required tolerances.

In addition to that production problem, millions of iPhones reportedly had to be later sent back to the factory, due to the lack of proper tools to assemble the iPhone 5 without scratching or denting its anodized aluminum case.

Then there was the miscalculation about the mixture of iPhone 5S and 5C models, where he overestimated the 5C demand and lost 5S sales because of lack of product. This was significant enough that Cook had to explain it in a quarterly call.

That's just off the top of my head. Cook might have been some kind of parts supply guru, but he's obviously not great at managing production. Perhaps he's just too nice a guy, who believes everything that his underlings tell him.

Apple sells 35-45M iPhones in a quarter and you're telling us Tim Cook isn't great at managing production? In 2012 Gartner ranked Apple #1 in supply chain management with inventory turnover of 5 days. The only company to beat Apple in this category was McDonalds which turns over inventory ever 2.5 days. I'm sure just about any company out there would hire Cook or Jeff Williams to run their operations in a heartbeat.

 

[jasonklee]

Thin, thin, thin! Pathetic. Folks at Cupertino think this is innovation? Do they not understand the correlation between one-handed operation and thickness of the device? The curved display is to make edge swiping more natural and intuitive but do they think it'll be easier by making the device thinner?

I notice that the MacRumors groupthink is strong on this issue as it was in the past. Jony Ive's industrial design group of fifteen really need to be disassembled and replaced with people with at least some smattering of common sense.

You need to build the technology first, then stuff it in a pretty box. Can anyone honestly admit to themselves that what counts as innovation is designing a concept first and then building the technology? Exactly. You begin by building the biggest battery you can reasonably afford for a hand-held device. Then all the other components and then finally wrap it up in a pretty design. THAT'S innovation, folks. The iPhone 5 is thin enough. Just stretch it out to fit a 4.7-inch display and call it a day. Making it thinner will not afford extra thumb reach whatsoever. Common sense.

I'm afraid this concept is lost among the Cupertino folks as they've reached to some bizarre conclusion that size and weight are a premium.

 

[bankshot]

This obsession with thinness really needs to put on pause. There's a point where I don't want my phone to be so thin that it feels like it will snap in my hand or shatter if it hits the edge of a desk, etc.

I actually prefer something a little heavier. Obviously not too heavy - but given the way ALL smartphones are these days - I happily choose longer battery over thinness.

Exactly. The obsession is beginning to border on insanity. Give me a phone that's 50-100% thicker and devote that entire extra space to a larger battery. How much volume does the current battery take? Maybe 25% of the total? If so, then adding another 50-100% of all battery would increase battery life by 3-5 times!

I'd even pay extra for that. It's absurd that my iPhone 5 needs charging multiple times a day if if I actually want to use it while out and about.

 

[Rogifan]

Lmao you people act like when Steve was CEO Apple did NO wrong .

You remember the stress cracks in the white iPhone 3G ?

Remember the delayed white iPhone 4 ?

MobileMe/iOS 2 rollout ?

Ping ?

Antennagate ?

All under Steve . Also, the design on the 3G/3GS was far from amazing . Those are Apple's ugliest iPhones, not the 6 .

Apple released a statement on the white iPhone 4 on June 23, 2010 saying it would not be available until the second half of July. When did the device finally become available for sale? Almost a year later on April 28, 2011. Happened on Jobs watch.