The article says ' 200 million 5" displays ', that translates to about 1.2 billion 2" displays. No one can be that crazily optimistic at iWatch's first year sales volume.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Apple's Initial Sapphire Production to Target iWatch, Not iPhone 6?
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
The article says ' 200 million 5" displays ', that translates to about 1.2 billion 2" displays. No one can be that crazily optimistic at iWatch's first year sales volume.
carjakester
macrumors 68020
They aren't going to do 200 M iPhone 6 phones in one year either. Total iPhone sales are at those levels. Apple says a substantial number of none top of the line phones each year. iPhone 5S and/or 5C isn't going to disappear.
Frankly, not all the glass ends up in final products either. Throw on top downtime, maintenance on the furnaces. There is nothing in the numbers they threw out there that aren't not talking raw cacpacity as opposed to finished products.
It also doesn't make any sense to build a plant that is only good for this year's capacity and doesn't have room for growth. Highly doubtful they are going to ramp to 100% peak capacity and constantly maintain that 365/24/7 in the first year. Since all this equipment is being "fast tracked" permitted it makes more sense to push through a couple years worth of furnaces now and just ramp up capacity over time.
High-end watches are expected to have a sapphire crystal face. It's actually a good way to recognize an authentic high-end watch from a counterfeit one (which will most likely have a cheaper glass face instead).
well, duh. If there is an watch it'll be for that.
I hope there isn't an iwatch IMHO it's not for me, i know it should sell fairly well but not in the quantities the iPad iPod or iPhone have sold. Ironically an updated apple TV with better services and apps would be a killer product though.
Sapphire for watches is kind of a given. I don't see apple being nearly ready for the next gen of iPhones but maybe a few gens down the line will see a sapphire iPhone. There is no reason to shift away from gorilla glass at this point.
I hope there isn't an iwatch IMHO it's not for me, i know it should sell fairly well but not in the quantities the iPad iPod or iPhone have sold. Ironically an updated apple TV with better services and apps would be a killer product though.
Sapphire for watches is kind of a given. I don't see apple being nearly ready for the next gen of iPhones but maybe a few gens down the line will see a sapphire iPhone. There is no reason to shift away from gorilla glass at this point.
This is spot on in my opinion.
Apple are only just hiring for iWatch software now, by the time it is developed it will be the end of 2014/early 2015. The iWatch by all accounts isn't coming out until late 2014 at the earliest. There seems to be a rush to get the Sapphire plant operational and that would support claims that the iPhone is going back to it's earlier launch time frame which is partially backed up by the various rumours/leaks coming out about the iPhone.
The new HIRES are mostly health related folks with expereince..What is stopping apple for focusing on health and fitness broadly and not just through the wearable device rumoured for 2014? Applications can range from changes/additions to IOS, new apps etc etc .. Its also common for companies to chart out a far reaching roadmap for product development..Its entirely possible to be working on the first gen iWatch and once that project is 50-60% done to begin working on the 2nd gen product..You basically ID capability, technology and features and work over the years to introduce them into future iterations of the product...Same with the IpAd or iPhone families..I am sure apple doesnt wait till the 5s has come out to begin working on a larger 6...
Well if 'inside' information is to be believed then the iWatch will focus heavily on health based apps, if thats so then my comments stand as it would surely be pointless releasing it without these apps. Also their is hardware rumours/reports going around that the iWatch will come out in the fall/early 2015.
I think it's highly unlikely that the release of the iWatch is imminent enough to push the opening of this facility.
69Mustang
macrumors 604
I'm not an engineer but I think you are way more right than wrong. A very thin silicon substrate laminated to sapphire is the direction they're headed. GT Advance acquired the assets of Twin Creek; a company that specialized in that exact process. Assets acquired late 2012 so they've had time to work on a process.
Honey Badger
macrumors 6502a
If you zoom in on the picture, you can just barely make out Walter White hiding in the back of the facility.
Make sense, since a watch will be worn, thus need more protection first than an iOS device...
Glad Apple's got their priorities straight.
Glad Apple's got their priorities straight.