Chinese Parts Distributor Offers Fourth-Generation iPhone 'Midboard'?

[iphones4evry1]

Since the general public often expects Apple to deliver on rumors, I think this company is simply trying to get the rumor mill started that the next iPhone will have a much more advanced camera. Once the rumors are flying on every media blog and forum around the world, the public will expect Apple to not disappoint. As a result, Apple, as always, will deliver what the customer wants.

 

[greygray]

What's with the screws? And what is a midboard?

 

[yegon]

According to Apple, 59% of their facilities don't even comply with Chinese working condition laws and 36% of Apple's facilities pay below Chinese minimum wages. I don't think Apple opening sweatshops in the US will look very good.

It looks much better they keep them hidden away in China.

Source: http://images.apple.com/supplierresponsibility/pdf/SR_2009_Progress_Report.pdf (page 8)

This.

I'd be curious how much they'd have to charge to maintain a similar profit margin were it manufactured in the US - exponentially higher and eyepoppingly expensive I'm guessing!

 

[Rantaholic]

Odd

Does anyone else find it odd that the MacRumors article says:

"Consequently, it remains to be seen whether this latest part is in fact from a next-generation iPhone, which would be a significant surprise this early before an expected launch next summer, or if it is from some other device."

While their buyer's guide says:

"Product iPhone
Recommendation: Buy only if you need it - Approaching the end of a cycle
Last Release June 08, 2009"

 

[star-fish]

I am 100% with you. No disrespect to other countries or workers. I feel like Apple would probably gain respect and sell at double the rate if it made a US Only Factory for products that are sold in US. It could keep other factories for the rest of the world's purchases.

I feel like we need to keep jobs here for products consumed in America. If we did that, our economy wouldn't be experiencing the massive depression. Yes, I called it a depression. And I don't believe the Democrats saying the minor recession is over... what a joke. I guess if everyone believed it that it could work... but!

I went through a phase of trying to buy everything possible made in the USA, but I couldn't buy ANYTHING I wanted. It's sad. I am all for a worldwide economy... but I am not for shipping all of our product manufacturing to Asia to save money at the stakeholder level.

Would love a "Made in the USA" movement. We, the people, could force Apple and all manufacturers to move factories stateside for products consumed here...

It's not going to happen. It would be a massive step backwards in how first-world economies have developed. The reason why developed countries are developed is because they've moved through the primary and secondary industry stages to tertiary, service industries. Unskilled, low-paid (if not below minimum wage) manual jobs will not satisfy many workers in a developed country - it's a fact of life.

Added to that, your plan is a terrible idea. America would miss out on a ton of stuff only available in other countries, and doesn't have the resources needed to supply all that stuff for its own country. Hence why it's outsourced to less developed countries.

If you look at it on a smaller level and apply your ideas to England, everyone would be living off bread and potatoes, because they couldn't have bananas or rice or a million other imported things. May as well live like 14th century peasants.

 

[alexhasfun28]

I'm still wondering?.. is this the front or the back of the midboard?
(by the looks of the cammera hole.)

And to me, it looks like another SIM card tray :/
maybe they'll have both a GSM and CDMA.

 

[JohnnyQuest]

To everyone who responded to my post saying it was ridiculous- Apple DOES care about keeping their iPhone "fan-base." Heck, people were pissed when Apple lowered the price on the original a few months after release, and they responded with a gift to those complaining customers. Apple knows that releasing the iPhone in summer, a year after many bought the 3GS, is a smart move because more people are willing to upgrade after a year with the previous generation. I think it's ridiculous to say Apple doesn't factor this into their product launches. Happier customers = more sales.

 

[MacorgaZ]

The product is removed from the website, could this be proof that the midboard was real, and Apple asked them to remove it?

 

[christall109]

Does anyone else find it odd that the MacRumors article says:

"Consequently, it remains to be seen whether this latest part is in fact from a next-generation iPhone, which would be a significant surprise this early before an expected launch next summer, or if it is from some other device."

While their buyer's guide says:

"Product iPhone
Recommendation: Buy only if you need it - Approaching the end of a cycle
Last Release June 08, 2009"

The math in the buyer's guide is off. The original iPhone saw a bump to 16GB of storage in (I think it was) February of that year. Therefore, throwing all the numbers off.

I really wish Arn or someone would fix this.

 

[MorphingDragon]

I'm still wondering?.. is this the front or the back of the midboard?
(by the looks of the cammera hole.)

And to me, it looks like another SIM card tray :/
maybe they'll have both a GSM and CDMA.

W-CDMA and above has a SIM Tray. (Because W-CDMA and LTE are derived from GSM)