Taiwanese Industry Sources: Next-Generation iPhone Manufacturing Deal, USB 3.0, iPad Suppliers

[MacRumors]

DigiTimes today offers a series of reports involving Apple, revealing a number of claims from industry sources in Taiwan regarding the next-generation iPhone, Apple's possible plans for USB 3.0, and iPad component suppliers.

One report claims that Taiwanese firm Pegatron Technology, a two-year old company created as part of a restructuring of ASUS, has landed a contract with Apple to manufacture the next-generation iPhone. Pegatron reportedly will join existing iPhone manufacturer Foxconn in production of the new models due for introduction later this year.

Another report notes that Genesys Logic has denied that recent sampling quantities of USB 3.0 device controllers are destined for Apple, refuting claims from industry sources that Apple is company behind the design request. USB 3.0, which finally began to make an industry splash with numerous product introductions at CES earlier this year, theoretically offers a 10x improvement in transfer speed over USB 2.0 as well as increased power capabilities for powering attached devices.

The same report offers a look at major component winners for Apple's iPad, with Broadcom reportedly supplying Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and touchscreen controller chips, while Infineon is handling the RF and baseband chips. Novatek (LCD driver), Linear (battery power management) and NXP (system power management) are also named as suppliers for the iPad. A separate report claims that Radiant Opto-Electronics will have provided 300,000 LED backlights to Apple for the iPad during the month of January. And finally, Yageo, Cyntec and Mag.Layers Scientific-Technics, manufacturers of passive components such as resistors and diodes, are all also reportedly providing components to Apple for the iPad.

Article Link: Taiwanese Industry Sources: Next-Generation iPhone Manufacturing Deal, USB 3.0, iPad Suppliers

 

[RobBookPro]

Can't wait to get my iPad

 

[Constantine1337]

I sure hope next-gen iPhone looks alot better than this one (pref. aluminium)

 

[Compile 'em all]

Now let's see what Jobs meant by an A+ update .

 

[haoqfu]

when is wifi syn coming?

 

[iVirusYx]

I sure hope next-gen iPhone looks alot better than this one (pref. aluminium)

There is noway I want to have it in alu...
It would make the device much more expensiv

 

[Howardchief]

USB 3.0? I want Light Peak!!!

 

[porky]

There is noway I want to have it in alu...
It would make the device much more expensiv

that's why the macbook pro's are so expensive?

 

[ctdonath]

Given the plethora of iPad rumors (1080p! solar! chess! thumbprints! swooning models!) vs. the reality of its announcement, methinks it's time to pretty much give up on what "sources" have to say about what's coming next from Apple.

 

[spice weasel]

There is noway I want to have it in alu...
It would make the device much more expensiv

Actually, I doubt it. The Wall Street Journal has a cost breakdown for the iPad, and according to the article it costs Apple $25 for the aluminum case. Presumably an iPhone case would be cheaper because of its smaller size. Even if Apple passed on a few dollar price increase for aluminum-shelled iPhone (doubtful that they would), you would probably still break even given that you wouldn't need to buy an external case for it unless you tend to be rough with your phone.

 

[macshill2]

USB 3.0? I want Light Peak!!!

Yeah, no kidding, eh? Light Peak is what it's all about!

 

[theneweyes]

Sounds like iPhone 3.0 would go along really nicely with an introduction of Macbook Pro's with USB 3.0

 

[macshill2]

But Apple's playing a major case of catch-up when it comes to existing "smart phones" like Droid-built and of course the Nexus One (OLED screen for starters).

 

[talkingfuture]

I hope we see the next iPhone move to an aluminium construction similar to the iPad.

I assume that if USB 3.0 sockets are backwards compatible then Apple will put USB 3.0 on everything as soon as the price is right.

 

[Elzlaik]

I sure hope next-gen iPhone looks alot better than this one (pref. aluminium)

I'm right there with ya. I think Apple may return to the aluminum enclosures to bring cohesion to the aesthetics of the product line. Although, I expect the iPhone would require a plastic strip on the back for the antenna, perhaps similar in location and shape to that of the iPad 3G model.

 

[GeekLawyer]

I sure hope next-gen iPhone looks alot better than this one (pref. aluminium)

I can't imagine a big change in the form-factor. It's going to be a sheet of glass and a composite (or maybe alu and composite) back. They could up the resolution of the screen and maybe deploy OLED. But that's about it. Sitting unused on your desk, an iPhone is always basically going to look like an iPhone.

 

[aaustin22]

I sure hope next-gen iPhone looks alot better than this one (pref. aluminium)

The original iPhone had an aluminum casing. I believe the reason they went away from the aluminum with the 3G and 3Gs was because of the aluminum's interference with the cell signal.

 

[BillyBobBongo]

Given the plethora of iPad rumors <snip> thumbprints </snip>

That one was my favourite!

 

[Michael73]

USB 3.0 = FW800

Sure FW800 is a lot faster than FW400 but it seems like Apple was the only major computer manufacturer to adopt it. I sure hope USB 3.0 is different.

As for those advocating Light Peak, need I remind you that Apple is rarely at the forefront of technology adoption in their products. Need I remind you that we still don't have Blu-Ray!?! Many of their computer offerings lack 1st gen video cards. Hard drive sizes are almost never the largest available and neither are RAM options. And ZFS still isn't supported by Apple.

 

[MarlboroLite]

The original iPhone had an aluminum casing. I believe the reason they went away from the aluminum with the 3G and 3Gs was because of the aluminum's interference with the cell signal.

That was probably the convenient excuse....it probably had more to do with cost...plastic is cheaper than aluminum...and when you're selling 30 million a year, the cost savings add up, and preserves the profit margins quite nicely after the drops in price we saw. I doubt the aluminum back is coming...the iPhone is not a "luxury" product anymore...not like the iPad.

 

[cmaier]

That was probably the convenient excuse....it probably had more to do with cost...plastic is cheaper than aluminum...and when you're selling 30 million a year, the cost savings add up, and preserves the profit margins quite nicely after the drops in price we saw. I doubt the aluminum back is coming...the iPhone is not a "luxury" product anymore...not like the iPad.

Not a big believer in physics, huh?

 

[Michael73]

I can't imagine a big change in the form-factor. It's going to be a sheet of glass and a composite (or maybe alu and composite) back. They could up the resolution of the screen and maybe deploy OLED. But that's about it. Sitting unused on your desk, an iPhone is always basically going to look like an iPhone.

Agreed. Aside from faster processors, larger amounts of flash memory, longer battery life and higher megapixel image sensors (none of which changes the form factor) all of which are almost guaranteed to go up each year, the only hardware which the iPhone is missing (IMHO) is a front facing camera, possibly an LED flash and the ability to conduct video conferences. But again, none of that will change the form factor either.

 

[GeekLawyer]

Look at this iPhone V4 picture :

It's quite lovely. Maybe the front-facing camera will make it this time. Probably not though.

 

[icyfire]

wow, and infineon again even after all the RF troubles that the iPhone has been experiencing with the current infineon chips? Apple sure knows how to pick them.

 

[Hattig]

It would make sense for Apple to be including USB3 controllers on their new systems this year, because these chips are starting to get added to PCs.

They're discrete chips right now because Intel hasn't managed to integrate USB3 into their chipsets yet. Nor SATA 3. Both will be coming later this year.

I expect the next iMac will have a couple of USB3 ports and three/four USB2 ports. I'd worry that Firewire will disappear to make way for it.