According to a report on CENS.com, Apple may begin production of iPad 3 in October even though release is scheduled for spring next year. Keep in mind, both of the above are rumors based on information that filters down from Apple’s supply chain. Another rumor that’s of note is that this time around, Samsung will not be playing part of display panel supplier. Sharp Electronics from Japan will be replacing the Korean electronics manufacturer.
Samsung and Apple have been involved in legal battle over the infringement of intellectual property. The design of Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1 and Galaxy S smartphones is too close to the iPad 2 and iPhone for Apple’s comfort. As legal claims are being thrown to and fro between the two biggies, their business relationship has also soured somewhat.
Apart from Samsung, most of the suppliers for iPad 2 production will stay on for iPad 3. LG Display and Sharp Electronics will supply display panels while Foxconn will continue handling the assembly. However, Apple has also tied up with Pegatron Corp., a Taiwanese electronic producer, as assembler to avoid total dependence on one party. A fire at Foxconn’s Chengdu plant had put Apple behind 500,000 iPad 2 units in May. Once bitten, twice shy.
Richtek Technology Corp., a Taiwanese IC designer, has reportedly been contracted for power management ICs and Memory Logic Ltd. (IML), a fab-less semiconductor foundry, will exclusively supply integrated P-Gamma/DVR/VCOM chips.
Apple seems to be covering all its bases and is leaving time for exhaustive testing of the iPad 3 before bringing it to market. Some iPad 2 displays from LG have suffered from leaking light problems. Apple will want to rule out such cases to maintain its supremacy in the tablet arena.
Will iPad 3 come with a higher density display that matches the Retina display on iPhone? Apple is known for its secrecy over products but what we would give to know what it has up its sleeve for the third gen tab.
[via CENS]
