Jan 08
At least two Taiwanese manufacturers have announced that they are either already shipping components for Apple’s new tablet PC, or will be doing so in February. According to Reuters:
“Suppliers for Apple Inc’s new tablet computer have begun shipping touchscreen panels and will start delivering aluminium casings for it next month, sources said, implying a second-quarter product launch.”
The article went on to express some analysts’ concerns that the new tablets will have stiff competition from existing laptops, netbooks, e-readers, and smartphones. Touchscreen devices released this week at the Consumer Electronics Show by HP, Microsoft, Lenovo, and Dell added to the fray of competing devices that the rumored iSlate will need to beat out in the wireless multimedia computing space.
Tagged with: aluminum casings • concerns • iSlate • manufacturing • Q2 launch • second-quarter launch • shipping • Taiwanese
Jan 06
The Street reported today that Northeast Securities analyst Ashok Kumar has confirmed with Apple manufacturing contacts that their new tablet will run on the Atom processor developed by P.A. Semi.
Apple iSlate Reviews first brought you this rumor in July of last year (Apple iSlate Reviews – July 24th, 2009).
The Street goes on to speculate regarding the impact that this decision may have on Intel:
If you believe that the closely-watched Apple Tablet will reshape the mobile computing landscape, then the snub deals Intel a significant defeat. Intel had a lock on the netbook market with its Atom processors and it was widely assumed that the chip giant would win the Tablet contract at all costs.
Tagged with: Atom • Intel • P.A. Semi
Jan 05
According to MacRumors the iSlate may run on the new ARM Cortex A9 processor. This would be a natural extension of Apple’s use of the A8 range processors (predecessor to the A9) in its iPhones.
Unlike the A8 processors, the Cortex A9 is a multi-core processor with a superior performance-to-power ratio.
“The Cortex A9 would be a particularly good fit for the rumored Apple Tablet, as such a device is seemingly positioning itself between a mobile phone and notebook. Such a device would likely be tasked with more processor intensive tasks and be priced against Atom powered netbooks. “
Tagged with: ARM • Atom • Cortex A9 • iPhone
Dec 28
According to Digitimes sources from Apple’s component suppliers report Innolux will be the initial supplier of panels for Apple’s tablet while Wintek may have the opportunity to become an additional supplier in the future. Innolux is a subsidiary of Foxconn Group.
Additionally, sources reports that unsatisfactory strength in the glass of the panel had resulted in a delay to the launch of the tablet.
“Foxconn’s optical glass processing subsidiary G-Tech Optoelectronics will provide a glass strengthening process for the device….”
It is expected that the tablet manufacturer will be Foxconn Electronics.
Tagged with: Foxconn • glass strength • Innolux • setbacks
Dec 11
Pixel Qi will be starting production of their new multi-touch capable LCD screens, named 3Qi, in the near future. MacRumors reports that the screen’s benefits include lower power consumption, ease of readibility under sunlight, and full color support.
According to Pixel Qi, “The readability and legibility of our new screens rival the best epaper available today. What’s new about our screens: fast video rate update (refresh), and fully saturated color at low pricing because we use standard manufacturing materials, processes and factories. Our screens use 1/2 to 1/4 the power of a regular LCD screen, and when integrated carefully with the device can increase battery life between charges by 5-fold. You can use our screens in laptops outside in bright sunlight.”
MacRumors goes on to elaborate on the physical dimensions of the new 3Qi screen:
“Conveniently, the 3Qi screens are also multi-touch capable and can be “super-slim”. The size of the screen has also been announced at 10.1 inches, which matches with some of the predictions for the Apple tablet’s screen size.”
Previous rumors indicated that Apple may be targeting the publishing industry with their new tablet (Apple iSlate Reviews – October 26th, 2009). If that is the case then it would appear that this technology would be a fit both in terms of use, power consumption, and proportions for a new Apple tablet and may very well be a contender.
Tagged with: 3Qi • multi-touch • publishing • size • slim
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