Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Apple : Report: iPhone 5 shortage could stem from display production hiccups

Apple : Report: iPhone 5 shortage could stem from display production hiccups

Report: iPhone 5 shortage could stem from display production hiccups

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Report: iPhone 5 shortage could stem from display production hiccups

Apple reportedly moved 5 million iPhone 5 units in the device's first weekend on sale, but that seemingly impressive number actually falls below some analysts' low-end predictions, according to a recent report.

That may be due in part to an iPhone 5 shortage at some U.S. retailers like Best Buy, RadioShack, and Target. In fact, some locations received less than a dozen iPhone 5's to sell on the handset's release date last Friday.

Now a possible explanation for that shortage has come to light, and it seems Sharp's display production line could be to blame.

New display, new problems

Apple turned to manufacturers LG and Sharp for the task of supplying iPhone 5 screens, but it seems delays at Sharp resulted in the apparent iPhone 5 stock shortage.

Sharp reportedly didn't begin producing iPhone 5 displays until the smartphone's debut earlier this month, which could certainly explain why it's in short supply at some retailer stores.

The iPhone 5's display is a half-inch longer diagonally than that on previous iPhones, and reportedly costs $7 (UK£3, AU$6) extra to produce because of its larger size and in-cell touch screen technology.

That tech integrates the display and touch panel into one layer, making for superior colors but apparently also producing new production headaches.

iPhone 5 issues continue to stack up

This report comes primarily from an IHS iSuppli analyst cited by Bloomberg, but TechRadar has also reached out to Apple for comment.

The iPhone 5 is a huge launch not just for Apple but the entire consumer mobile market, which makes it a major target for critics.

However, it seems like Apple's latest money maker suffers from an unusual number of defects, even by Apple's standards (let's not forget the iPhone 4 reception debacle).

Reports of light leaks around the edge of the iPhone 5 began flooding in on Monday, and early adopters have complained of the smartphone's particularly scratch-prone chassis.

Apple may be gearing up to deal with these complaints while simultaneously battling against the iOS 6 "maptastrophe" and day-one iPhone 5 jailbreakers. Yep, that's right - it took less than a day for hackers to have their way with the iPhone 5.

Despite these issues, the iPhone 5 sales in the first weekend totaled a full million more than iPhone 4S sales in its first weekend last year.

Schiller says iPhone 5 scratches are normal as light leaks reported

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Schiller says iPhone 5 scratches are normal as light leaks reported

As reports of a scratch and chip-prone Apple iPhone 5 continue to surface, one Apple executive said the issue is "normal" for aluminium products.

Many new owners of the "Black & Slate" iPhone 5 complained of imperfections right out of the box after long waits to obtain the device last Friday.

The scuffs seem to centre around the antenna area and where the handset's body joins the display, revealing the aluminium colouring beneath the coating.

One befuddled iPhone 5 owner, named Alex, emailed Phil Schiller, Apple's Senior vice president of global marketing, to ask whether Apple was planning on fixing the issue, and received a somewhat unsympathetic reply.

"Any aluminium product may scratch or chip with use, exposing its natural silver colour," Schiller wrote. "That is normal."

Wasting light?

Meanwhile, scratches and scuffs are apparently not the only build issues affecting the device.

BGR reported that some iPhone 5 handsets, including one of its own test devices, are "leaking light" between the display and the antenna, just below the power button.

The problem is only visible in low light or in the dark, but it appears it could be endemic.

Users on the MacRumors forums have reported that even replacement devices they've received from Apple are still suffering from the same issue.

We've reached out to Apple for an official reaction to the reports, but perhaps we'd be better off emailing Phil Schiller?

Apple releases update for Apple TV

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Apple releases update for Apple TV

A new update for both second and third generation Apple TV devices was released Monday, Software Update 5.1.

Though the update brings a few new features and upgrades into play, there aren't many major improvements.

Chief among the additions is the ability to view Shared Photo Streams, which now allows you to "browse photos and comments, and receive notifications of new content," according to Apple's support page.

Additionally, 5.1 allows users to have more than one iTunes account per device, and will make switching between those accounts simple and easy.

Improved stability and AirPlay integration

While there are also some performance-related improvements to Apple TV, some smaller additions have also been implemented.

There's now some better AirPlay functionality, including the ability to "send audio content from Apple TV to AirPlay-enabled speakers and devices."

That includes both AirPort Express and additional Apple TVs.

Fortunately, users can protect their AirPlay with an onscreen code, which should help prevent others from hijacking things like party playlists.

Users will also be able to search for movie trailers right from their Apple TVs, and U.S. users can now local theater times.

New screen savers have been added, and users will also find better options for subtitling after updating their Apple TV.
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