Apple signs new iPhone maker, iPad component partners named

Jonny Evans
|
February 03, 2010
|
Share

Lots of insider slips behind the Apple curtain this morning, with news of an additional iPhone manufacturing contract, more iPad component makers named and rumours Apple's moving to favour USB 3.0.

Pegatron Technology has reportedly landed a contract to undertake OEM production of the next-generation iPhone scheduled for launch later in the year, joining Foxconn Electronics which manufactures current iPhones for Apple, according to industry sources.

Taiwan-based Radiant Opto-Electronics will ship a total of 300,000 LED backlight units (BLUs) for the Apple iPad in January, according to a Chinese-language report on Economic Daily News (EDN), adding 10 percent to its revenues that month.

Passive component makers are also expected to see strong first-quarter revenues driven by increased demand from Apple|: Yageo, Cyntec and Mag.Layers Scientific-Technics are all set to benefit from inclusion of their components within the iPad.

Meanwhile, Apple might be about to climb aboard the USB 3.0 train - or maybe it isn’t, this is the gist of the latest industry-focused report to sneak out of Digitimes, “Genesys denies it's sampling USB 3.0 controllers at Apple”.

Here’s how it works: Genesys has apparently begun sampling USB 3.0 controllers for a client, which Digitimes sources believe to be Apple.

With Cupertino’s customary cloak of secrecy and its penchant for punishing leaks, Genesys denies these claims - but such is the hubbub around the Appe ecosystem it seems the USB 3.0 mud has stuck.

Digitimes points out that Genesys gets silicon for its controllers made by United Microelectronics Corporation, one of the foundries used by Apple LCD IC partner, Novatek Microelectronics.

Comments (13)

MacMan (not verified) | February 03, 2010 - 6:27am

Well Intel claims Light Peak is ten gigabits per second. USB 3.0 is to be 4.8 gigabits per second. The rumor is that Light Peak will be out by the end of the year so why pick something slower? Light Peak Vs USB 3.0

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | February 03, 2010 - 9:10am

USB 3.0 is simple, well understood, fast, with very inexpensive, durable cables and connectors, backwards compatible with USB 1 & 2, zero royalties, and can provide power to small devices.

Oh, and it is in production. Manufacturers are shipping USB3 products.

I think LightPeak is promising in my business - video production - to eventually replace firewire. But I can't see it for interfacing a mouse, a keyboard, external drive, iPod, or ethernet adapter. It provides no benefit to those devices, as it is simply more expensive.

taoprophet420 (not verified) | February 03, 2010 - 6:30am

I could easily see apple skipping USB 3.0 completely. I dont see anything that it offers over Light Peak. Foxconn is going to be one of producers of Light Peak technology according to Intel. Both companies have good and sometimes exclusive partnerships with Apple. Light Peak kills USB 3.0 in terms of data speed and can also power devices. You can send HDMI and et, USB, and Ethernet over Light Peak. Apples likes keeping as few ports as possible on their machines. I was hoping the iPad would had LP built in. It is a great technology for ipods,Iphone, and ipad. Can you imagine how quick everything would sync or how handy be to connect to a tv with an HDMI connector on the other end?

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | February 03, 2010 - 9:18am

No way. USB3 is in the field and is deployed. It isn't on a Mac yet, but it is found on PCs and on peripherals.

In contrast, no Macs and no PCs today have a LightPeak interface. And it might be way more expensive - LightPeak is not free or even publicly defined, unlike USB 3.0. Oh, and then there is the fact that one can not go to a parts supplier and by a LightPeak driver IC or cable or connector. LightPeak doesn't even supply power over its bus.

LightPeak is great for hooking up your RAID array and HD video cams. But it is it really for an iPod?

taoprophet420 (not verified) | February 03, 2010 - 6:54am

Also I'm holding of on a mac purchase until Light peak or USB 3.0 makes its way into the machines? Anyone else holding off on purchases waiting for this?

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | February 03, 2010 - 8:55am

Light Peak is at least a year off. Multiple USB 3 devices are already out. USB 3 should start on the new mac pros. If not, it is a big misstep by apple,

FineTunes (not verified) | February 03, 2010 - 9:46am

Something has to give, you only have so much space to accommodate the all of the ports on a MBP. The problem with adding something new is you leave out people who are using older peripherals when you have to drop something to make room for the newer technology. If you have USB 3.0 then eventually USB 2.0 goes. If you add LightPeak, what will it replace? There are still a lot of MBP people who are upset over the loss of the Express Card slot for the SD card. It's a hard choice.

lexequinerad (not verified) | February 03, 2010 - 11:10am

USB 3.0 and Light Peak on Apple devices, will both be seen on multiple Apple platforms, with the "former," the most logical choice, for the time being, as explained in the above commentary. Putting a small port for light peak, would not be surprising in a new Apple device, which will likely last for a good amount of time and use. So, I would not be surprised to see such a port, even though the technology is at least 12-18 months away. Pegatron Technology, by the way, is a subsidiary of Asus, and is, in fact, building its own version of a "tablet pc." This will make things very interesting, because, as you know, Asus, has been a leader in the development of high-end PDA's, MID's, and UMPC's. I have heard that Pegatron's qualitiy control is very good, and on a par, with that of Foxconn, which would bode well for the manufacture of the iPad, iPhone4G, and Ipod4G. Light peak is really fantastic new technology, that has been demonstrated in 2009 by Intel, running a MacPro motherboard with a 30 foot Corning optical cable. It is highly touted new technology, advocated by both Steve Jobs, and Intel's CEO, Paul Otellini, as the "definite way to go." Thechnology is being developed, among others, by Intel, Apple, Foxconn, Corning, and SAE Magnetics. Will Pegatron's development of its own tablet pc device, be a "conflict-of-interest," with its purported contract with Apple? Probably not, when there is money on the table to be made. Any thoughts out there?

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | February 03, 2010 - 12:34pm

Staying neutral here:

Light Peak uses the same USB connector as USB 3.0

Light Peak's theoretical 10Gbs/sec is great, but USB is better at maintaining a higher consistent speed...so that in an extended file transfer, USB 3.0 would stay at around 4Gbs/sec throughout most of the transfer, while Light Peak would occasionally reach 10Gbs/sec, but hover around 2-3 for the most part.

There would be no licensing fees for USB 3 (Apple and Blu-ray...)

Unless you have a massive RAID setup, what consumer would want 10Gbs/sec? eSATA HDDs would hit 3Gbs/sec, so that extra 7 from Light Peak would probably be a bit of overkill.

Dr. Charles Forbin (not verified) | February 03, 2010 - 4:23pm

Consumers have shown over and over again that they'll eat up all the bandwidth you give them, developers will fill it for them just as fast, and of course content distributors will line up to charge for it all.

LightPeak simplifies the consumer experience as all they need to worry about is- how long is the LightPeak cable I need to connect my xxxxx to my xxxxx.

LightPeak reportedly runs at 10Gbs/sec full duplex *now (with theoretical 100Gbs/sec potential).

LightPeak is also stated to be protocol independent which essentially means, it could be made to support USB 3.0, along with other existing or future standards as well. This will depend mostly on it's ability to convey current.

LightPeak can supposedly carry maximum signal across 300+ feet with a single thinner cable while USB signal strength max's out at about 16 feet per cable run.

It all depends on who adopts and when. This includes Light Peak industry push and consumer acceptance. Anyone remember Beta/VHS? Anyone remember them now? So it goes in this kooky technology world, thank another thing from Intel, Gordon Moore.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | February 03, 2010 - 7:48pm

Users don't use up all the resources they're given. Why this would extend to LightPeak is unknown.

I've had a FW800 port on my home Mac for years. I never used it once.

lexequinerad (not verified) | February 03, 2010 - 6:11pm

Dr. Forbin, thanks for your commentary. A light peak port, can also be "daisy chained," supporting a combination of eSata, USB 3.0, HDMI, and display ports, since it has plenty of bandwidth to support the speed of the optical cable. The digital packets of data run in both directions, simultaneously over a longer distance, in the Corning optical fiber, which has been patented as Clear Curve in 2007. Clear Curve optical fiber utilizes nanostructure reflectors, in order to keep light trapped within the fiber around curves or bends, and is quite thinner than the usual computer cable connectors. The bandwidth, speed, and applicability, seems like a "no brainer," as to its future application in high technology. I wonder what company or product, will be the first to use light peak? Intel, seems, to have claimed, that it is its intellectual property, but Corning, has the first product. My main point is. Get this concept to market...

FineTunes (not verified) | February 04, 2010 - 9:46am

More likely USB 3.0 and LightPeak will first appear on the MacPro since this is the work horse of the Mac line up and is due for an upgrade soon. Also the MacPro add ons are easier since you can add a card. As peripherals develop, these technologies will trickle down to the MBP later to the iMac and MBA (possibly earlier on the higher end iMacs). Where the iPad will fit into this is anybody's guess. Changes are inevitable as technology advances, but there needs to be support for those who don't need to change to the latest technologies at such a fast pace. I'm still hoping that the next OS update includes TRIM application for my SSD. 17" MBP/UB, 4GB, 256 GB SSD early 2009 user--really love it and will probably keep this one for about 4-5 years.