supply

Microsoft finds malware hidden in new computers in China

Microsoft has found malware on new computers its employees purchased in various cities in China as part of an investigation into the security of the supply chain. That finding led researchers to a botnet called Nitol and a court order giving the company permission to take technical measures to disrupt the botnet.

The effort, dubbed Operation b70, began in August 2011 when it decided to see if there was any merit to claims that counterfeit software and malware were being installed on computers by suppliers before they hit the retail shelves in China. So, the company had employees go into … Read more

New iPhone facing supply issues

Friday's tech news roundup has a good, long talk with a chair:

Electronics maker Sharp could be having problems making the screens for the next iPhone, according to reports from the Wall Street Journal and Reuters. There could be manufacturing difficulties that are delaying shipments. Sharp is just one of three suppliers for Apple's screens, so it's unclear how this could change launch date expectations or if iPhones will be in limited supply at launch.

We're expecting a new family of Amazon Kindles to be announced on Sept. 6, but images of the Kindle "Paperwhite" have been discovered … Read more

Apple's buying power relegates Samsung to distant second

Here's another category where Apple and Samsung go head to head: chip buying. And Apple's dominance is expanding rapidly.

Rip off the plastic, metal, and glass on any consumer device, and it's pretty much all chips. And if you're the No. 1 buyer of those chips, as Apple is, that means you hold a lot of sway over global chip manufacturing.

More sway than chip kingpin Samsung (which Apple, ironically, buys lots of chips from).

"It's well known that Apple has already conquered the smartphone and tablet segments -- but behind the scenes the … Read more

Apple iPad 'Mini' rumors heat up; launch seen by year's end

Rumors of an Apple iPad "Mini" are starting to get some credible backing.

Apple's component suppliers are gearing up for mass production of a smaller-sized iPad in September, said The Wall Street Journal's MarketWatch, according to people familiar with the matter. Bloomberg, meanwhile, similarly reported that a 7 or 8-inch tablet is in the works, and will debut by the end of the year.

The Wall Street Journal's two sources --- who asked not to be named --- claim the new tablet will "likely come with a screen smaller than 8-inches," compared to … Read more

Apple places higher restrictions on supply chain under Cook?

Apple Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook has dramatically ramped up the amount of attention his company pays to its supply chain, according to a new report.

Digitimes is reporting today, citing sources, that since Cook took over as chief executive, Apple has applied "stricter management" in its supply chain, ensuring that it's effectively managing costs and delivering the highest-quality products.

In order to achieve that goal, Apple has conducted more (and longer) inspections, according to Digitimes' sources. Those folks said that in one case, Apple found a fingerpint on an internal component, and demanded the entire production … Read more

Apple is the biggest chip buyer -- and getting bigger

PARIS -- Apple is the biggest buyer of microprocessors today -- and it's getting bigger.

The semiconductor industry produces all kinds of chips for memory, running software, communicating over networks, and more. And Apple, by virtue of its booming iPhone and iPad business, is a voracious consumer, said Dale Ford, head of IHS iSuppli's electronics and semiconductor research business. Samsung is in second place, and also growing fast, he added, speaking at the analyst firm's Technology, Media and Telecommunications (TMT) Summit here.

In 2009, Apple was one of the herd, spending about $9 billion on semiconductors. This … Read more

Nokia happier to live on the edge when buying components

PARIS -- Overhauling Nokia hasn't just been a matter of slapping a new operating system on older mobile phone hardware.

In reality, the company had to rebuild its entire supply chain -- the vast network of business partners that build everything that makes up a phone. And a big part of the change: accepting more risk as the company tries to move back to the cutting edge of mobile phone technology.

"For us as a company, our risk appetite has increased a lot in the way we work," said Kari Kulojarvi, Nokia's senior vice president for … Read more

Without Apple, 'supply chain' shrinking, says analyst

Apple is so important to the group of companies that build tech-related electronics products that without Apple there would be negative growth, according to Citibank.

The tech electronics supply chain is barely showing year-to-year growth and would be in the red if it wasn't for Apple, according to a research note today from Citibank analyst Jim Suva.

The supply chain is an amorphous collection of manufacturers, many located in Asia.

In a subheading titled "Ex-Apple, the Tech Supply Chain is Still Not Growing Y/Y," Citibank said Apple is the linchpin for growth.

"Projected annual sales … Read more

Could Qualcomm supply constraints delay the 2012 iPhone release?

A Qualcomm conference call Wednesday, according to Reuters, brought Qualcomm's supply constraint issues to light. CEO Paul Jacobs, addressing analysts on the call, stated, "At this stage we cannot secure enough supply to meet the increasing demand we are experiencing."

That supply constraint could affect many cellphone makers hoping to use Qualcomm's advanced 28-nanometer chips, including Apple. To handle the constraints, Qualcomm is looking for new manufacturing partners, a move that will contribute to raising its operating expenses up to 23 percent, according to Chief Financial Officer Bill Keitel.

"Demand went so far ahead of … Read more

New iPad costs more to make, but Apple eats the difference

Apple is taking a hit for new iPad customers. That's because the company's bill of materials to make the next generation slates has apparently gone up, but the retail price has not.

According to an initial tear-down analysis by IHS iSuppli, the cost of parts found in the new iPad with 32GB of storage and 4G capability is 9 percent higher than that of an iPad 2 with a 3G radio. The report says the midrange new iPad costs Apple $364 for the parts, plus another $11 or so to assemble, for a grand total of $375, or just over 50 percent of the retail price of $729.… Read more