supplies

iPad taking some bite out of PC sales, says iSuppli

Demand for the iPad and other tablets has taken a certain toll on PC sales, thought it's mostly the lower-end Netbook market that has suffered, according to data released yesterday by IHS iSuppli.

Worldwide, PC shipments slipped to 81.3 million during the first quarter, a drop of only 0.3 percent from the 81.6 million shipped in the year-ago quarter. Looking at the top five global PC vendors, HP, Dell, and Acer all saw a decline in shipments from a year ago, while Lenovo and Toshiba watched their shipments rise.

Among the five, Acer took the biggest hit, with its shipments dropping by more than 20 percent from 2010's first quarter. IHS iSuppli attributed Acer's decline to its heavy focus on selling Netbook-style PCs, which it sees as the segment most directly affected by the demand for the iPad and other tablets.

"The increasing momentum of the media tablet market, led by the iPad, is creating a difficult environment for the PC industry," IHS analyst Matthew Wilkins said in a statement. "All the attention surrounding tablets contributed to weak consumer demand for PCs in the first quarter."

However, the analyst admits there's still uncertainty over exactly how much of an impact tablets are having on the PC market.… Read more

Research firm says iPad 2 shortfall possible

Apple's iPad 2 could see a production shortfall of up to 500,000 units in the second quarter due to the fatal explosion at a Foxconn manufacturing facility, according to market research firm iSuppli.

In a research note today, IHS iSuppli said that, contingent on potential production shutdowns, supply from the affected Chengdu plant could dive by as many 500,000 units, despite Foxconn assurances to the contrary. China-based Foxconn manufactures the iPad 2.

The plant suffered an explosion on Friday that killed three workers and injured another 15.

"Total iPad 2 production capacity at the Chengdu site amounts to about 500,000 units per month. If the explosion results in a production shutdown until the end of June--which may or may not happen, depending on the outcome of the still-pending investigation--a production stoppage of half a million units could result," the note said.

"Should the production suspension last longer, the impact on production could be even greater," according to iSuppli.

The note went on to say that while most iPad 2 production takes place at Foxconn's Shenzhen facility, that factory may not be able to make up for the shortfall in the second quarter.

Foxconn needs to manufacture between 7.8 million and 8.1 million units during the second quarter, according to iSuppli. As a result, production could fall short by between 300,000 and 600,000 units in that quarter.

On a more positive note, iSuppli believes the explosion's impact "will only last for the short term." … Read more

Report: Parts, labor shortages to impact iPads, iPhones

A shortage of both components and labor at one of Foxconn Electronics' major factories, along with a growing, industry-wide component drought due to the Japanese earthquake and tsunami, could have a marked impact on the production of Apple's iPad 2 and iPhone 4, a new report claims.

Digitimes writes that Foxconn's production facility in Chengdu, China--which makes iPad 2 units for Apple as well as gadgets for other manufacturers--is currently experiencing a shortage of both components and labor. This is reportedly making a dent in the company's overall production, which the outlet pegs at 2.5 million … Read more

iPhone shipments jump amid smartphone dip

Apple's iPhone shipments jumped nearly 15 percent in the first quarter over the previous one, despite a slight downturn industrywide, according to new data.

Market researcher IHS iSuppli reported that Apple shipped 18.6 million of its smartphones in the first quarter, up from 16.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2010. That 14.9 percent increase marked the highest growth rate among the top five global smartphone vendors. It also stood out against an 1.5 percent sequential drop in smartphone shipments industrywide in the first quarter, which is usually a slow retail season but one that … Read more

Shipment stats for 3D TVs jump out at researchers

More 3D TVs than ever are going to be flying toward consumers this year, according to analysts at IHS iSuppli.

With lower prices, and with TV makers pushing 3D harder than ever, shipments of 3D sets are likely to jump by 463 percent this year to hit 23.4 million units from just 4.2 million last year, IHS iSuppli said. Eyeing the years ahead, shipments will climb by 132 percent in 2012 to reach 54.2 million. By 2014, consumers will be facing more than 100 million 3D TVs, followed by 159.2 million in 2015.

Last year, many … Read more

Report: Mobile app stores a $3.8 billion biz in 2011

The apps people buy on their mobile phones continue to bring in big business, and there are few signs of it slowing down according to IHS iSuppli.

In a report released today, the research firm says revenue from app stores owned by Apple, Google, Nokia, and Research In Motion is set to grow 77.7 percent, reaching $3.8 billion by the end of the year and eventually rising to $8.3 billion in 2014. By comparison, 2010's mobile app store combined revenues stood at $2.1 billion, up from $830.6 million in 2009.

"With consumers continuing … Read more

IHS iSuppli: Manufacturing issues caused iPad 2 shortfall

Manufacturing problems led to the shortfall of the iPad 2 during the first quarter, IHS iSuppli said yesterday, prompting the research firm to trim its forecast on Apple's tablet shipments for the year.

As iPad buyers have run into sold-out stock at Apple stores and long wait times ordering online, questions have arisen over why supplies of the new tablet failed to come close to demand.

Though it raised the specter of supply chain problems caused by the Japanese earthquake and tsunami, IHS iSuppli doesn't see the disaster as contributing to the iPad shortfall. Following the earthquake, Apple … Read more

iPad 2 supply catching up with demand?

Are supplies of the iPad 2 finally starting to get closer to demand?

Customers who buy the new tablet through Apple's online store now have to wait just one to two weeks before it ships. The new estimate follows a roller coaster ride that started with an initial and short-lived wait time of only three to five days before hitting a high of four to five weeks not long after after the iPad 2 made its debut.

But over the past month, the ship time has gradually decreased, reaching three to four weeks in late March and then two … Read more

Apple adds touch-screen manufacturer to alleviate iPad 2 supply issues

Bloomberg is reporting that Apple has signed on Chimei Innolux Corp. to assist with touch-screen production to help meet the overwhelming demand for the iPad 2.

Chimei Innolux will begin supplying the components next month, said the people, who declined to be identified because the details aren't public. Taiwan's TPK Holding Corp. and Wintek Corp. (2384) remain Apple's key suppliers of the sensors that help the iPad tablet computer recognize finger movements, the people said.

Current shipping times from Apple for all models of the iPad 2 are two to three weeks, though with the addition of … Read more

Tech analysts cite lingering impact of Japan quake

Two prominent research firms have released new data this week that shows the widening impact on components and materials owing to the earthquake that struck Japan on March 11.

Analysts at DisplaySearch published an update on the shortage of materials affecting the flat panel display (FPD) industry, while market researcher IHS iSuppli cited the impact on silicon wafer production in a research note. Sony and Toshiba are also offering updates on production facilities that have been affected.

"In the second week after the Japan earthquake, some additional impacts to the FPD supply chain are beginning to emerge," DisplaySearch … Read more