Apple's iPad 3 Displays Prepped by Developer Sharp
Apple may allow Sharp to develop the iPad 3's display due to its current legal problems with Samsung,
Jefferies analyst Peter Misek broke the news surrounding Apple's now tumultuous relationship with Samsung. Several lawsuits between both companies over patents may have caused discontent between the two companies.
Website GigaOM reported on Apple and Samsung's legal woes.
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"Despite the cozy supplier partnership, Apple and Samsung have been at each other’s throats on the consumer side of things, with ongoing court cases in countries all around the world. At issue are patent infringement claims from both sides, which have already resulted in temporary injunctions against some Samsung products in some markets,” said GigaOm.
Sharp may take Samsung's place as the sole developer and producer of the iPad 3 display. The company may also aid in the creation of Apple's iPhone 5 and iTV project.
Last week, technology website DigiTimes reported that Apple ordered 2 million display panels from Samsung, LG and Sharp in November. This order joined the 1 million units of display panels that Apple ordered in October. All these parts combined were intended for assembly at Apple’s manufacturing partners in January.
Come next April, Sharp plans to ramp up the production of its displays for Apple's products.
Last Monday, a DisplaySearch report said Samsung, LG and Sharp began producing the iPad 3′s 2048×1536 display.
Richard Shim, an analyst at DisplaySearch, recently spoke to CNet about the iPad 3's display entering production.
"It's happening--QXGA, 2048x1536. Panel production has started [for the next-generation iPad]. There's three suppliers. I would imagine there would be concerns about [adequate] supply given the resolution of the display but you have three different suppliers at this point. They should have enough to launch the product,” said Shim.
Rumors indicate that Apple will launch a new iPad in March 2012; however, it is unclear whether the release will be an updated version of the iPad 2, or a next generation tablet - the iPad 3.
