Apple aims to improve iPad 2 availability with another backlight maker
Taiwan's Coretronic is rumored to become a supplier for the iPad, DigiTimes reported Wednesday. Coretronic is said to have made 35 percent of backlight units for LED TVs in the first quarter of calendar 2011, and that number is expected to grow to 40 percent.
Coretronic is said to now be looking to expand into the tablet market, specifically by supplying backlights for Apple's iPad. The company is reportedly working with Chimei innolux to provide backlight modules, but Chimei was only certified by Apple this month.
Founded in 1992, Coretronic now has more than 15,000 employees worldwide. It specializes in backlight modules and DLP projectors.
Wednesday's latest news is the second report to claim that Apple is adding backlight makers for iPad 2 production. Last month, another story from the Far East claimed that Apple was testing a new supplier in Everlight Electronics.
According to that report, Everlight electronics had delivered samples of its LED backlight products to Apple in hopes of becoming a component supplier for the iPad 2. It is unknown whether Everlight and Apple struck a deal.
Immediately after the iPad 2 arrived in the U.S. in March, some customers reported problems with LED backlight "bleeding" on the edges and in the corners of the display. Such defects, where white light "bleeds" onto the screen, are most noticeable when the screen is operational but dark, such as a dark scene in a movie.
8 Comments
Apple is wise to expand its supplier base not only from the view point of better products but also to ensure supply continuity. Be it natural or man made disasters, Apple has to know it can ride them out.
Smart move by Apple to keep up with the explosion in iPad demand.
I wish this came a bit sooner. I ordered an iPad for my mom last Thursday. She underwent some serious surgery this Monday and the recovery will take 2 months. During this time she has to lie down as much as possible. I figured an iPad would be the perfect iMac- replacement in this situation.
However, while the Apple site says 1-2 Weeks, estimated delivery is June 15th. A full 4 weeks after I ordered the iPad. So, the iPad will be a pretty late gift... It won't be there to fulfill her facebook and silly games-needs during the first weeks of recovery, but it'll still make her happy I guess...
I just wish Apple could make these things faster, dammit
Smart move by Apple to keep up with the explosion in iPad demand.
I see what you did there. Naughty, naughty.
I wish this came a bit sooner. I ordered an iPad for my mom last Thursday. She underwent some serious surgery this Monday and the recovery will take 2 months. During this time she has to lie down as much as possible. I figured an iPad would be the perfect iMac- replacement in this situation.
However, while the Apple site says 1-2 Weeks, estimated delivery is June 15th. A full 4 weeks after I ordered the iPad. So, the iPad will be a pretty late gift... It won't be there to fulfill her facebook and silly games-needs during the first weeks of recovery, but it'll still make her happy I guess...
I just wish Apple could make these things faster, dammit
You may find better luck just go to a store not well advertised to have iPad and buy it off the shelf. I've seen my local Target store to have a few iPad2 in stock for several weeks now.