Apple Begins Production Of 13-Inch Retina MacBook Pro Displays [Report]

This could be getting a little brother before the year’s out.

Apple has now caught up with demand of its 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro, with shipping estimates dropping to just 2-4 business days this morning. But if you’re holding out for the 13-inch model, your wait could soon be coming to an end. According to one analyst, 13-inch 2560 x 1600 Retina displays have now entered production ready for an October launch.

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LG Starts Production On New Smartphone Screens Ahead of iPhone Launch Date

Longtime supplier of smartphone panels to Apple, LG Display, has begun producing a new, thinner display that is thought to be for use in the upcoming iPhone 5 from Apple. The production schedule is in line with the rumored September 12th announcement of the new iPhone model.

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WSJ: The iPad Mini Is Coming, Will Enter Production In September

What the iPad mini may look like up against its siblings.

Following yesterday’s report from Bloomberg that revealed Apple plans to release the long-awaited iPad mini this September, a new report from The Wall Street Journal has this morning added even further credence to those claims.

According to “people familiar with the matter,” Apple’s suppliers are preparing for mass production of a new iPad with a display smaller than 8 inches, which is expected to begin in September.

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Improvements To Foxconn Working Conditions = Fewer iPads For Apple

With worker overtime now reduced, Foxconn simply can't assemble as many iPads as it used to.

Apple’s new iPad is still selling like hot cakes, and new customers continue to face a 1-2-week shipping delay when purchasing through the Apple online store. But the company is reportedly struggling to meet demand with production constrained by Retina display supply and the recent cuts to factory worker overtime at Foxconn.

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Foxconn’s 46.5% Stake In Sharp’s Japanese LCD Plant Could Mean Better Battery Life For Future iOS Devices

Sharp's mammoth LCD plant in Sakai, Japan.

Foxconn, the company that assembles almost all of Apple’s devices —- plus plenty more for the likes of Amazon, Dell, Microsoft, and Sony —- has confirmed today that it has secured a 46.5% stake in Sharp’s giant LCD plant in Sakai, Japan. The deal is expected to help Sharp improve its performance, and could make low-energy IGZO displays a possibility for future iPads

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iPad Mini Will Get Slim Bezel To Maximize Viewing Area [Rumor]

Apple’s latest iPad was not accompanied by the rumored “iPad mini” at its launch event in San Francisco last week. But according to sources in Apple’s supply chain, the smaller tablet is still on the way. One of its features, they claim, will be a slim bezel that will aim to maximize its viewing area.

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Apple Orders 65 Million Retina Displays For iPad 3 [Report]

Apple has reportedly ordered a whopping 65 million high-resolution 264 ppi Retina Displays from Samsung and LG Display for its upcoming iPad 3. The device is expected to make its debut early next month, and its production is now well underway, according to the report.

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WSJ: Apple Is Working With Suppliers To Test 8-Inch iPad Mini

With so many rumors surrounding a smaller iPad of late, even the most skeptical amongst us are beginning to believe. The latest reports comes from The Wall Street Journal, which claims Apple and its suppliers are currently testing a new tablet with a smaller screen said to be around eight inches, that will “broaden its product pipeline amid intensifying competition.”

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Apple May Have Snubbed Sharp’s Retina Display For iPad 3, Choosing Panels From Samsung & LG Instead

Chinese sources revealed earlier this week that Apple’s third-generation iPad is now in production and scheduled for a launch in early March. It was reported that the device would sport a long-awaited Retina display supplied by Sharp.

However, that may not be the case. According to a new report from Korea’s Electronic Times, Apple turned down Sharp’s displays after they failed to pass the company’s approval process, and decided to use panels from Samsung and LG Display instead.

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Apple Prepares For iPad 3 By Taking Control Of iPad 2 Supplies [Rumor]

Rumors that Apple’s third-generation will launch early next year have been strengthened by claims from “industry sources” today, who say the Cupertino company has moved to control supplies of its iPad 2 in a bid to reduce excess inventory. It will reportedly reduce the number of displays manufactured by the likes of Samsung, LG Display, and Chimei Innolux during the fourth quarter of 2011, which could lead to a reduction in iPad shipments.

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