Apple plots iPad 2 production reduction
Moles claim output has been cut
Apple has allegedly reduced the number of iPad 2s it wants its contract manufacturer to churn out. If true, the claim suggests Apple may indeed see the iPad 2 simply as small-scale upgrade ahead of the introduction of the iPad 3 later this year.
Industry moles cited by Taiwanese trade site DigiTimes say Apple originally wanted Foxconn to punch out 400,000-600,000 iPad 2 units during Q1 2011, but has now reduced that total to 300,000-400,000.
Either Apple can't source sufficient components to justify the higher volume of output - unlikely, say the insiders - or it doesn't believe it will sell quite as many iPad 2s as it might have first thought.
Apple is expected to announce the iPad 2 at an event on 2 March, Reuters reports - a claim made by unnamed sources who, we suspect, are Apple PRs spinning against separate allegations that the launch had been put back to June.
iPad users aren't clamouring for an new, improved model, but stiff competition sporting tighter specifications is imminent. Perhaps Apple plans a small, keep-up-with-the-rivals upgrade now before introducing a major iPad update - the iPad 3 - later in the year.
That's certainly one way of looking at the rumours running round the net of late, a notion backed up by claims Apple will move the iPhone 5's introduction to September from June. Making that the date for iPad introductions too makes sense: bring all your iOS device announcements together for maximum impact.
The moles' claim could, of course, be bollocks. We shall see. ®
COMMENTS
D'Oh!
If the current iPad does everything you need it to, right now - then buy it now.
If an improved model does come out next week or next month, that doesn't mean the current model suddenly becomes less capable than it is today.
Apple's mobile product release schedule is more predictable than most manufacturers. It's annual. New iPods in September, new iPhone in June - it's been like that for years.
Or do you really prefer companies that pre-announce products months in advance, only to keep missing those self-imposed deadlines?
RIM have announced three generations of PlayBook tablets in the space of five months and yet we still haven’t seen a single product make it to market. Could you plan your purchases with that kind of announcement?
http://www.loopinsight.com/2011/02/16/rim-needs-to-shut-up-and-ship/
When Apple announces a new product it is generally instantly available to buy, or very shortly afterwards.
If it's a Tony Smith rumour
it's traditional for it to be bollocks.
First it was Q4 2010 - nope.
Then it was "in time for Christmas" - uh uh.
Next we had "in time for Valentine's Day" - nope.
Now it's early March.
My money is on an announcement in April and almost instant shipping - but since I don't know any more than anyone else does, that could be bollocks too.
What isn't bollocks is that the carriers have quietly switched to £99 down, 24 month deals, presumably to clear out old stock.
Since Plan Jobs seems to be to make money from content subscriptions, I wouldn't be surprised to see some no-money-down deals within the next 12 months.
It would be epic PR, it would kill the competition, and it would make more money in total than charging £400-£500 up front and hoping that punters also get a data plan.
Needs a few more allegedlys
"Apple has allegedly reduced the alleged number of alleged iPad 2s it wants its alleged contract manufacturer to churn out. If true, the alleged claim suggests Apple may indeed see the alleged iPad 2 simply as small-scale upgrade ahead of the introduction of the alleged iPad 3 later this year.
"If that is true, then this may see the alleged iPad 3 followed by another iPad, which allegedly is rumoured to be called the iPad 4."
Anyhow, isn't half of zero still zero? The product isn't even announced.
(Comparison to Nokia - if no one's going to buy a Nokia phone now that they've announced a future change in technology, by that reasoning, is no one going to buy an iPad, because a new one is announced, sorry, rumoured? Can't have it both ways.)
"And since Apple has not even announced the "iPad 2" (which is an update to a YEAR OLD product), how do you know these devices "coming to market any day now" (yeah, right!) are superior?"
Well then, I assert the new not-even-announced "AmigaPad" is superior to anything coming to the market.
Just wondering...
Just wondering if you tell cour competitors what you're doing in advance?
You do
You obviously care enough to have bothered to click, read the article, then post a comment on it.
And since Apple has not even announced the "iPad 2" (which is an update to a YEAR OLD product), how do you know these devices "coming to market any day now" (yeah, right!) are superior?
