Apple ordered 65-70 million LCD panels for the new iPad, Samsung still spinning off the pesky LCD business
Reports are coming that Apple is placing big sales hopes on the next iPad, ordering as many as 65-70 million of the new LCD display units that are likely to go into it. That is 60-70% increase of expected sales compared to last year's iPad units it sold, so it will be pretty interesting to see what's in store for iPad 3 users come March 7.
As usual, it's the combination of hardware and software that entices Apple's customers, so apps that make a good use of the expected new high-resolution display will probably be showcases too.
Those 2048x1536 pixels 9.7" displays are being mass produced by Samsung and LG, which are the only ones with enough capacity and technology to do this, whereas Apple's new darling Sharp is reportedly picking up the slack - we saw alleged iPad 3 components assembled with a high-res Sharp display yesterday, so the Japanese definitely have a horse in this race.
Meanwhile, Samsung is thinking of spinning off its loss-making LCD unit, where the displays for the iPad 3 will come from, as LCD TV sales slump takes its toll on profitability. Manufacturers are looking forward to OLED-based panels, and Samsung Electronics will try to assimilate the unlisted Samsung Mobile Display Unit, and either spin off the LCD making somehow, or keep the profitable parts, and try to convert the rest to OLED display making.
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