“Rumors that Apple’s third-generation [iPad] will launch early next year have been strengthened by claims from ‘industry sources’ today, who say that the Cupertino company has moved to control supplies of its iPad 2 in a bid to reduce excess inventory,” Killian Bell reports for Cult of Mac.
“Apple still has plenty of iPads in its inventory, however, according to DigiTimes,” Bell reports. “The company sold 11.12 million units by third quarter of this year, but has an inventory strong enough to produce 15-16 million devices, leaving 4-5 million units in its stockpile.”
Bell reports, “Samsung and Sharp have already been instructed to build panels for the next-generation device, and have been doing so since October. TPK Holding and Wintek will join the duo in display production during November or December, according to the sources.”
Read more in the full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Dan K.” for the heads up.]
An unexpected miscue from Apple’s otherwise snappy supply chain. It’s not like them to stockpile like that.
You’d think BACN (and/or TOST) projections would minimize lag in stock.
That said, this kind of hyper vigilance on Apple’s supply chain can mislead for so many reasons!
The only mistake is the Analysts misunderstanding of Apples orders. Meaningless measure of apples success but it certainly manipulates the stock.
The timing is concerning. This is the biggest quarter sales for the year. Constraining supply and “freezing” some purchasers with the promise of a new product in January doesn’t make any sense to me, and is very contrary to Apple operations in the past. New products introduced April – October is the usual mo, iPhone originally released in January, had not been on sale, and had to be released to gain FCC approval anyway.
Apples competitors are always fomenting rumors that Apples next iteration is right around the corner, in the hope that people will delay their planned purchases and they can catchup with Apple in the meantime.
FUD again just to manipulate the stock.
This is Apple’s biggest iPad2 quarter. They will aim to make as many units as possible to meet the overwhelming demand.
Apple are also unlikely to release a new iPad until second calendar quarter since the iPad2 will still be less than a year old in January.
They could be winding down iPad2 production in the first quarter and starting up iPad3. That would result in some components switching vendors or versions.
It would make sense for Apple to sell off existing inventory in the New Year in preparation for April iPad2 release.
OK people, read the MDN summary and the sloppily edited Cult of Mac item (lovely redundant phrase in the third paragraph — “reduce down”) and tell me that Apple, even in its dumbest moments, has even ONCE done other than what is described here. Slowing production of one item as its successor is prepared. Isn’t that what each and every manufacturing company on the goddam planet does — or is supposed to do? There is no mention whatsoever that customer demand for iPad2 will go unsatisfied, just that the company will tailor supply to sales. I love how the Cult item mentions how Apple will “take control” of its inventory. From whom? RIM? HP? Samsung? Oscar Meyer? Yeah, for sure, Apple loses control of its inventories like no other company. Henceforth, Cult of Mac shall be known as Cult of Weed.
+1, brilliant use of sarcasm!