“Analysts John Donovan and Steve Mullane of boutique research outfit BlueFin Research Partners today offer up results of their review of Apple’s supply chain, saying Street estimates for how many iPhone units may be sold are too low,” Tiernan Ray reports for Barron’s.
“The authors predict the release of an ‘iPhone 6’ will be a ‘white hot’ opportunity for Apple, when the phone is released in September,” Ray reports. “The discussion echoes remarks yesterday by ISI Group’s Brian Marshall, although Marshall indicated he thought an iPhone 6 might be out by as soon as the summer. Note that a piece by the China Times yesterday, dug up by AppleInsider, cites a Q3 volume production time frame for the device.”
“The authors write ‘there is also growing optimism on the iPad front as we expect a new hybrid/detachable iPad/MacPro product will propel sales mid-2014,’ though a report by Jim Hsiao of DigiTimes on Friday indicated that a rumored larger-screen iPad had been shelved for the moment because of production difficulties,” Ray reports. “The authors write that their inquiries about Samsung Electronics chip production for Apple in Samsung’s facilities in Austin and Korea are ‘on plan for Q1,’ but that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing will take over from Samsung as the lead producer of Apple’s next chip, presumably an ‘A8’ processor”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: We can’t wait to see this “hybrid/detachable iPad/MacPro.” It’ll look like a trash can with a serving tray balanced atop it. Apple will need to hire extra security to manage all of the line-sitters for that one. Especially if it comes in gold.
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