Apple suppliers other than GT Advanced “already make” glass for iPhones

Mar 1, 2014 15:24 GMT  ·  By

Tim Cook is dropping hint after hint that his company is about to take the tech industry by storm this year with a revolutionary product that he can’t talk about at length. In fact, he can’t even talk about the company that makes the glass for this gadget.

In what will undoubtedly spark a new wave of iWatch rumors, Apple CEO Tim Cook is quoted in a new WSJ report as saying that the company’s multi-million dollar investment in GT Advanced - a maker of sapphire crystal - is for a top secret project.

He also seemed to suggest that this project is not the upcoming iPhone 6, or at least not exclusively for the next-generation smartphone. The excerpt in question can be found below.

“In response to a question about manufacturing in the U.S., Cook pointed to a plant a supplier recently opened in Arizona to produce sapphire exclusively for Apple. There’s been speculation that Apple may use the super-hard sapphire to produce scratch-resistant screens for future iPhones. Cook said the Arizona facility was a "secret project" that he couldn’t talk about. […] But then, he said other Apple suppliers ‘already make’ glass for iPhones in the U.S.”

Rumors of Apple launching a revolutionary smartwatch this year continue to make the rounds as more and more reports claim credit for unveiling one or multiple features in the gadget.

For instance, there have been numerous such stories about the sensors inside the iWatch. According to these reports, the device is a multi-level health regulator that tracks your blood pressure, hydration levels, and even keeps tabs on your sleeping patterns. One rumor suggests it will replace the annoying sound alarm on our phones with a gentle vibration applied to our wrists.

Other reports indicate that the smart-watch will use sapphire glass, which is scratch resistant and would serve a crucial role in the wrist-worn gadget. As pretty much everyone knows, watches are prone to scuffs and dings more than any other object we wear.

Cook has been mum on this rumored product. It’s a company policy originally instated by visionary genius Steve Jobs who created the secrecy cult at Apple with a double purpose: to create hype around its products, but also to make sure competitors are unaware of Apple’s next move. Apple continues to live by this rule under Cook’s leadership.

As every year goes, Apple will have several events planned for 2014, the first of which is expected to arrive in spring. Neither the iWatch, nor the iPhone 6 are expected to be deployed at this event, but there are rumors of an all-new TV box launching soon.