14 DAY TRIAL // Apple is a company that likes to do things all by itself, which is why it has become a unique entity on the PC and handheld market. Still, there are some things even it cannot do on its own, whether it is manufacturing some special component or designing some new software. One thing that Apple needs assistance with is making LCD screens for its iPad and, until recently, LG Display was the only known supplier of TFT-LCD panels for this tablet PC. Of late, however, it seems that the company might have no longer been the sole supplier of such parts.
Whether it is because Apple wants variety or that it just can't seem to make do with the screens supplied by LG, the Cupertino entity has reportedly entered an agreement with Samsung. LG's panel makes use of the IPS (in-plane switching) technology, whereas Samsung will manufacture iPad displays using its SPVA method, which is short for supper patterned vertical alignment.
Digitimes doesn't exactly reveal the exact reasons why Apple made this deal, since both companies' solutions meet the tablet supplier's requirements, such as scratch resistance. It is also unclear whether Apple is really in need of more panels, considering that LG already shipped its fare share of LCDs.
According to Digitimes' sources, during February, the number of iPad screens that LG shipped was between 300,000 and 400,000. This figure, while already large, was surpassed, by far, during the past month (March), when the company shipped about 500,000. This number of tablet displays can already be seen as an indicator of how massive a success Apple expects its newest wonder child to see, which leaves users wondering just what Apple's plans are for the future, now that it has two suppliers instead of one.
Unfortunately, there is no way of knowing exactly what will happen, though it is likely that Apple will not wait long before unveiling some new version of its slate.