14 DAY TRIAL // A report signed UBS Investment Research citing industry checks tries to paint a more accurate picture of Apple’s yet-unconfirmed tablet-like device. The research firm, along with its analyst, Maynard Um, claims the Apple tablet will be powered by a processor designed by P.A. Semi and manufactured by Samsung. Several other part providers are listed in the report.
AppleInsider reports that, "A new note [on] Wednesday from UBS Investment Research cited industry checks in forecasting that the Apple tablet will be powered by a processor designed by P.A. Semi and built by Samsung." Believed to be a complex system-on-a-chip design, analyst Maynard Um asserts that Hon Hai Precision Co. (also known as Foxconn) is the manufacturer of the tablet. Knowing Foxconn also assembles Apple’s iPhone, it’s really a no brainer. LG is likely the supplier of the tablet’s screen, UBS claims.
But UBS Investment Research doesn’t stop at these two hardware items. The research firm also claims that connectors will be provided by Chen Uei and Hon Hai, while Wintek, Sintek and TPK are the touch suppliers. Batteries are flying in from Simplo and Dynapack, with Samsung being tapped for NAND flash memory, in addition to manufacturing the P.A. Semi processor. Finally, Broadcom is mentioned as the provider of a "combo" chip for connectivity.
However, UBS Investment Research doesn’t take any chances predicting an exact public release date. It claims it expects the tablet to become publicly available sometime during the first half of 2010.
"Key will be timing and price points, in order to assess how material it could be for suppliers," UBS Investment Research analyst Maynard Um writes. "In addition, how convincing the device will be could generate debate as per whether the tablet device category could be revived and help overall demand."