14 DAY TRIAL // People in Taiwan are reportedly chatting about Apple’s iWatch and how suppliers are unable to meet the Cupertino giant’s stringent requirements, with Inventec and Quanta Computer reportedly registering an order ratio of 6:4.
Quite a lot of details for an unconfirmed product, not to mention that DigiTimes’ sources say the iWatch is launching in the second half of 2014.
The trade publication admits it cannot corroborate any of the rumors, but posts this “industry chatter” for the purpose of discussion.
According to people in Apple’s supply chain, “there is talk […] that Apple's upcoming iWatch is […] suffering from low-yield-rate problems.”
Rumor has it that “the upstream supply chain is only able to supply 30-40% of the original order volumes.”
“Apple is expected to release the iWatch in the second half of 2014 with prices between US$149-229. Inventec and Quanta Computer were reportedly the manufacturers of the iWatch with their respective order ratio being 6:4,” reads the report.
Apple has chosen “powder metallurgy technology” and CNC milling to make the iWatch, according to the chatter in Taiwan.
The body is said to be thin and light, and that it “features an elegant design,” something that will pose “a great challenge to the device's chassis suppliers as well as related component makers and back-end process service providers,” the sources added.
A truly breathtaking iWatch concept is already being created (as a prototype), based on renderings created by Ciccarese Design.
Going by the DigiTimes report, Apple is pursuing a similar design which is both elegant and ergonomic.
And while the Cupertino giant may be testing the manufacturing power of Inventec and Quanta Computer, mass production probably won’t begin until spring of 2014.
At a planned event today, Apple will unveil new versions of the iPhone.