04/26, 3:00pm
Sharp joins Sony, Panasonic in heavy LCD TV losses
Sharp has posted (pdf) what it is referring to as an ‘extraordinary loss’ largely due to LCD business restructuring. Sharp expects that the costs incurred in converting its production lines for large screen Aquos LCD TVs will be recouped by focusing more closely on mobile displays and developing new-generation IGZO displays. It now joins compatriots Sony and Panasonic in suffering heavy losses due to the highly competitive nature of the LCD TV and display market.
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04/21, 7:15pm
Pixel Qi preps efficient Retina Display-like tech
Pixel Qi founder Mary Lou Jepsen has revealed that her company is working on a super-dense version of its signature display. The panel would have the same 2048x1536 resolution as the new iPad, but at much lower power than Apple's technology. Even in a bright office, the new panel at about 10 inches in size uses two watts, versus five for the iPad in the same lighting and nearly eight when it's outdoors.
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04/13, 7:45pm
Foxconn stepped in instead, says analyst
On the heels of the news from last month that Foxconn had bought a 46.5 percent stake in Sharp's LCD business, analyst Brian White with Topeka Capital Markets say that Apple "debated" buying a share of Sharp itself. White says his information comes from a technology trade show he attended in China, and tells his investors that the story indicates that Sharp's IGZO technology has been deemed important for Apple's future plans.
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04/13, 12:20pm
Sharp IGZO display tech in production
Sharp stated Friday that it was producing the first-ever IGZO (indium gallium zinc oxide) LCDs. Its repurposed Kameyama plant is rolling out panels primarily for smartphones and tablets. As examples, it cited a seven-inch, 1280x800 display for tablets, a 10-inch 2560x1600 display, and a large 32-inch, 3840x2160 desktop display.
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03/13, 11:15am
Analyst holds to fourth-quarter launch date
Apple could start commercial production of a TV set in May or June, likely building somewhere between 2 to 5 million units, says Jeffries & Co. analyst Peter Misek. The claim is based on a recent trip to Asia. "We believe specialty components have begun to ship to Apple’s Asia panel suppliers with polarized films, filters, and [Sharp] IGZO components starting to move in small quantities," he writes. As before, a fourth-quarter launch is anticipated.
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02/02, 10:55pm
Apple TV set may miss Q2 without Sharp displays
Speculation that Apple might ship its own TV set as soon as the spring was cast into doubt by an unusual counter-rumor late Thursday. Supposed industry contacts told Digitimes that there weren't any signs Sharp was ready to ship the IGZO displays many believe Apple would be using for the device. Yields of workable displays were also considered a possible problem.
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12/30, 4:05pm
iPad 3 screen possibly sighted for first time
Apple's rumored 2048x1536 display for the iPad 3 may have been leaked out for the first time in a forum posting on Korea's Naver. The panel is the same physical size as the existing iPad 2 display but has a third data connector, presumably to feed the four times higher resolution. A Korean appearance points to it likely coming from an LG Display or Samsung Mobile Display factory.
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12/29, 10:30pm
iPad 3 IGZO LCD plans reiterated in tip
The Sharp IGZO displays Apple is rumored to be using for the iPad 3 might still be in short supply. Rumors late Thursday from Digitimes had Taiwan supplier sources saying they could technically make the advanced displays, but that the useful production yields were still a "major concern." The claims echoed views that Sharp was shifting TV production to tablets to help meet targets.
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