Night mode is an automatic setting which takes advantage of the new wide-angle camera that's in the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro models. It's equipped with a larger sensor that is able to let in more light, allowing for brighter photos when the light is low.
macOS Catalina Now Available
Apple Leasing Equipment to Suppliers to Make Sure Key iPhone 8 Components Get Made
Apple recently purchased expensive production equipment to produce the rigid flexible printed circuit board for the iPhone 8, reports The Korea Herald. Apple doesn't plan to use the equipment itself, but is instead leasing it to suppliers to ensure it can get the components it needs for the iPhone 8 amid rumors of production difficulties.
The equipment cost Apple "tens of millions of dollars" and will be used to create the aforementioned circuit boards, which are a key component that connect parts like the iPhone's display and camera. A rigid flexible printed circuit board (or RFPCB), which combines both flexible and rigid technologies in a single board to conserve space, is reportedly more difficult to produce than standard rigid or flexible PCBs.
iPhone 7 logic board, image via iFixit
Apple made the purchase after one of three suppliers it planned to source parts from backed out of the deal. Interflex and Youngpoong Electronics, two Korean companies, are said to be producing the components going forward.
Rumors have suggested Apple is struggling to produce several of the new iPhone's components, including the 3D sensor and the display lamination process, which many analysts believe is going to lead to some delay in production ramp up.
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who often accurately predicts Apple's plans, believes production ramp up could be delayed by a month or two, which means the iPhone 8 could be available in limited quantities with Apple unable to meet demand until late in 2017 or early in 2018.
The equipment cost Apple "tens of millions of dollars" and will be used to create the aforementioned circuit boards, which are a key component that connect parts like the iPhone's display and camera. A rigid flexible printed circuit board (or RFPCB), which combines both flexible and rigid technologies in a single board to conserve space, is reportedly more difficult to produce than standard rigid or flexible PCBs.
Apple made the purchase after one of three suppliers it planned to source parts from backed out of the deal. Interflex and Youngpoong Electronics, two Korean companies, are said to be producing the components going forward.
"One of the three suppliers recently decided to back out," a source told ET News on condition of anonymity, saying that the supplier is a Taiwanese manufacturer.With one supplier pulling out of the deal, Apple decided to make sure the remaining suppliers can meet capacity. "To fill the loss, Apple is supporting the other two suppliers, both Korean, to beef up production," said The Korea Herald's source.
The exact reason why the Taiwanese supplier withdrew from the deal with a big client Apple was not revealed. But sources say the firm may have felt a pinch on the tricky production and strict quality requirements along with low profitability.
Rumors have suggested Apple is struggling to produce several of the new iPhone's components, including the 3D sensor and the display lamination process, which many analysts believe is going to lead to some delay in production ramp up.
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who often accurately predicts Apple's plans, believes production ramp up could be delayed by a month or two, which means the iPhone 8 could be available in limited quantities with Apple unable to meet demand until late in 2017 or early in 2018.
[ 119 comments ]
Top Rated Comments
(View all)
30 months ago
Can't blame the editors. Seems the term has been in use for quite some time. This manufacturer page explains it: http://www.flexiblecircuit.com/product-category/rigid-flex/
This. "Rigid flex" is a hybrid circuit board built as one unit with both rigid and flexible sections. Like:
See post #23 for why.
30 months ago
Apple's stock will take a temporary hit if the iPhone 8 launch is delayed. Apple stock will take a huge, long term hit if it is launched, and it sucks.
30 months ago
Is it possible there could be a delay, yes. But to label the launch in trouble or a train wreck, seems far fetched to say that yet. Apple wouldn't put themselves in a position where the iPhone would not launch accordingly without reason. I Think these rumors have tendencies to skew ones thinking of what we really understand when it comes to production and what someone tends to believe is reality .
But ultimately, I would rather have there be a delay to ensure this new iPhone is manufactured properly versus having it be a complete debacle. I think Apple would feel the same, as it's their goal to deliver the best possible product.
Agree. "Nothing is F'd here, Dude."
Ready to deliver or not, [at the keynote] they'll definitely show us a gorgeous new 8 video, talk features, demo working devices. And we'll all fall over ourselves and set our alarms to happily wake to place our orders. Grins on our faces.
While I'm here - I so miss the excitement and camaraderie that were the launch day lines. Of all the criticism slung Angela's way, that's the one I do think she got wrong. I feel some of Apple's soul died with that business decision. It was such a good time. A differentiator. An event whose optics - from a brand perspective - were immeasurable. Untouchable. Every local news station would send a crew to their Apple Store to cover the lines. Launch days are now so sterile. Uneventful. Like so much of our social media experience: solitary. Isolated. Waking at 3am to place an online order couldn't be any further removed from the launch day line experience. And the "convenience" argument just isn't worth it. For me. At all.
30 months ago
Yup, noticed this too. I think many online publications have lost the concept of quality editing. They just want to rush content out to get hits. Sad.
And for them to use the words twice in the article... clearly the author doesn't understand what "rigid" means, unless it means something other than what we all think it does?
Maybe Apple has invented something new??? haha
I did not make up the term "rigid flexible." It's what this particular PCB is called. It's an "RFPCB," or "rigid flexible printed circuit board." As someone already explained, it's a PCB that uses both flexible and rigid technologies for better space management.
30 months ago
What on earth is 'rigid flexible'?
It's an oxymoron. /s
You beat me to it. I was going to ask the same thing.
30 months ago
Apple's stock will take a temporary hit if the iPhone 8 launch is delayed. Apple stock will take a huge, long term hit if it is launched, and it sucks.
yeah and grass is green
30 months ago
The biggest tech company on the planet buys machines to make their phones cos the companies they hire can't do it without apples INSANE amount of money.
One reason Apple has insane amounts of money, is because they don't pay suppliers enough to be able to buy or lease the equipment on their own.
Plus this way, if a supplier backs out, Apple can pull out the equipment as well.
30 months ago
Hard to envisage how such a thing could be useful
It's because of trying to fit everything into a tiny space, interconnected by many flexible cables.
The problem with those connections is that they are a weak spot.
Rigid-flex solves that problem by making the flexible sections actually be part of the rigid circuit sections. Thus it becomes really one long or multi-arm circuit, with no connectors to accidentally come apart after a bump, or to fail with bad solder joints, etc.
On the downside, that means board replacement involves a bigger circuitry section.
[ Read All Comments ]
Apple will shorten Japan Display's payment periods in an effort to improve the panel supplier's short-term financing situation, reports Reuters, citing a source familiar with the matter.
...
Mozilla has launched Firefox 70 for macOS, which continues to enhance the browser's privacy features as well as bringing significant improvements to performance and power efficiency.
Recent...
Two deals have hit Apple's latest line of iMacs, including both the 21.5-inch and 27-inch Retina iMac models from Early 2019. Both of these sales can be found on Amazon. Additionally, Apple's...
Two smart home accessories gained HomeKit support today, including the Arlo Ultra security camera and the Netatmo Weather Station.
Arlo Ultra
While users can already control Arlo Ultra cameras...
Following a successful debut on Kickstarter, Sphero's newest robot, the RVR, is now available for purchase worldwide.
The RVR is a fully programmable and customizable RC car that's...
Apple is testing different Face ID prototypes that would allow a smaller notch to be used in its 2020 iPhones, according to leaker and concept artist Ben Geskin.
Geskin previously created a...
Tim Cook gave the keynote speech at the Ceres 30th Anniversary Gala in New York City on Monday night. Ceres is a sustainability nonprofit organization, and Cook was invited to share Apple's...
Music software company Serato has updated DJ Pro and DJ Lite to bring full support for macOS Catalina, which ditches iTunes in favor of a new standalone Music app.
The elimination of iTunes...
