Apple may need Samsung to make enough chips for iPhone 6

Apple may have to rely on arch-rival Samsung for a hefty percentage of processors to power the next iPhone.Samsung has been Apple's go-to manufacturer for the past several chip generations, most recently producing the A5, the A6, and this year's A7. Apple has sought to reduce that dependence by reportedly cutting a deal with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) to take on production of future A series processors. But Samsung is far from out of the picture, according to a story from The Korea Economic Daily.Samsung will manufacture 30 to 40 percent of the A8 processors needed by Apple next year, leaving TSMC to kick in the rest, claims the Korean news site. Apple reportedly wanted TSMC as its only A8 supplier. But creating enough quantity of the 20-nanometer chip is a difficult process, forcing Apple to keep working with Samsung.Apple has been looking to cut ties with Samsung for some time. Given the high demand for the iPhone and iPad, Apple continually needs to reduce its reliance on a single supplier. But Apple's quest to divorce itself from Samsung is largely due to the legal bad blood between the two companies, say analysts.(Via Engadget)

Apple may launch iPad 2 Plus in 2011, says analyst

Apple could hit the market with a new version of the iPad 2 this year, FBR Capital Markets analyst Craig Berger said today in the International Business Times .Detailing his forecast in a recent investor's note, Berger said he believes that a device dubbed the iPad 2 Plus could launch in late 2011. Citing "indications from the supply chain," the analyst said that Apple has sent out requests for quotes to different suppliers for the new tablet, though no specific schedule for production has been confirmed.Berger added that the display for the iPad 2 Plus could be anywhere from 250 to 300 pixels per inch (ppi) compared with the current iPad 2's 132-ppi resolution, IBT reported.Despite hints from the supply chain, the analyst is waiting for further proof before calling this a done deal."While we find this new commentary interesting, we await more confirming data points from other supply chain contacts before fully believing a new iPad device is coming in 2011," Berger said.Looking at the current iPad 2, the analyst is eyeing sales of 10 million units in the second quarter and 16.5 million in the third.Berger's report follows a recent story from DigiTimes claiming that Apple is gearing up an iPad 3 with a 250-ppi display. The iPad 3 would launch in October at the same time that a new iPhone would reach consumers, according to DigiTimes.