Samsung says it will continue supplying displays to Apple, despite rumors to the contrary

A rumor has suggested Samsung is preparing to stop supplying Apple with touchscreens, however this has since been called "100-percent false" by a Samsung spokesperson. It's the latest in an escalating component supply war between the two companies.

Yesterday, the Korea Times reported that Samsung was to cease suppling screens to Apple next year, due to falling profits and presumably, the continuing animosity between the two companies. Today, Samsung has spoken to CNET to refute the rumor, calling it “100-percent false.”

Sources at Samsung were quoted in the original article as saying “we are unable to supply our flat screens to Apple with huge price discounts. Samsung has already cut our portion of shipments to Apple and next year we will stop shipping displays.” Another source said Samsung sent 3 million displays to Apple over the summer, but that number would halve between October and the end of the year.

Apple is known for driving a hard bargain with its component suppliers, and Samsung is said to feel that the company is “no longer a cash-generator” due to the deeply discounted prices and increased competition.

In response to the claims made by the Korea Times, a Samsung spokesperson made a statement to CNET, calling the post “100-percent false,” and that it was asking the publication to alter the story. Of course, this doesn’t mean it’s not true, just that Samsung would prefer it not to be public knowledge just yet.

Samsung has supplied a wide-range of components to Apple for several years, including the processor, RAM, memory and of course, the screen. However, in the iPhone 5, the flash memory, RAM and the battery are all produced by other companies, indicating Apple also wants to distance itself from its longtime partner. It has also started to rely more on LG and Sharp to produce its touchscreens too.

Even if profits are as tight as Samsung makes out, it’s still going to miss Apple should it eventually decide to stop making components for them. Its hands may be full with its own range of smartphones and tablets, along with a burgeoning relationship with Amazon, but any contract loss always hurts.

Samsung’s denial comes soon after it was revealed Apple intended to cut back on its services for processors too. Even outside the courtroom, the war between Samsung and Apple continues to escalate.

Source : http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/samsung-denies-it-will-stop-supplying-touchscreens-to-apple/

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Foxconn factory at center of riot reopens, supply not affected

The Foxconn factory at the center of a large riot on Sunday night reopened on Tuesday, a company spokesperson said, adding that there has been no impact on supply.

The Foxconn factory at the center of a serious disturbance late Sunday involving thousands of rioting workers has reopened.

Company spokesperson Louis Woo told Reuters Tuesday that despite staying shut all through Monday, no impact on product supply is expected. “We have 79,000 people working in Taiyuan campus, and we always have spare inventory,” Woo said.

The trouble, which reportedly involved more than 2,000 workers causing widespread damage throughout the factory campus, was brought to a halt by around 5,000 police. About 40 people were injured, with countless arrests made.

China’s state-run news agency said the brawl started after a fight broke out between two workers in a factory dormitory. However, workers allege the incident erupted after a security guard manhandled an employee at the factory gates.

Foxconn, the world’s biggest component maker, is a major manufacturer for Apple, as well as other giants in the electronics industry. The Taiwan-based company has so far refused to say whether this particular facility, located in the northern Chinese city of Taiyuan, is involved in the production of Apple’s new iPhone 5 handset.

In an on-screen interview with the UK’s Channel 4 News program, one former Foxconn worker explained that new devices can cause great stress among workers, saying, “When a factory launches a new product, workers do overtime for long periods to test the production line until they are ready, which really puts pressure on the employees.”

He added, “A new generation of workers has higher demands. They know their rights and they’re more rebellious.”

Foxconn, which employs more than a million people across China, has been under the spotlight for the last few years following reports of employees suffering poor living and working conditions. More recently, the company has apparently been implementing changes in an attempt to improve the situation.

The Fair Labor Association said in August that Foxconn had been making good progress towards its goal of providing better living and working conditions, though if Sunday night’s disturbance can be attributed to a frustrated and beleaguered workforce cracking under the strain, it clearly still has some way to go until its job is complete.

Source : http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/foxconn-factory-at-center-of-riot-reopens-supply-not-affected/

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Samsung: Android 4.1 Jelly Bean coming to Galaxy S3 in October

A Samsung spokesperson has said owners of the Galaxy S3 should expect an update to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean this October.

It was during the launch of the Galaxy Note 2 that Samsung last addressed the thorny issue of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean for the Galaxy S3, saying nothing other than it would arrive “very soon.”

Now, according to CNet UK, a Samsung spokesperson has indicated that the Jelly Bean update will be out in October. No confirmed date was given, but a less-than eight week wait is certainly “very soon” in the land of Android updates.

As with most software updates, it’ll be SIM-free Galaxy S3 owners that will see Android 4.1 first, as networks need to test the software before approving it for use.

That said, Orange and T-Mobile UK may have a head start here, as it will be launching the Galaxy S3 LTE on its new EE 4G network in the coming weeks, and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean will come pre-installed on the new device.

With approval already given for that model, Jelly Bean for the quad-core 3G version of the phone must only need a glance before it’s ready to send out to eager customers.

CNet’s report doesn’t mention any dates for the Galaxy Note or the Galaxy Note 10.1, both of which Samsung has promised will receive a Jelly Bean update too.

As for US versions of the Galaxy S3, an October release for Jelly Bean may be wishful thinking, but if you’re confident enough, there are custom versions of the software available, including a custom ROM for the Verizon S3 and a leaked official build for the T-Mobile variant.

We know Samsung is hard at work on the Galaxy S3’s update though, as leaks of the software have become more frequent, with SamMobile.com recently posting a build from September 9.

Described as “very much near perfect,” the still pre-release OS is clearly close to being signed off. The site is so confident, it believes Samsung may start the rollout as soon as next week.

While this sounds a little too good to be true, it’s still looking like Samsung won’t disappoint Galaxy S3 owners who’re keen for some Jelly Bean this year. We’re still waiting for its official statement before getting too excited though.

Source : http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/samsung-galaxy-s3-android-4-1-jelly-bean-update/

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