Foxconn chief admits it can't meet iPhone production demands

Foxconn can't keep up with the demand

If you're wondering why the iPhone 5 won't be dispatched for three to four weeks, here's your reason. Manufacturer Foxconn can't make them fast enough, according to its chairman Terry Gou.

"It's not easy to make the iPhones," Gou told reporters. "We are falling short of meeting the huge demand."

He didn't specify which model is proving particularly tricky, but it's thought he was referring to the latest incarnation.

Last month, an unidentified Foxconn worker said that making the iPhone 5 was "very complicated", hence the supply issues. They described the handset as "the most difficult device that Foxconn has ever assembled."

Tricky design

The iPhone 5 is taller and slimmer than the iPhone 4S, with a larger 4-inch screen. It also has a smaller dock connector.

"It takes time to learn how to make this new device," the unnamed worker told the Wall Street Journal. "Practice makes perfect. Our productivity has been improving day by day."

Between 3,000 and 4,000 Foxconn workers were also reported to have gone on strike last month, though the company denied it. The workers said unfair demands were being placed on them. The company also allegedly provided inadequate training for those putting together the new device.

It was also claimed workers were made to work over a national holiday, though Foxconn said any who did were paid extra, in line with national labour laws.

The iPhone 4S and 4 are in stock at Apple's online store, so should be dispatched as soon as you order.

Via CNET

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/foxconn-chief-admits-it-cant-meet-iphone-production-demands-1110805

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Panasonic planning European smartphone market exit, less than a year after its return

Panasonic could be planning to withdraw from the European smartphone market, despite only having rejoined at the beginning of the year. Poor sales are cited as the reason, but a lack of effort and financial problems could be closer to the mark.

A new report indicates Panasonic is considering withdrawing its range of phones from Europe, despite only having re-entered the market at the beginning of the year.

Having previously left Europe in 2005, so it could concentrate on sales at home, Panasonic announced its return in February, and showed off its new handsets during Mobile World Congress. A Reuters report says it wanted to sell 1.5 million phones this year, but it’s unlikely to reach this figure, prompting talk of a withdrawal.

It placed its hopes on two phones, the Eluga and the Eluga Power. The former is an Android 2.3 Gingerbread phone with a 4.3-inch touchscreen, and a 1.2GHz, dual-core Texas Instruments processor. Despite boasting a slim, 7.8mm chassis and an attractive, waterproof body, this specification barely provided the phone with the power to compete with devices from Samsung, Apple and HTC.

The Eluga Power could have been a bigger success, as it has a 5-inch, high definition touchscreen, a dual-core Snapdragon S4 chip, Android 4.0 and IP57 water and dust proofing. A true competitor to the Galaxy Note, then.

Both phones could be purchased through online retailers, but Panasonic never appeared to sign any deals with UK networks. While this isn’t quite as important as it is in the US, it would have been essential for Panasonic to re-connect with buyers and promote its new phones.

Evidence of trouble brewing came when the firm told TechRadar.com in August that it was selling its two phones “to consumers in Germany and Italy and currently does not have any plans to change this.” A report in The Times around the same time said Panasonic had put its European smartphone plans on hold, and “looked likely to abandon its mass market ambitions.”

The smartphone market is tough, but Panasonic’s potential exit could be directly related to the $7.6 billion bailout given to it by Japanese banks this month after record losses, rather than any failure to perform following its half-hearted attempt to break back into Europe.

Source : http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/panasonic-could-be-about-to-leave-the-european-smartphone-market/

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Samsung announces the Galaxy Victory 4G LTE for Sprint

Samsung has announced the new Galaxy Victory 4G LTE for Sprint, continuing their tradition of releasing phones that have ridiculously long name for no good reason.

Other than that enormous name, the Galaxy Victory 4G LTE for Sprint also has a 4-inch, 800 x 480 resolution display, 1.2GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor, 4GB internal memory with microSD card slot, 5 megapixel rear camera with LED flash, 1.3 megapixel front camera, NFC with Google Wallet support, Samsung's S Voice and S Beam for voice search and transferring files wirelessly respectively, 2,100mAh battery and Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich.

The phone will be sold on Sprint's network for $99 with a $50 mail-in rebate starting September 16.

Source

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_announces_the_galaxy_victory_4g_lte_for_sprint-news-4800.php

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Sony Xperia SL now available in several markets

The Xperia SL has been quietly released by Sony, and can be found across various retailers in the US and Europe.

Perhaps the reason why there's not much fanfare around the new device is that Sony does not want to interfere with sales of its just-announced Xperia T,V and J at IFA.

The Sony Xperia SL features a dual-core Scropion CPU clocked at 1.7GHz, 12 MP camera capable of 1080p recording, 1.3MP front-facing camera capable of 720p video, 32 GB of storage and 1 GB of RAM. It comes with Android ICS out of box, but should be able to handle an eventual Jelly Bean upgrade from Sony with ease.

As for where you can get one, if you're in the States online retailer basatne has it for $523, while ATGSM offers it for $499. In Europe, getgoods.de and hoh.de each have it for €599.

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_sl_now_available_in_multiple_markets-news-4789.php

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