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Foxconn Planning to Ship 12 Million (or More) LCD TVs

Paul Lilly — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 07:54:06 -0600

Let's put this one in perspective. In 2009, OEM manufacturer Foxconn (otherwise known as Hon Hai Precision Industry) shipped between 1-2 million LCD TVs. But that's a drop in the bucket compared to the company's goal in 2010, which is to ship a minimum of 12 million units on an OEM/ODM basis.

Should Foxconn ultimately meet its goal, it would become the second largest TV contract manufacturer in Taiwan, trailing only TPV Technology.

One of Foxconn's biggest (and newest) customers includes Samsung, who has been buying panels from Chi Mei Optoelectronics (CMO). CMO will soon merge with Innolux Display, a subsidiary of Foxconn, making this new relationship possible.

Other TV clients in 2010 will include Sony, who is expected to purchase 5 million units, LG (2 million), and Vizio (1-2 million).

Image Credit: Flickr Robert Scoble

Foxconn to Release Two DIY Netbooks

Paul Lilly — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 07:05:29 -0600

The failed marriage between Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey is proof that pairing 'popular' with 'wish I was popular' isn't always a recipe for success. Nevertheless, Digitimes' "industry sources" say Foxconn is gearing up to release a pair of white-box netbooks in the very near future.

For whatever reason, the mobile DIY concept has never gained much ground and there exists only a small handful of white-box laptops. Foxconn's obviously hoping for a much better reception in the incredibly popular netbook sector where the biggest complaint is the lack of a performance punch.

Details are sparse, but sources say Foxconn will release the NS20 and NS24 DIY netbooks under a series codenamed SZ901P. These will be built around Intel's Pine Trail platform and include features such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, a webcam, and a card reader. On the software side, Foxconn will offer WIndows XP or a custom Linux-based OS called FoxOS.

Image Credit: fastcompany.com

Rumor: Apple Places Order for 10-inch Tablet Displays, Focusing on Glass Strength

Pulkit Chandna — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 16:12:35 -0600

Is Apple finally on the verge of making its long-rumored tablet official? The much awaited announcement could come as early as January, according to Taiwanese site Digitimes, which has a monopoly on tech rumors emanating from the region. Apple has reportedly finalized Foxconn Group's panel-making subsidiary Innolux as the supplier of the 10-inch panels that will be featured in its tablet.

The site's sources went on to name iPhone-display supplier Wintek as the company Apple may call upon to lessen Innolux's burden. Foxconn Group subsidiaries seem to be in the thick of things as far as Apple's tablet is concerned. G-Tech Optoelectronics, another Foxconn subsidiary, will reportedly provide a glass strengthening process for the tablet's display.

The report goes as far as claiming that Apple delayed the launch of the tablet until the first quarter of 2010 as it wanted more time to optimize the strength of the tablet's display.

Imaget Credit: Mac Life

Is Apple Using a Technicality to Avoid 3G License Fees?

Ryan Whitwam — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:10:29 -0600

You may not be aware, but Qualcomm holds a number of patents on modern 3G cellular technology. Any company making a 3G cell phone has to pay patent royalties to Qualcomm. Analyst Sanford Bernstein pointed out in a report this week that Apple appears to be taking advantage of a licensing loophole to avoid paying all those fees for the iPhone. The loophole is estimated to save Apple $290 million in fiscal 2009 alone.

Licensees must pay 5% of the wholesale price of a 3G device to the patent owner. Qualcomm’s website lists over 145 companies that have licensed their 3G technology. The list includes all major makers of 3G handsets. The one notable exception? Apple. One surprise on the list is Foxconn, the Taiwanese manufacturer of the iPhone.

The Bernstein report says that Qualcomm is being paid royalties not on the price Apple charges (average $590), but on the unit price Apple pays Foxconn, a mere $244. So instead of making $23.60 per iPhone, Qualcomm is only seeing $9.70. Apple is able to get away with this because the entire manufacturing process is done externally. Qualcomm seems fine with the arrangement. After all, $9.70 per iPhone is pretty good considering how they fly off the shelves.

Latest Apple Tablet Rumors has Foxconn Building Device for Early 2010 Release

Paul Lilly — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:25:35 -0500

It doesn't look like the oft-speculated Apple tablet will debut in November as The Wall Street Journal predicted back in August, but if DigiTimes' sources prove reliable (and they often do), the real release could take place in the first quarter of 2010.

According to the news and rumor site's talkative sources, Apple has pegged Foxconn as its manufacturing partner to build what's sure to be a popular device, Apple tax be damned. And there will be plenty to go around, as sources say initial shipments should be in the neighborhood of 300,000 to 400,000.

The Foxconn-built Apple tablet will sport a 10.6-inch display and focus more heavily on e-book chores than it will on music playback. Expect a long battery life, the sources noted.

Image Credit: Mac Life

Foxconn to Stop Selling Own-Branded Videocards

Paul Lilly — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:15:39 -0500

With all the hoopla surrounding lifetime warranties by the likes of EVGA, BFG, and XFX, you probably don't own a Foxconn-branded videocard anyway. But in case you do, you may want to hold onto it as a nostalgiac keepsake, because pretty soon, there won't be any new Foxconn-branded videocards.

Foxconn said it's getting out marketing its own brand and has instead rearranged its Channel Service Division (CSD), along with most of its 9,000 employees, to its OEM division.

That doesn't mean Foxconn will suddenly disappear, however. The company still expects to ship 6-7 million of its own-brand motherboards in 2009, which is a whopping 5 million more than it shipped in 2008. As for videocards and other OEM products, the company expects shipments to reach 30 million units, those products just won't bear the Foxconn brand.

Image Credit: Foxconn

Foxconn Launches Feature-Packed P55-Based Inferno Katana Motherboard

Paul Lilly — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 19:10:14 -0500

As Intel's socket 1156-based Core i5 and Core i7 processors inch closer to an official release, look for motherboard vendors to start rolling out new mobos built around Intel's P55 chipset. That's exactly what Foxconn has done, who over the weekend unveiled its Inferno Katana motherboard as part of the company's Quantum Force series.

There's a lot to like about the Inferno Katana, at least on paper. Power user features are aplenty, including a 12 phase hybrid PWM and DirectFET MOSFET technology, 2 phase for VTT and memory, and a "Fuzzy Equalizer," which is an LED indicator light for displaying the PWM loading status.

Other specs include support for up to 16GB of dual-channel DDR3-1800, 8 SATA ports, 7.1 channel onboard audio with Dolby DTS, 3 PCI-E 2.0 x16 slots, 8 USB 2.0 ports, and "performance comparable to if not better than the C/P ratio of the Core i7."

No word yet on price or availability.

Image Credit: Foxconn

Rumor: Foxconn Scores Major Win with Intel to Produce Motherboards

Paul Lilly — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 08:30:20 -0500

In an effort to help save R&D costs for its own-brand motherboards, Intel will release ODM (Original Design Manufacturer) orders to Taiwan-based motherboard makers, with the first orders belonging exclusively to Foxconn, DigiTimes reports.

As it currently stands, Intel ships between 4-5 million units annually, but although the chip maker is reportedly looking to cut back, the company did say it will continue to design and develop motherboards, as well as closely cooperate with industry players in the motherboard market.

If it turns out to be true, the big loser in the new deal is Pegatron Technology, an Intel OEM partner which will stand on the sidelines for these new orders. Adding salt to the wound, Asus, Pegatron's biggest client, is looking to increase its outsourcing to other companies as well.

Image Credit: Foxconn