Thursday, November 19, 2009
The Apple Tablet Is Delayed? So What?
Apple has reportedly decided to postpone the launch of its rumored tablet/slate until the second half of 2010. That’s the latest rumor from the occasionally reliable Digitimes, which claims that the device’s original March 2010 debut target became untenable after some component changes. The report, should it prove true, will no doubt be a disappointment to overanxious tabletites awaiting the mysterious device’s arrival, but really, that’s immaterial to Apple.
To be taken with a grain of salt: Apple’s long-rumored tablet will arrive at market early next year and will feature a 10.6-inch panel designed with e-books in mind. This according to the occasionally accurate DigiTimes.
The first Android phone intended for AT&T may be scrapped before it’s ever released. Developed by HTC, the “Lancaster” had been scheduled to arrive at market this summer. But industry sources tell DigiTimes that the device hasn’t yet passed AT&T’s validation process and will be delayed or perhaps even abandoned. 
To the NAND flash memory business, Apple is a market maker and mover–and an increasingly insatiable one. In 2008, Samsung was forced to reduce its supply of 8GB-equivalent NAND flash chips to other customers to fulfill its obligation to Apple. What’s past is prologue. To wit, reports today claim Apple has placed an order for 100 million 8GB NAND chips from Samsung–an order so large it is reportedly causing a supply shortage.
Market source reports from Taiwanese trade mags are best taken with a grain of salt, if not an entire salt flat–particularly if they concern Apple. That said, claims today that Cupertino has ordered a bunch of 3.2-megapixel CMOS image sensors for its next-generation iPhone seem entirely reasonable, if only because the device’s current camera is so poor.
