It takes a lot of different materials to make a modern day phone, and a fair number of them are of the rare earth metal variety. But a new study by researchers at Yale shows that there’s another troubling detail about the supply of pre-phone components. Many of these metals aren’t just rare; they’re irreplaceable.
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Apple has released its iPad Air, and while we don’t yet know how many it sold during opening weekend (it’s likely waiting to reveal launch numbers until the iPad mini with Retina display goes on sale), we do know that it seems to be enjoying strong adoption rates. The cost of building this latest iPad should help Apple’s product margins, too, if a teardown by analyst firm IHS iSuppli (via AllThingsD) is any indication.
IHS regularly makes a point of trying to backwards engineer the cost of building a brand-new Apple device by tearing them down and looking at what goes into one. This year, it estimates that Apple’s iPad Air runs between $274 and $361, for the $499 16GB Wi-Fi only model at the low end, and the $929 128GB Wi-Fi + LTE version at the top.
As usual, margins are higher the further up the chain you go, but what’s remarkable about this device is that it actually costs an estimated $40 or so less than the third-generation iPad did (IHS didn’t revise its figures for the fourth-generation iPad release) when it first launched, at every price point and model. That’s despite featuring a much more expensive display and touchscreen assembly that combines some layers to result in a a thinner overall package. Measurement for the touchscreen assembly is now at 1.8 mm, which is down from 2.23 mm on previous versions.
There are savings in other areas, however, since the display requires fewer LED units (36 vs. 84 before) to power the screen, and that’s mostly because apart from the screen, many of the components are held over from older versions. The A7 is actually cheaper than the A5 was back in March when the iPad 3 launched, and the cellular array used in the iPad covers all LTE frequencies in the U.S., which means cheaper manufacturing costs overall since it only needs to make one version.
Apple eking out more margin on the iPad Air could result in huge upside for it going into a busy holiday season, especially if numbers prove as strong as early evidence suggests they could be. The iPad mini, too, might enjoy a boost to profit for Apple, given that it also uses the A7 and appears to share a lot of componentry in common both with the full-sized iPad Air and with its predecessor.
Apple’s latest flagship smartphone is due in stores tomorrow morning, and naturally, iFixit has put one of the shipping units under a screwdriver before launch. We can’t say we’re surprised: these folks have sort of made a habit of it. The iPhone 5s teardown is currently marked as “in progress,” but the disassembly artists have already found the device slightly more difficult to take apart than its predecessor, due to the Touch ID sensor’s short connector cable. The new iPhone’s 1560mAh battery (a modest upgrade from the iPhone 5’s 1440mAh) is also held down by a ton of glue. The team expresses some concerns over the CMOS Touch ID sensor’s sapphire crystal cover, cautioning that its accuracy could degrade over time if it isn’t adequately protected. At the time of this writing, the 5s is still coming apart, and iFixit is adding more detail by the minute. Hop on over to the source link below to see the tear down in progress, or check back here later for an update with the company’s final word.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Apple
Source: iFixit
As we noted at the the end of the show last year, SIGGRAPH certainly delivers on the eye candy. From graphics demos to display tech and both 3D printing and motion capture, this is one trade show that offers a glimpse into the present and future of the industry when it comes to visual goods. Highlights include major component news from NVIDIA and Samsung while Dell’s 32-inch 4K display and the latest Disney Research project certainly nabbed our attention. The show ends today until we descend upon Vancouver next summer, but a gallery chock full of sights from the show floor and a roundup of the past few days should tide you over until then.
Gallery: SIGGRAPH 2013 Wrap-up
Filed under: Announcements, Displays, Misc
Looking to save some coin on your tech purchases? Of course you are! In this round-up, we’ll run down a list of the freshest frugal buys, hand-picked with the help of the folks at Slickdeals. You’ll want to act fast, though, as many of these offerings won’t stick around long.
With the GoPro Hero3 announcement yesterday, the outfit’s HD Hero2 is already seeing a nice discount. The action cam visits today’s round of links alongside a 14-inch Lenovo IdeaPad and two Windows 8 options. Head on past the break to see what else is being offered with handsome savings, and as always, be mindful of those coupon codes and rebate forms should you need ’em. Don’t drag your feet, though, as these deals are likely to disappear quickly.
Filed under: Cameras, Misc, Laptops, Storage, Software
Slickdeals’ best in tech for October 17th: Windows 8 Pro, GoPro HD Hero2 and Lenovo IdeaPad U410 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Oct 2012 12:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Looking to save some coin on your tech purchases? Of course you are! In this round-up, we’ll run down a list of the freshest frugal buys, hand-picked with the help of the folks at Slickdeals. You’ll want to act fast, though, as many of these offerings won’t stick around long.
If you’re looking to get a jump on some of your holiday shopping, perhaps this round of tech deals will provide the necessary motivation to do just that. A 60-inch Sharp AQUOS 1080p LCD HDTV tops the group, and a smattering of components round out the lot. Keep and eye on those pesky discount codes and rebate links, though, because we’d hate for you to miss out. Head on past the break to peruse the whole list.
Filed under: Cameras, Misc, Home Entertainment, Storage
Slickdeals’ best in tech for October 15th: 60-inch Sharp AQUOS LCD HDTV and a slew of components originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Oct 2012 12:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Looking to save some coin on your tech purchases? Of course you are! In this round-up, we’ll run down a list of the freshest frugal buys, hand-picked with the help of the folks at Slickdeals. You’ll want to act fast, though, as many of these offerings won’t stick around long.
If the mid-week blues have you down, perhaps a new batch of discounted tech will be just the thing to cheer you up. This time around, solid state drives from both Samsung and Intel make the cut alongside a pair of in-ears from Sennheiser that will allow you to use that Yacht Rock playlist to drown out your coworkers. Jump past the break to view the whole group, but remember to be mindful of those coupon codes and rebate forms.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Portable Audio/Video, Storage, Software, Samsung, Intel
Slickdeals’ best in tech for October 10th: SSDs, Sennheiser in-ear headphones and more originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Oct 2012 13:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Looking to save some coin on your tech purchases? Of course you are! In this round-up, we’ll run down a list of the freshest frugal buys, hand-picked with the help of the folks at Slickdeals. You’ll want to act fast, though, as many of these offerings won’t stick around long.
If you weren’t able to get all of your gadget shopping done this weekend, a handful of new tech deals could do the trick. A 14-inch Lenovo IdeaPad laptop and Canon PIXMA wireless all-in-one printer might be just what you need to enhance that home office setup with just a few clicks. There’s also three more links eager to accept your funds, so head on past the break to take a look. Remember to watch out for those coupon codes and rebate forms.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Laptops, Peripherals, Storage, Acer, Canon
Slickdeals’ best in tech for October 8th: Lenovo IdeaPad Y480 and Canon wireless all-in-one printer originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Oct 2012 12:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Looking to save some coin on your tech purchases? Of course you are! In this round-up, we’ll run down a list of the freshest frugal buys, hand-picked with the help of the folks at Slickdeals. You’ll want to act fast, though, as many of these offerings won’t stick around long.
Now that the NFL season is in full swing, a new HDTV could make weekend spectating a bit more enjoyable. In today’s round of tech deals, a 60-inch Panasonic plasma display tops the list with a handsome $200 discount in tow. If you’re not looking to invest quite that much, there are four other offers that will gladly accept your eager mouse clicks. Head on past the break to view ’em all, but be mindful of those coupon codes and rebate forms.
Filed under: Misc, Home Entertainment, Storage, Networking
Slickdeals’ best in tech for October 3rd: 60-inch Panasonic Viera Plasma HDTV and more originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Oct 2012 12:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Japan’s annual electronics expo is about to kick off in the Tokyo suburb of Chiba, and we’ve settled down for the week to deliver a peek inside Makuhari Messe, where local carriers will demonstrate their R&D wares, a fair share of robots are expected make their debut and component manufacturers will provide a hint of what’s to come. And, because the Tokyo Motor Show is held only once every two years, that winter exhibition will make a smaller appearance within these Chiba halls, with vehicle designers showing off their latest contributions to the automotive industry. The fun begins in just a few minutes, when dozens of diligent guards will lift the gates to the show. As always, you can follow along from home without spending a single yen. Just keep an eye on our homepage, or head over to the CEATEC 2012 tag for a complete roster of this year’s show coverage.
Filed under: Announcements
We’re live from CEATEC 2012 in Chiba, Japan! originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Oct 2012 20:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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