Google Glass will reportedly be built in America, at least initially

Google Glass will reportedly be built in America, at least initially

That $1,500 price tag for Google Glass Explorer Edition? Perhaps it makes a bit more sense considering that US labor will be used to manufacturer it. According to unnamed sources cited by Financial Times, the first run of production-quality Glass headsets will be built in Santa Clara, California. The reason? A lot is riding on the quality of Glass, and it’s likely that Google just wants to keep a close eye on every single prototype that leaves the lab. In fact, it’s not exactly uncommon — the outfit did the same for its ill-fated Nexus Q, and Apple is building some of its iMacs here in the states as well.

It’s also important to note that the initial batch of Glass headsets won’t be high yield, so there’s little reason for Google to look overseas with so few units slated for production. Whether or not the lines in NorCal will continue to hum once these things hit critical mass remains to be seen, but it is interesting that Hon Hai Precision (read: Foxconn) will reportedly manage the facility that cranks ’em out.

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Via: TechCrunch

Source: Financial Times

Foxconn announces $226 million half-year net loss, blames usual suspects

Foxconn announces $226 million halfyear net loss, blames usual suspectsManufacturing behemoth Foxconn (Hon Hai) has announced a record net loss of $226 million on turnover of $2 billion for the first half of the year. Unsurprisingly, it attributed the loss to the European debt crisis, global economic slowdown and its customers “continuous struggle” for market share. While it made a big push to encourage new customers, capacity far outstripped demand. In order to stem the tide, it’s relocating some of its Shenzhen-based facilities to sites in Northern China — and it’s also in talks with carriers to become an ODM, building white-label smartphones in the same way that Huawei and ZTE do. While the loss isn’t a rosy picture, the company does have nearly $2 billion stashed in the bank, so it shouldn’t be worrying too much.

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Foxconn announces $226 million half-year net loss, blames usual suspects originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Aug 2012 06:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Foxconn investment in Sharp looking less likely due to LCD manufacturer’s shrinking stock value

Foxconn investment in Sharp looking less likely due to LCD manufacturer's shrinking stock valueFoxconn’s parent, Hon Hai Precision Industry, partnered up with Sharp earlier this year, taking a stake in Sharp’s Sakai LCD manufacturing plant and investing another $850 million in the company. Unfortunately, that latter investment deal is in danger of dissolving due to Sharp’s financial troubles. The Wall Street Journal reports that Sharp’s shares have fallen enough in the months since the aforementioned agreement was consummated in March — due to flagging sales and excess inventory — that Sharp’s given Hon Hai the option to back out of the deal. However, Hon Hai’s still interested in buying ten percent of the Japanese company, and has expressed an interest in renegotiating the terms of the investment. So, it seems we’ll have to wait and see if Sharp accepts Hon Hai’s continued advances, but you can read more about the company’s financial woes right now at the source below.

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Foxconn investment in Sharp looking less likely due to LCD manufacturer’s shrinking stock value originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 06 Aug 2012 17:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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