Hasta La Gadget!

It was not too long ago when we brought you whispers of Apple reducing its iPhone 5c production over at Foxconn’s Zhengzhou factory, where it originally churned out 50,000 iPhone 5c units each day, down to a paltry 8,000 per day. Don’t you think that this is a rather sad predicament to be in if you were the iPhone 5c? I guess being the “wingman” of the iPhone 5s did not pan out too well for it. We now have a report from the folks over at Digitimes that Foxconn is going to cease all iPhone 5c production at the very same Zhengzhou factory, but rather, will switch over to the iPhone 5s.

After all, it is the iPhone 5s that makes a whole lot of money for Apple considering the sheer number of sales figures that the smartphone had racked up. It remains to be seen just how well (or not) the plastic iPhone 5c has performed in the market, since Apple has not delivered a detailed breakdown of its sales figures according to the various models that are available. One thing is for sure though, if you want to pick up a plastic iPhone 5c, then it would not be too difficult to hunt down one.

Foxconn Factory Reportedly Ceases iPhone 5c Production original content from Ubergizmo.

Designer Mike Charles wanted to have a dock for his iPhone that would not only reduce cable clutter but blend in his kitchen as well. He ended up with the Foaster, a dock for the iPhone 5, 5S and 5C that looks just like a toaster. He gets bonus points for not naming it the iToaster.

The Foaster has a plastic body with aluminum trim. It will come with two MFi-certified Lightning-to-USB cables so you can charge up to two iPhones at once. Sadly, unlike a real toaster its slots are not spring-loaded. The phones won’t sink when you plug them in and they certainly won’t pop off when they’re done charging. But at least you can easily plug and unplug your iPhone from the dock.

Pledge at least $79 (USD) on Kickstarer to get a Foaster as a reward. What’s next? Foven for iPads?

Back when Apple hadn’t unveiled its two new iPhones, it was believed that the low-cost iPhone 5c might end up eating into the margins of the relatively expensive iPhone 5s, particularly in markets like India and China. This isn’t the case though, the iPhone 5c hasn’t performed as well as everyone believed it would in those markets primarily because its not as competitively priced as many thought it would be. There has already been a lot of talk about iPhone 5c sales being weak, and its expected to remain weak throughout the fourth quarter of this year. TrendForce estimates that the iPhone 5c will account for 24 percent of the total iPhones shipped during this quarter, whereas iPhone 5s sales are expected to account for almost 70 percent of all iPhone sales.

The firm’s recent research report estimates that Apple shipped 33.8 million units of the iPhone in Q3, 2013, with the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c making up for more than 50 percent of that combined. It also claims that Apple has adjusted the iPhone 5c’s Q4 shipments down by 11 million units, which seems plausible as there have already been a lot of rumors about Apple cutting down production of the iPhone 5c. TrendForce expects Apple to ship 46 million units of the iPhone in this quarter, resulting in a 2.2 percent year-over-year increase.

Weak iPhone 5c Sales Expected In Q4, 2013 original content from Ubergizmo.

The next time you bring your broken iPhone to an Apple retail store, chances are the repairs could very well be conducted in the store itself, according to the folks at 9to5Mac who were tipped on this upcoming initiative by the Cupertino company. Prior to this, damaged iPhones that were under warranty were typically replaced by a brand new, albeit refurbished model, such as problems with the lock or home button. This move by Apple is said to help lower costs where they would have, in the past, sent damaged iPhones overseas for repair, or like we said, replace the unit entirely.

For example if one were to come into an Apple retail store with an iPhone 5s or iPhone 5c whose screen had been damaged or crack, special machinery at the back of the stores, along with the replacement parts, could cost Apple $149 to repair each device, which is apparently cheaper than to give the customer a brand new unit. Apart from being able to repair screens, Apple’s on-site repairs will also include the replacement of volume buttons, vibrating motor, rear-camera and speaker systems, along with home button replacements, although the home button replacements will not be available for the iPhone 5s as Touch ID components are said to be in short supply at the moment.

Apple has been trialing the program with the iPhone 5 earlier this year, but sources of 9to5Mac claim that screen calibration machines and manuals have begun to arrive to at more Apple stores, suggesting that a wider rollout will be taking place soon.

Apple Stores To Soon Start Offering In-Store iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c Repairs original content from Ubergizmo.

The latest bit of scuttlebutt from within Apple’s supply chain suggests that the company is going to tap two additional suppliers to produce iPhone 5c and iPad mini units as it looks to increase production as demand continues to rise. Citing people “familiar with the supply chain,” The Wall Street Journal reports that Apple will tap Taiwan’s Wistron to manufacture iPhone 5c later this year, whereas it will bring Taiwan’s Compal Communications onboard early next year for manufacturing the iPad mini. There have already been a lot of rumors about iPad mini supply constraints, supply isn’t expected to improve until next year, perhaps adding a new supplier will ease up things and finally meet demand.

According to the report, Apple is looking to broaden its supplier base as its primary supplier, Foxconn, focuses on producing the iPhone 5s which too is supposedly in short supply. Furthermore, Foxconn has also been under scrutiny for its labor practices, which are apparently “creating a headache for Apple.” Apparently a disagreement was also triggered between Apple and Foxconn when high return rate for defective iPhone 5 units lead them to bicker over who would foot the bill for repair cost, says Alvin Kwock, an analyst at J.P. Morgan.

Apple Said To Tap More Suppliers To Increase iPhone 5c and iPad Mini Production original content from Ubergizmo.