LarganPrecision
Latest
Apple hires two camera suppliers for the iPhone 5
Apple has tapped both Largan Precision and Genius Electronic Optical to supply some lenses/camera modules for the rumored upcoming iPhone 5, according to the Taiwan Economic News. Both of the companies have worked on 5 megapixel camera modules that you can now find in the iPhone 4, so it's not too surprising that Apple has gone back to those same sources for what are supposed to be 8 megapixel kits in the next version. And while that seems like good news for Apple, it's also obviously good news for these two companies, who have both earned a 27.5 percent global market share together. If they are contracted for the next iPhone, that share will likely go even higher. Post corrected to clarify that lenses themselves do not carry a megapixel rating.
Next iPad's camera supplier outs itself in Taiwan Stock Exchange filing?
At this point, is there anyone that doesn't suspect the next iPad will sport a camera? We've heard as much, more or less, and now here's more fodder for the suspicious out there: according to Digitimes, a Taiwan Stock Exchange filing from Largan Precision pegs itself as the "sole lens module supplier" for the impending second-generation iPad, with shipments (of the part or of the tablet, we're not sure) due out in the first quarter of 2011. It's worth noting that Largan is the camera parts supplier for the iPhone 4. We haven't been able to check out the filing ourselves yet, and for its part Largan's not saying a word, but we'll let you know what we dig up. You can now return to the part of your iPad 2 dream where it's rocking a glasses-free 3D ultra-retina display... on both sides... and it's transparent... and foldable... and not real. Update: China Times is reporting that Largan got lucky with the exclusive order because Apple's other iPhone 4 camera supplier GSEO (Genius Electronic Optical) is already running at full capacity. Said publication also casually mentions an "end of Q1" launch for the iPad 2, which makes sense given that the original iPad was launched in April.
iPad 2 camera supplier selected, remains mum
One of the most asked-for features for the second generation of the iPad is a front-facing camera that can be used with Apple's FaceTime video chat app. After all, with FaceTime available on every iPhone 4 and downloadable in beta form for Mac OS X, the ability to engage in video-enhanced conversations with friends and family on future iPads is a foregone conclusion. Now, DigiTimes is reporting that a supplier for the lens module (optics and CCD sensor) for the iPad 2 has been selected by Apple. Largan Precision, the Taiwanese supplier for the 5-megapixel lens module used in the iPhone 4, filed documents with the Taiwan Stock Exchange noting that the company has been selected as the sole lens module supplier for the iPad 2 with shipments beginning in the first quarter of 2011. Not surprisingly, Largan is staying quiet about the deal. The web of secrecy that surrounds announcements of new Apple products extends to suppliers, so we're sure that no confirmation from the company will be forthcoming... not that it's needed. The front-facing camera for the iPhone 4 is only VGA quality to allow for higher video refresh rates over Wi-Fi for FaceTime, so we could speculate that this VGA webcam module might be used in the iPad 2. By the way, the 5-megapixel lens module that is used in the primary iPhone 4 camera isn't shown on Largan's product page, but an 8-megapixel unit is. Is it too early to start speculating that the next generation iPhone will sport an 8-megapixel camera?
