TSMC Preparing To Manufacturer A6X Chip As Apple Looks to Ditch Samsung 172
An anonymous reader writes with reports that TSMC is preparing to do a first test run of Apple's A6X chipset currently manufactured by Samsung. The TSMC manufactured chips will feature a process shrink from 32nm to 28nm, and there's a good chance Apple will grant them the contract for the next generation A7 chip. From SlashGear: "The test will kick off in Q1 2013, The China Times reports, with TSMC producing a new, 28nm version of the existing 32nm A6X that Samsung has been producing for the full-sized iPad 4th-gen; the smaller chip, which will likely be more power efficient as well, will debut in a new iPad 5th-gen and iPad mini 2."
Ditching strong partners -- smart move! (Score:4, Interesting)
Now we can wait for the hardware repetition of the Google Maps fiasco. Whose head is going to roll this time when the shit hits the fan?
Re:Ditching strong partners -- smart move! (Score:5, Interesting)
They already did the hardware version of the Google Maps fiasco. People are literally returning the MacBook Pros that use the new, non-Samsung screens, in hopes of being able to buy one that uses the older Samsung screens, because the newer screens apparently ghost like crazy.
Looks like I better act soon (Score:5, Interesting)
I had been planning to purchase an iPad 4 for a while, but I guess I had better do it soon. I don't really want to be a beta tester for Apple/TSMC. There have been serious problems with TSMC's 28nm process [extremetech.com] and I don't trust them to get it right. And during the past year or so, Apple has shown a disturbing trend of prioritizing screwing over their competitors (Samsung and Google) above providing a good customer experience, as demonstrated by the Apple Maps fiasco and the myriad of problems with LG displays on the Retina MacBook Pro. I'm very concerned that corners will be cut in the rush to TSMC fabrication.
Re:Ditching strong partners -- smart move! (Score:3, Interesting)
Bigger doesn't always mean better. Given my experiences with Samsung, I'd expect lower failure rates, or parity, at worst.
Re:Ditching strong partners -- smart move! (Score:3, Interesting)
I've heard there are problems with some LG-make screens but not everyone is running into the store for an exchange. The nice thing is Apple is exchanging them if you notice a problem. I wouldn't call it a fiasco.
Re:Ditching strong partners -- smart move! (Score:0, Interesting)
They aren't stupid but they are trapped; the "nuclear war" that their former leader decreed has burned the bridge at Samsung so they are forced to look for cheaper chips elsewhere since contracts with Samsung aren't going to be priced favorably any more (even though there is no real reason to destroy the relationship, it seems that everyone is OK with competition except Apple). Samsung will move on and continue to make the world's cellphones and Apple will have some of it's precious margin cut off because it wanted to "make a stand" against a different platform.
Jobs' prideful legacy will be their downfall (Score:4, Interesting)
Getting rid of partners like Samsung will hurt them in the long run. The only reason why Samsung became one of the top suppliers of parts for Apple is due to Apple's long history of problems and failures with smaller partners unable to produce significant quantities with the quality expected by Apple. Of course TSMC is not a small company, but Apple dropping Samsung for parts is about pride not intelligent planning or business strategy. Why drop a relationship that works for something less predictable?
Apple is going to have a very tough year in 2013. They blew their wad last year for product updates and except for minor product revisions will not offer anything interesting until at least the fall if Apple TV is not actually a myth. In the meantime news like this will only scare investors at a time when there had already been a loss in faith with Apple's business strategy.
I think the problem with Apple is they are still trying to follow in Steve Jobs' footsteps. It's only Steve Jobs that had a hate on for Android, Google, and anything connected to them, so pursuing this prideful vendetta against Samsung is like Steve's dying wish. The problem is that Apple is going to have to eventually start making their own decisions and continuing a strategy to remove Google and Samsung as business partners is not in their best interests.
Re:Ditching strong partners -- smart move! (Score:4, Interesting)
I think someone at Apple has realised that Samsung could decide not to renew the contract and just as easily screw over Apple.
Seems to me that doing so would simply result in Samsung not getting a contract that someone else will happily fulfill. They may be competitors, but why would samsung deprive themselves of a large, lucrative contract simply to spite and inconvenience a competitor? Sounds like bad business to me.