Michal Ždanský Sapphire glass could find its way into more places in our iOS devices, and quite possibly as early as this year, according to the situation around the factory in Arizona that Apple plans to open. Apple already talked about plans for its launch at the end of last year in connection with partnership with GT Advanced Technologies (manufacturer of sapphire glass), as well as Tim Cook mentioned it at interview with ABC to mark the 30th anniversary of the Macintosh. The job offer, which the company posted on its website and later withdrew, also indicated that sapphire glass was to become a component for future iPhones and iPods.
Apple already uses sapphire in two places – on the camera lens and in the Apple ID on the iPhone 5s. Sapphire glass is more scratch-resistant than Gorilla Glass, which can be found on the displays of iPhones, iPads and iPods. According to documents tracked by the server 9to5Mac with the help of analyst Matt Margolis, Apple is moving very aggressively toward completing construction and beginning production, which should begin as early as next month. Another interesting quote can also be found in the document:
This demanding manufacturing process will create an important new sub-component of Apple products that will be used in the production of consumer electronics that will be imported and then sold worldwide.
A few weeks ago as well news emerged about alleged testing of iPhones with a sapphire glass display at a Foxconn factory. After all, Apple owns a patent for the production of such displays from the mentioned material. There was information about him published this Thursday. The patent describes several methods of panel production, including laser cutting and their use for iPhone displays.
Although it is not clear from any available information exactly what Apple intends to do with sapphire glass, several possibilities are offered. He is either planning to mass-produce protective glasses for Touch ID, which could also be used on other devices, such as the iPad or iPod touch, or he intends to use it as a display. In addition to the iPhone, there is another interesting option, namely a smart watch. After all, the cover glass of ordinary, more luxurious watches is often made of sapphire glass. Whether it will be an iWatch, an iPhone, or something else entirely, we may find out this year.
rumbaz
January 30, 2014 | 19.42
In my opinion, Apple will certainly not replace gorilla glass in the iPhone with Safirom because it is simply uneconomical.
Apple doesn't change what's good enough. See retina display.
It would make production more expensive and would not help marketing at all. I don't know of anyone who would buy an iPhone just because of the harder glass.
I clearly assume that the sapphire will be a completely new product.
After all, Apple can't write in an ad because someone is hungry for iWatch production :)
This is for the start of production and the subsequent sale of a new one
If production in large numbers starts already in February, it makes no sense to produce for storage until summer or even autumn. It is simply unprofitable and absolutely not done today. The entire production is optimized for "just in time". Because a lot of money is lost in storage and it is very unfavorable for cash flow.
– otherwise, I am inclined to the fact that the product will be presented at the end of March at a similar date as the keynote with iPads used to be.
There are 3 reasons for this:
1. financial forecast - almost no increase compared to last year, i.e. no new products until the end of March.
2. if something really new comes, apple will not introduce it in the same quarter as iPhones, iPads, etc., because the individual products would compete with each other in terms of marketing.
3. Apple needs to "shut down" people for a whole year. Because a person has a limited budget for Christmas gifts and then has to decide whether to buy a new iPad, iPhone or a new product from Apple.
Therefore, obviously, if something new is to arrive, it will come sooner than autumn...
What is "financial forecast" in Slovak? Cash flow could be called cash, maybe you have heard the word before. Yeah, it's not above the mother tongue in rotten English so that we can be progressive and knowledgeable about the world and show what fighters we are.
Is that a Czech nickname? "Famtex"? What to look for after the term "Dale Carnegie"? But I have problems with criticism myself ;)
Famtex is a compound of two words. And I'll leave it up to your imagination which ones. And it comes from our ancestral traditions. So it is my expression of respect to the ancestors. That's just an aside.
I apologize, but I have not lived in Slovakia or CR since my studies, which has been more than 15 years. Yes, my native language is mixed with English and German.
But I was amused by your reaction :)
"To" while we're talking about the mother tongue. And there would be more mistakes
I would like to ask roughly how much normal Gorilla Glass costs now, and how much would a display made of sari glass cost? Is there a big difference?
In my opinion, sapphire glass is extremely hard, i.e. also very fragile and therefore breakable. Watch manufacturers struggle with this and that is why, unlike luxury watches, watches for youth or sports are fitted with mineral glass. Sapphire glass, i.e. its resistance to etching and scratching, would rather be used for a fingerprint sensor. If someone wanted to produce such an iWatch, they would have to be at least at the level of products such as RADO Sintra with ceramics, but enriched with Apple functions and innovative in appearance, and of course bringing a new perspective to the world of watches.
Just no unfinished business, but a precise representative product. Then perhaps a segment of people who use Apple products and certainly have a good enough watch on their hands would be willing to take off their expensive watches and go for something new. And, of course, such a watch would not cost less than a bloated iPhone. Rather, much more. So is it real???
The fingerprint sensor already has a sapphire glass;)
Well, I don't know...IMHO in a watch, the use of the type of glass is mainly about the price. Seiko has its hardlex - glass that has better permeability and the vast majority of more expensive watches use sapphire, including toolwatches, divers, etc.
Plastic and mineral glass are only used for cheap watches (mechanics and quartz) and watches. I think sapphire will last longer.
Well, they wouldn't build a factory just on the ID sensor. It doesn't fit on the display unless they chemically modify it in some way like GG. Rather, I also see something new or an investment for the future.
It's the component, not the component, so the title should read "somewhat important component of the new product".