Tag - Hon Hai
Foxconn to recruit over 100,000 to help build new iPhone
Hon Hai -- better known as Foxconn -- is preparing to hire some 100,000 people in mainland China to help manufacture new iPhones, says Taiwan's Economic Daily News. The effort is described as the company's largest-ever Chinese hiring spree. Another major Apple supplier, Pegatron, is meanwhile said to be boosting labor at a mainland factory by 30 percent for the sake of iPhone production. Foxconn is expected to handle 70 percent of orders, while Pegatron will deal with the remainder.
Foxconn profits rise 13 percent on iPhone and iPad sales
Taiwan-based manufacturer Hon Hai -- better known as Foxconn -- saw its profits rise 13 percent last year to $3.5 billion, something attributed mainly to record iPhone and iPad sales, according to the Wall Street Journal. Foxconn is closely linked to Apple, deriving over 40 percent of its revenue from Apple orders. As such, any fluctuation in iPhone and iPad sales can dramatically affect its income.
Apple Supplier Responsibility report claims work on conflict minerals
Apple has published its eighth Supplier Responsibility report, based on data including 451 audits of its suppliers. The company claims a 95 percent compliance with the maximum 60-hour work week in its Supplier Code, a slightly improvement from 92 percent a year ago. Notably, Apple says it is now keeping a closer watch on where suppliers pull minerals from, in a bid to avoid "conflict" minerals -- minerals from regions where their sale may be used to fund ongoing wars. In particular, the Apple is focused on the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Foxconn executives arrested for kickbacks from iPhone suppliers
At leas a dozen current and former senior managers at Foxconn have been arrested for accepting bribes from iPhone parts suppliers, according to Tencent. The scheme is alleged to have originated with the company's retired senior VP, Liao Wancheng (pictured). Suppliers were made to pay 2.5 percent of their sales in kickbacks, as well as additional bribes for each new order. The people receiving the cash are said to have reaped "hundreds of millions" in Taiwanese dollars.
Apple partner Foxconn starts fund to invest in wearable tech
Foxconn – also known as Hon Hai, assembler of Apple's iPhones and iPads – is looking to capitalize on the anticipated boom in wearable tech by starting an investment fund to finance nascent companies working in the segment. Sources familiar with the project told Bloomberg this week that Syntrend Creative Park Co., a Foxconn unit, will administer the NT$200 million ($6.8 million) fund aimed at giving the firm a hand in the development of wearable devices in the vein of Samsung's Galaxy Gear smartwatch, the Google Glass eyewear computer, and the suspected Apple iWatch. The move is the latest by Foxconn to diversify its operations to handle more things than the construction of iOS devices for its most lucrative partner.
Report: Google buys augmented reality patents from Hon Hai Precision
Hon Hai Precision Industry, perhaps better known as the parent company of Foxconn, claims that it has sold Google a large swath of augmented reality patents. The patents cover a computer-generated image superimposed over a static or moving real-world image, and that the technique is commonly used in aviation, gaming, and training. No financial details of the deal are known.
WSJ backs claims of two iPhone models coming in September
Apple has asked is main manufacturing partner, Hon Hai -- better known as Foxconn -- to start shipping new high-end and low-end iPhone models early next month, according to sources for the Wall Street Journal. Suppliers are said to have started parts production back in June. The sources don't have many details about the low-end phone, but do remark that the flagship device will have a metal casing and the same size and resolution as the iPhone 5.
iPhone sales help boost Hon Hai/Foxconn Q2 profits 41 percent
Hon Hai, better known as Foxconn, posted a 41 percent year-over-year increase in net profits during its second quarter, according to the Wall Street Journal. Net profits for Q2 2013 were NT$16.98 billion, or about $566.7 million US. In the same quarter of 2012, profits were NT$12.06 billion. The average forecast for this year had been NT$16.32 billion.
Foxconn demos self-made smartwatch with health, notification features
Hon Hai -- better known under its Foxconn brand -- has demonstrated a first-party smartwatch, reports say. The device can connect wirelessly to an iPhone, and display notifications for incoming phone calls and Facebook posts. Like some other smartwatches, it can monitor health signs like heartbeat and respiration, but with the bonus of tips on getting fitness up to par.
Reuters sources say Apple considering larger iPhones for 2014
Apple is considering a range of possible options for expanding its iPhone lineup in 2014, say four sources for Reuters, some of which are said to be with Asian suppliers. The people claim that Apple is considering two bigger iPhone sizes, including 4.7- and 5.7-inch dimensions. Suppliers have reportedly been approached with plans for the bigger screens, but whether or not they'll make it into shipping products is uncertain. "They constantly change product specifications almost to the final moment, so you're not really sure whether this is the final prototype," one source says.
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Cirrus creates Lightning-headphone dev kit
Apple supplier Cirrus Logic has introduced a MFi-compliant new development kit for companies interested in using Cirrus' chips to create Lightning-based headphones, which -- regardless of whether rumors about Apple dropping the analog headphone jack in its iPhone this fall -- can offer advantages to music-loving iOS device users. The kit mentions some of the advantages of an all-digital headset or headphone connector, including higher-bitrate support, a more customizable experience, and support for power and data transfer into headphone hardware. Several companies already make Lightning headphones, and Apple has supported the concept since June 2014. http://bit.ly/29giiZj
Apple Store app offers Procreate Pocket
The Apple Store app for iPhone, which periodically rewards users with free app gifts, is now offering the iPhone "Pocket" version of drawing app Procreate for those who have the free Apple Store app until July 28. Users who have redeemed the offer by navigating to the "Stores" tab of the app and swiping past the "iPhone Upgrade Program" banner to the "Procreate" banner have noted that only the limited Pocket (iPhone) version of the app is available free, even if the Apple Store app is installed and the offer redeemed on an iPad. The Pocket version currently sells for $3 on the iOS App Store. [32.4MB]
Porsche adds CarPlay to 2017 Panamera
Porsche has added a fifth model of vehicle to its CarPlay-supported lineup, announcing that the 2017 Panamera -- which will arrive in the US in January -- will include Apple's infotainment technology, and be seen on a giant 12.3-inch touchscreen as part of an all-new Porsche Communication Management system. The luxury sedan starts at $99,900 for the 4S model, and scales up to the Panamera Turbo, which sells for $146,900. Other vehicles that currently support CarPlay include the 2016 911 and the 2017 models of Macan, 718 Boxster, and 718 Cayman. The company did not mention support for Google's corresponding Android Auto in its announcement. http://bit.ly/295ZQ94
Apple employees testing wheelchair features
New features included in the forthcoming watchOS 3 are being tested by Apple retail store employees, including a new activity-tracking feature that has been designed with wheelchair users in mind. The move is slightly unusual in that, while retail employees have previously been used to test pre-release versions of OS X and iOS, this marks the first time they've been included in the otherwise developer-only watchOS betas. The company is said to have gone to great lengths to modify the activity tracker for wheelchair users, including changing the "time to stand" notification to "time to roll" and including two wheelchair-centric workout apps. http://bit.ly/2955JDa
SanDisk reveals two 256GB microSDXC cards
SanDisk has introduced two 256GB microSDXC cards. Arriving in August for $150, the Ultra microSDXC UHS-I Premium Edition card offers transfer speeds of up to 95MB/s for reading data. The Extreme microSDXC UHS-I card can read at a fast 100MB/s and write at up to 90MB/s, and will be shipping sometime in the fourth quarter for $200. http://bit.ly/294Q1If
Apple's third-quarter results due July 26
Apple has advised it will be issuing its third-quarter results on July 26, with a conference call to answer investor and analyst queries about the earnings set to take place later that day. The stream of the call will go live at 2pm PT (5pm ET) via Apple's investor site, with the results themselves expected to be released roughly 30 minutes before the call commences. Apple's guidance for the quarter put revenue at between $41 billion and $43 billion. http://apple.co/1oi1Pbm
Twitter stickers slowly roll out to users
Twitter has introduced "stickers," allowing users to add extra graphical elements to their photos before uploading them to the micro-blogging service. A library of hundreds of accessories, props, and emoji will be available to use as stickers, which can be resized, rotated, and placed anywhere on the photograph. Images with stickers will also become searchable with viewers able to select a sticker to see how others use the same graphic in their own posts. Twitter advises stickers will be rolling out to users over the next few weeks, and will work on both the mobile apps and through the browser. http://bit.ly/29bbwUE
