Sharp says they aren’t worried about Apple’s iTV

Japan’s Sharp, maker of huge-screen televisions, voiced confidence Thursday as it told reporters Apple isn’t much of a concern. What about the almost incessant chatter that the tech giant will enter the TV manufacturing market with an iTV in 2012? “It’s not something we’re studying very hard,” an executive claims. Unclear whether this is bravado or whistling past the graveyard, but perhaps Sharp missed class the day Apple mangled a whole string of industries thought to be untouchable.

 

The comments by Kozo Takahashi, Sharp’s head of North and South American operations, follow reports Apple is prepping a redesigned television that could tie-in iTunes and other connectivity. “I really have no idea what kind of TV it will be,” the executive said. “But if he came up with it, I’m sure it will be amazing,” Takahashi said.

In Jobs’s biography, written by Walter Isaacson, the Apple co-founder is quoted as saying about how to remake the TV interface and experience: “I finally cracked it.” Analysts such as Piper Jaffray’s Gene Munster contend Apple is already in the late stages of approving an iTV product for 2012.

Sharp’s comments are intriguing, given reports in November that the TV manufacturer and component supplier is adapting its production lines to churn out TFT LCD panels for the iTV.

Although those reports suggest TV manufacturers, already operating on razor thin margins, are panicked by the idea Apple could enter the market. The Cupertino, Calif. Company has a reputation for squeezing suppliers to produce advanced iPhone, iPad and Mac designs for the least money. Sharp, however, believes U.S. consumers are not as technology-obsessed as Japanese buyers. Instead, American consumers demand low prices, wide screens and the latest features, such as 3D.

However, we have seen the Apple brand become a feature by itself. From iPods to iPads, consumers expect all devices to operate the way Apple devices do. The only question is will the TV manufacturing industry become the latest where everyone plays follow-the-leader behind Apple?

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Apple’s iTV may hit the market by the summer 2012

Sharp rumored to rise up iTV production in February for summer 2012 launch. Several analysts says that more news concerning a rumored television set by Apple have been calling for excitedly. The Tokyo Times news site has published in their blog post, according to that Apple has commissioned Sharp to begin the manufacturing large displays for an Apple’s branded television set. Sharp should be rise up the production in January.  

According to American Technology giant Apple is shifting partnership in Japan towards Sharp, looking at the brand-new TV range production which may be called iTV. The story goes that the product may hit the market by the summer 2012.

According to New York post which has referenced with the original Tokyo Times report “Apple had taken the entire planet-pulling out of South Korea and its former partner Samsung to ensure the quality of the new set and to protect its secrecy.

The Tokyo Times story quotes Jefferies analyst Peter Misek says that Apple’s rivals have already begin, it is a scrambled search to identify what iTV will be and do”. Analyst has wrote a note to clients based on h is visit to Japan and talk with manufacturing executives. “It gives Apple a partner that they can control manufacturing and secure supply at a lower price and a huge deal for Sharp because they spent significant amount of capital to try and expand capacity and upgrade their facilities.

The Tokyo Times report makes no mention of the iTV Siri integration which was consider elsewhere. On the other hand prominent analysts have been calling for a 2012 iTV launch and big media followed suit. A month ago the New York Times reported that Apple might have been prototyping this product for well over a year. That story cited a source who had allegedly seen “large parts floating around” that looked like they could be part of “a large Apple television”. The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that Apple added Sharp as a supplier of iPad and iPhone displays and the notoriously unreliable analyst Peter Misek claimed Sharp will also manufacture TFT LCD panels for the iTV. Steve Jobs told his biographer Walter Isaacson that he figured out how to do an Apple television. “It will have the simplest user interface you could imagine. I finally cracked it”, he said.

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More Confirmation on Apple capitalizing in Sharp plant for iPad 3 display

The Wall Street Journal bids their own sources that confirm apple will be using Sharp as a source of display parts for the upcoming iPad 3.

"Apple Inc. is adding Sharp Corp. as a maker of screens used in the next-generation iPad, people familiar with the situation said Thursday, as the U.S. consumer electronics company moves to diversify component suppliers for its products."

According the sources, Apple will also contributing in Sharp’s panel manufacturing factories in Japan to confirm it can get enough supplies for its iOS devices.

Sharp is already been supplying the iPhone panels and is also thought to supply panels for the next iPhone that is also due next year.

As Sharp revealed many times by various rumors as a new source of iPad screens for Apple. The recent report got from analyst, says that production of iPad 3 screens was already underway and included LG, Samsung and Sharp.

Just on Wednesday, another analyst reported that Sharp may actually be supplying Apple with specially designed screens for the iPad 3. According to that report, Apple and Sharp have developed a new technology to allow a thinner high resolution display for the next iPad. Finally, Sharp may also be involved in Apple's television set plans, also supplying parts for that project as well.

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Apple taps Sharp to supply LCD’s for iPad 3

As we all know that iPad 3 is about to come next year, this is something we heard before from analysts but the Wall street journal is now saying that Apple has tapped Sharp to supply the LCD’s display to the upcoming iPad 3, which is expected to launch early next year with dates from all the way to beginning of the year to march being floated around. There is rumor that the new iPad includes a Retina Display, the super clear screen technology that was pioneered in the iPhone 4, as well as faster processor. Earlier this year, reports claimed that Apple struck a billion dollar deal with Sharp to supply displays for Apple products.

The WSJ says that the Apple is also investing in facilitates at Sharp’s panel manufacturing factories in Japan, without specifying the amount being invested, highlighting Apple’s plans to work with multiple component makers to ensure that it can be secure enough parts to make its popular iPhones and iPad’s. Osaka-based Sharp makes liquid crystal displays, which are widely used in tablets, Smartphones and flat-screen televisions. Sharp already supplies LCD panels for Apple’s iPhone Smartphones, according to the person. The company will be supplying panels for the next iPhone, which is also expected to launch sometime next year, the person added.

A Sharp Factory

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the WSJ report is that they claim Sharp will not only supply LCDs for the sixth-generation iPhone, but is already powering the display of current iPhones like the 4S and maybe the slightly updated 8GB iPhone 4. The next iPhone is already rumored to pack a 4 inch display and an aluminum casing, both of which are rumors we’ve heard before. The WSJ previously said this iPhone 6 would be a dramatically new design and would introduce some new way of charging the iPhone.

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