Full comparative breakdown of tablet costs

By Nick Flaherty, PortableMultimedia

IHS has released an excellent comparison of the costs of nine recent tablets, pointing to Apple’s control over the operating system allows it to reduce costs by limiting the quantity of memory in the iPad. In the current-generation iPad 2, the density of synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM) is 512 megabytes—half that of the 1 gigabtye used in competitive designs, says IHS. This memory density reduction results in a nearly $14 reduction in the BOM of the iPad 2 compared to other tablets. Likewise, the original iPad contained half as much SDRAM as comparable competitive devices with single-core applications processors.
“The iPad’s efficient memory usage stems from the fundamental difference in the architecture of the operating system,” said Wayne Lam, senior analyst, competitive analysis, at IHS. “Apple’s iOS handles multitasking differently than other tablet operating systems, allowing it to reduce the amount of memory required to support the microprocessor.”
Also, Apple’s tight management of its product design, software integration and component selection also allow the iPad’s battery to be the thinnest of all competing tablet designs while still having the largest capacity.

Tablet trends Extensive teardown research also reveals how Apple is setting the pace in the tablet market in the areas of pricing and screen size.
Apple established the sweet spot for tablet pricing, pegged at $500 for the Wi-Fi version of the Apple iPad that included 16 gigabytes of NAND flash memory. Samsung reinforced this pricing standard with the 16-gigabyte version of the new Galaxy Tab 10.1 model.
Other tablets such as the BlackBerry Playbook from Research in Motion and the TouchPad from Hewlett-Packard have gravitated toward that price point as well.
Apple also is setting the standard for display sizes, with the iPad’s 9.7-inch screen becoming the default standard in the market. Although some tablets have been introduced with screens in the 7-inch range, notably RIM’s BlackBerry PlayBook and the upcoming HTC Flyer, the number of designs in the market with 10.1- and 9.7-inch displays have been more plentiful.

“Dual-ing” tablets The IHS iSuppli Teardown Analysis Service also illustrates the trend toward multi-core processors in tablet designs. Following the introduction of the Motorola Xoom in February and the iPad 2 in March, all new tablet designs within 2011 have included dual-core processors that deliver higher computing and graphical performance.
In 2012 IHS expects to see this trend to continue with the introduction of tablets featuring quad-core processors for even more enhanced performance. IHS iSuppli Teardown Analysis Service.

Related articles
Toshiba Thrive vs. Acer Iconia Tab: Battle of the PC imposters (digitaltrends.com)
Galaxy Tab 10.1 Vs. iPad 2 Review (apple.slashdot.org)
HP Offers Rebates on its TouchPad to Attract consumers (android-tablet.org)
Apple considering cheaper components to keep iPad 3 competitive (9to5mac.com)
With poor Q2 Results, Motorla Admits Xoom Tablet might be Overpriced (android-tablet.org)
Is the iPad Unbeatable? (pcworld.com)
Best of Kindle & iPad = Amazon Tablet (blogs.vinuthomas.com)
New Toshiba Thrive tablet computer sports laptop features (usatoday.com)

Portable Multimedia adds real time trade and wholesale phone pricing

Ever wondered how much your smartphone actually cost, rather than the subsidy price? The Portable Multimedia has added a widget to show the current trade and wholesale price of the top four handsets on the market (scroll down for the widget). You can  also click through on this to get the latest prices on the tablets such as Apple iPad. Thanks to gsmexchange.com and phonelot.com for this.

Tablets Become Focus for Convergence

After decades of discussion, the convergence of consumer, computer and communications is finally becoming a reality with the arrival of Apple iPad and competing tablets, a development that will have massive implications for the technology world, spurring competition not only among varying types of products—but among entire industries, according to the market research firm iSuppli, now part of IHS.
“The definition of convergence has changed over time, with the latest version describing it as voice, video and data services being delivered to the home vis-à-vis broadband networks and the new services that would result from this confluence,” said William Kidd, director and principal analyst, financial services for iSuppli. “While that trend still exists, the convergence of consumer electronics devices and industries are now coming together at a fast pace, with the tablet form factor serving a tangible representation of that convergence, since it is part smart phone and part notebook.”
However, the implications of the convergence in consumer electronics span well beyond tablets.
The rise of the tablet parallels the growing importance of the mobile operating system (OS) in a large number of consumer electronics devices where previously there was no OS—or the OS wasn't a factor, Kidd added. Because of this, it's a time of great risk and opportunity for all the players across the electronics value chain. This is why so many technology firms seem to be rushing to deliver—or to become a key supplier to—a next generation tablet, smart phone or both, like the iPad/iPhone. At the same time, these companies also are attempting to keep their design options somewhat open, because it is still so early in this product's life cycle.
“Companies in the electronics value chain increasingly must face the reality that the rise of the mobile OS means distinct product categories now are blurring together,” Kidd said. “For example, note the similarity both in external functionality and internal electronics between Apple's tablet, smart phone, MP3 player and set top box product lines. Not only do they run the same OS, but all these Apple devices are internally similar, plus or minus a screen and touch interface. Industries likely to face the impact of convergence through the proliferation of mobile OSes include televisions, cell phones and notebook PCs.”

Going mobileMobile OSes will proliferate because of their range of benefits to technology providers and users.
These OSes provide a framework for consumers to cheaply and effortlessly create custom use cases for devices by using apps that greatly exceed the utility of an Internet browser alone. For developers, mobile OSes allow the creation and monetization of apps. Using mobile OSes, content providers to distribute their wares and adds another convenient option for consumers to access content. Finally, mobile OSes enable interconnectivity between connected devices, and thus generate even more new use cases.
iSuppli believes televisions likely represent the next important catalyst in this evolution toward a broader and more unifying consumers platform that encompasses significantly more devices. Despite challenges and past failures in this area, iSuppli expects mobile operating system providers will get the formula right and transition televisions into a new paradigm. Over the long term, tablets are likely to reshape the computer market as well.

Consumption versus creationiSuppli’s current outlook for tablet shipments foresees that these devices will remain content consumption devices, similar to the iPad. However, growth in the tablet segment starting in 2012 could be much higher than now anticipated as these devices take on the kind content creation capabilities now offered by notebook and netbook PCs.
The transformation of tablets into media creation devices would require the development of OSes that are more evolved that Apple’s iOS is today. Even with Microsoft’s stumbles to date in tablets, iSuppli believes that Microsoft will figure out how to design a functional tablet operating system. Apple also is likely to determine how to evolve iOS and an iPad into a creation platform that is 100 percent compatible with the Widows-dominated PC universe. Obviously, Apple could combine iOS and Mac OS at some point, which iSuppli believes is logical as well.

For a detailed analysis on the impact of the mobile OS, see Kidd’s report entitled: Tablets: Epicenter for the Convergence of Smart Phones and PCs.

Related articles

• Microsoft preparing new tablets for CES (v3.co.uk)
• Have the mobile OS wars really been decided already? (zdnet.com)
• 2010: Year of the Tablet (gigaom.com)
• 7 Reasons You Won't Want a Windows 7 Slate (wired.com)

French IPTV operator puts channels on iPad

From BroadbandTV News:

French IPTV network Free has made available its 20 basic ‘Freebox’ TV channels to subscribers that have access to an iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad. A web-based application delivers the channels that include France 2, France 3, NRJ Paris, NRJ 12, NRJ Hits, TV5, Al Jazeera, LCP and BFM. Users can pause the content at any point and resume their viewing at a later point. The channels are available when connected to the Free Wi-Fi connection or the Free Wi-Fi community network. Free has also opened up the APIs to allow developers of the iPhone, Android and other mobile terminals to create virtual remote controls to emulate the functionality of the Freebox HD remote.

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iPad turns multimedia design on its head

Shakes up Electronics Supply Chain with 20m units in 2012

As I've said many times in this blog, it's the User-Interface (UI) of the Apple iPad that has a major impact on the electronics supply chain and on how electronic products are designed. 
 

“Electronic products have always been designed the same way, with a motherboard-oriented approach starting with the circuits and semiconductors on a central Printed Circuit Board (PCB)  and then wrapping UI-focused elements like the keyboard and display around it,” said Derek Lidow, president and chief executive officer at maret researchers iSuppli. “The iPad is not designed that way. It doesn’t have a traditional motherboard. Rather, it is designed with the UI as the starting point: Apple started by designing the screen, the touch pad and the battery, and lastly focused on the semiconductors and where to put them. This design is what gives the product a unique feel and functionality.”

Shipments of Apple’s iPad are set to rise to 20.1 million in 2012, up from 7.1 million in 2010. “Anyone that wants to compete with Apple is going to have to consider the design of the iPad, as well as its huge implications on the electronics design and value chain,” said Lidow. “This unleashes an extremely interesting dynamic. The question of which companies in the supply chain will capture the profits from this UI-based approach will be of major importance in the coming years.”

Display and touch screen patent issues

Obvious beneficiaries of the UI-centric design philosophy are the suppliers of the display, touch screen assembly and related electronics. The display module in the iPad, supplied by LG Display, is the single most expensive component in the product. The display employs advanced, wide-viewing-angle LCD technology. The actual technology reportedly is either In-Plane Switching (IPS) technology or Advanced-Fringe Field Switching (AFFS) technology. LG Display holds the patent for IPS, while Hydis Technology Co.—a subsidiary of Prime View International—holds the patent on the AFFS technology. Japan’s Epson is also providing panels, while Samsung Electronics is a potential future supplier.

The next most expensive component is the capacitive touch screen assembly. The supplier of the assembly is Wintek while other makers of such assemblies include Sintek Photronic, TPK Solutions, Touch International and Young Fast Optoelectronics, but none of those companies currently supply to the iPad, iSuppli believes.

On the support electronics side are the touch screen microcontroller and multitouch controller Integrated Circuits (ICs) from Broadcom and the touch screen driver from Texas Instruments. Other suppliers for touch screen controllers not specific to the iPad include Synaptics, Cypress Semiconductor, and Atmel.

Interestingly, the fact that three separate ICs are used to support the touch screen display indicates that the design is in its early stages, and suggests that future integration into a single device is possible and desirable. Future versions of the iPad are likely to use a single-chip solution for supporting the touch screen functionality, creating opportunities for suppliers that can offer such products.

“The iPad brings a new competitive dynamic that focuses on which companies will supply and control the value of the UI—and which firms will become commoditized in the relentless push to drive down prices,” Lidow said. “Display companies could shift their R&D priorities to develop touch and UI intelligence into their products, grabbing value from other UI components and protecting them from being commoditized. Intellectual-Property-savvy semiconductor suppliers could do the same.  During the next five years this will become one of the most important battlegrounds in the electronics value chain.”

Battery charge

While the battery is not usually considered part of the UI, in the iPad it plays a critical role in supporting the user experience. With the iPad heavily focused on mobility, a long battery life is critical, as iPhone users know.

“The weakest link in the iPhone is the battery life,” said Andrew Rassweiler, director and principal analyst, teardown services manager, for iSuppli. “With the iPad, Apple has rethought design priorities to ensure long battery life and serviceability. The bulk of the iPad is designed to accommodate the battery pack, which was also designed to be easily removed and replaced, although not by consumers.”

The thickness of the iPad is largely determined by the size of the display module and battery packs combined, Rassweiler noted. The battery, priced at $23.75, represents more than 9 percent of the iPad’s total bill-of-materials cost. In the iPad torn down by iSuppli, the battery cells were supplied by Amperex Technology and the pack provided by Dynapack.iSuppli expects other suppliers of tablet-type products to emulate the iPad’s battery-centric approach.

Processor concerns

In the UI-focused, content-consumption-oriented iPad, the microprocessor plays a lesser role than it does in conventional notebook PCs. However, the iPad’s design demands a highly integrated microprocessor that emphasizes lower power consumption and small space usage.

The microprocessor, combining an A4 processor core and a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), was designed by P.A. Semi—which was acquired by Apple in 2008—and carries an estimated cost of $19.50.

“The processor in the iPad is not a PC microprocessor,” Rassweiler said. “This is, as we understand it, an ARM-core based processor that is different from—and not trying to compete with—for example, Intel’s Atom microprocessor. This is a totally different architecture that comes as more of an extension of the iPhone/iPod line, rather than as an extension of Apple’s computer line-up, which is entirely Intel-based at this point.”

While the A4 lacks a custom development tailor-designed by, and made only for, Apple, it provides a much smaller physical footprint than Atom architecture does.

Know-how in integrated silicon for mobile platforms is now in hot demand because of the iPad’s design and may be behind several developments in the news lately.

These developments include Google’s recent announcement of its acquisition of Agnilux, a start-up founded by P.A. Semi professionals who left when that fabless chip designer was acquired by Apple in 2008. Agnilux Intellectual Property (IP) could find its way into a pending Google tablet PC. Apple this week also reportedly purchased Intrinsity, a privately owned ARM chip design firm.

Some competitors of the iPad are likely to also adopt ARM-Core based designs, such as the TEGRA chip line by Nvidia, or the OMAP processors by TI.

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ISuppli bullish on iPad Sales despite lack of Flash support

Shipments to Hit 7 Million in 2010 and Triple by 2012

The iPad’s attractive design, compelling applications and multi-touch capability, key components of Apple’s past successes, will help to offset the initial omission of Adobe Flash from the device and send demand soaring in 2010 and beyond, according to a preliminary forecast from iSuppli.

Worldwide iPad sales are expected to amount to 7.1 million units in 2010. Sales will double to 14.4 million in 2011 and nearly triple to 20.1 million in 2012.

Sales in 2010 will be driven by early adopters and others attracted to the iPad’s unique touch-screen-based user interface. In 2011 and 2012, iPad sales will be driven up by a range of factors, including a flood of new applications, improved functionality and declining prices.

iSuppli regards its iPad sales forecast as conservative. Factors that could boost sales beyond iSuppli’s preliminary expectations include swift feature enhancements and the early addition of Flash support.

“Touch is the new standard for user interfaces, providing a naturally intuitive way of operating an electronic device, whether you are two or 92,” said Rhoda Alexander, director of monitor research for iSuppli. This backs up my comments earlier.

“The tablet form factor is ideally suited to touch. The iPad represents an intriguing mix of two devices that have struggled to gain traction for years: Internet appliances and tablet PCs. In a sharp departure from past tablet implementations, it appears that Apple has both minimized and maximized the capabilities of the devices, limiting it as a creation device but compensating for this shortcoming by offering a wealth of easily consumable applications. The device’s initial limitations are likely to be overlooked if Apple provides enough content to keep users engaged within the product limitations.”

Apple will not have the field to itself for long, however, as competitors around the globe are poised to introduce their own tablet PCs, many of which will have more robust capability than the early iPads.

Nonetheless, being first out of the gate with a low-cost tablet alternative gives Apple a distinct advantage, Alexander said. “2010 sales could potentially climb much higher than the 7 million figure, and that first year success—combined with expected ongoing innovation—will help to keep Apple at the forefront of the tablet market for several years. Key to continuing success will be how quickly Apple responds to issues as they arise and whether the company can align suppliers to meet demand needs.”

No flash in the pad

Chief in realizing this upside potential is Apple’s ability to address the lack of Flash support in the iPad. Some have called the long-term viability of the iPad into question because of its nonsupport of Adobe Flash—the multimedia platform from Adobe Systems Inc.

“Until Apple addresses this issue one way or another, its decision not to support Flash—communicated earlier on by Apple CEO Steve Jobs—will have a limiting effect on the iPad’s sales potential,” said Francis Sideco, principal analyst, wireless communications. “This is because one of the key use cases of the device, as marketed by Apple, relates to web browsing or consumption of online content. Absent Flash, iPad users will not be able to enjoy Flash-driven content, which is used in a considerable amount of websites as well as web-based games and videos.”

Given the tablet’s nonsupport of Flash, consumers could end up being disappointed if what they expect to be a great browsing experience from “a magical and revolutionary product”—which is how Apple describes the iPad on its website—turns out to be less than extraordinary.

Apple’s strategy with the iPad is largely centered on paid content. The company has partnered with major providers, which will sell their content on Apple’s App Store for a fee.

With so much Flash content available for free, Apple may be excluding support for the software in order to encourage users to pay for any content they use on the platform.

Hosting tens of thousands of applications—with a current average price of $3.13 per application—and boasting more than 1 billion downloads since its launch in 2008, the App store is a phenomenal cash cow for Apple, analysts across the board agree.

Despite dire prognostications from some critics about the iPad eventually failing because Flash is missing, Apple has a track record of defying great odds and successfully navigating previously uncharted waters, such as it did with the iPhone. With initial orders falling in line with expectations, Apple is likely to stick with its strategy of not using Flash unless there is a notable impact on sales.

Related article

• Apple Reveals Many Apps for iPad (taragana.com)
• iPad FAQ: Your top 14 questions answered (msnbc.msn.com)
• IPad's video story improves as launch nears (sfgate.com)
• Apple Snubs Adobe on iPad, but Does Adobe Care? (dailyfinance.com)

Fool's Gold At The End Of The iPad Rainbow? Not at all

Techdirt ran a piece today on the The Fool's Gold At The End Of The iPad Rainbow (see below)

The argument is that the 'iPad for Mom' is condescending and there's nothing about the apps that couldn't have been done with CD-ROMs but  hasn't.

Unfortunately this is nonsense in both senses. The key is the user interface, as I said with the iPhone.
Having the touchscreen with apps that make use of it is the key change - many, many people don't like using the mouse - that's the difference. Using a finger to flip through an online magazine or play a game IS a very different experience to using a mouse. That's the difference from the current online and CD ROM approach and it makes all the difference.
Plus there is already the ecosystem of apps that use the hardware, which there hasn't been with previous touchscreen solutions that ported business applications.

These together do make the difference and this is bigger than just the iPad. This is the tipping point for a range of new, touchscreen enabled, app supported devices (and not just with the Apple ecosystem).

As to de-skilling the hardware, yes, it would be good to have a replaceable battery but there have been lots of liability issues with third party and 'illegal' batteries, which I suspect is the key to the decision not to have user-replaceable power - that's a business issue.

Related article

• iPad Apps: The Next Gold Mine or Just Fool's Gold? (mashable.com)
• The Fool's Gold At The End Of The iPad Rainbow (techdirt.com)
• Cool Hunting iPad App (coolhunting.com)
• Apple Working on Gaming Accessories for the iPad, iPhone? (1up.com)
• Gmail Updated for the iPad (readwriteweb.com)
• iPad Gets a Split Screen Browser (readwriteweb.com)
• Before you buy: 10 things to know about the iPad (cnn.com)

iPad Clone Going For $290

iPad Clone Going For $290

Well, sort of....

Apple Leaks Approved iPad Apps - PadGadget - The latest iPad news, apps

Apple Leaks Approved iPad Apps - PadGadget - The latest iPad news, apps & accessories reviews


Apps for the iPad are emerging, separate from the standard iPhone apps - labelled HD or XL:

• Ammoin HD
• Azkend HD
• Flight Control HD
• Grind HD
• HD Recovery
• Labyrinth 2 HD
• NBA Hotshot HD
• Numba HD
• Plants vs. Zombie HD
• Sparkle HD
• Worms HD

Related article

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19 Key Considerations for the iPad as an Enterprise Mobile Device

From Enterprise Today, some key thoughts on the iPad which are actually likely to make a real difference in the adoption of the technology as these are markets that are already using slate PCs: Great questions and a few answers!

1. Will the iPad support mass deployments? No automated deployment tools yet

2. What about provisioning software and mobile security certificates? 

3. How will the iPad interact with file/print and directory services systems within a network? 
4. Does the iPad support common online collaboration suites such as Exchange? Yes. 

5. Will there be client management and access restriction features available? Yes 

6. What about encryption, remote wipe, and other mobile security policies?

7. Will there be VPN or other remote access capabilities? 
Since the iPhone OS has supported PPTP and L2TP for nearly two years (and IPSec since last summer), it's hard to believe that these features won't be included in the iPad. For other remote access options, SSL encryption is available and used by default where possible in the iPhone's existing collaborative tools. 

8. Can the iPad function as a multi-user device?

Not really. The device, like the iPhone, isn't designed to support multiple user accounts or user profiles.

9. Will every iPad need to be tied to user's computer?

Technically no. Again, similar to the iPhone, IT could provision, install software, and configure iPads and then hand them out to users. However, for any practical purpose, each iPad should be synced to a user's computer. Without syncing there is no way to install OS updates, backup data, or sync data without the use of a collaboration suite like Exchange.

10. When used in a classroom, could student iPads be monitored by a teacher?

This is an interesting and important question for schools. 

11. Can the iPad serve as a thin client device?

It seems pretty much guaranteed that thin client solutions will ship for the iPad sometime this year.

12. Will iWork be compatible with other systems? 

Yes. 

13. Can custom in-house applications be developed for iPad users? 

Yes. Apple offers an enterprise version of its iPhone Developer Program. 

14. Will the iPad offer compliance with HIPPA or other government-mandated security and privacy standards?

15. What types of business functions is the iPad well suited for and which ones will it not be able to handle? 

16. What type of testing should be done when considering whether to support the iPad?
At least following the initial release of the iPad, extensive testing should be undertaken.

17. What IT policies and procedures might need to be adjusted to account for the iPad?

18. Are there serious business tools being created for the iPad and if so what are they? 
It seems without question that there will be some serious business and office tools available for the iPad. 

19. Will Apple be providing enterprise resources or services for the iPad?

Undoubtedly. Although Apple doesn't always appear to be focused on the enterprise, the company does provide enterprise guides to the iPhone and Mac OS X. Knowing that the iPad has broad potential in the business and education space as well as the consumer market, the company will almost certainly offer additional resources at the time of the iPad's launch, much as it did with the iPhone Enterprise Deployment Guide.

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First breakdown of Apple iPad costs

Analysis of components shows $287 bill of materials for mid-range 3G version

The mid-range, 3G-wireless version of Apple’s upcoming iPad is expected to carry a combined Bill of Materials (BOM) and manufacturing cost of $287.15, making it the most profitable member of the iPad product line on a percentage basis, according to a virtual teardown generated in part by iSuppli’s Mobile Handset Cost Model tool.

The mid-priced version of the iPad equipped with 32Gbytes of NAND flash memory and 3G wireless capability will contain $275.95 worth of components and other materials, iSuppli estimates. This version of the device will cost $11.20 to manufacture.

The attached table presents the results of iSuppli’s cost estimate for all six versions of the iPad. Please note these cost estimates account only for hardware and manufacturing costs and do not include other expenses such as software, royalties and licensing fees.

“At a BOM and manufacturing cost of $287.15, and a retail price of $729, the 32Gbyte/3G version is expected to generate the highest profit of any member of the iPad line on a percentage basis,” said Dr. Jagdish Rebello, senior director and principal analyst for iSuppli. “The 32Gbyte versions of the iPad cost only $29.50 more to produce than the 16Gbyte versions, but their retail pricing is $100 higher. This shows that Apple believes the highest-volume opportunity for the iPad resides in the mid range of the product line.”

The 32Gbytes of NAND flash in the mid-range iPad costs an estimated $59, compared to $29.50 for the 16Gbtyes in the low-end version, accounting for the cost differential.

Touch and feel

At a combined cost of $80 for all models, the iPad’s display and touch-screen interface represents the most expensive segment of the system, accounting for 29 percent of the BOM of the mid-range 3G model, according to Vinita Jakhanwal, principal analyst for iSuppli.

The display employs In-Plane Switching (IPS) technology which supports a wider viewing angle and better picture quality in terms of presentation of color than conventional LCDs. While the iPad’s display probably is sourced from three suppliers, LG Display and Innolux are the two most likely suppliers of the iPad’s IPS LCD, Jakhanwal said.

The touch-screen controller chip likely is supplied by Texas Instruments, iSuppli believes.

Precious memory

The NAND flash memory is expected to be the second most expensive item in the iPad’s BOM, regardless of the model. In the mid-range 3G model, the 32Gbytes of NAND accounts for 21.4 percent of the total BOM.

Based on previous iSuppli teardowns of Apple iPhone and iPod products, likely suppliers for the NAND flash are Samsung Electronics and Toshiba.

PA inside

The applications processor and DRAM are expected to carry a combined cost of $28.90, representing 10.5 percent of the mid-range 3G model’s total BOM, making them the third most expensive line item in the mid-range iPad.

The A4 processor in the iPad is expected to carry a $17 cost. iSuppli believes the processor integrates an ARM RISC architecture microprocessor and a graphics processing unit. The part likely was designed by low-power processor specialist PA Semi, a fabless semiconductor company Apple acquired in 2008. However, the device most likely will be manufactured by Samsung.

For memory support for the A4, the iPad is expected to include 512Mbytes of DRAM, costing $11.90. Apple in the past has sourced DRAM from a wide variety of suppliers in its other products, and is likely to do so with the iPad. However, iSuppli believes that Hynix Semiconductor Inc. is one of the DRAM suppliers for the iPad.

Wireless expense

For the 3G-enabled versions of the iPad, the cost of the wireless subsystem—comprising the baseband IC, the radio frequency components, the power amplifier and other parts—is estimated at $24.50, equal to 8.5 percent of the BOM of the mid-range version.

iSuppli believes the wireless chipset in the iPad likely is supplied by Infineon, the same as the iPhone 3G S.

Supply side

Other notable components in the iPad include:

·          The user interface components—including an accelerometer, compass, audio codec and other components—are estimated at $10.20.

·          The wireless LAN, Bluetooth and FM functionality is likely supported by a Broadcom Corp. device also seen in the iPod Touch and the Google Nexus One. This Broadcom device probably is integrated into a module supplied by Murata, but there remains a possibility that Texas Instruments could supply this chip. iSuppli estimates the cost of this device at $8.05.

·          In line with previous Apple products, the GPS chip in the iPad probably is supplied by Infineon. iSuppli estimates the cost of the chip at $2.60.

Related article

• How Apple's A4 chip lets iPad run cooler, save battery life (venturebeat.com)
• Samsung's 'Apple' chip rides iPhone market gains (news.cnet.com)
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MSI's 10 Inch NVIDIA Tegra Tablet

MSI's 10 Inch NVIDIA Tegra Tablet, shown at Geeky Gadgets. Due later this year.
Posted using ShareThis

EETimes.com - ST owns EU-registered iPad patent

ST owns EU-registered iPad patent

It seems from EETimes that STMicroelectronics has laready registered IPAD as a brand in Europe, which may give Apple a few problems. But the branding runs out in September this year, so ST could renew it as the incumbent, or let it pass to Apple, presumably for a consideration (or a component partnership....hmm, how about an accelerometerer deal?)

Related articles

• ITC investigating Nokia claim that iPhones, iPods, Macs infringe its patents (infoworld.com)

Apple Launches iPad with own chip

Aims at "Unbelievable Price" and new iBookstore - video at bottom

With global hoopla, Apple has launched its iPad with, for once, a key focus on price. The basic iPad with wifi and a 16Gbyte solid state drive is $499.
A key factor is the first use of its own chip, a 1GHz SoC designed by PA Semi. Details are scarce but I assume this is an ARM core with Imagination Technologies' PowerVR 3D, TFT and touchscreen drivers and system power management to achieve 10hrs of battery life. There are separate WiFi and WiFI+3G versions, which implies that the RF at least is separate, if not separate modules.
The iPad is just 1cm thick and weighs under a kilo — thinner and lighter than any laptop or netbook and includes 12 new apps designed especially for the iPad, and will run almost all of the over 140,000 apps in the App Store. iPad will be available in late March.
“iPad is our most advanced technology in a magical and revolutionary device at an unbelievable price,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “iPad creates and defines an entirely new category of devices that will connect users with their apps and content in a much more intimate, intuitive and fun way than ever before.”
iPad features 12 next-generation Multi-Touch applications. Every app works in both portrait and landscape, automatically animating between views as the user rotates iPad in any direction. The precise Multi-Touch interface makes surfing the web on iPad an entirely new experience, dramatically more interactive and intimate than on a computer.
Apple also announced the new iBooks app for iPad, which includes Apple’s new iBookstore, the best way to browse, buy and read books on a mobile device. The iBookstore will feature books from major and independent publishers.
iPad’s 9.7-inch, LED-backlit display features IPS technology to deliver crisp, clear images and consistent color with a wide 178 degree viewing angle. Apple says its Adaptive Charging technology delivers up to 1,000 charge cycles without a significant decrease in battery capacity over a typical five year lifespan. iPad comes in two versions—one with Wi-Fi and the other with both Wi-Fi and 3G. iPad includes the latest 802.11n Wi-Fi, and the 3G versions support speeds up to 7.2 Mbps on HSDPA networks.
iPad will be available in late March worldwide for a suggested retail price of $499 (US) for the 16GB model, $599 (US) for the 32GB model, $699 (US) for the 64GB model. The Wi-Fi + 3G models of iPad will be available in April in the US and selected countries for a suggested retail price of $629 (US) for the 16GB model, $729 (US) for the 32GB model and $829 (US) for the 64GB model.

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