More Durable Touch ID Sensors for iPhone 6, iPad Air, and iPad Mini Coming From TSMC Posted: 23 Jun 2014 06:38 AM PDT  A report from China Times (via GforGames ) claims Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company is expanding its 8-inch chip plant in order to produce Touch ID sensors for the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3. TSMC is planning to produce 120 million Touch ID units in 2014, a 233 percent year over year increase as the sensor expands beyond the flagship iPhone to other iOS devices.In line with a previous report from KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, today's report claims Apple and TSMC are using tin to increase the durability of the sensor compared to the current version found in the iPhone 5s. Supply chain sources say TSMC is scaling its mass production of new Touch ID units to begin delivery to Apple by early July, with third quarter production more than doubling over the previous quarter. A previous report had indicated that the first shipments of new Touch ID sensors began by early May, but these may still have been early batches for testing. Similar to the iPhone's Touch ID, the iPad version will support the expanded functionality made possible by iOS 8's new SDK that allows third-party apps to access the fingerprint scanner for verification purposes. Touch ID also is rumored to be part of a mobile payment system under development by Apple. Recent leaks hint at how the next-generation iPad Air and iPad Mini may appear with a Touch ID module and other design refinements such as a changed speaker grille and recessed volume buttons. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories
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Foxconn Hiring Record 100,000 New Employees for iPhone 6 Production as Pegatron Also Staffs Up Posted: 22 Jun 2014 08:43 PM PDT Apple's manufacturing partners are gearing up for the launch of new iOS devices later this year, with primary partner Foxconn bringing on 100,000 new workers to help assemble the iPhone 6, reports Taiwan's Economic Daily News [Google Translate] as picked up by Reuters .
 Supposed front panel and manufacturing mold for larger iPhone 6 Pegatron is reportedly also involved in iPhone 6 production, with early reports on Pegatron's production share ranging from 15% to 50%, but today's report and other recent ones have put Pegatron's share at closer to 30%. According to today's report, Pegatron is boosting its workforce by 30% to support production of the next iPhone. The company made a similar hiring surge last year in support of its role as the primary assembler for the iPhone 5c. The timing of these hiring surges is about right for the rumored iPhone 6 schedule, with production reportedly set to ramp up next month ahead of a launch around the usual September timeframe. Most of the iPhone 6 attention has focused on a rumored 4.7-inch model that is expected to represent the bulk of sale, but Apple is said to also be working on an even larger 5.5-inch model that may launch alongside or in the months following the debut of the 4.7-inch model. Recent Mac and iOS Blog Stories
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