If you’ve been following the development for the iPad 3, then you’ll know that the retina display we’re all waiting for is being manufactured by two companies – LG and Samsung. However, the iPad 3 may face manufacturing delays due to the fact that there aren’t enough retina displays manufactured at this point.
In LG’s case, this is a simple supply and demand issue. But Samsung, the company recently hit by Apple in the courts to the point where their somewhat similar Samsung Galaxy Tab has been banned from sale in Germany, may have a different motive. It’s worth asking – are Samsung deliberately ensuring that a future iPad isn’t forthcoming?
It seems like an odd coincidence, and it’s often confusing when rival companies are crafting components for each other’s technology, but the world of manufacturing and patent law is a murky and complex one at best, and perhaps this potentially underhanded play by Samsung could hurt Apple’s ability to throw out a double-whammy in the form of the iPhone 5 and the iPad 3.
So if you’re sat there killing time with your old iPad (2), or playing partypoker on a Samsung Galaxy Tab (if you’ve got one – sorry Germany) until the iPad 3 comes out, then you may be waiting a while longer, but we estimate that it’ll be well worth it.
The main issue is whether or not Apple and Samsung will continue working together, as although Samsung likely needs the business, Apple does not, necessarily – its main manufacturer for the iPad 3 will likely not be the same one it used for the device’s predecessor.
Time will tell whether or not Apple will switch to LG, or stick with both companies to ensure the iPad 3 has the best possible chance of maintaining Apple’s dominance over the tablet market. It’s certainly going to be a high-quality device, but it remains to be seen whether its frequently-updated form will encourage regular upgraders in addition to its new user base.