More hints regarding the iPad 2 today, with word that the second generation tablet will stick with LCD screens rather than the previously rumored OLED screens, and Apple (NASDAQ: APPL) is offering discounts on refurbished iPad units through its online store. Finally, MarketWatch named Apple’s Steve Jobs the “CEO of the Decade.”
IPad 2 LCD Backlight Supplier Selected by AAPL: Coretronic Group (Pink Sheets: CCOCF) will be the exclusive supplier of the backlights of the iPad 2 tablet PC’s LCD display, according to DigiTimes today. Coretronic will deliver the backlights to Chimei Innolux (Pink Sheets: CMJLXY) and LG Electronics for the LCD screens they’ll be manufacturing for the next iteration of the Apple iPad. If this rumor is accurate it should put to rest earlier rumors that the second generation iPad would use an OLED display. The new report went on to reiterate rumors from earlier this week that the iPad 2 would be shipping sometime in the next 100 days and may arrive as soon as February 2011.
AAPL Offering $100 Off Refurbished iPads: Apple appears to be clearing out some stock from its online store this week. Refurbished units of the WiFi-only models of the current iPad tablet PC have been marked down on the store at Apple.com. The 16GB model has been marked down to $429, $70 cheaper than a new iPad and $20 cheaper than the usual rate for a refurbished unit. Refurbished 32GB and 64GB WiFi iPads are marked down to $499 and $599 respectively, a full $100 cheaper than brand new models. Whether the new discounts are part of push to move refurbished iPads rather than new models for holiday sales or a sign that Apple’s refurbished unit business—the company only began selling refurbished iPads in September—is flagging is unknown.
MarketWatch Name’s Steve Jobs CEO of the Decade: Once and current AAPL chief Steve Jobs hardly needs more praise heaped upon him for transforming a flagging software and computer manufacturer into the world’s most valuable technology company, but a few more accolades probably couldn’t hurt him or his company’s ever-rising share price. MarketWatch named Jobs “CEO of the Decade” this week. President of Endpoint Technologies Roger Kay is quoted as saying, “[The] resurrection of Apple is just the most astounding story in business in at least a decade—you might be able to go further and say it’s a half a century.” Jobs beat out Eric Schmidt of competitor Google (NASDAQ: GOOG), Howard Schultz of Starbucks (NYSE: SBUX), and Jeff Bezos of Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) for the award.
As of this writing, Anthony Agnello did not own a position in any of the stocks named here.
