Foxconn Insider Leaks Details About iPhone 8, Apple Glasses, E-Ink Keyboard, Siri Speaker, More

When questioned about the risk of revealing this information, Foxconninsider said, “It’s a distributed network with thousands of people having exposure on the same information; most of which is already sold to KGI securities and other analysts for their reports. Apple world wide loyalty team did have central security investigate some divisions after our last post however.”

Apple intended to bring AR to the masses with its smart glasses, though for now, the company is more likely to cancel the project. The insider does state that if Apple is properly able to execute the smart glasses, it could be as game changing as the original iPhone.

He also says that Apple’s Siri-powered smart speaker has been delayed to late 2017. While Apple’s long-time vendor Hon Hai was supposed to build the speaker first, it lost the contract to another Chinese manufacturer. Apple was testing multiple prototypes of the speaker including one with a screen and another one with a camera. The speaker will be powered by a modified A9 chip whenever it launches later this year.

Here’s a summary of the leaked information:

iPhone 8/X
● iPhoneX has x axis bezel uniform to y axis; camera module redeveloped; rear camera orientation is vertical on EVT’s.
● Bezels: Almost uniform except for top near face / camera sensors.
● Will the iPhone feature Facial Detection and a Retina Scanner for biometrics? Yes, included in the front facing camera modules.
● Water resistant
● Wireless charging
● Lightning not USB C as reported
● New battery charging chipset from TI.
● iPhone X production has been delayed, we saw EVT’s without a rear capacitive sensor, but instead an optical module mounted under the glass substrate. There was issues apparently in being able to manufacture and secondly registering finger prints.
● EVT did have Touch ID but not capacitive unit. Instead in manufacturing it was bonded to glass substrate.

Apple Glasses
● 65% (likelihood to be cancelled). Very unique design, if it can be done properly will be like what the iphone did 10 years ago
● AR to mass consumers
● Rough bill of materials of Project Mirrorshades – Apple Iris: Kopin NED Acetate frame, Polarisized or prescription lens with Zeiss smart optics, Bone induction modules, Microphones (noise cancellation), Light sensor, Accelerometer for step tracking and head movement app navigation, Magnetometer for navigation, Capacitive Pavel Ceramic battery Apple chipset Charging circuit BL5 Induction module
● What colour(s) were the frames/arms? Crystal (clear), champagne and black.
● What shade(s) were the lenses? We only saw transparent reader lens but I understand they can procure polarised or prescription lenses
● What finish was allied to the frames/arms? Cellulose acetate Injection mold frames into an aluminum mold. Colors are added and tumbled for finish.
● What shape were the frames and lenses? P3 frame design
● What sizing options did you test? Two sizes, men’s and woman’s
● Price: Usually 4x the BOM cost; it would indicate around $600 mark.
● What control interfaces did the Glasses have? Microphone for voice, accelerator meter and magnetometer for steps could be used for apps like tinder, nod for yes, shake for no, small capacitive strip on arm for accept calls, volume functions.
● How do the glasses work? Prism that conveys NED display image to lens.
● What resolution was the display image on the lens? 428×240 resolution.
● NED in lens at 3/4 to peripheral of user field of vision. Project may not go to mass production. Very likely to be cancelled. Flexible battery is difficult on mass production. Display prism is delayed also.

Siri Speaker
● Hon Hai lost contract to another EMS. Same shape (as Mac Pro) but smaller. We have no seen design since Chinese Lunar Year; long time ago.
● Tested three designs, one design without camera, without screen.
● We would predict given production schedule; announce but not release until later in year. EVT to DFM went to another EMS so we do not have intelligence
● A modified A9 chip will be in Siri home speaker.

E-Paper Keyboard
● Foxconn JV with startup; keyboard with e-paper display embedded in new keyboard. Testing of two e-paper technologies; E-ink in black and white and color, other a color Qualcomm display (cancelled due to IP dispute).
● Key mechanism: Low profile but very different mechanism not by Apple; by Hon Hai JV.
● Will Apple have both the Any Key technology AND a Touchbar? Both. Function row is OLED touchbar: remaining keys are e-paper smart keys.
● Timeframe: Still being tested for new custom displays; late 2018 /2019.

iMac
● SOC update for 2017; incremental update.
● The full hardware design + smart keys are delayed to 2018.

MacBook
● 2017 Macbooks: updated SOC but no much changes
● Future designs: More glass and dark black body. Reintroduce white apple light.
● Same inputs USB c for MacBooks.

MacBook Air
● This line is discontinued.

iPad
● We can confirm the new third iPad size.

It was more like an iPhone 7 with glass and without the AuthenTec’s capacitive touch module.

We saw test units with fingerprint scanners mounted below the glass but performance and yield rates were not good. I’ve seen reports of a rear fingerprint scanner which I haven’t seen; our team thinks the previous design + camera authentication is more likely given our intelligence.

So what do you think?

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