Apple Ipad 2 delayed to June says broker's note

APPLE'S MAKER of its shiny drinks tray called the Ipad can't start producing the Ipad 2 until June because of recent design changes, says a stockbroker.

In a note published today, Tawainese brokerage firm Yuanta's head of downstream technology equities, Vincent Chen said that a design change added earlier this month has led to the delay from Ipad maker Hon Hai. This delay pushes back the Ipad 2's launch from an expected April deadline.

The INQUIRER could hazard a guess at what that design change is but we doubt it is the addition of a USB port or Flash support.

Reuters reports that Chen said, "Our checks suggest new issues are being encountered with the new production process and it is taking time to resolve them."

Ipad price cuts by UK retailers had started to make industry watchers think that the Ipad 2 was imminent, but the broker's note suggests otherwise. Chen had predicted Ipad sales since its 2010 launch to top 30.6 million units but the sequel's delay could put some buyers off, reducing final sales to just 23 million.

The rumour mill so far has suggested that the new Ipad will have cameras on the front and back, and that it will be slimmer, lighter and have a higher resolution display. µ