According to AppleInsider, Apple is once again leading the way for a worldwide NAND Flash memory shortage… again:
“Taiwan-based memory module houses are moving to diversify their NAND flash suppliers to minimize procurement risk, according to industry sources,” the report said. “NAND flash supply has reportedly become tighter as major chip producers Samsung Electronics, Toshiba, Micron and Hynix Semiconductor favor demand for Apple devices.”
With the release of the iPhone 3GS, new iPod Nano/Touch, and the iTablet device rumored to be released sometime in the first half of 2010 – it’s no wonder this current shortage exists. One thing is for sure, the chip producers bend over backwards to make sure Apple gets all of the memory they need — even if it means less for other companies.
DigiTimes (via Engadget) is reporting that Apple is once again draining the world dry of NAND Flash memory chips ahead of an anticipated summer iPhone hardware refresh.
The iPhone 3G has one NAND Flash memory slot, currently maxing out at the 16GB density. So, if Apple is planning to take it to 32GB, higher density chips will of course be required. Will supply and pricing allow that by the summer? If it does, it also means the dual-slotted iPod touch could hit a whopping 64GB by its next refresh cycle in the fall.
Anyone out there itching to load that much data on a multi-touch device?
The headline says it all except the pricing and availability. Pricing: $399.00 US for the 8GB (same as it ever was) and $499.00 US for the 16GB model.
Wait? What? Wasn’t there, like, this big conference not too long ago where you could make announcements about new iPhones? Oh yea, there was, I was there. Guess doubling the amount of available storage on an iPhone isn’t worth Steve’s precious keynote time, (but jiggly mode is?). Anyway, it’s good news nonetheless.
…Since I’m currently rocking one of the classic 4GB models, that 16GB model is mighty tempting. The only question left: will they drop the price on me two weeks after I finally buy it?
(Oh, and the Touch now comes in 8, 16, and 32 gig varieties!)
