Apple takes a bite out of LCD and OLED supply

An interesting rumor reached the ever alert ears of TG Daily’s hacks on the CES showroom floor last week, with word that Apple has snapped up all available supply of 10.1-inch multi-touch display LCD and OLED screens for its upcoming tablet.

“We were designing a product for a customer and we needed 10 inch screens, but we’ve been trying for months and can’t get one from any of the Asian suppliers,” an anonymous designer for a firm wishing to remain nameless told TG Daily.

“We were told that Apple pre-ordered them all. All 10 inch LCDs, and all 10 inch OLEDs too,” our source continued, redundantly adding “it’s for the Apple tablet.”

Rumors about whether or not a version of the Apple tablet will have an OLED screen have been flying back and forth for some times now, but if it is indeed true that other firms can’t get their hands on any of the expensive little screens, it may just give more credence to the claims.

Also, while we’re not entirely certain what the current supply of 10.1-inch LCDs and OLEDs is in Asia, if every manufacturer is claiming to be sold out, Apple must mean to shift rather a lot of tablets – perhaps even somewhere in the region of one to one and a half million units every quarter as analysts have predicted.