Apple Inc. has secretly opened a production laboratory in northern Taiwan to develop new display technologies according to reliable sources.
Bloomberg reports that the Apple building in Longtan has at least 50 engineers working on developing a thinner screen for its devices like iPhones and iPads. According to some of those working at the facility, Apple has recruited from local display maker AU Optronics Corp. and Qualcomm Inc. which used to own the building. Sources refused to be identified as the details have not gone public yet.
A spokeswoman for Apple in Cupertino California has refused to issue any statement.
Apple reportedly began operating this lab earlier this year. It aims to make its products thinner, brighter and more energy-efficient. The engineers are also working on improving the liquid-crystal displays that are currently used in iPhones, iPads and Mac personal computers. More importantly, Apple is eager to shift to organic light-emitting diodes that do not require backlighting according to their sources.
The company is said to reveal the second version of its Watch alongside a mini iPhone with a 4-inch screen on March. According to 9to5Mac, the second generation smartwatch is rumoured to be thinner and has a longer battery life.
The news site further reports that Apple is currently planning a March 2016 event to reveal the second-generation Apple Watch according to the sources. At the same time, the company has been rumoured to work on an iPhone 6c with a 4-inch display. It could be unveiled at the planned event.
The opening of this secret laboratory supports other claims that the next-generation devices may have a longer battery life as well as front cameras, among other things.
A new Apple Watch will be ready for sale by the end of the second quarter next year. Mass production is predicted to start the third quarter of next year.
A small group of workers were seen outside of the alleged Apple laboratory in Taiwan wearing Apple ID badges. However, they declined to comment or give light to their work.