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Assessing the state of the iPad.

Assessing the state of the iPad, a strange iPhone rumor three times removed, and next

week's Macworld is bringing a bit of Star Power.

It's Tuesday, January 22, 2013. I'm Ken Ray and this is news from Maco

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Secret sources have things to say about Apple, this time related to the full-sized iPad.

Reuters ran a piece on Friday saying that Sharp has all but stopped making 9.7 inch screens for the iPad.

This is according to two unnamed sources.

Reuters speculates the move could have to do with demand shifting on Moss to the iPad mini, though the sources don't seem to want to commit to that.

Quoting the most concrete statement in the piece, Sharp's iPad screen production line at its kamayama plant in Central Japan has fallen to the minimal level to keep the line running this month after a gradual slowdown began at the end of 2012 as Apple manages its inventory, the industry sources with knowledge of Sharp's production plans told Reuters.

A number of potential reasons for the slowdown are listed in the

possibility of a seasonal drop in demand, the possibility of a switch to another supplier, the possibility of a shift in the balance of sales to the iPad many,

or the possibility of an update in the design of the product.

So the most we know is that full-sized screen production has slowed down though wherefore we know not and since this is

apparently coming from unnamed people outside of both companies.

We don't even really know that for sure.

Additionally, secret sources tied to LG display and Samsung display,

both of which also make 9.7 inch iPad displays, say there's been no slowdown in production for those suppliers.

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