Taiwan-based Foxconn, a major supplier for Apple, has just brought on a new wage increase by about 16-25%. Since 2010 there has been a total of three pay raises for its Chinese workforce, with junior level workers making around 1,8000 yaun a month (or about $285). Workers who pass a technical exam can make even more, up to about 2,200 yaun, or roughly $350 US dollars. While this might be higher than most other Chinese factories pay, it doesn’t change the fact that Foxconn is highly criticized for its unethical work practices that Apple adamantly denies.

It seems all to convenient that this pay increase comes right on the heels of a new inspection by FLA, paid by Apple, to look over the company’s work practices and ethics at Foxconn.

We’ve all more than likely heard the many horror stories that surround Apple’s biggest supplier, the Foxconn factory in China. Based on what we know, calling it a ‘sweatshop’ doesn’t even been to cover how awful a place to work it really is. There have been complaints about forced over-time equaling more than 70 hours a week, people dying in factory explosions, and even employees committing suicide.

The President of the nonprofit group, Auret van Heerden, recently took a tour of the facility and came to the conclusion that the conditions seemed quite good, in fact above many other businesses he has inspected in China. He affirmed that based on his guided tour, the place isn’t a sweatshop at all.

Yes, because you can really trust a guided tour to give you an accurate everyday picture. Foxconn wouldn’t threaten to fire its workers for giving a bad impression or anything, right? It just seems a little odd that the clean bill of health would be given before all the evidence is gathered and all the employee interviews are conducted.

Human rights advocates are very upset with the initial impressions and comments put out by FLA. In fact, since releasing these initial reports some concerned Apple users have launched petitions on the websites like SumofUs.org and Change.org, calling for Apple to improve worker protections and have even began to protest out in front of some Apple Store locations.

[ source ]

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It’s never too late to go green and it’s always a good sign when technology experts take an eco-friendly approach to things. The i2R e-Paper from Taiwan’s Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) appears to be paving the way for a greener environment.

When we said e-Paper, your mind might have wandered to e-Readers that have displays needing low power and offer lots of readability. But the new e-Paper from Taiwan comes equipped with a lot of cool properties.

ITRI’s i2R e-Paper, which is a highly flexible electronic paper, is both re-writable and re-usable. It has a plastic film covered with a cholestric liquid crystal and it does not require any power to retain an image; although it does not help to completely stay away from electricity. For printing on the e-Paper a thermal printer, such as the one you would find in a fax machine, is required. The heat from the printer helps in the writing process. The printer heats up the liquid crystal layer and makes the molecules light or dark. The 300 dpi resolution that we will get is quite fine. The compound can produce different colors as well. And to erase everything, you just have to run a printed e-Paper sheet through the printer again. The writing and the erasing processes will, obviously, require power, but that can come from the sun.

The researchers at ITRI say that the bendable, thin plastic product is re-writable up to 260 times and research is going on to make it last even longer.  The developers believe that their new product will immediately replace paper used in the production of items such as advertising banners, ID badges for corporate visitors, parking lot tickets and so on.

The low cost of production and low power consumption are enough to make it popular. And it’s also more environment-friendly than printing on traditional paper. Adopting the technology will definitely save tons of trees, lets just hope it doesn’t use a heap of other rare earth metals.

Check out the video to see the e-Paper in action.

[via ITRI]

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ITRI, Taiwan’s largest and one of the world’s leading high-tech research and development institutions have introduced the I2R e-Paper. The first electronic paper ever proven to be re-writable, re-usable and environmentally friendly. This is the real deal – the “electronic paper” is the latest entry to the attempt to end our overwhelming use of traditional paper.

“It’s a fact that a significant portion of daily office printed papers will be discarded in days or weeks after use,” said Dr. Janglin Chen, general director of ITRI’s Display Technology Center. “i2R e-Paper’s re-cycle and re-use capabilities, positive effects on the environment and low cost of production are paving the way for mass acceptance of green e-paper technologies.”

This e-paper requires heat to transfer images and text to the surface and can be erased by inserting the e-paper into a thermal writing device (like your typical fax machine). I2R e-Paper’s special energy-conserving display technology is a flexible cholesteric liquid crystal panel that requires only heat to transmit images without using expensive inks. Because of its memory capabilities, the e-paper can be preset to display images at certain intervals – making it suitable for digital signage (TVs and billboards) that typically require more energy to maintain. It can also replace many printed paper products like event tickets, posters, flyers or promotional materials.

I2R e-paper is unlike e-readers and tablets, which require electricity for back lighting. This product does not require electricity to maintain the visuals much like the Kindle.

[GizMag via ITRI]

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In the latest survey conducted in Taiwan, results show that approximately two-thirds of the nation’s sixth graders and more than a fifth of the first graders are myopic. In the study commissioned by the National Taiwan University Hospital and Department of Health Bureau of Health Promotion, around 65 percent of Taiwan’s grade six students have myopia, with 3.4 percent of serious cases. 21.5% of first grade students, on the other hand, are near-sighted. Parents of the children are beginning to get worried because of this increasing myopia cases.

The culprit is the prolonged gazing at things like the smartphone or tablet displays up close. This strains and damages the eyes, according to Fu Chou-ching, an ophthalmologist and ORBIS Taiwan volunteer.

Fu explained that even young children aged two to three have been learning how to use cell phones and computers, and this situation increases the chances of impairing the child’s vision at an earlier stage.

He also stated that the early onset of the eyesight impair could lead to serious nearsightedness once the child reached the adolescence stage. This, in turn, can cause macular hemorrhage and retinopathy when the child becomes an adult.

Fu recommends early treatment for children’s weak eyesight in order to prevent the worse condition.

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Even though many people have started to use tablets, the e-paper technology found within several e-readers is still quite remarkable. A group of scientists from Taiwan’s Industrial Technology Research Institute have developed a new form of rewritable electronic paper that does not require any electricity at all.

Well, sort of. It doesn’t require any power to retain an image that has been put on it, but you will need some power to change whatever has been written on it. That’s nothing new, but what’s really interesting is that the erasing and writing process is thermal-based, not unlike old school fax machines. The e-paper itself is rewritable up to 260 times.

Yes, it needs thermal energy, but that could still prove to be much more eco-friendly than printing on traditional paper or consuming the electricity needed to power a traditional LCD screen. The display is also flexible, which would help to give it a more paper-like versatility. The goal is to have this new technology, dubbed i2R e-paper, ready for mass market consumption within the next couple of years.

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Ever since the Apple iPad 2 broke cover last month, there have been reports of backlight bleeding and confirmed in our tests. So, you’d think that Apple would try to do something about it and now it seems that they are shopping for new suppliers.

There’s word that Everlight of Taiwan has sent some of its product samples over to the folks in Cupertino for testing. Everlight manufacturers a range of LED-based products. While I doubt that Everlight will become the exclusive supplier, it could help Apple keep up with the burgeoning demand for the iPad 2.

And hopefully, somewhere along the line, they deal with that backlight bleeding problem too. After all, with an expected 45 million iPad 2 tablets shipping this year, Apple will want to make sure it’s supply chain is nice and supple.

[Read]

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Looking toward some of the component suppliers that Apple uses, they have indicated that the Cupertino management team have increased “shipment goals” for the iPhone in Q1 2011. The goal was initially set for 19 million units in the first quarter of next year, but now they’re aiming for between 20 and 21 million units.

Now, this is wholly conjecture and speculation, but why would Apple choose to suddenly increase its shipment goals unless it was expecting to suddenly experience an increase in sales? It’s possible that we could be on the cusp of something like an iPhone 4S, but it also quite likely that the 21 million figure factors in more than a few CDMA units coming out of the factory.

To put things into perspective, Apple is expected to wrap up 2010 with a total of 47 million iPhones shipped in the calendar year.

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Nova Electronics Mall

Since Taiwan is home to so many computer and electronics companies, you would assume that it could be a shopping Mecca for all the gadget geeks of the world. While I wouldn’t quite put the host city of Computex on par with the legendary Akihabara region in Tokyo, Taipei is no slouch when it comes to buying some cutting edge technology.

You could try to find some stuff at the major shopping malls and department stores, but you’ll likely overpay and not get the latest and greatest in the world of tech. For that, you’ll need to venture elsewhere. Let’s explore some of the best tech shopping areas in the city of Taipei.

NOVA Electronics Mall

Located right across the street from Taipei Main Station (accessible via bus, train, or subway) is a mega complex known as NOVA. This multi-floor shopping center focuses on all sorts of technology and gadgets.

Looking for a new smartphone? You’ve got it. Want the newest Sony Vaio or Asus Eee PC? They’ve got that too. Many of the models are not even available overseas yet. The best part is that Taiwan uses the same style wall plug as North America, so you don’t have to deal with any messy adapters.

NOVA may appear to be one giant store, but it’s actually comprised of several smaller stores. Beyond the ones that sell consumer electronics, you’ll also discover shops for accessories, components, and small doo-dahs.

Camera Street

Perhaps you are more interested in digital photography and digital video? Just a few blocks west of NOVA, you’ll discover a few streets that are loaded with nothing but camera stores.

They sell the camera bodies, both point and shoot and digital SLR, but the bigger draw is with the array of available accessories. Just about any adapter, lens, cap, filter and more can be found in these shops. They’ll also sell you cases, tripods, monopods, bags, and batteries, among countless other things. No matter how rare, there’s a good chance that at least one of these shops will not only sell it; they’ll have it in stock for a reasonable price.

Shopping in Taipei

Kuanghwa Market

Also known as Guanghwa, this area is accessible via the Metro blue line. Get off at the Zhongxiao Xinsheng station and walk north toward Civic Boulevard.

Near there, you will find three or four blocks loaded with electronics and computer stores. These shops are not only on the street level, but also in lower levels and second floors. I found that the prices and selection were generally better here than at NOVA, but the stores visually appear sketchier by comparison.

As before, the shops are loaded with all kinds of accessories and peripherals, as well as core equipment. There are keyboard covers, screen protectors, portable drives, different mounts, digital cameras, and so much more.

Behind the fruit market that you’ll be able to see from the corner is a newer building. This is the real Guanghwa Market, replacing the trailer-like structures that had previously filled the space. These niche stores sell just about every kind of electronic product and component imaginable. While there, visit the bakery on the first floor, a few steps away from the electronic gun store. Just follow your nose.

More Taiwanese Selection

Yes, you can find Japanese brands like Sony and Panasonic, but Taipei really is the place to go for Taiwanese brands. Check out the products by HTC, Acer, Asus, BenQ and others… and don’t forget to load up on those accessories too.

Shopping in Taipei

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From the front, the Altek T8680 might look like a fairly standard cell phone from a a company that may not be familiar to you, but swapping around to the back reveals quite the impressive difference. If you didn’t know any better, you’d think that you were looking at a regular digital camera.

That’s because the Altek T8680 comes equipped with an impressive 12 megapixel camera, complete with 3x optical zoom. That sounds just about as good as most consumer-level cameras these days. Topping out the features are a dedicated image processor, F3.0-F5.6, and up to ISO 3200. You’ll also notice that they opted for CCD over CMOS for the sensor, offering reduced image noise and improved light sensitivity.

Running through the non-camera part of the spec sheet, we discover that the T8680 gets a 3″ QVGA touchscreen, FM tuner, tri-band EDGE, stereo Bluetooth, VGA video, and TV-out. The whole shi-bang sells in Taiwan for about $440.

Source: Intomobile

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