A defect found in some iPhone 5 display panels may result in short supply next month, suggesting that Apple’s iPhone launch may once again be marred by angry customers unable to get their hands on Apple’s latest and greatest. DigiTimes reported on Friday that Apple display supplier Wintek has identified a defect called a “delayed bubble” in some display panels may affect its ability to meet Apple’s supply demands. Read on for more.

The defect described involves a bubble that appears between the panel and the lamination layer only after the displays are sent out for assembly. Wintek would not confirm or deny the report when contacted by DigiTimes for comment, though it did state that all of its products are being delivered on schedule. According to the report, Apple’s fourth-quarter shipment goal for the iPhone 5 is in the 25-26 million unit range. Wintek is estimated to be supplying between 20% and 25% of the display panels used in Apple’s iPhone 5.

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Apple’s manufacturing partners are slated to build 5 million iPad 2 units in July alone, DigiTimes reports. The new claim follows an earlier report stating Apple will ship between 12 million and 14 million iPad 2 tablets in the third quarter of 2011, doubling the Cupertino-based technology giant’s second-quarter shipment volume. DigiTimes claims Cando, Sintek Photronic, Chimei Innolux, TPK Holding and Wintek will combine to supply 5 million touch sensors this month, matching the volume they reportedly filled in June. Apple’s iPad 2 remins one of the best-selling consumer electronics devices on the market, and Apple may launch an updated version of the tablet later this year according to rumors.

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According to DigiTimes, Amazon’s rumored Android tablets could launch as soon as this August or September. The online retail giant has a global sales target of 4 million units, with 700,000-800,000 units shipping monthly, and it hopes to get its products in customer hands during the peak sales period of the year — just before Thanksgiving and the holidays. We’ve reported exclusively that Amazon will launch the dual-core “Coyote” and quad-core “Hollywood” tablets sometime this year, and early reports suggested the tablets are already in the manufacturing stage. Reportedly, Amazon has contracted Texas Instruments, Wintek, ILI Technology, and Quanta Computer for parts and assembly. It’s been widely expected that Amazon will launch a streaming movie service on its tablets, too.

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Reuters is reporting that Apple, Inc. will ship its next generation iPhone — oft referred to as the iPhone 5 — this September. The publication cites three sources “with direct knowledge of the company’s supply chain” and adds that the updated iPhone will sport a “faster processor.” Reuters writes that Largan Precision Co Ltd will be responsible for the new device’s camera sensor, Wintek Corp for its touchscreen panel, and Foxconn Technology Co Ltd for case production. “The companies would begin production either in July or August before shipping components to Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd, flagship of Foxconn Technology Group, for assembly,” the site’s sources state. Analysts and pundits have been utilizing supply-chain checks to try and determine when Apple’s next smartphone will hit store shelves. September of 2011 and January of 2012 have been the two most popular prognostications. The September timeline has been touted by RBC, Avian Securities and Concord Securities in subsequent, independent reports.

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Strong demand for Apple’s iPad 2 tablet has reportedly lead the Cupertino-based company to add a third touch panel manufacturer to its supply chain. Bloomberg has confirmed the deal with two anonymous sources who claim that Foxconn affiliate Chimei Innolux will begin supplying touchscreen displays for Apple’s iPad 2 beginning next month. The Taiwan-based manufacturer will join Apple’s current iPad 2 touch panel suppliers, Wintek and TPK Holding, which apparently have not been able to combine to meet the unrelenting demand for Apple’s latest tablet. Apple declined to comment on the deal, as did Wintek, TPK Holding and Chimei Innolux.

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Dow Jones has added fuel to the fire by chiming in with its inside information on the rumored Apple netbook. Two sources “close to the situation” have told Dow Jones that Apple is considering a netbook with a display measuring 9.7 to 10-inches and that the final specifications on the netbook are currently under review. Awesome. Dow Jones’ report is rather nebulous at best, containing information that anyone could certainly concoct. The tablet / netbook rumors persist though, and it will be interesting to see if Jobs’ comment from back in October — “We don’t know how to make a $500 computer that’s not a piece of junk” — will come back to haunt him. Moving along; let the rampant speculation and non-stop Apple rumor mill continue.

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According to The Commercial Times/DigiTimes, Apple has rounded up Taiwanese-based computer parts manufacturer Wintek to make displays for an upcoming touchscreen notebook. Rumors of a touchscreen Apple netbook are nothing new, but this one is quite specific in that it specifies that the displays will be passed along to Quanta who will be entrusted with the manufacturing of the netbook itself. Of course, details don’t mean a rumor has even the slightest bit of truth to it, but considering The Commercial Times/DigiTimes has a pretty decent track record (you know, when it’s not predicting Blu-ray Xbox 360s) and outed the first-gen iPhone, we’re willing to give this rumor the benefit of the doubt. As for when this alleged launch will happen, it is said that shipments should start in 2H of this year, meaning that there are still a few solid months left for everyone to speculate the hell out of this thing. But just think – Steve Jobs comes back to Apple in June, a new iPhone or two is expected, and a touchscreen netbook might be on its way. We’ll see…

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