Here’s a breakdown of which company is reportedly supplying what for Apple’s next tablet so far:

Screen

As mentioned, today DigiTimes, a Taiwanese publication with access to Apple’s Asian suppliers, reported that Coretronic would be providing backlighting units for the new iPad. Those backlights will be used with displays produced by Chimei Innolux and LG Display. Coretronic is a new addition this time around, and it will share duties with the previous iPad backlight manufacturer, Radiant Opto-Electronics. Coretronic will exclusively supply Chimei, while Radiant will exclusively work with LG, according to the report.

A backlight supplier for iPad 2 means that the device will retain an LCD screen, since an OLED display doesn’t use a backlight. That’s probably good news, though, since Apple’s current iPhone and iPod touch Retina Display, arguably the best on the market, uses LCD technology.

Printed Circuit Board

Printed circuit board (PCB) suppliers for the iPad 2 have also been reported by DigiTimes. Ibiden, Tripod Technology and TTM Technologies are reported to be supplying the initial stock of PCBs for the iPad 2, with more to be added in February 2011 when production ramps up.

CDMA Chip

Qualcomm is said to be supplying CDMA-GSM multimode chips according to Wedge Partner’s Brian Blair. This would make the iPad 2 usable on networks like Verizon’s without the need for an additional MiFi device. DigiTimes has Taiwan Semiconductor Company (TSMC) pegged as the chipmaker for these Qualcomm components in a new report.

Camera

Just last week, on Dec. 1, Largan Precision was reported to have secured a contract as the exclusive supplier of the camera lens module to be used in the iPad 2. That’s according to DigiTimes, again, via documents the lens-maker filed claiming said exclusivity. TUAW noted that Largan doesn’t offer a 5-megapixel module currently, but does have an 8-megapixel one, sparking speculation that the iPad 2 could potentially boast a better camera than the iPhone.

Most of this information admittedly comes from the same source, but when it comes to supplier predictions, at least, DigiTimes has a fairly solid track record. Last February, it released a list of iPad component suppliers just prior to the device’s launch, which proved quite accurate.

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In this post on customizing your Mac I’ll be looking at a some sources of beautiful wallpaper, investigating a few of the effects and features pre-built into OS X, and showcasing two pieces of software for revolutionizing your desktop.

Sources of Beautiful Wallpaper

The internet is littered with websites offering ‘free wallpaper’ for your computer. Unfortunately the majority of such sites are fairly dire. The following collection of sites stand head and shoulders above the rest and, while I’m bound to miss a few, provide a great starting point for inspiration. In no particular order:

• Interface Lift
• Pixel Girl Presents
• Veer Wallpapers
• Mandolux – Great for multiple monitor setups
• Mantia Desktops
• Vladstudio

Wallpaper Support in OS X

Built into OS X is a well rounded range of wallpaper settings. The included backgrounds are well designed, in the categories of Nature, Plants, Black & White, Abstract etc — they make an excellent starting collection of wallpapers. The ‘Change picture every X minutes’ setting makes it easy to have a regularly updated background and keeps your Mac looking fresh. This can be done at a set interval, every time your computer wakes from sleep, or when you log in. Once you have built up a collection you’re proud of from the aforemetioned sources, turning this option on can be a great way to remember older wallpapers you’d forgotten about.

Wallpaper Applications

Serene Saver – This creates a cross between a regular wallpaper and a screen saver, providing some animation on your desktop. Over 30 different video animations are bundled with the application, and it is built to ensure that strain is not placed on performance. At $50 it is a very expensive way to customize your desktop, but has a trial available to let you decide whether it suits you.

Backlight – A free application which sits in your menu bar, allowing you to run any screen saver as a desktop background. This opens up a wide range of possibilities, as you aren’t limited to in-built effects (any screensaver can be used). Transparency can be altered to allow your normal background image to show through. This reduces the impact of the effect, making it more subtle and usable. This is a screenshot of my ‘Flurry’ desktop:

Share Your Sources

I’d love to hear where you go for wallpaper inspiration, or if you use any other interesting applications for beautifying your desktop. Please share!

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