iPhone News Updated

Why There May Be an iPhone 5 Shortage

There’s no doubt initial demand for Apple AAPL -2.18%’s iPhone 5 has been strong. After all, Apple said it sold more than 5 million new iPhones in just three days after its Sept. 21 launch.

But developments at component suppliers in Asia indicate some Apple fans might have to wait a bit longer to get their hands on the latest smartphone from the Cupertino, Calif. company.

Labor disputes at Apple’s major assembler in Asia, Hon Hai Precision Industry, escalated over the weekend. The Wall Street Journal reported that new disputes erupted among workers at the Chinese factory that makes the iPhone, but Hon Hai, which uses the trade name Foxconn 2038.HK -1.10%, denied the disputes led to work stoppages. China Labor Watch, a U.S.-based Chinese labor-rights organization, says that as many as 4,000 workers at a factory assembling the iPhone 5 went on strike, leading to a disruption in production for a full day. This isn’t the first time the Apple assembler has had to deal with labor strife. Last month, a fight at a northern China factory campus owned by Hon Hai escalated into a riot leading to 40 injuries. These labor disputes threaten to undermine Hon Hai’s production as it moves to meet demand from Apple ahead of the busy holiday season.

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Student, 12, one of youngest to create app for iPhone

As Apple is expected to introduce a new iPhone on Wednesday, it will come with the next version of iOS, the iPhone operating system. With that introduction, iPhone users will be upgrading apps and trying out all of Apple’s cool, new features.

One of those new apps users may download has been made by one of the youngest app developers in Apple history.

Charley Hutchison is a seventh-grader from Mississippi and his goal was to have an app in the Apple App Store before his 12th birthday.

“I’ve always been really interested in computers. Then my parents had an iPhone, and I really loved playing with apps on there, so I decided, why don’t I make my own app?” Charley said. “If there’s so many already on the store, surely I can make one myself.”

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