Sony and Hitachi begin shipping LCD displays for iPhone 5?

The rumor mill has not stopped churning since the expected arrival of iPhone 5. While Apple iPhone 4S did anything but disappoint Apple sale figures, that hasn't stopped Apple lovers and geeks from talking about the world of possibilities that Apple iPhone 5 will bring along.

The rumors surrounding the 4-inch LCD panels have been in circulation for a while. But we are gradually seen more "sources" confirming the same. According to Slashgear, Hitachi and Sony have begun shipping 4-inch LCD panels for a new Apple iOS device. Taking it with a pick of salt, the folks however added that the Japanese site Macotakara, "did not specifically confirm that the 4-inch display is for the fifth-gen iPhone."

However taking a cue from past iPhone 5 news, this bit of info fits right in. Slated for a 2012 release, iPhone 5 is expected to be 8mm longer than before and is likely to drop the teardrop-shaped version. It is also likely to come with a metal casing, probably aluminum.

We had earlier reported that a source from Wall Street Journal has confirmed that Sharp Corp. will be the maker of screens for iPad 3 and iPhone 5. The source further claimed that "Apple is also investing in facilities at Sharp's panel manufacturing factories in Japan to support its IGZO technology" and that it plans to work with multiple component makers  to "secure enough parts to make its popular iPhones and iPads."

Apart from providing the 4-inch panel, apparently Hitachi and Sony have also begun shipping the LCD display for the iPad 3. The third-generation tablet is rumored to be thicker (0.7mm) in order to accommodate the twin light bar system needed for its higher-resolution display.

Moving on to iPad 4, yes…rumors have started surfacing about that as well. According to Apple Insider, "an unspecified Taiwanese company will  be providing LCD technology faces to Apple for a fundamentally changed iPad 4."