Apple suppliers hit by reported iPad production delay

Companies that supply components to Apple have reportedly been warned of a delay to production of its new larger-screen iPad tablet.The technology giant told suppliers its intended first-quarter start date had been pushed back to the second half due to the integraton of new features, according to sources cited in Market Watch reports from Hong Kong.The sources said Apple had continued to hone the design of the larger device, dawdling over whether to add certain features such as a USB 3.0 port, plus potentially ports to connect to a keyboard and mouse.Apple's iPad sales fell 18% year-on-year to 21.4m in the last three months of 2014, with its share of the global tablet market declining to 28.1% in the fourth quarter from 33.1% a year earlier, according to IDC.UK-listed Apple suppliers are believed to include ARM Holdings, Imagination Technologies, Laird and CSR with others around the world including audio-chip suppliers Cirrus Logic and industrial robot maker Fanuc.