iPhone 4：白モデル、今週どんな動きが...

ふむふむ、パネルはLens Technologyなる会社で白くペイントされている模様。

According to Chinese newspaper 21st Century Business Herald, the problem stems from a little-known Chinese factory by the name of Lens Technology, which is apparently responsible for transforming fine raw glass into the majority of iPhone glass panels out there

そして、ジョナサン・アイブが絶対的白さを求めている...か。

Specifically, the factory's still working out the perfect combination of paint thickness and opacity -- the former to ensure the next sub-contractor has enough clearance for the digitizer overlay, and the latter for the absolute whiteness that Jony Ive and co. strive for.

あまりの需要の多さに、パネルがアップルの要求の半分しか生産できない模様

According to industry sources, Lens' current production capacity only meets half of Apple's demand, thus becoming a major bottleneck for the entire iPhone 4 production pipeline.

パネルは１時間に3つしかカットできないし、白くペイントする作業には熟練のオペレーターが必要ということのようです。

Considering each CNC machine could apparently only cut out three iPhone 4 glass covers every hour, Lens will need to get its act together on the paint job and use all the machines it can get -- along with their skilled operators -- to keep Cupertino and its followers happy.

私の英語読解力が適当ですが、白さを追求するアップルの要求に応えんとするばかりに、とにかく作るのが大変ということですね。