The Wall Street Journal reports that Apple has asked Foxconn to begin shipping new high-end and low-end iPhones in early September. According to the report Apple will release a new iPhone 5S and a lower-cost iPhone 5C that comes with a plastic back available in numerous colors. » Apple Asks Foxconn to Ship High and Low-End iPhones in Early September

According to a report from the Want China Times, Foxconn has just announced a new smart wristband that can measure vital signs like respiration and heartbeat, and also check phone calls and Facebook posts. Terry Gou, the head of Hon Hai Precision Industry “Foxconn’s parent company” said they are looking to add fingerprint identification to the product as well. The wristband works together with your iPhone to make suggestions to the wearer on ways to improve their health if vital signs are out of the optimal range. » Foxconn Announces iPhone-Compatible Smart Wristband

According to the Taipei based China Business Journal, 8 million iPhones were returned from Apple to Foxconn on March 15 because they were either malfunctioning or didn’t meet Apple’s standards in terms of appearance. According to the report it will cost Hon Hai 1 billion (US$161.8 million) to 1.6 billion Chinese yuan to repair the defective iPhones. » Apple Returned 8 Million Malfunctioning iPhones to Foxconn

According to a source of the Japanese blog Macotakara, Foxconn in Brazil has begun production on the forthcoming “iPad mini”. “According to my source, iPad mini was started production in Brazilian factory. I don’t have information if it has been produced in Chinese factory, yet.” Their source also said that the iPad Mini units in Brazil lack a small hole near the top center of the device’s rear shell, which some had speculated was for a microphone. » iPad Mini Production Underway In Brazil

2,000 workers at Foxconn’s Taiyuan plant “which processed the back casing of the iPhone 5” have started a riot in the wee hours in China, and that police forces are on site to control the crowd. An unofficial report is claiming the “2,000-people” riot was triggered by security guards hitting a worker at 10pm local time. However, Foxconn has told Reuters that there was “a fight among workers from different production lines,” but the company’s spokesperson said they’re “still investigating the cause of the fight and the number of people involved.” The Next Web reports that roughly 40 individuals were taken to the hospital, but that there were no deaths. More after the break. » Foxconn China Plant Closed After 2,000 Riot

Three readers of 9to5mac reported that their iPhone 5s have shipped from the ZhengZhou region of inland China via UPS – likely from the nearby Taiyuan Foxconn factory (pictured above) in  Shanxi Province. If you would like to find out if your iPhone 5 has already been shipped “Simply fill out the track by reference form on UPS, and use your phone number associated with your Apple ID for the reference number. If that phone number does not work, keep trying any phone number that could be associated with your wireless account or the number you used to upgrade. ” Note that this only works for orders from Apple.com. » Apple Begins To Ship iPhone 5 Via UPS From ZhengZhou Region Of China

Bloomberg reported that Amazon is currently working with Foxconn on a new smartphone product, one that would compete head-to-head with the iPhone and Android devices.

A smartphone would give Amazon a wider range of low-priced hardware devices that bolster its strategy of making money from digital books, songs and movies. It would help Chief Executive Officer Jeff Bezos — who made a foray into tablets with the Kindle Fire — carve out a slice of the market for advanced wireless handsets.

» Amazon Planning to Take on Apple in Smartphone Market