Friday Apple Rumors: Apple Moving Toward Chip Production

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daily apple rumors AAPLHere are your Apple rumors and AAPL news items for today:

Production Shift: According to a report, Apple (AAPL) has made a sizable investment in a computer chip manufacturing company, possibly Taiwan’s United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC), a step that could lead to producing its own computer chips, AppleInsider notes. Apple has long been rumored to be looking to decrease its reliance on third-party chip makers like Samsung and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSM). Samsung produces the chips that power Apple’s iPhones, iPads, Apple TVs and iPods. However, rising competition — and a flurry of global patent infringement lawsuits — has soured relations between the two companies. Some media reports indicate that Apple had agreed to a mobile chip deal with TSMC last month. A direct investment in a chip-maker would allow Apple to take more direct control of the supply of chips needed for its products.

Detente: The war between Apple and Google (GOOG) could be easing, Reuters notes. Google’s Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt says that there have been “lots and lots” of meetings between the two technology rivals over the past twelve months. While the topics discussed during those meetings were not revealed, Schmidt indicated that high level Google executives were taking part in the discussions. Schmidt noted that Apple and Google remained in “constant” communication over “a long list of issues.” As competition between Apple’s iPhone and smartphones running Google’s Android operating system has increased, Apple has moved to reduce its ties to the Internet search giant, including dumping Google Maps from iOS last year.

Sector Decline: Personal computer sales dropped 10.9% during the second quarter of 2013, compared to the same time last year, Forbes notes. The continued decline is evidence that Microsoft‘s (MSFT) new operating system, Windows 8, which debuted late last year has failed to jumpstart consumer enthusiasm. Apple shipped 1.7 million Macs during the quarter, down 4.3% compared to last year. Apple holds 11.6% of the U.S. personal computer market, behind Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) and Dell (DELL).

For more about the company, check out our previous Apple Rumors stories.


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