Here are your Apple rumors and AAPL news items for today:

Fingerprint Scramble: Filings with the SEC relating to Apple‘s (NASDAQ:AAPL) July acquisition of AuthenTec show that the iPhone maker was in a hurry to purchase the company’s technology, the Los Angeles Times notes. In the filing, Apple said that it wanted to avoid an auction process because of a “desire to proceed quickly due to its product plans and ongoing engineering efforts.” Apple told AuthenTec’s board that it would withdraw is $356 million bid for the company if AuthenTec attempted to solicit competing offers. The filing did not specify what AuthenTec technology Apple was interested in acquiring. However, the company specializes in fingerprint recognition technology that can be used to secure financial transactions on mobile devices, like the iPhone and iPad. Apple is expected to introduce a mobile payment system to compete with similar systems from Google (NASDAQ:GOOG).

Apple Admits Error: In the wake of reports that the company was laying off workers at its overseas Apple Stores and reducing part-time hours for workers domestically, Apple says it made a “mistake” in calculating its staffing needs and is reversing its plans, Bloomberg notes. Sources claim that a staffing plan developed by Apple’s retail chief, John Browett, led to the reduction of part-time hours and lower staff recruiting at some locations. Apple said it will return to previous staffing policies. Apple Stores produced sales of $4.1 billion in the last quarter, a 17% rise from last year. The company is currently preparing for the launch of its next generation iPhone, possibly next month and is likely to need additional staff at its Apple Stores to handle customer demand.

Apple TV to Read Gestures: An equity research firm says that a new Apple TV streaming device that will respond to user’s gestures is in production, AppleInsider notes. Analysts at Jeffries say that Apple has purchased a license for a gesture control module from JDS Uniphase (NASDAQ:JDSU) and has integrated it in the new device. Apple is rumored to have been in discussions with media companies about the new product. In addition to the TV product, Jeffries says a smaller-screen iPad is in full production and will launch shortly. Jeffries has set a target price of $900 a share for Apple. The company’s shares rose 7% in Friday trading to over $643 a share.

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