Here is your daily Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) stock news and rumors for Friday. Apple adds more circuit board suppliers to its stable of those companies already providing parts for the impending iPad 2. The first beta version of the OS X 10.6.7 update has been sent to software developers. And finally, Apple has released a new universal bumper case for use on both the Verizon (NYSE: VZ)and AT&T (NYSE: T) iPhones.
Apple Doubles Circuit Board Suppliers Ahead of April iPad 2 Release: A new report from Taiwanese rumor mill DigiTimes claims that Apple has more than doubled its number of suppliers of circuit boards for the still-unannounced second generation iPad, jumping from 3 suppliers to 7. Meiko, Gold Circuit Electronics, Nan Ya PCB, and Compeq Manufacturing are the latest providers of essential iPad components. These companies are expected to begin shipping circuit boards for the new iPad between late February and March with signs that Apple will begin full scale iPad 2 shpping in April, just in time for the one year anniversary of the first iPad’s release.
Apple Issues First Beta of Mac OS X 10.6.7: Apple send out the first beta of the lastest version of their Mac operating system, OS 10.6 Snow Leopard. The beta version of OS X 10.6.7, labeled 10J842, was sent to select developers that were asked to test the functionality of the wireless router AirPort utility app, Bonjour, SMB file sharing, and graphics drivers. This latest update will be one of only a handful of light updates to the Snow Leopard OS as Apple is planning to release OS X 10.7, nicknamed Lion, later this summer. The previous Snow Leopard update, released just weeks ago, introduced the Mac App Store to Apple’s line of desk and laptop computers.
Apple Release Universal Bumper Cases Ahead of iPhone 4: Protective bumper cases for Apple’s smartphones have cost the Cupertino, Calif., company a pretty penny in the past 12 months. Apple spent an estimated $175 million providing free bumper cases to iPhone 4 users last summer, a partial solution to the widely publicized issues with the iPhone 4’s extra sensitive antenna. Both official and third-party Apple accessory makers were looking at a potentially problematic bumper case situation last week when the CDMA Verizon (NYSE: VZ) iPhone was shown to the public. Since the CDMA iPhone antenna bands, volume and mute controles had been rearranged from their positions on the existing iPhone 4 model, older cases could no longer be used. Engadget reported on Friday morning that Apple has already begun providing iPhone retailers with new universal bumper cases, fitted for both the iPhone 4 and CDMA iPhone. The changes are minimal, just a widening of existing gaps for button access.
As of this writing, Anthony John Agnello did not own a position in any of the stocks named here.
