Here are your Apple rumors and news items for Thursday:
Cost-Eating: While the earthquake in Japan has had only a small impact on the supply of Apple’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) new iPad 2 tablet PC, the company is said to be spending more on each individual device than it would have been before the crisis. DigiTimes reported on Thursday that Apple has made arrangements with its component suppliers in Japan to absorb raised costs in shipping and production to keep up supply. Though Japanese suppliers of upstream components may have found their operations hit by the earthquake and tsunami, their profitability will remain steady due to Apple’s assistance. DigiTimes‘ sources claim that Apple is on track to ship 4 million iPad 2s over the next quarter.
Software Update: Apple has delivered another preview of the upcoming overhaul to its PC operating system. Version 10.7, nicknamed Lion, will be made available to the public this summer following its full unveiling at the company’s developer conference in June. Lion will take steps to bring Apple’s laptop and desktop computers closer in function and to the aesthetic to the iPad and iPhone, with applications like Mail receiving new interfaces almost identical with its corollary on the tablet.
External Battery Pack?: AppleInsider reported Thursday that a new Apple patent is hinting that Apple will be offering new power solutions for its popular portables.The “Power Adapter and Internal Battery” patent filing describes an external battery charging pack for use with portable devices. It does not, however, specifically name the iPhone, iPad or any other Apple device. Apple’s products are notorious for restricting access to the battery, which both prevents users from carrying a back up unit. The solution to the problem would be the adaptable battery pack described in the patent that connects to a MacBook or iPhone and adjusts its output accordingly to provide power without needing to replace the current battery.
As of this writing, Anthony John Agnello did not own a position in any of the stocks named here. Follow him on Twitter at @ajohnagnello and become a fan of InvestorPlace on Facebook.
