Apple Developing More In-House Tech?

Appleinsider reports that Apple is planning on personally developing more individual components used in its iPod product line.

In working to develop some of its own component solutions -- rather than continue to license them from others -- Apple hopes to gain more control over the iPod and shave costs at the same time. These costs saving measures are likely to be reflected in slightly higher margins for Apple and lower iPod costs for the end consumer.

Appleinsider points to the iPod scroll wheel as one component which will be developed by Apple in-house. Of note, Apple also moved towards its own track-pad technology in the Powerbook and iBook lines.

Apple is reportedly planning on offering user-replacable batteries in an upcoming iPod line.

Historically, Apple had a similar approach to in-house development of technologies for the Macintosh product line. However, in recent years, Apple has moved away from such an approach and has incorporated standard PC components and technologies into the Mac line. Whether the economics/scale for the iPod line is fundamentally different remains to be seen.