Apple confirmed earlier reports it has acquired Israel-based flash memory startup Anobit.

Apple's acquisition of the company, which makes flash memory technology found in the iPhone, iPad, and MacBook Air, was first reported in December by Israel's Calcalist business news site. The deal was reported to be worth $400 million to $500 million.

Apple spokesman Steve Dowling confirmed the acquisition to Bloomberg but declined to discuss the purchase price or the company's plans for the startup.

If the deal happened in the price range previously reported, it would rank as one of Apple's largest to date, if not its largest. Apple acquired NeXT in 1997 for $404 million. More recently, the company acquired PA Semi in 2008 for $278 million and Quattro Wireless in 2010 for $275 million.

In addition to flash memory, the company also sells enterprise storage solutions. Apple's decision to acquire Anobit may allow it to get its memory at cost, rather than be forced to pay a premium to a third party The deal potentially would also enable Apple to ultimately cut off Samsung--an Anobit customer and one of Apple's chief competitors.

After a delay, the comic book biography of late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs has arrived.

Steve Jobs: The co-founder of Apple" from publisher Bluewater Productions was released for the Kindle and Nook today, with analog versions of the 32-page book going on sale tomorrow.

The title, which was announced in June, was originally scheduled for an August release. It promises to give readers "unique insight" into the late Apple CEO's "legendary drive to the top and his continuing fight to stay there."

In a note today, Bluewater Productions said the book was completed before Jobs' passing last year, and therefore does not include details of it.

Bluewater's biography of Jobs follows the authorized one from author Walter Isaacson. Originally dubbed "iSteve: The Book of Jobs," the Isaacson book was retitled simply to "Steve Jobs," and it went on to become Amazon's best seller for all of 2011, despite its release near the very end of the year.

Along with announcing the availability of its Jobs biography, Bluewater today said it has a similar comic book biography for Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, called simply "Bill Gates: Co-Founder of Microsoft." That title, which will also run 32-pages, is set to go on sale March 1.

Originally posted at Apple Talk