TSMC reports record sales high for June, keeps rumors of an Apple deal alive

Taiwanese chip manufacturer TSMC just reported a record sales high for June, announcing a jump of 24.3 percent from a year earlier. That may be good news in and of itself, but TSMC's announcement also lends credence to reports that Apple recently clinched a deal with the manufacturer. Rumors about a Cupertino-TSMC alliance have persisted for years (literally), but given Apple's rocky relationship with its current silicon provider -- primary competitor in the mobile space -- Samsung, this move does make sense. Suffice it to say, we'll be waiting with baited breath for Tim Cook and co. to announce what's under the hood of the company's next-gen iPad and iPhone.