Apple Computer Inc. will delay global sales of its new iPod mini digital music player until July due to stronger-than-expected U.S. demand, Apple said on Thursday. Tight supplies of the hard drive, which is at the core of the player, forced Apple to delay increasing manufacturing until July. U.S. demand has surpassed supply through June, according to Apple, whose shares rose 3 percent.
Apple said the problem lies with its supplier. "We"re actually consuming just about all the 4 gigabyte, 1- inch drives they make. As they make more, we"ll get more," said Greg Joswiak, Apple vice president of hardware product marketing. Analysts said that Hitachi Ltd. , which has said it makes nearly all of the cutting-edge one-inch drives that are made, is Apple"s supplier. Neither Hitachi nor Apple have confirmed Hitachi makes the iPod drives.