Just a few weeks ago I think people were complaining that Apple is already taking up a large percentage of the panels and paying less. Which is pretty standard too, because if you can guarantee you are going to buy a lot of something you often get better deals - but most people here were pissed off at that.
Now what we have here is Apple saying that they'll pay more for the panels (likely from different suppliers now that Japan's production ability may be down) just to ensure they can still get what they need. Lots of people are going to be upset about this too.
spydercanopus - I will be really surprised if Apple increases their prices on the iPad2, iPhones, iPod Touches.
It's quite easy to develop a market stifling fiasco out of this, even without consumer price increases! If Apple corners the market,(more or less) on panels, then Competitive products won't be produced, hence Apple doesn't raise consumer prices, but in turn sells more units, thereby making more money.
Then the double whammy: Since suppliers can get more from Apple than fair market value for their panels, they then raise prices to competitors, forcing their pricing strategy upward.. Since Apple's offerings are for the most part sky high but tentatively fixed, the ratio between their product and the competition decreases.
This is the kind of robber baron, land grab, money grab, commoodity grab, that used to go on before there where laws against it. And incidentally, the FTC hopefully will take a look at this dealing.
Apple is getting as arrogant as Google announcing underhanded dealings like this before they're actually undertaken.