Apple’s rumored acquisition of Israeli flash storage company Anobit was confirmed today. Apple periodically buys smaller technology companies, such as Siri or Quattro Wireless, but rarely on the hardware side — with the notable recent exceptions of Intrinsity and P.A. Semi. Flash memory is found in virtually all of the company’s mobile devices and an ever-increasing share of its notebook computers. Apple currently buys more flash memory than any other company worldwide — about 23 percent of the global market — and the Anobit deal will likely help drive down the company’s already low production costs.