"The New York Times" (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/28/technology/28apple.html?partner=rss&em...) is reporting that Apple has bought Intrinsity, a chip maker that specializes in ARM processors. In fact, it's believed that the company's technology contributed as much or more to the A4 processor in the iPad than the technology from P.A. Semi (another company bought by Apple) did.

Intrinsity is a privately-held Austin, Texas based fabless semiconductor company. It was founded in 1997 as EVSX and changed its name to Intrinsity in 2000. It has around 100 employees and supplies tools and services.

“Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we do not comment on our purpose or plans,” Steve Dowling, a spokesman at Apple, told the "Times." And Tom R. Halfhill, an analyst with Microprocessor Report, told the publication he believed the acquisition price was US$121 million.

Intrinsity is the second chipmaker purchased by Apple in two years starting with P.A. Semi, which it bought for $278 million. And as "CNET" (http://news.cnet.com/8301-31021_3-20003578-260.html?part=rss&subj=news&t...) notes, it's also the fourth acquisition Apple has made since last fall; it bought map API maker PlaceBase in October, social music site LaLa in December, and mobile ad company Quattro Wireless in January for $275 million.