Apple CEO Steve Jobs is reported to have sent a message to Apple staff regarding the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan. The contents of the email were posted to Chihouban.com (via Macotakara), and "MacRumors" (http://www.macrumors.com) also received a copy of it independently. The email was said to have been sent to all Apple employees and reads:

"To Our Team in Japan,

"We have all been following the unfolding disaster in Japan. Our hearts go out to you and your families, as well as all of your countrymen who have been touched by this tragedy.

"If you need time or resources to visit or care for your families, please see HR and we will help you. If you are aware of any supplies that are needed, please also tell HR and we will do what we can to arrange delivery.

"Again, our hearts go out to you during this unimaginable crisis.


"Please stay safe.


"Steve and the entire Executive Team"

In related news, the March 11 tsunami that has devastated Japan is expected to create shortages of the iPad and iPhone for the remainder of the month and through next quarter, as at least two of the company's core component suppliers in the region have temporarily shut down operations to assess damages.

Speaking to contacts in Asia last night, Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster told clients in a note -- as reported by "AppleInsider" (http://www.appleinsider.com) -- that he learned that the production status from Apple's Japanese-based component suppliers is changing hour by hour. He said that none of those partners have been able to quantify the extent of their damage with any degree of certainty, nor have they set a timeline for when production will resume. Munster expects component delays for some of Apple's key products, including iPhone 4 and iPad 2, to persist throughout the June quarter.