Apple has a lot of cash on its hands from the millions of iPhones, iPads and MacBook Pro laptops that it sells. One of the things it has chosen to do with that money is to buy up smaller companies that make interesting new technology that could potentially be integrated into future Apple devices. Last month, the company bought PrimeSense, an Israeli firm that specialized in creating motion-tracking hardware like the Microsoft Kinect. This month, Apple acquired Topsy, a social analytics firm, reportedly for as much as $200 million.

What does this acquisition say about Apple's future plans? It's difficult to say, given that the company never states its intentions in purchasing new businesses. Topsy creates software that indexes virtually every tweet ever published on Twitter. The data it collects can be used for a number of applications, from making smarter music recommendations to anticipating which users will want to buy certain products. It's easy to imagine how Apple could deploy this technology for its new iTunes Radio app or for advertising purposes.

According to MacRumors, Apple has purchased 15 companies in 2013 alone. Despite these acquisitions, the tech giant still has a cash stockpile of $147 billion, about 10 percent of that held by American corporations, so it wouldn't be surprising if they continued this trend.

The fact that Apple is always trying to improve its products with new technology is a testament to the high quality of their devices. If you haven't tried out a new iPad mini or iPad Air yet and are wondering how you might benefit from purchasing one, make sure to stop by the PortableOne online store today to learn more about the newest features.