The Next iPod [View All]

[EV_Ares]

Don't even think about buying an iPod between now and Sept. 5. Apple has invited the press to a "special event" next week in San Francisco. And as usual, Apple won't say what it plans to announce. Or much of anything.

But it doesn't take one of Hewlett-Packard's (nyse: HPQ - news - people ) private detectives to figure out the news will have something to do with the iPod. The invitation, titled "The beat goes on," includes an image of a man, in silhouette, dancing with an iPod on the cover of an album displayed in the style of Apple's (nasdaq: AAPL - news - people ) "Cover Flow" feature, which allows users to flip through their music on their iPhones or desktop computers.

Here's what else we know: In addition to last month's fresh batch of iMacs, new iPods would explain why Apple guided its current-quarter earnings lower during its latest earnings call citing an upcoming "product transition" (see "Apple Tips Its Hand"). New, potentially pricier parts and shuffling a new product into its stores won't come cheap.

The stake are high. Sales of iPods alone accounted for 29.1% of Apple's sales of $5.4 billion for the quarter ending June 30. And if anything, that understates the iPod's importance. The tiny media players helped Apple crank out $608 million in sales of digital music and accessories. Moreover the halo effect from the hot-selling media players has led to a surge in sales of Apple desktop and laptop computers that has made Apple a player in the computer market once again.

So much for the facts, now for some rampant speculation: Apple's new iPod, or iPods, could include many of the features introduced with Apple's iPhone June 29, such as a large, touch-sensitive display, which isn't available on today's iPods (unless you count the iPhone). And it could sport an aluminum skin, to better match the metal and glass sheathed iPhones and iMacs introduced over the past few months.

(rest of article @ the link)

http://www.forbes.com/home/technology/2007/08/29/ipod-apple-iphone-tech-cx_bc_0829ipod.html