As most of you are probably aware, Apple very recently upgraded its line of iMacs, Macbooks, Mac Minis, and introduced its new Magic Mouse, the successor of the Mighty Mouse. However, certain details Apple has released at the same time seem to have gone mostly unnoticed. One of those details was Apple’s change of the new iMac’s display ratio to 16:9, which would allow the iMacs to play video in 1080p (high definition), hinting at possible Blu-ray support in the near future.

Apple and Blu-ray haven’t had such a great relationship in the past, as Steve Jobs declared last October that Blu-Ray was a “bag of hurt” and that Apple would wait until it became widely popular before even considering to adopt is as a built-in technology. That time may have come, as Blu-ray sales have risen incredibly, and it has become widely adopted by many after the death of the HD DVD format.

If Apple’s next move does turn out to be Blu-ray support, the next step would be to build the support into its current line of computers. The first of them would be assumed to be the iMac, as it is Apple’s main desktop computer. Also, its large monitor sizes (up to 27 inches now) would make it perfect as a high definition display. iMacs may soon be actually competing against standard HDTVs in many households.

Announcing Blu-ray as a built-in technology would have done great for Apple had they done it along with the product refresh, and it’s currently unknown why they did not. It’s being speculated that the implementation was not currently ready for the public, so we’ll most likely be waiting until next year to see if Apple does actually come through.

Via [PCWorld]

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Several people have noticed and pointed out that Apple’s user guide for its new Magic Mouse makes a reference to the not-yet-released Mac OS X v10.6.2. Quoted below is the specific reference to OS X 10.6.2 in the user guide:

To use your Apple Magic Mouse and its full range of features, update your Mac to Mac OS X version 10.5.8 or later and install the Wireless Mouse Software Update 1.0; or update to Mac OS X version 10.6.2 or later.

While OS X 10.6.2 is not required for the Magic Mouse to function, users running OS X 10.5.8 through OS X 10.6.1 will have to install a separate software update to enable support for the new device. The mention of OS X 10.6.2 suggests that Apple plans or at least did plan for the update to be released to consumers around the product launch.

After more careful review of the Magic Mouse’s user guide, it is also noted that the Wireless Mouse Software Update 1.0 will enable the Magic Mouse to work on Leopard and earlier versions of Snow Leopard as well (from Mac OS X 10.5.8 to 10.6.1). However, since the user guide references 10.6.2 as including built-in support for the new mouse, it still suggests that Apple had intended to release OS X 10.6.2 around the same time it launched the Magic Mouse.

To date, Apple has already seeded four builds of OS X 10.6.2 to developers, with the most recent (Build 10C531) having been delivered earlier this week. Although we cannot be certain at this point, it is safe to say that the likeliness of OS X 10.6.2 coming very soon is quite high.

Read [Ars Technica]

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In an oddly unusual patent application Apple filed back in 2008, the company seemingly explores the possibility of integrating advertisements into its Mac OS X (or possibly even a new and unreleased) operating system. The graphics that have been provided even show how Apple might implement it into OS X, as shown in the image above. In exchange for viewing the advertisements, the user would receive some goods or service for free or at a discounted price, as noted in the excerpt from the patent below:

Among other disclosures, an operating system presents one or more advertisements to a user and disables one or more functions while the advertisement is being presented. At the end of the advertisement, the operating system again enables the function(s). The advertisement can be visual or audible. The presentation of the advertisement(s) can be made as part of an approach where the user obtains a good or service, such as the operating system, for free or at reduced cost.

In the late 1990s, free computers were offered to customers in exchange for viewing advertisements, although that practice has lost popularity over the past couple of years. It remains unclear if Apple has any real intentions of pursuing this concept, although Steve Jobs is listed as one of the inventors of the patent, so the possibility is there.

What are your thoughts on an ad-supported Mac OS X? Let’s hear them in the comments.

Read [Engadget]

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It seems that John Gruber could, in fact, be correct with his ideas that Apple will release new iMacs, MacBooks (the white plastic model), Mac Minis, and of course a new Mighty Mouse. Almost as though he knew something, the Apple store has indeed gone down this morning, which leads to either maintenance (yeah, right) or the possibility of new toys from Apple.

While we have been waiting for sometime for an update for the Mac Mini, I am personally looking forward to the release of a new Mighty Mouse, or “Magic Mouse” as John Gruber believes. A multi-touch mouse would be a great addition to any computer set up, and without the tiny trackball to gather dust at an alarming speed, people’s issues with the Mighty Mouse may fall to the sideline.

Either way, check out the rumors that Jake Gaecke wrote up earlier today and stay tuned for the store to return back online. If anything does change, we’ll be sure to let you know.

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Yes, it seems that Apple plans to refresh or update every product you already own in an attempt to make you lust for a new ones. We’re talking about newMac Minis, iMacs and even a new iMouse! At least, that’s what the latest report from Engadget claims, and it’s all set to go down today.

John Gruber seems to be the source of all of the new Apple hardware fun.  He’s claiming that today Apple will announce a new Mac Minis, iMacs, (low end) plastic MacBooks, and the new Mighty Mouse. The new Mac Minis may even have a model that ships with Mac OS X Server. The new Mighty Mouse, which can no longer be marketed as such, will be rebranded as the “Magic Mouse,” and it will have multitouch support.  Will it revolutionize the way you computer?  Will Apple sell millions of them even if it doesn’t?

I’m most excited to see the new Magic Mouse, even though this name sounds ridiculous to me.  I’m very interested to see how multitouch will be incorporated; hopefully it rids the device of it’s easily broken scroll ball.  I’m also quite intrigued by the new Mac Mini.  Perhaps they’ll finally receive that long overdue new design I’ve been dreaming about, but I’m not holding my breath. And the OS X Server option sounds like a step in the right direction for many users.

I think today is going to be interesting…

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Verizon Wireless has already announced they are expecting to see Apple’s iPhone on their 4G network next year. Now, the rumor is that Verizon and Apple are already working together in testing the new iPhone (probably a prototype) on Verizon’s 4G Long Term Evolution network.

MacTouchUser links to a report on Fone Frenzy that states Verizon Wireless’ CEO, Lowell McAdam, has made several visits to Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, and that Apple is indeed testing a CDMA iPhone on Verizon’s 4G LTE network. MacTouchUser also speculates that Verizon and Apple are working together to test the rumored Apple Tablet, although the reliability of that claim is questionable.

If these rumors turn out to be true, that is very good news for consumers; it means competition, and corporate competition is almost always a good thing. Verizon is also said to have the best network in the United States, and the iPhone is also considered by many to be the best smartphone available to date. Verizon Wireless will be the first carrier in the United States to roll out LTE-based 4G network, which promises to be 10 times faster than current 3G services and to include low latency, enhanced security, world-wide roaming, and more, beginning in 2010.

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Listen up Rebel scum; Apple may soon be making the iPhone 3GS fully operational. What’s that? You didn’t know your iPhone 3GS hasn’t hit puberty yet? Well, soon you may finally be able to use that FM radio that’s been hiding inside of your iPhone 3GS and/or iPod Touch (2nd Gen) unbeknownst to you this whole time.

According to a 9to5Mac tipster, Radio.app, as it’s referred to, will be allowed to run in the background a la the iPod.app we all know and love. It will function very similarly to the iPod nano’s FM radio app. A notable feature of the existing iPod nano app is its ability to pause live radio, and continue whenever you please, just like a DVR.  It’s rumored that Apple wants to incorporate iTunes Store linking to songs played on radio stations broadcasting with RDS information (song metadata).

Now there’s always the possibility that this will actually be integrated into iPod.app before its final release, which is fine by me.  You should know, though, that the tip gives no hard date, or even that it will be released “soon.”  Still, it seems silly for Apple to include hardware you’ll never get to use.

Well, that’s not completely true. If you use your iPhone 3GS or iPod touch (2nd Gen) with some Nike+ gear, then you’ve used the FM radio already. Still, there’s so much more that could be done with this piece of hardware. Heck, it’s even able to function as an FM transmitter, though likely never will.

Personally, I’d love to see Radio.app see the light of day, though I’m not sure why.  The reason I use an iPod is so that I can escape what passes for radio.  But that’s just me.  Anyone truly excited for FM radio support?

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Well, the Apple tablet rumors just never die, do they? The latest source of information (read: rumors) is coming out of the idea that Foxconn, a Taiwanese company that manufactures a lot of products for Apple, has pieces lined up for the development of a device such as this. According to the DigiTime sources, they will have 300,000 to 400,000 of the products made and ready by the first quarter of 2010. They go on to state that the device will have a 10.6 inch display which would obviously be touch screen.

The sources of this rumor also state that this product will focus mainly on the ebook market instead of music, as we have seen with many of Apple’s products. While many of the rumors I’ve seen come out of this supplier turn out to be true in one way or another, pretty much anything about the rumored Apple tablet is being taken as truth now. One side of me really wishes Apple would just release this product so the rumors can stop, while another says I could never see a company such as Apple entering this market. But then again, they are extremely efficient at picking a niche market and then dominating it. We’ll see what happens with this one.

Via [DigiTimes]

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If you’re in the market for a new iMac or Mac Mini, you’d be well advised to hold on for a week or two more. Reports from around the web all point to a refresh of both the iMac and Mac Mini by October 9th.

So, what do we know?  Not a whole lot actually.  So far all we really know is that retailers are extremely low in stock of iMacs and Mac Minis.  Apple has instructed retailers that orders of these machines will not be filled now.

One TUAW tipster even reported that an order of a Mac mini placed on September 18th will be held and shipped on October 9th. This leads many to believe that Apple will have some sort of special event or product announcement on this day. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.

As far as product details are concerned, there’s much talk, but little evidence. Some think the new iMac will look more like a Cinema Display, and feature an SD card slot and a bag of hurt (Blu Ray support). I’m hoping for Blu Ray support, and I hope it makes it to the Mac Mini as well.

Who knows what we’ll see. We might even see a refresh on the MacBook line, which just goes to show you how far apart all of these current rumors are. One thing is promising though. I think it’s safe to say that we’ll see Apple do something very shortly. Stay tuned.

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Gizmodo broke a story about a Microsoft dual-screen, multitouch table currently in the “late-prototype” development phases, dubbed “Courier”. This means that the prototypes are working and being refined, and the design concept is now being shared with other agencies who might have a hand in development, such as third party software vendors, channel partners, or testers. While the device certainly looks cool, long time Apple fans (we are talking pre-rainbow Apple logo folks) and more recent converts will feel an eerie sense of deja vu watching the video.

That was then…

The year was 1987, and Apple was shopping around visions of what computers might look like in the future—when people wouldn’t sit down and type/mouse their way around.  Instead, Apple imagined the computer with a speech interface, where the computer could speak information to the user and respond to a user’s vocal input.  The device was called the Knowledge Navigator, and it was a vision of the future where information would come from multiple connected sources; the computer functioned as a portal to these (check out its Wikipedia page for all the details).  Remember that command lines still largely ruled the day, and the mouse still had an uphill battle to broad acceptance, and you can begin to see why this idea was revolutionary.  The device was never real, nor were any working prototypes built that actually performed like the Courier in the leaked videos, but there were still amazingly accurate prognostications in the demos. 

Think about gathering data from the internet using search engines today (a manual process, at best, that can turn up massive amounts of garbage data). The Knowledge Navigator was proposed in one scenario to be a way of navigating large quantities of hyperlinked data. Here, a college professor is using it to compile data for a lecture (watch closely for the reference to the year 2006):

What about deploying computers in the classroom?  They can be used to teach reading and writing, but require some fundamental skills that are still not widespread in computers even now.  Here, an older man is using a pre-defined reading lesson, but then jumps into a more complicated scenario:

This is Now…

In the Futureshock video, we see this hypothetical device performing searches and displaying results, then conveniently letting the user downsample to find just the data he’s looking for (it feels hokey, like when TV cop shows blow up security camera footage and achieve spectacular levels of detail to identify suspect’s faces).  This is still a pipe dream, but one that both Google and Microsoft are working to make a reality.  Just look at Bing’s value proposition: it is not a search engine, in the traditional 10-blue-links-on-a-page way.  It is rather a “decision engine”, that is supposed to understand what you are looking for and help present you relevant content to make a decision. (Shall I go to hawaii? I see here discounted airline tickets and a cheap hotel, so I guess I will go!) Later, in the same video, we see a video call with some filesharing going on—now that is a vision on which Apple has delivered (other people have delivered it too, but never in as slick a way).  Not only can we share files, we can also seamlessly share video and share control of our desktops using iChat.

In the Parkbench video, we see a Knowledge Navigator assisting someone on the opposite end of academia (the audio intro is slightly cut off; in the original, it was a panel discussion regarding education, technology, and teaching adults). More pieces of this vision have come to pass, though not in quite the slick, unified way seen in the video.  OCR software has advanced to the point that it can be included in iPhone Apps like Evernote, though this capacity is admittedly handled server-side after you snap a photo.  The ability to direct a computer’s attention to what you are focused on is also not as easy as doodling a box around the text, though you can zoom a camera to focus, so we will give that one a 50% completion score.  Likewise, there are no products with screen-cum-cameras built in, though Apple does own a patent for that one.  Speech recognition and text-to-speech programs do exist, and the Alex voice included with Leopard is almost as smooth as the one seen in the video, though no programs exist that integrate them quite as smoothly as the demo video portrays. 

What is most striking about both videos is the strong resemblance they bear to both the Apple Newton and the iPhone; the apps, the functionality, even the interface seem to prove that Apple was on to something 22 years ago.  Tapping an app to silence audio and double tapping to move in are both extremely natural gestures, while squiggling around with a pen to enter text can also be natural given the right form factor of the device…which brings us back to the Courier tablet.

Tomorrow…?

The leaked video of the Courier tablet does make it look like an incredible product.  (Anybody remember that satchel computer that Inspector Gadget’s niece always carried around?  Shout out in the comments if the Courier video took you straight back to the ‘80s.)  Apple has made it clear that they have already delivered their version of a netbook in the iPhone and iPod Touch, but a dual screen, intelligently multitouch device might actually have a place between the iPhone and the MacBook Air.  The iPhone OS looks perfectly suited to handle such a device, and the hardware could be pretty amazing as well.  So, where does this leave Microsoft’s little prototype?

In the first place, it is wonderful to see Microsoft finally rethinking pens as input devices, rather than as mouse replacements.  Using a pen to try and manipulate a scroll bar only a few pixels wide is a recipe for failure, frustration, and the occasional bout of cursing.  With this transition from pen-based navigation to gesture-based, one must ask the question, how many arms do the designers assume their users will have?  If you have multitouch gestures on two screens, that is at least two hands.  So you hold the pen with what?  Perhaps free juggling lessons could be included with purchase?  The multitouch gestures demonstrated in the video look cool, as well, except for one problem: none of them are intuitive based on what is presented on screen.  If this is a demonstration of what-might-be-possible, hats off.  If this is a user interface demonstration, then the device needs a trip back to the drawing board.  (On a side note, would it have killed the artist who put this together to use one of Microsoft’s Virtual Earth images, rather than Google Maps for the client address portion?  I’m just saying…) 

Hardware and interface questions aside, the mind turns naturally to software.  More specifically, what exactly will this thing run?  Apple successfully integrated their separate Newton OS into desktop programs using the Newton Connection Utilities, and iTunes has stepped up to the plate as a great way to manage the connection between iPhone OS devices and desktop computers.  It remains to be seen just how robust an OS the forthcoming Windows Mobile 7 is going to be - will it have enough power and extensibility to support a desktop-like experience (as iPhone OS does)?  If not, Microsoft will have created another slick gadget that is marginal, at best, when it comes to playing nicely with others, a lá XBox and Zune.

In the end, if this device is real, Microsoft will likely get credit for bringing it to the market first, but Apple definitely gets points for dreaming ahead of the times.

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It seems that once again the online Apple Store is down, on a Sunday too. Since it’s only a few weeks since Apple’s latest media event, it’s unlikely that any product updates will appear - it’s more plausible to simply be maintenance updates.

Still, the Apple TV has seen slight changes recently, with the removal of the 40GB system, and price drop for the 160GB model, there’s certainly a gap in the product line for an update. Whether today will see the release of that update, is anyone’s guess - if there is in fact an update in the pipeline.

We’ll keep you updated when the store comes back online later today.

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Thanks to my local Best Buy, we now know that Wacom has expanded their Bamboo line of tablets to include one that supports multitouch.

Yes, I couldn’t believe my eyes when I was strolling through Best Buy in the photography section and there, next to all of the other tablets, was Wacom’s yet to be announced Bamboo Touch.  According to one of the employees with whom I talked, they put them out last night since there was no street date on the product.  Chances are that a Best Buy near you has this on its shelves right now, too.

While it may not be the multitouch tablet you’ve been waiting for years to purchase, this device seems the perfect tool for someone who wants the multitouch abilities of the iPhone and latest MacBook Pros, only on a slightly bigger scale.  Even MacBook Pro users, who already have multitouch trackpads, might benefit from having a tool like this.  Now everyone will be able to flick through pictures, pinch to zoom or any of the other multitouch features we take for granted on the iPhone and MacBook Pro.

Best Buy was selling the tablet at $69.99.  I’m anxious to hear from Wacom directly about this tablet, but hey, sometimes it’s fun to stumble upon an awesome product.  We’ll keep you posted.  I think it’s safe to say that consumers want to interface with their computers via touch, and I’m so ready for more and more apps that take advantage of this technology.  So, who’s leaving now to pick one of these up?

In case you couldn’t read the pictures, here’s the text from the back of the box.

Smart
Gain all the benefits of Multi-Touch.  Use Bamboo with all standard operating systems and applications.  Custimize your Bamboo, too.  Flexible and versatile, Bamboo is the smart choice.

Engaging
Engage with your computer in an all-new way from the very first touch.  Multi-Touch makes complex commands as easy as a gesture, while Bamboo’s ample tablet space lets you get in touch with your work.

Natural
Make your every gesture count!  Scroll, zoom, rotate or flip through photos and documents.  Everything at your fingertips.

• Multi-Touch input for intuitive and direct control
• Use a single finger to navigate and multiple fingers for gestures and clicks
• Use finger gestures to scroll, zoom, rotate, go backward or forward
• Spacious touch area for all gestures
• Four user-defined ExpressKeys for shortcuts or clicks
• Easy USB connection
• Interactive tutorial helps you make the most of your Bamboo
• Overall tablet size: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.3 in (208 x 138 x 7.5 mm)
• Wide-format active area size: 4.9 x 3.4 in (125 x 85 mm)

And here’s what it says on the side

BAMBOO TOUCH
Package contents
Bamboo Touch tablet, Quick Start guid, Installation CD (includes tablet driver, tutorial and online manual)

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
PC: Windows 7, Vista or XP with Service Pack 2
Macintosh: Mac OS X (10.4.8 or higher), Intel or PowerPC Processor, CD ROM drive for tablet driver installation, USB port, color display

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Whenever Apple has a press event, you have to expect the Apple Store to be down. It is now, leaving Apple fanboys everywhere desperately trying to peek beyond the newspaper covered windows to see what’s going on inside. New iPods? An Apple TV update? Counter harmonies and french horns? We’ll find out soon enough, so until the press event starts, freshen up on what today’s even may have in store by reading our rumor roundup.

I prefer to not speculate, since it largely sets me up for disappointment. I mean, just know we’re not going to see the return of the eMate. But if I were a wagering man, I’d place my money on the iPod refresh pretty much across the line, with the touch at least to receive a camera. My longshot is the announcement that the newly released remasters from the Beatles (which were already sitting on display in Starbucks at 6:30 a.m. this morning) will appear in the updated iTunes Store. All those kids pressing buttons to The Beatles: Rock Band are going to need somewhere to get the actual songs, right?

To follow along with the announcements as they happen, be sure to join us in our live blog of Apple’s press conference.

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If the heiress of John Lennon is to be believed (that’s Yoko Ono)—and as Cult of Mac suggested back in August—then tomorrow’s special event might finally bring the Beatles to iTunes.

Yoko’s comment made a brief appearance on Sky News (link no longer works) and then quickly vanished thanks to the powers that be. The only remaining evidence is thanks to some quick eyes at 9to5Mac and a partial Google cache.

I usually believe that rumor removal requests tend to represent facts, but you just never know.  And besides, it’s almost kind of funny that the Beatles aren’t on iTunes yet, anyway. By the time they finally are, no one will need it, we’ll all have the CDs already.

Just to balance it out a bit, The Financial Times is reporting just the opposite.

“Conversations between Apple and EMI are ongoing and we look forward to the day when we can make the music available digitally. But it’s not tomorrow,” Ernesto Schmitt, EMI’s global catalog president, told the FT’s Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson.

So will the Beatles make an appearance on iTunes tomorrow? The only way to make sure they do is to pick up one of their digitally remastered albums set to be released tomorrow. Though they just might make it to the iTunes Store as well. Check back with us for Appletell’s live blog of the press event for the announcements as they happen.

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Yup, the anticipation for Apple’s September press event is higher than ever, as the event is right around the corner. While it promises to bring some exciting new things to the iPod lineup, there has been little to no speculation about the iPhone, as it is now the iPod touch’s turn to shine. However, it may be interesting, along with the iTunes 9 rumors, to speculate on one item the iPod touch and the iPhone have in common: the App Store.

It’s no doubt the App Store has had its fair share of criticism over the past year or so. As it stands, there is a lot of room of improvement on Apple’s side. While many of the current iTunes 9 rumors focus on social networking and a new type of album format, it sure would be nice to see some exciting news about the App Store. Sure, a developer conference may be better suited for this, but nobody is going to complain if they make it easier on all of us.

Something such as making the review system more helpful for developers by adding the ability to reply to comments or offer some sort of support would be all that’s needed in iTunes 9 to make me happy. Maybe it’s just wishful thinking, but I sure do hope it happens!

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As many of you will be aware, Apple is hosting a music themed event in San Francisco on September 9th. The tagline on the invitations reads “It’s only rock and roll, but we like it,” which certainly suggests music will play an important role in the keynote. While there are certainly rumors surrounding an update to the iPod line, there are also many other rumors that have been circulating the Internet, so here’s a round-up of all the possibilities we could see from Apple tomorrow.

iTunes 9

The last major update to iTunes included the App Store, along with updates to iTunes DJ. This upcoming event is rumored to see the release of iTunes 9 which could include the option to incorporate your library and listening styles with your favorite social networks, such as Facebook and Last.FM.

A long-awaited feature from many customers has been to have the ability to re-organize your iPhone/iPod touch applications from within iTunes, which would then synchronize across to your device. According to the Boy Genius Report, this could also be making an appearance in iTunes 9, something I personally am certainly looking forward to.

It doesn’t stop there, however. The third major update that could feature in iTunes 9 is support for Blu-ray movies. This was rumored for the previous upgrade to iTunes, but with HD DVD out of the race, it’s more possible that Apple hase decided to jump on the band-wagon with Blu-ray support.

iTunes 9 could also see an iTunes Unlimited service come to life. Similar to what’s available with the Microsoft Zune, customers would have full access to the entire iTunes Store, with the option to buy the tracks to keep, if you’d prefer. A similar service to this has been launched in the UK, called Spotify, and has been incredibly successful.

iPod and Nike+ Refreshes

Previous to the iPod shuffle, the last iPod to receive an update was the iPod nano—a year ago on September 9th 2008. Sources believe that the iPod nano could see a slight update in its design, making it more convenient to hold and use, especially during sporting activities. It is also expected that Apple will add a camera to both the iPod nano and iPod touch, making them more useful and more media-based rather than simply music players. Apple Premium Resellers are reporting they are not replenishing their stock of the iPod nano, iPod touch or iPod classic, which leads to believe that updates will be appearing for all three models.

This could also include a refresh for Nike+ to include support for the iPod range, and also the iPhone 3G and 3GS. With the iPhone’s GPS capabilities, the Nike+ software could provide a lot more information that could synchronize back to your computer for you to review.

Apple iTablet

While rumors have been coming in about this for quite some time, it’s quite unlikely we’ll see such a device on Wednesday. If only because of the music theme for the event. It’s also plausible such a device would warrant its own event, possibly closer to the Christmas holiday season, if not in February 2010 at another event. It would be great for an iTablet, or iPad to be unveiled tomorrow, but, as I said, we’re clutching at straws for that one. It’s unknown at this point whether such a device would use a modified version of the iPhone OS or of Mac OS X Snow Leopard. Findings within the accessibility settings within Snow Leopard that reveal full-size keyboards lead us to believe Snow Leopard could be the basis for a tablet device upon its launch.

Apple TV

We mentioned this last week on Appletell that an Apple TV update could be the “outsider” of the event. Wall Street analyst Gene Munster believes Apple could be phasing out the smaller 40GB model to leave space for an update to the device. If an iTunes Unlimited option also included TV shows and movies, the Apple TV could become quite popular. Even if you were required to pay a monthly subscription to access the iTunes store via the Apple TV, it would still be a hit. It’s certainly an outsider at this point, but there’s always hope for the “One More Thing…” section of the media press conference on September 9th.

Tomorrow, all will be revealed

So there you have it; the most likely (and not so likely) updates that could be emerging from Apple HQ tomorrow. Is there anything in particular you’ve been waiting to see, or something else you wish would get a little love from Apple this September? Personally, I feel we’ll see a refresh for the iPod classic, iPod nano and iPod touch, along with iTunes 9. An update for Nike+ could also be likely, while I feel an Apple Tablet and a new Apple TV are less likely to appear at this particular event. Feeling the same? Let us know below in the comments.

Full Story » | Written by Ed Parry for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »

Word from MacNN has it that Apple and AT&T may together add support to the iPhone for overage alerts and new Voicemail settings.

The first proposed new feature, overage alerts, would come in the form of a push notification. This feature might be able to alert you when you are coming close to using up all of your monthly minutes or messages.

The second feature, if it comes to fruition, would be a response to recent voicemail unhappiness brought up by our friend David Pogue.  David, like almost everyone who’s ever used a phone, is sick of finding out that we can leave a message after the tone. It could also disable introductions when calling other AT&T phone numbers.

MacNN is quick to point out that Apple is usually reluctant when pushing carrier specific updates. After all, AT&T is not the only iPhone service provider in the world, and they arguably aren’t the best, either.  Either way, these feature may find their way on to an iPhone near you as soon as iPhone OS 3.1, which we are expecting in the not too distant future.

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An AT&T employee has hinted that Apple will release iPhone OS 3.1 at some point in September. The iPhone OS 3.1 beta, which was released in July, featured updates to voice control, the home screen, video editing and the copy and paste functions, while also activating MMS services for AT&T customers.

On the whole, 3.1 won’t be a major upgrade, but it’s expected that it will signal the availability of MMS in the U.S., months after the feature was released with iPhone OS 3.0 and made available in other countries around the world. There’s also a rumor that iPhone OS 3.1 will unlock Bluetooth file transfers and also make possible enhancements to the iTunes Store.

The Apple event to be held on September 9th may confirm these features and the release of iPhone OS 3.1, despite the emphasis at this point being on the iPod range, one of which is the iPod touch, that also uses the iPhone OS. Either way, there should be some notification on its release date at the event, if it is not included within the presentation itself.

Via [9 to 5 Mac]

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The first thoughts were that Apple would release a tablet device around September. Apple confirmed the September 9th event would be going ahead, and from the invitations, signs pointed to an iPod/music themed event. While it’s still possible that a tablet—or iPad, as it may be called—could still appear at the event, it’s more plausible that we’ll see a refresh to the iPod line, and possibly a long-awaited update to the Apple TV.

The Apple TV’s hardware has been the same for over two years. In the technology industry, that’s a long time for something to go unchanged. If that doesn’t indicate an update, how about the current Apple TV delivery times? The 160GB model ships “Within 24hrs,” while the smaller 40GB model has a delay of “1 - 2 weeks.” Wall Street Analyst, Gene Munster has been following the Apple TV since its launch, and said he had never seen the device fall two weeks behind in shipping estimates. He believes this may be a result of Apple trying to phase out the lower-end model, which would leave a gap in the product category. The timing of this delay—appearing a week before the September 9th event—certainly leaves things open as to what could appear.

We continue to believe that Apple will eventually offer a monthly subscription for iTunes TV shows accessible on Apple TV, iPods, iPhones, and Macs/PCs. Apple could leverage its deep library of content with many network and cable channel content owners to provide unlimited access to a sub-library of its TV shows for a standard monthly fee ($30 to $40 per month).

The quote taken from Munster’s report speaks about additions that could be made to the Apple TV to include a subscription service to your favorite TV shows. This would certainly make the Apple TV a lot more useful and usable for a lot of it’s customers.

An upgrade to the Apple TV and the release of a subscription-based service integrated into the device would be great to see at next week’s event from San Francisco. Have you been holding off buying an Apple TV in the hope of an update coming in the near future? Let us know below!

Via [AppleInsider]

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Just as August draws to a close, Apple has made official their much rumored September 9th music themed event.  As they have done in past years, Apple has released the image above announcing the event in the style of their ubiquitous iPod and iTunes advertisements. “It’s only rock and roll, but we like it” reads the image, quoting the Rolling Stones’ song.

What’s to be expected from this event?  Most likely new iPods across the board (meaning the Touch, Nano, and Classic), with the regular increased storage and decreased price, the only chief upgrade possibly being cameras built into the devices. Additional rumors have included iTunes 9 with social integration and Blu-ray support.  Rumors of the Apple “iPad” have also been swirling, but the likelihood of any such announcement is fairly low.

Check back at Appletell for detailed coverage leading up to the event, as well as a live blog on the 9th of September.

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Apple Authorized Resellers are reporting to Ars Technica that the current stock of iPods are not being replenished, and that there will indeed be a new line of iPods introduced in the very near future. With Apple’s iPod event all but set to be September 9th, this comes as no surprise, as Apple has updated their iPod line in September the past several years. The question is what, not when.

The most consistent rumor has been, for weeks now, that Apple will add cameras to both the iPod touch and iPod nano—both of these rumors have been widely accepted. New word has emerged that the iPod classic will also receive a camera, as the Taiwanese DigiTimes wrote that “OmniVision will be the sole supplier of 3.2-megapixel CIS [CMOS Image Sensor] products for new iPod nano, iPod classic and iPod Touch models, which will be launched in September, the sources indicated.” Other rumors suggest that the iPod nano will get a slightly larger screen, and the iPod touch will have a larger storage capacity across the board.

Apple should announce some great new iPods on the 9th. All that, plus iTunes 9 and perhaps the “iPad” are all sure to bring Apple their regular immense amount of holiday season success.

Read [Ars Technica]

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According to an analyst, China Unicom—the largest cell phone carrier in terms of subscribers—will announce a deal with Apple to sell the iPhone in China today. This the latest in a series of clues that points to the iPhone making its way to the most populous country on the planet. A spokeswoman from China Unicom stated that the iPhone would be a topic of discussion when the company has a media briefing to discuss its performance in the first half of the year, though the woman did not confirm that the iPhone would definitely be coming to China. Finally, an official at Taiwanese iPhone maker Hon Hai said the company was producing the phone for a chinese company.

If this is indeed true, Apple will be in for even greater profits soon; a population of over 1.3 billion people is a consumer market that is not to be scoffed at.

Read [Forbes]

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With Snow Leopard set to release this Friday, August 28th, many Apple fans are excited to both try it out and get some space back on their hard drive. Also, if you’re like me, you don’t really care that it doesn’t include any great, new features as long as it promises to be as stable and fast as Apple promises. However, one thing that would be extremely interesting to see at any point in time is Apple-developed antivirus built into the operating system. And that’s the rumor, according to Intego’s Mac Security Blog.

While it would certainly be a good idea for Apple to get ahead of the game and include this in their core operating system, I don’t think we will see it just yet. Not just because there isn’t a terrible need for it, but because this news popped out of nowhere two days before the software’s release. There was no mention of this anywhere in the developer builds that were released, and nothing was leaked about it until now. Not only that, but we haven’t seen any news of Apple hiring security experts to come in and help with this type of thing (although I’m sure they already have some).

While I wouldn’t mind seeing it, I’m taking this one with a grain of salt. How about you?

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According to the Wall Street Journal, “people familiar with the situation” have said that the 54-year-old Steve Jobs has been spending much of his time working with the new touch screen gadget device that Apple is cooking up. Furthermore, one person working on the product’s advertising and marketing strategy said that they are under intense scrutiny from Steve Jobs himself. While rumors of the “iPad” have been heating up recently, some stories have been published saying the rumors are simply rumors and the product doesn’t exist. There is evidence both ways, and it will be extremely interesting to see if Apple has any news about this in their September event.

While I personally don’t think Apple will make any announcements of this device at their upcoming music and iPod event, I do believe we will see it one day. The market for a tablet is somewhat small at this point, but Apple has always done well by first introducing an overpriced product to a niche market. From there, the product explodes into the general consumer base. We’ll see if this rumored product becomes as popular as the iPhone.

Via [Wall Steet Journal]

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Oh my. The Mac community is abuzz with yet another rumor of a forthcoming Apple Tablet—which is odd. Steve Jobs has publicly spoken about netbooks, declaring, “We don’t know how to build a sub-$500 computer that is not a piece of junk and our DNA will not allow us to ship that.” The iPhone and iPod Touch are already good handheld computers…it is tough to see where a larger tablet-format screen would add any value. If the iPhone is too small, get a MacBook or MacBook Air. Battery life is already touchy on small portable devices, and touch screen tablet computers (apart from kiosks, fast food PoS systems, and some delusional Microsoft product roadmaps) have generally proven to be niche products with limited broad market appeal. Given these constraints, is it mass hysteria to believe that an Apple Tablet is coming, or is this like the speculative storm that gathered around iPhone rumors before MacWorld 2007?

A recent report from the NPD market research group pointed out that Apple commands a stunning 91% of the market for PCs costing $1,000+. Contrast this with the price of the average netbook, which is around $300.  David Strom, writing in the InfoWorld “Tech’s Bottom Line” column expressed displeasure with Steve Job’s assertion that Apple could never produce a quality computer under the $500 price point, “Excuse me? I guess the sub-$500 computer that I purchased doesn’t count—namely, the iPhone.”  The only problem there is that the iPhone really isn’t a sub-$500 machine.  It may look like one to the end consumer, but let’s not forget the AT&T subsidy being paid for each iPhone sold.  And yes, the old 3G may be available for only $99, but it still sold for well above $500 in its time.

Other developments in the Mac universe point to Apple pursuing different, less flashy goals.  Following the under-the-hood improvement model being pursued with Snow Leopard, Apple is somewhat quietly building up a massive data center on the East Coast of the United States.  Cult of Mac has a great interview posted with Rich Miller, editor of Data Center Knowledge, about the construction of this new space in Maiden, NC.  Apart from some witty vernacular (Miller comments that the sheer size “...place[s] it among the largest data centers in the world… This would qualify as a big-ass data center.”), there are other, more interesting implications.  Apple currently maintains a west coast data center that hosts MobileMe services and serves up iTunes store content; the size of the new NC data center is nearly five times that of the existing space.  So this is not for redundancy or scaling up current capabilities. A data center this size could point to delivery of more HD content (HD movie purchases?)—think of the difference in movie sizes for SD vs. HD in the iTunes store today: 1 GB vs. 5 GB.  Multiply that by several thousand movies, and suddenly you begin to see where extra hard disk space is essential! 

Another possibility for this massive data center is a repository for user-generated content. Several fantastic possibilities open up here: What if Back to My Mac was available from any computer anywhere? Rather than connecting to your home computer, any computer could connect to your home folder hosted on an XServe sitting in NC—NC can stand for both North Carolina and Network Computer! Apple could also take the iLife and/or iWork suites into the MobileMe cloud: web-based versions of each app could deliver simplified interfaces to content that is available on-demand anywhere. That Keynote presentation doesn’t need to be moved to a flash drive before you present, just pull it up in your browser. Impromptu dance party? Log into iTunes.com and rock out to your favorite playlists.  We’ve already received an iDisk app for the iPhone OS, and iWork readers are available.  Cloud storage neatly removes the iPhone’s storage limitations (both size and the lack of data availability across applications), and MobileMe has been on a slow but continuously improving track towards a full fledged cloud platform.

Tablets, especially one with Apple’s slick multitouch interface are, let’s face it, quite sexy.  They are also hugely impractical, given the form factor, and the ways we are accustomed to interacting with computers (netbooks seem like a great idea, but poll users who aren’t serious road warriors and you will find dissatisfaction with the screen and keyboard sizes).  Ultimately, what good does an Apple iTablet do? It does not deliver a better user experience than the MacBook Air, it gives you a larger (more power hungry) screen for gaming, and it is a large, fancy, and likely expensive media tablet.  Does the world even want that?  In reality, Apple already has a tablet computer.  Several, in fact: three generations of iPhones and the two of the iPod Touch.  Again with the Snow Leopard analogy, Apple seems to be approaching product development from an incremental improvement angle, rather than a sexy/flashy/hyped flagship product rollout angle.  And Apple is very good at focusing on product niches where it excels to the exclusion of all others.  Given that the iPhone and Mac OS are both stable platforms, improving on current success seems to be the smartest strategy.  Which, all in all, points to the fact that the Mac tablet, much like the resurrected Newton, will remain a dream.  Then again, Steve Jobs also said that Apple would never build a phone, so who knows?

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No matter how big the iTunes store has become, there’s always been one band in particular that has been missing: The Beatles. We’ve all heard their music in one form or another, but if you wanted to download an album or track from iTunes, you were met with a collection of covers and tribute bands, never original music. Maybe that’s about to change.

EMI Music and Apple Corps LTD (not to be confused with the beloved Apple, Inc.) have announced in an updated press release that they intend to release re-mastered versions of the entire Beatles catalogue in glorious stereo sound. Usually, this might bypass some people until they see an advert showing the new CD collections available, or hear it being played on the radio, but there’s one detail that caught our eye: the date. The worldwide release of the two boxed sets featuring 28 CDs is due to take place on September 9th; the same day as the release of “The Beatles: Rock Band” for Wii, PlayStation and Xbox 360. There might also be something else happening on that day—a little old Apple press conference.

Maybe this is just a coincidence, but sources close to Apple apparently feel quite confident on the date for the event. The September event has often featured updates to the music side of Apple—iPods and iTunes—so it’s certainly possible, and I can’t help but find it interesting that it’s the same day the remastered Beatles catalog hits the shelves. Either I’ll be spending a few more pennies in the iTunes store in September, or the rumor mill is just taking a break from the Apple tablet for a little while.

Think we’ll be seeing The Beatles in the iTunes Store download charts any time soon? Speak your mind in the comments!

Via [Cult of Mac]

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The BoyGeniousReport has some screenshot to go along with recent rumors surrounding iTunes 9.  If you don’t recall, the update is supposed to add support for sharable playlists via Facebook integration, 3rd party devices (seriously?) and Blu-Ray playback.

This first picture is a bit hard to make out, but you can see the distinctive Facebook icon on the left side.  That’s pretty much it here… wait, is that a Blu-Ray in the devices list?

Here’s how the update to the clichéd anonymized Facebook page would look like.  I’m betting this link will bring one of your friends to an iTunes Store playlist that you’ve shared, likely with 30-second previews of all of your songs. I’m also betting non-iTunes Store songs will not be allowed. Just a guess though.

Here’s a currently unsupported device, which will be supported, I suppose. How did this slip past Steve Jobs?

I really want this to be a the Blu-Ray version of The Simpsons Movie, but the name of the image file cites DVD playback. I’m still optimistic, though.

iTunes 9 is supposedly imminent, so perhaps we’ll see these features very soon. I wouldn’t rule out the rumored press event on September 9th.

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According to sources for All Things Digital, Apple will most likely be hosting another music event this September 9th. While this is on a Wednesday (not the usual Tuesday Apple schedules), ATD says their sources are “close to the company.” It’s rumored Apple will most likely have the event at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts where it has been held for the past couple of times. At these September event, anxious fanboys usually find refreshes to the iPod and iTunes parts of the companies, not Macs or MacBooks.

Furthermore, there is also speculation on who and what will be present there. As it stands right now, reports vary as to whether we will see the fabled “iPad” or “iTablet” that many people are expecting.  There are also rumors floating around that our favorite CEO, Steve Jobs, will also make his first public appearance since his leave of absence earlier this year.

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According to Yann Lafargue, PR for TomTom, the much anticipated TomTom iPhone cradle will do more than just keep your iPhone’s battery topped off. Its GPS enhancing abilities seem to take advantage of the dock connector on not just the iPhone, but also the iPod touch to enhance (or to add support for) GPS.

Here’s what the translation had to say…

Does it work with iPod Touch?
Yes, I confirm and it will work with an iPod Touch or other competing browsers.

And that’s not the whole story, either. The cradle will be capable of enhancing other apps as well, meaning you could potentially buy the cradle from TomTom to use it with Navigon’s GPS app for the iPhone or iPod touch. Whether that will actually happen is another story, but the mere idea that it could happen is fun to think about.  I guess TomTom realizes they have some real potential in their iPhone cradle and don’t want to limit those sales to just their app.  Now, how much is this going to cost?  How much would you pay?  Would you rather use it with the TomTom app or something else like Navigon’s app?

Read [Mac4ever] Via [Macenstein]

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Below is a 24 second clip of an Apple device, with a camera, being shown off on video (fittingly, video taken by an iPhone).  iPod touch rumors have been spreading for weeks regarding an update that introduces a camera to the high-selling portable media device. Though the idea did not originally make too much sense, this may be Apple’s retaliation to AT&T’s continual mishandling of the iPhone—creating a nearly equally-featured device that many could use instead of being tied to AT&T and the iPhone. This, however, seems ludicrous, leaving the only real logical possibility—there is nowhere else for Apple to go with the iPod touch line without seriously detracting from their iPhone sales.

Though it now seems this third generation of the iPod touch is very real, the final truth will only be announced at Apple’s still-rumored, but largely-expected September event.

Hit the link for more (convincing) images of the photograph-taking iPod touch.

Pictures [covinoandrich]

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The rumor mill has been in a frenzy lately over the purported Apple “iTablet.”  Now, a supposed picture of the device has emerged, along with a Borders survey referencing an “Apple IPAD (Large Screen Reading Device).”

First up, the picture of the iTablet or iPad or whatever seems to match the commonly held description of Apple’s upcoming device: a 10-inch device that looks like an iPhone stretched out, and a single home button on the face of the device. There is, obviously, no conformation that this device is authentic, but The Boy Genius] and [MacLife]

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Gizmodo’s Brian Lam has received some juicy details on the mysterious Apple tablet. The insider “may or may not” have sat in Apple meetings regarding the tablet, and apparently has held mock ups of the device. The insider says the device sports a 10 inch screen, and shares numerous design elements with the iPhone: a black glossy back and the single home button on the front. Additionally, the device will come in two editions, “... one with a webcam and one for educational use.” Educational use? My guess is that one version will simply be more expensive and have more features (like a webcam) than the other.  The device—at $700 through $900—will fit between the price gap left by the iPhone and MacBook, as expected.

The inside source also mentioned that the device has been going under various code names for the past four to six years. However, Lam was asked to not divulge the current code name of the product.  The first prototype was built around the end of 2008, meaning that the device itself would be due to market around this upcoming holiday season.

It seems as though the “iTablet” is very real and is due to be revealed quite soon.

Read [Gizmodo]

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