Apple have confirmed an event on September 9 with the tagline - “It’s only rock and roll but we like it”. So that’ll be some kind of music launch then. However, in true Apple style, exactly what is coming next week remains a mystery.
The secrecy just enhances the speculation. There are five common rumours floating around. I’m going to take a guess at the likelihood of each one.
Rumour one: new iPods
Apple traditionally refreshes its iPod range in September and, given the tagline, this year is unlikely to be an exception. Expect a new iPod Touch, probably with a camera and more storage. There’s also a rumour that the iPod Classic could be phased out as Apple moves away from hard drive-based MP3 players.
Probability: Very likely
Apple traditionally refreshes its iPod range in September and, given the tagline, this year is unlikely to be an exception. Expect a new iPod Touch, probably with a camera and more storage. There’s also a rumour that the iPod Classic could be phased out as Apple moves away from hard drive-based MP3 players.
Probability: Very likely
Rumour two: Cocktail music package
Apparently Apple has got together with the big four record labels to create a multimedia package of booklets, artwork and video that will apparently tempt people away from cherry-picking individual tracks and start buying albums again. I’d be surprised if it works but it definitely looks like they are going to try.
Probability: Likely
Apparently Apple has got together with the big four record labels to create a multimedia package of booklets, artwork and video that will apparently tempt people away from cherry-picking individual tracks and start buying albums again. I’d be surprised if it works but it definitely looks like they are going to try.
Probability: Likely
Rumour three: a new version of iTunes
iTunes is going to add social features if the screenshots appearing on the web are to be believed. They could be fakes, as so many Apple ‘leaks’ are, but it’s plausible that the new Cocktail packages will need a new version of iTunes to deliver them.
Probability: Fairly likely
iTunes is going to add social features if the screenshots appearing on the web are to be believed. They could be fakes, as so many Apple ‘leaks’ are, but it’s plausible that the new Cocktail packages will need a new version of iTunes to deliver them.
Probability: Fairly likely
Rumour four: The Beatles on iTunes (at last)
This rumour crops up every year but it is a little more likely this time around. The Beatles entire catalogue is being released on remastered CDs on September 9 - the same day as Apple’s event. Each CD comes with a video and expanded booklets, which sounds perfect for the Cocktail package. But will Apple (the musical one) and EMI really jeopardise their last chance to get everyone to buy Beatles CDs again by putting them on iTunes? And surely Apple (the technological one) wouldn’t be so crass as to launch The Beatles catalogue using a tagline from a Stones song?
Probability: Unlikely
This rumour crops up every year but it is a little more likely this time around. The Beatles entire catalogue is being released on remastered CDs on September 9 - the same day as Apple’s event. Each CD comes with a video and expanded booklets, which sounds perfect for the Cocktail package. But will Apple (the musical one) and EMI really jeopardise their last chance to get everyone to buy Beatles CDs again by putting them on iTunes? And surely Apple (the technological one) wouldn’t be so crass as to launch The Beatles catalogue using a tagline from a Stones song?
Probability: Unlikely
Rumour five: the Tablet computer
Whatever you call it - the iPad, the iTablet, the MacBook Touch - it looks like Apple will soon release a 10-inch touchscreen computer. I’d love to see it launched next week but all the gossip points to it coming early next year. If it was a week away I would have expected more details to leak by now.
Probability: Unlikely, it is more likely it will be announced next year
Whatever you call it - the iPad, the iTablet, the MacBook Touch - it looks like Apple will soon release a 10-inch touchscreen computer. I’d love to see it launched next week but all the gossip points to it coming early next year. If it was a week away I would have expected more details to leak by now.
Probability: Unlikely, it is more likely it will be announced next year
So that’s me sticking my neck out. I could be wrong about The Beatles but I’m going with my gut feeling and saying no.
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