Apple is expected to unveil hip new versions of its iPod MP3 music players on Tuesday at a theatrical "Let’s Rock" event as rival Microsoft strives to focus the spotlight on its Zune devices. <\/p>\n
Apple set devotees and the Internet abuzz with a trademark minimalist invitation to a press event in downtown San Francisco.<\/p>\n
The email invitation sent late last week says "Let’s Rock" and contains a brightly colored silhouette of a person leaping enthusiastically while listening to an iPod.<\/p>\n
The only other information given is the time the press conference starts and directions to the theater where it is taking place.<\/p>\n
"The best bet is they are going to refresh the iPod Touch and the iPod Nano," said analyst Rob Enderle of Enderle Group in Silicon Valley.<\/p>\n
Enderle and others tracking the market expect Apple to raise iPod Touch technology to the level of the iconic California company’s iPhones, offering all capabilities except mobile telephone service.<\/p>\n
Apple is expected to switch the shape of its Nano models back to slim gum sticks from the squat design it tried in order to feature a small screen for video viewing.<\/p>\n
Speculation preceding the event includes the possibilities that Apple will announce another software patch to fix connectivity problems with its new iPhone 3G models.<\/p>\n
Analysts are also wondering whether Apple will also announce new versions of Macintosh laptop or iMac computers.<\/p>\n
There have been reports of shortages of iMacs, and Apple is known to let supplies of devices clear out of warehouses and stores before introducing new models.<\/p>\n
Microsoft is also evidently anticipating Apple plans to invigorate its iPod line for the year-end holiday shopping season.<\/p>\n
A day ahead of the Apple press event, the US technology giant announced a revamped line of Zune MP3 players and software upgrades that make listening to music on the devices even more "social."<\/p>\n
The Zune line-up is being expanded to include devices with 16 gigabytes of flash memory selling for $200 each and a $250 model with a hard drive offering 120 gigabytes of memory space, Free software updates will let people instantly buy songs they hear on the<\/p>\n
devices’ built-in FM radios and wirelessly download music from the Zune Marketplace without having to connect to computers. <\/p>\n
"We’ve always known that radio is the primary source for discovering new music," said Clear Channel Radio chief executive John Hogan.<\/p>\n
"Microsoft’s decision to marry music discovery and delivery does two things: enables consumers to instantly satisfy their passion and enables FM song tagging to be enjoyed by all radio listeners, everywhere."<\/p>\n
Microsoft software will also let Zune users customize radio "channels" that pick songs based on their tastes. Zune software will also enable listing to audio books.<\/p>\n
Zune users will have the option of buying songs individually or paying $15 monthly for "Zune Pass" subscriptions allowing them to download or stream as much music as they wish.<\/p>\n
The new Zune models and features will begin rolling out on September 16, almost two years after Microsoft launched the devices in November of 2006.<\/p>\n
"Zune has been on the market a while and it is about time for Microsoft to refresh that line," Enderle said.<\/p>\n