Apple to unveil cheaper iPods

BOSTON: Apple Inc is expected to unveil new iPod music players, and will possibly cut prices, at a media event next Tuesday. However, the company may not launch update to its MacBook laptop computers until a later date. Apple, which also makes iPhone mobile devices, emailed reporters an invitation to a September 9 event entitled "Let's Rock," which has an image of a man jumping in the air while listening to an iPod, with the words "playing soon." No further details were available from the company, which often sends provocative invitations to events that end up being product launches. Creating an allure around its brand has only helped drive Apple's market capitalsation above Google Inc, despite fears about the weak US economy, which is slowing consumer purchases. "It's got to be new iPods. That's 100 per cent certain," Needham & Co analyst Charles Wolf said. "The only question I cannot answer is whether they will also do new MacBooks." Apple shares fell $3.34, or 2 per cent, to $166.19 on Tuesday. Pacific Crest Securities analyst Andrew Hargreaves said the stock fall was likely due to bearish broad sentiment, rather than any disappointment related to the invitation. However, he expects any changes to the iPod to be incremental. "I'm not expecting anything revolutionary," he said. Apple's iPod line needs to be refreshed and the price of its iPod Touch models need to be cut because they have a higher starting price than its iPhone, which includes a mobile phone and other features not included in the device, said American Technology Research analyst Shaw Wu.
source : TOI