August 25, 2010

By By Antony Bruno

Update: Apple just sent out invitations for a Sept. 1 special event at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater in San Francisco. The e-mail invitation doesn?t say much, but prominently features an acoustic guitar as the only image. Perhaps a hint that a ?

Labor Day is almost upon us and that means a special Apple event is not far off. Every September Apple summons the media to San Francisco?s Moscone Center for a rare audience with the company chief Steve Jobs, who takes the stage to brag about Apple?s success, mock his competitors efforts, and unveil new products and services with no small degree of hype. This year it?s reportedly scheduled for Sept. 7, but no official word out of Apple yet on that. (See above for update.)

The early rumor is that Apple will introduce a new iPod Touch. Apple currently is running a promotion that gives away a free iPod touch for every Mac sold as part of a back-to-school promotion. That offer's end date is also Sept. 7. So Apple is likely trying to unload its inventory before announcing new devices. But what people really want to hear is whether Apple will introduce its long-awaited cloud music strategy. So far no word from music industry sources if that?s at all a possibility, but we?ll update as we learn more.

Meanwhile Bloomberg is reporting that Apple will likely introduce 99-cent TV video rentals, citing ?advanced talks? with networks such as CBS, Disney and Fox. The goal of course would be to breath new life into one of Apple?s rare struggling products?the Apple TV, which for three years has failed to make much of an impact in the digital living room market. Rumor has it that Apple will introduce a $99 version of that device, along with the new content renting scheme, which will also have smaller hard drive.

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