14 DAY TRIAL // Rumors of an Apple special on the 5th of September have become so widespread that one would think Apple had actually issued a formal announcement. Although other products are not being ruled out, new iPods are expected to be the main focus of the event, with at least one new model being presented.
Apple is usually highly secretive about new products, especially when it comes to brand new ones or major revisions of existing highly popular models. Despite this, the new iPods have leaked like few other Apple products, with reports, images and even videos of their interfaces being published by rumor sites. There is so much already known about the 'Fatboy nano' that the only real surprise will be if Apple does not unveil it on the September 5th.
Reports and even images of alleged new Apple products are not something entirely new and have been posted many a time, however Apple has really blundered this time by flexing its legal muscles. Nothing does more for the credibility of a leaked image of the new nano than Apple's legal team threatening action if the images are not removed. Same goes for the videos of the devices' new interface. Giving weight to the rumors of a special event on the fifth are retail reports that supplies of fifth-generation iPods and iPod nanos have been extremely low or non-existent at high-profile dealers, including Best Buy. This has traditionally been a good indication of Apple clearing channel inventory before the launch of completely new models. AppleInsider sources are reporting that stocks of the music players will not be replenished for at least another two weeks, a timeframe that coincides all too well with the reported Apple event.
Besides new iPods, such an event could also be linked to the iTunes Store as Apple has promised to deliver movies and other video content to iTunes Stores outside the US sometime in 2007.