Apple has scheduled a special media event Wednesday in San Francisco, where industry analysts widely expect the company to announce a revamped iPod lineup. Invitations featured a silhouetted dancing figure alongside the phrase "The beat goes on," setting off weeks of online speculation.
The iPod, introduced in 2001, became the world's leading portable music player. The flagship full-size model last saw an update in October 2005, when the video-capable fifth generation launched. A recent earnings report showed iPod revenue growth softening as buyers shifted toward lower-priced options in the range.
Observers anticipated Apple would introduce iPhone-inspired improvements, including expanded wireless features and a larger screen for video playback. Analyst Rob Enderle of the Enderle Group cautioned that an iPhone-equivalent iPod without a carrier subsidy would cost around $800, since AT&T's $200 subsidy holds the iPhone's retail price to $599.
The announcement arrives amid content disputes. NBC pulled its television shows from the iTunes store after Apple rejected a proposed pricing change that would have brought episode costs to $5. Universal Music separately declined to renew its iTunes catalog agreement while pushing for higher per-track rates, a demand Apple has resisted.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in September 2007, in its own words.