MacRumors

Reuters notes in a news story today that shares of TiVo have shot up 17% or more based on speculation that the company may be purchased by Apple Computer, Inc.

Both Apple and TiVo declined to comment, but priced at only $300 million, TiVo represents an easy buy for Apple, and could increase their options in the video field.
TiVo, however, as presently a money-losing business, may not be an appealing takeover project for Apple.

Update: Smith Barney analysts don't believe that Apple is interested in TiVo. Beyond diluting their focus, Apple has also made comments indicating that "the DVR market seems to be a commodity whereby all players will eventually have similar hardware and software longer term, which means that the DVR market really boils down to marketing and branding."

Now available via Software Update:

iPod software update 2005-02-22 delivers the following software:

iPod shuffle software 1.1 (for iPod shuffle)
Support for iPod shuffle Battery Pack
Increased software stability

iPod mini software 1.3 (for iPod mini)
Support for second-generation iPod mini
Support for charging and syncing over USB with Mac OS X v10.2.8 or 10.3.4 or later

iPod software 2.3 (for 3rd Generation iPod with dock connector)
Shuffle Songs selection in Main Menu
Music menu item in Main Menu
Support for iTunes 4.7 and later

iPod software 1.5 (for Touch Wheel and Scroll Wheel iPod)
Shuffle Songs selection in Main Menu
Music menu item in Main Menu
Support for iTunes 4.7 and later

iPod software update 2005-02-22 contains the same software versions as iPod software update 2005-01-11 for all other iPod models.

In addition to New iPod Models released today, Apple also announced a new "iPod Camera Connector" accessory.

The optional accessory allows users to connect their digital camera directly to the iPod Photo and to import their photos into the iPod.

Imported photos are viewable on the iPod Photo and can be synced with iPhoto on the Mac (as well as various photo apps on the PC). It will be available in late March for $29.

Recent comments by PortalPlayer's CEO predicted the emergance of more Photo integration with existing media players.

Update: CNet posts more details about the upcoming camera connector. It is described as "a small white plastic device, similar in appearance to a small docking station, that has a cable for connecting to the iPod and a USB port for connecting to a camera. It will work with both the new iPod Photos and with earlier photo player models".

Update #2: AppleInsider has posted a picture of the new addition shown at an Apple Japan press conference.

Apple announced new iPods today as expected (the Apple Store).
The new iPods include

iPod Mini
- New 6GB Model. $249
- 4GB Model. $199
- Up to 18hrs Battery Life
- 4 Colors

iPod Photo
- 30GB. $349
- 60GB. $449

20GB iPods ($299) remain. The 40GB iPod appears to have been discontinued.

The new releases confirm rumors originally published by MacShrine. Meanwhile, rumors of bluetooth capable iPods remain unfulfilled.

News.com reports on comments by Gary Johnson, CEO of PortalPlayer.

PortalPlayer is the company which makes chips for the iPod as well as other hard drive based music players. According to Johnson, we are likely to see music devices that will connect directly to cameras to download photos. They are also working on direct Printer connectivity as well.

True to form, Apple would not comment and Johnson would not comment whether or not Apple will be incorporating this feature into future iPods.... but is a sign of the general direction of upcoming technology.

Belkin, of course, already makes a media reader for the current iPods which allows this basic functionality.

Now available via software update:

Security Update 2005-002 delivers a number of security enhancements and is recommended for all Macintosh users. This update includes the following components:

Java Web Start
JavaPluginCocoa.bundle
JavaScriptCore
Core Java classes

For detailed information on this Update, please visit this website: http://www.info.apple.com/kbnum/n61798

ThinkSecret provides further details of impending iPod updates -- expected as early as Wednesday, Feb 23rd.

According to the rumor site, the current 4GB iPod Mini will drop to $199, while the 6GB iPod will come in at $249. They also expect two new iPods to arrive at $349 and $449 price points.

The news is consistent with rumors published yesterday (Page 2) by MacShrine who reported on 30GB and 60GB iPod Photo models coming in at $349 and $449... as well, as 4GB Mini's at $199 at 6GB Mini's at $249.

Toshiba announced today that they would increase their spending on semiconductors by 13 percent for the current business year. This will accelerate their output of flash memory chips. The increased demand for flash memory is at past partially attributed to the recently released iPod Shuffle from Apple.

According to Masashi Muromachi, Toshiba's Corporate Vice President, "demand create by this new machine [iPod Shuffle] is so vast that our current capacity can in no way meet their [Apple's] needs."

Apple's iPod Shuffle was released on Jan 11th, 2005.

A job listing posted on Gamasutra which reveals that Apple is seeking out a programmer for the development consumer entertainment software with "experience working with embedded systems", "ARM7 RISC processor experience", and 2D and 3D graphics programming skills.

The job listing was posted on Feb 17, 2005. ThinkSecret suspects that this would indicates that Apple is interested in creating upcoming iPod games.

This is not the first time that future iPod games have been rumored. Previous rumors had reported that a 3rd party company (Digital River) would be creating downloadable games for upcoming iPods.

Apple's iPod presently ships with 4 simple games - Music Quiz, Solitaire, Brick and Parachute.

The L.A. Times reports that Steve Jobs sent an email to top record industry executives about a recently exposed exploit allowing users to burn copy-protected Napster-To-Go content.

In the email, Jobs reportedly writes "Thought you should know if you haven't heard about this". Napster's CEO reportedly wrote a retort claiming that the exploit was neither new nor a problem only for Napster -- and pointed to a similar exploit for iTunes.

To be fair, these sort of save-unencoded content exploits are common, but Napster-To-Go's unlimited song-allowance does represent more content at risk per individual user/subscriber.

Update: Story originally reported by Jon Healey at the L.A. Times. (Attribution corrected).

Mac4Ever.com (French) publishes information from Bogdan Nedelcou, car product manager of Motorola, in a recent radio interview.

The interview with Nedelcou reveals that consumers will soon be able to listen to music wirelessly from their iPod through their car speakers. The upcoming wireless-capable iPod is expected to include Bluetooth technology.

Apple has also incorporated Bluetooth technology into its iBooks and PowerBooks.
Update: One user points us to this patent from Apple which was filed in April 2003 which describes a "wireless media player system that includes a hand held media player capable of transmitting information over a wireless connection and one or more media devices capable of receiving information over the wireless connection".

Update 2: Image from patent depicting the wireless iPod.

A simple search for current trademarks by Apple Computer at The US Patent and Trademark office reveals a new trademark for "computer hardware; computer software" under the mark "Graphulator".

The trademark was filed on February 3rd 2005 by Apple Computer.

Apple has also trademarked 'Bonjour' in late January which is reportedly to be used to rename Apple's current Rendezvous technology due to litigation.

(A previous report from eWeek had hinted that Rendezvous would be renamed to Opentalk, but a final decision had not been made at the time of that article)

While Apple's trademarks have traditionally preceded new products, Apple does also hold trademarks for several names which have never been used. (Gigawire, iWrite and others).
Update: The leading candidate for "Graphulator", however, appears to be the recently Apple-acquired application Curvus Pro X.
Update: All references to Rendezvous has been changed to Bonjour in the latest Tiger seed. (8A385)

AppleInsider & Forbes.com have details of a class-action lawsuit being filed against Apple Computer, Inc. for unlawful practices and misappropriation of trade secrets.

The lawsuit was filed Thursday in California Superior Court in San Francisco on behalf of consumers and resellers of Apple products. It seeks to include in the consumer class any person in the U.S. who purchased Apple products or repair services since Jan. 1, 1995, except for someone affiliated with Apple or the lawsuit.

The plaintiffs allege that Apple failed to fully honor service contracts and warranties, didn't get repair and service businesses properly licensed, stole trade secrets from its own resellers, and sold used computer equipment as new.

They are charging Apple with Unlawful Business Practices, Misappropriation of Trade Secrets, Breach of Contract, and violations of the Consumers Legal Remedies Act and the Song Beverly [Consumer Warranty] Act.