MacRumors

Toshiba has announced a prototype 1.8" HDD that fits 120 GB on a single platter via a breakthrough called Discrete Track Recording (DTR). The drive uses the same form factor currently used in Apple's iPod classic.

Currently, Apple uses an 80 GB single-platter drive for its thinner model and a 160 GB dual-platter drive for its slightly thicker model. Toshiba's technology would allow single-platter models to achieve 120 GB densities, with a dual-platter option going as high as 240 GB.

Toshiba plans to begin mass producing the drives in 2009.

Apple announced today that it has sold its one millionth iPhone.

"One million iPhones in 74 days -- it took almost two years to achieve this milestone with iPod," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "We can't wait to get this revolutionary product into the hands of even more customers this holiday season."

Last week, Apple announced a $200 price cut on the 8 GB iPhone and the elimination of the 4 GB model in order to further spur sales heading into the holiday season. Existing customers will be receiving a $100 Apple Store credit if they haven't already been reimbursed. Details will be given this week.

Businessweek reports that Apple has studied the implications of joining the FCC Wireless auction to be held on January 16th.

The winners will get rights to use the spectrum that analog TV broadcasters are handing back to the government in 2009, given their mandated move to digital television.
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Signals at the 700Mhz spectrum, for example, could provide far faster Internet access than today's cellular or even Wi-Fi networks, and the signals can easily pass through buildings and work glitch-free, even in lousy weather.

According to their sources, however, Apple is currently "leaning against participating" in the auction. With $14 billion in cash reserves, while Apple could easily afford participating in the auction, the logistics of running a "low-margin .... massive-scale network" could prove to be detrimental to Apple. This negative impact on Apple's margins and focus are seen as major reasons for Apple's reluctance to participate.

Winning its own piece of the spectrum, however, would provide Apple with the ability to offer its own wireless network service to devices such as the iPhone.

"Apple is the most anti-carrier company there is," says the former Apple executive. "They're probably already frustrated with AT&T. If they put a few billion behind this, they could build a kick-ass network."

The article goes on to the possible implications of such a purchase, but feels it is quite unlikely.

Google has been expected to make a bid on the wireless auction.

David Watanabe posted a screenshot to Flickr which reveals that Apple may be working on Movie Rentals in iTunes.

He was reporting a problem in iTunes and the pop-up menu listed a number of possible problems. These included:

Apple has been rumored to be in talks with Hollywood studios about launching an online movie rental service. The rumored price was $2.99 for a 30 day rental and would allow films to be moved to at least one other device -- such as the iPod, iPhone or Apple TV.

The target launch for the service was this fall.

Now available via Software Update:

With iTunes 7.4, sync your favorite music and more with the new iPod nano (third generation), iPod classic, and iPod touch, plus create custom ringtones exclusively for iPhone with many of your favorite songs purchased from the iTunes Store. You can now also play purchased videos with closed captioning (when available), easily rate your favorite albums from one to five stars, and watch videos at a larger size inside the iTunes window.

The update weighs in at 38.5MB and is also available for download at http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/.

It appears to break the simple free ringtone workaround. New workaround posted at iPhone blog.

A press release reveals details about a new free service called "iTunes Tagging" that will be incorporated into HD Radio receivers. A new "tag" button will allow listeners to tag songs that they like to be purchased later in Apple's iTunes.

"iTunes tagging takes music discovery on the radio to the next level," said Greg Joswiak, Apple's vice president of iPod Product Marketing. "When a song plays on your HD Radio that you like, a simple push of a button will tag it and later give you the chance to preview, purchase, and enjoy it with iTunes and your iPod."

The tagging button will be available on HD radios made by Harman International Industries Inc's JBL unit and Polk Audio, recently purchased by Directed Electronics Inc..

This feature was predicted by Vnunet but incorrectly rumored to be a feature of the new iPods.

After each major event, MacRumors provides a wrapup of rumors to reveal the sources of the most accurate (or inaccurate) information.

On September 5th, Apple held a media event which introduced a number of new products and services. These included the iPod Shuffle, iPod Nano, iPod Classic, iPod Touch, WiFi iTunes, iTunes with Ringtone Support, Apple/Starbucks Partnership, 8GB iPhone Price Drop.

While watching the keynote, what was striking was how many of the rumors surrouding the event were true. Our Rumor Roundup touched on many of the announcements with reasonable accuracy.iPod Nano

The most revealing leaks during this round of rumors surrounded the iPod Nano. From the original mockup and description ("shorter and wider") by 9to5mac, the new Nano form factor was met with many doubts amongst readers. This attitude persisted even after colors and photos were leaked (and pulled by Apple Legal). The mockup, colors and photos leaked by 9to5Mac all turned about to be accurate.

The user interface of the new iPods was also leaked in the form of quicktime videos to MacRumors in late July. These videos were pulled by Apple Legal, and also turned out to be accurate. The initial response, however, unscores the fact that people can't accurately distinguish whether leaked video/images are fake or real. One of the many comments claiming the videos were fake:

This thing is so fake. It does not have the refine Apple look and the screen aspect ratio is so yesteryear. The interface design is hideous. I dont know how anyone could pass this off as something Apple would come up.

Meanwhile, Apple's legal involvement in both of these instances reinforces the fact that they have never requested the removal of fakes or mockups.

iPod Touch

In looking for iPod Touch rumors, we had to go back as far as February 2006 when ThinkSecret first broke the story that Apple was working on a 3.5" full screen touch iPod. The Video iPod was said to be delayed due to technical issues.

More recent details as well as the "iPod Touch" name itself were leaked by 9to5mac, with an accurate description (with the exception of "thicker") and mockup.

Meanwhile, Digitimes had an accurate report that the touch-screen iPod would come with both Wifi and Flash-based storage. Their industry sources had also previously predicted a 16GB Flash iPod to be due in September, which turned out to be the iPod Touch.

Beatles

Despite hints on the invitation and Beatles album art found all over the user interface videos, no Beatles announcement was made. Steve Jobs said in an interview with USA Today that he hopes the Beatles will launch on iTunes in "the first half of next year".

Ringtones

The NYPost and AlleyInsider accurately predicted Ringtone support. We had originally posted deatils of the Ringtone feature days before the iPhone launch with an accurate description of the cost ($0.99) and clipping tool.

Misc Notes

- ThinkSecret confirmed the BlackBerry like dimensions of the new Nanos.
- Appleinsider accurately predicted a (RED) iPod Shuffle for this event.
- Samsung's 160GB 1.8" Hard Drive announcement did turn out to be relevant with the release of the 160GB iPod Classic.
- MacScoop claimed the iPod Touch would be "thinner".
- ThinkSecret predicted the iPod Hi-Fi's demise.

iPhone Price Drop

Perhaps the biggest "failure" in the rumor community was a lack of warning of the dramatic price drop that the iPhone saw. In looking back, one rumor may have suggested this possibility. In July, Commercial Times suggested a 2nd generation iPhone would begin shipping in September from $249-$299. More likely, this represented the iPod Touch, as it falls closer to that price range than even the discounted iPhone.

Summary

As mentioned, most of the rumors were surprisingly accurate, so there were no real "losers" in this round.

9to5mac has continued to provide strikingly accurate predictions of upcoming releases. They previously provided early descriptions of the most recent iMac release. Obviously, future predictions by them should be followed very closely. Of interest, they most recently posted a small blurb indicating that MacBook Pros would see updates in January.

DigiTimes is another site who has been consistently accurate in their recent reports. Digitimes had previously had a weak history, but their most recent predictions (Leopard delayed, LED displays, Wifi/Flash iPod) have all come true. As a result, we will continue to pay close attention to future reports from Digitimes.