Apple Event Fuels iPod Speculation

Apple began to send out invitations to the media on Monday for an event to take place on September 7 in San Francisco, hinting at a major product unveiling surrounding its iPod music player.

The announcement, which reads in part, "1000 songs in your pocket changed everything. Here we go again," had Apple enthusiast and technology news sites alike abuzz with guesses on what the announcement could entail.

In normal Apple fashion, very few details were given in the invitation itself. However, recent moves by the company are providing a few clues as to what will be unveiled next week. Motorola CEO Ed Zander on July 25 promised the iTunes phone would be out before the end of September.

"On one of the 66 days left in the quarter -- we're not saying which one yet -- Apple, Motorola, and our biggest operator partners around the world will announce -- and ship -- the first iTunes phone," Zander said at the time.

But Motorola had not announced any press events as of Monday afternoon. Zander said the two companies would hold a joint event to launch the phone.

Another possibility is a video-enabled iPod. On July 18, the Wall Street Journal reported that Apple had been holding talks with major music companies about selling music videos, with rumors that a video iPod could be launched as early as September.

Such an announcement was seen as a way to keep iPod sales brisk through this year's holiday season.

Apple so far has refused to comment on what it calls "industry speculation."