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The Internet is buzzing with speculation sparked by enigmatic Apple event invitations bearing an image of a silhouetted iPod-wearing figure dancing above the words "The beat goes on".

"It's an iPod refresh," principal analyst Rob Enderle of Enderle Group in Silicon Valley told AFP. "That is what the buzz is."

Apple's iPod has become the most popular MP3 audio player in the world since its debut in 2001. Its most recent addition to the iPod line is the matchbook-size Shuffle introduced a year ago.

The full-size iPod has not been updated since a video-playing "fifth-generation" was introduced in October of 2005.

A recent Apple earnings report shows an unprecedented year-over-year ebbing of iPod revenue growth as customers opt for cheaper models in the line.

 

"The iPod line is in desperate need of an update," Enderle said.

Apple watchers theorise the California company is poised to reveal iPhone-inspired improvements, such as enhanced wireless capabilities and a large-screen iPod for better video viewing.

A challenge facing Apple is that consumers are likely to expect iPods that mirror the innovations in the new iPhone, which the firm began selling in the United States in June, Enderle said.

"People will be expecting iPhone-level quality," Enderle said. "There is a real good possibility that people will be disappointed."

Making an iPod model that amounts to an iPhone without mobile telephone capability would result in a daunting price tag, according to Enderle.

The US$599 (Bt20,500) price of an iPhone is at a discount due to a $200 subsidy from telecom giant AT&T, which is the sole mobile-telephone service provider for the devices.

"If you take out the subsidy, an iPhone is an $800-dollar device," Enderle said.

The timing of Apple's event could be to buff its image in the wake of fallouts with Hollywood and music studios that want more money for content sold on the iTunes online music store paired exclusively with iPods, said analyst Mike McGuire of Gartner Research.

Analysts agree that whatever Apple's chief executive Steve Jobs has in store for Wednesday, all eyes will be on Cupertino, where the company has its headquarters.

"Apple generates more news just saying it's going to make an announcement than other companies do with their announcements," said Jupiter Research analyst Michael Gartenberg, who declined to speculate on the event.

Story/photo  AFP

Vocabulary

to unveil, v: to make known or to show something that was previously hidden

to revamp, v: to reorganise and improve something

to be buzzing, v: to be full of excited gossip and talk

enigmatic, adj: unable to be understood clearly or easily; puzzling; confusing

silhouette, n: outline; no details are visible

to ebb, v: to slowly get smaller; to recede; to fade away

poised, adj: ready to do something at any moment

to mirror, v: to copy; to follow; to behave or look like something else

to buff, v: to make something look better; to make shiny

fallout, n: quarrel; disagreement

Questions

1. What makes people believe Apple's announcement will be about the iPod?

a. Apple has run out of ideas.

b. It is their only good product.

c. the picture on the invitations

d. remarks made by the founder

2. When were iPods introduced?

a. 1998

b. 2001

c. 2005

d. 2007

3. What was the last iPod update?

a. It can play music.

b. It can play videos.

c. It is GMS-enabled.

d. It can take pictures.

4. Why is the iPod "in desperate need of an update"?

a. The batteries are running low.

b. The colours are out of fashion.

c. It is getting less and less popular.

d. Everybody has at least one already.

5. Why does AT&T subsidise iPhones?

a. AT&T owns Apple.

b. to support new technology

c. It is a joint development project.

d. They can only be used with their service.

Synonyms

Which of the following words or phrases replace the ones from the passage best?

1. speculation

a. news

b. guess

c. information

d. announcement

2. spark

a. deny

b. trigger

c. support

d. contradict

3. debut

a. recall

b. launch

c. invention

d. manufacture

4. daunt

a. tease

b. impress

c. promote

d. discourage

5. sole

a. only

b. choice

c. correct

d. favourite

Answers

Questions   1. c, 2. b, 3. b, 4. c, 5. d

Synonyms   1. b, 2. b, 3. b, 4. d 5. a

By Ajarn Horst Baelz