Apple has e-mailed invitations to reporters for a special event, prompting speculation on the internet that the company would unveil a long-rumored iPod that can display videos.
The invitation from Apple, which is notoriously tight-lipped about its future products, said simply: "One more thing..."
Apple (AAPL) chief exec Steve Jobs has, in recent years at conferences and events, saved the largest products that most delight the Apple faithful toward the end of his keynote speech, prefacing the announcement with the phrase, "Oh, and one more thing" or a variant.
Apple enthusiast websites, including AppleInsider, speculated that the Oct. 12 announcement could well be a video iPod that has long been rumored.
Many analysts have said Apple is all but certain to introduce a version of the No. 1 digital music player that can also play video. Most models of the current iPods, in addition to playing music, can also display photos and perform other functions with accessories that are sold separately.
"Apple Computer has begun production of a new version of its iPod digital music player that will be capable of playing videos, AppleInsider has learned," according to a post on the AppleInsider website. "Sources who claim to have seen the new iPod describe it as being similar to Apple's 60-GB iPod photo player, but several millimeters thinner."
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Philly to be wire-free: Internet service provider EarthLink plans to build a citywide wireless network for Philadelphia to provide residents and businesses with internet access.
EarthLink (ELNK) will spend about $10 million to $14 million to build the network that will include equipment from Motorola (MOT) and privately held Tropos Networks.
Philadelphia plans to offer free internet access in public spaces such as parks, covering about 10 percent of the city, but outside of these areas, monthly subscriptions will cost from $10 to $20.
Up to 30 percent of Philadelphia's 560,000 households, or 1.5 million people, may qualify for the cheaper rate of $10, with others being charged $20 a month. EarthLink said the network, which will cover 135 square miles, will be the biggest municipal wireless project in the country when it is completed about a year from now.
It will also manage the network and is expected to recoup the costs by charging other Web services wholesale rates to offer services using its network, according to Neff, who said EarthLink would share some revenue with the city.
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Yahoo up in your 'hood: Yahoo has acquired Upcoming.org, an online event planning site that's expected to infuse the internet powerhouse with more content about local communities.
Yahoo (YHOO) confirmed the deal without disclosing financial terms of the acquisition.
Upcoming acts as a social calendar that depends on its users to post free listings about a wide range of upcoming events, from local rock concerts to picnics in the park.
The site, founded by Andy Baio, provides tools that enable users to share observations about the events and identify common areas of interests.
Yahoo plans to keep Upcoming's current website separate, but eventually will incorporate much of the content into its own site to bolster its local search capabilities.
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Rings and halos: The Oscar-winning creative team behind the The Lord of the Rings films, including director Peter Jackson, has been named to run the production of the upcoming film based on Microsoft's (MSFT) blockbuster Halo video game.
Jackson and his wife, Fran Walsh, will serve as the executive producers for Halo, which is targeted for worldwide release in mid-2007 by Universal Pictures and Twentieth Century Fox film studios.
Universal will oversee the film's production and domestic distribution. Fox will handle international distribution.
The Halo movie will be shot in Wellington, New Zealand, and will use Jackson's production and post-production facilities there.
Screenwriter and novelist Alex Garland wrote the original feature film adaptation of Halo. A director will be named in coming weeks, and the cast has yet to be announced.
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Compiled by Keith Axline. AP and Reuters contributed to this report.
