Retailer ads, supplies point to new iPods on Tuesday
updated 12:45 pm EDT, Mon September 11, 2006
Retailers Suggest New IPod
As Apple's September 12 "Showtime" event looms, actions by retailers are suggesting updates to the California company's iPod line. Reports surfaced on the weekend that retailers such as Best Buy, Circuit City, and Target did not advertise iPods in their flyers for the coming week - a highly unusual act for companies that regularly sell the digital audio players. Preliminary investigations in these same reports indicate that iPod supplies at one or more retailers are low or non-existent, and that the American online Apple Store is selling refurbished 30GB iPods for the same $199 price as 20GB fourth-generation models. Additionally, online movie store 4Flix.net briefly published a press release claiming that its unrestricted Free*Pass subscription service would be available for a 6th-generation, 16:9 widescreen iPod. This release was later edited to remove mention of the product. Such changes in Apple product distribution and marketing have historically foreshadowed new releases.
