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*The iPod is ripe for an update. We expect to wait at least a couple of weeks before this happens, but the truth is, it could come at any moment. We aren't expecting any major feature updates, just price cuts, bigger hard disks, and perhaps a new accessory or two. Supplies of 5GB and even 10GB iPods are nearly non-existent at retail, and even Apple Store employees are confidentially telling Rumors that they are being told to expect an update Really Soon Now.
*According to Apple sources, nVIDIA's GeForceFX (NV30) graphics cards will be available in PowerMacs starting in April, if all goes according to plan. Apple will be among the first to offer the card - although by that time, ATi's Radeon 9700 Pro will have been on the market for some time and as it offers similar performance in leading-edge new games like Doom 3, questions have been raised as to how strong demand for the accelerator will be. No doubt, nVIDIA will adjust its pricing and possible improvement options over the existing NV30 architecture to be competitive.
*Apple has had prototype wireless keyboards and mice for quite a while now, but has withheld them for cost issues and a few persistent technical problems. The technical problems were finally cleared up recently, and Apple is now only waiting for the time to be right to leverage the development of these new wireless input devices at a reasonable price point. It could be made an option, but Apple would much rather make these standard on all new iMacs and PowerMacs....and at present, we expect this to happen either this summer or early next year.
*1.4GHz G4 upgrades (single and dual processor, for machines that support them) are on the way, with the major upgrade developers having received a few sample chips recently and expecting sufficient quantities to ship products within about 6-8 weeks.
*And what the heck is up with AppleWorks, anyway? Many readers have pointed out that is has barely been updated at all since its porting to OS X. Apple is hard at work on a major new release, but is attempting to hold back actually shipping the product until it is clearer what Microsoft is going to do with its next release of Office for OS X. Until Microsoft has released that new version and it has been on the market for at least a few months, AppleWorks must not be serious competition for Office or Microsoft could pull the plug. Nonetheless, we expect at least some of the new features Apple is working on to be included in a new release this summer, as part of an updated iLife package. More details soon.