Apple is planning a special, invitation-only event for September 9, 2009, confirming rumors that have circulated on the Mac Web for the past couple of weeks.
Apple offered no details about the event, though the e-mail invitation displays one of Apple’s trademark silhouette figures dancing with iPod in hand. The caption reads “It’s only rock and roll, but we like it,” an homage, perhaps, to The Rolling Stones’ 1974 classic “It’s only rock ‘n’ roll.”
Since 2005, Apple has used special events timed near the beginning of September to highlight changes to its music business. In 2008, the company introduced a new iPod nano, made changes to the iPod touch and pared the iPod classic to a single offering, and introduced iTunes 8. In years before that, the company has unveiled the iPod nano, refreshed other iPod offerings and announced changes to its iTunes Store offerings at similar events.
Speculation for what Apple has up its sleeve at next month’s event run the gamut from another major revision to iTunes to a significant refresh to the iPod touch, which has become an increasingly important part of Apple’s revenue stream in recent quarters. Some pundits also want Apple to introduce its long-rumored but as-yet-unannounced tablet device. Hope springs eternal.