“Apple Computer sent out invitations Tuesday to an event next week in San Francisco with the clue ‘It’s Showtime’ — fueling speculation about its plans to distribute movies online,” Michelle Quinn reports for The Mercury News.

“One rumor has Apple Computer announcing it will begin to sell full-length movies that can be downloaded at its iTunes store,” Quinn reports. “Another predicts the Cupertino company will start to sell video iPods with bigger screens. Or maybe it will be an iTunes cell phone. Still another has the company selling a video streaming device that could put video on any screen in the home, including the television.”

Quinn reports, “They all might be true. What seems certain is that Tuesday in San Francisco, Steve Jobs, Apple’s chief executive, will don his trademark black turtleneck shirt and jeans, take the stage at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theatre and unveil new products and services, striving to cast an iPod spell on the Christmas shopping season.”

Quinn reports, “The invitation itself contains a few big hints. Spotlights scan the sky on a black, gray and white background, illuminating the Apple logo in the center. “It’s Showtime” may be the biggest clue and one that has led Apple aficionados to wide speculation. ‘The word ‘showtime’ may mean Apple is going to go more into long-form video, perhaps motion pictures,’ said Michael Gartenberg, vice president and research director at Jupiter Research in New York. ‘Whether it’s a rental or subscription model or on what devices, I can’t say. With Steve Jobs, it can always be one more thing as well.’”

“But ‘It’s Showtime’ could just refer to the show that Jobs will put on. Not everyone believes the announcement is only going to be about movies. ‘It’s been a year since we’ve seen new iPods,’ said Larry Angell, senior editor at iLounge… ‘Apple’s not going to let last year’s models sit on shelves for the second straight holiday shopping season. The only question is whether Apple has a radically new iPod ready or if we’ll see more minor revisions.’ But Angell said it is possible the company will introduce a ‘home media product,’ something that will make it possible to download music, movies and TV shows into the living room,” Quinn reports.

Full article here.
After clearing the decks with today’s iMac and Mac mini announcements, Apple must feel they have some really big news – that they don’t want to be muddled in any way – planned for next Tuesday’s special media event.

Related articles:
Report: Apple to unveil movie service with full-length Disney features on September 12th – September 06, 2006
It’s Showtime: Apple invites media to special event in San Francisco on September 12th – September 05, 2006
Analyst: Apple ‘iPhone’ finally ready for production – September 05, 2006
RUMOR: Apple plans blockbuster product announcements next Tuesday – September 04, 2006
RUMOR: Apple to launch iMac Core 2 Duo, movie store, new iPods on September 12th – September 04, 2006