Latest Apple Product Upgrades Set the Stage for Something Bigger?

     Apple introduced a 16GB iPhone and a 32GB iPod Touch on Tuesday, both retailing for $499. The iPod Touch memory upgrade wasn’t a total surprise ( Remember that my sources had revealed earlier that Apple is concerned with flash memory supplies in 2008 ) but it did come just 5 months after its introduction last September. I had also expected the 16GB iPhone introduction at Macworld 2008 three weeks ago and again memory supply concerns may have played a role in keeping it out of the keynote address. The updates, however, were made quietly without the usual fanfare surrounding Apple products and that leads me to believe that something bigger meriting a press invite may be in the works. That ’something’ may have to do with the touch platform Software Development Kit ( SDK ) set for release in late February. Interestingly enough, Intel is also due to officially introduce Silverthorne, its small processor optimized for mobile devices, this week. We also have heard from Banc of America analyst Scott Craig that Apple has cut back iPod orders perhaps in anticipation of a new model that may create lower demand for its exiting ones. The remaining 3 Tuesdays in February will be interesting to watch.

D.S.