Apple to launch cube-shaped iMac

The industry is buzzing with rumours that Apple is to launch a new cube-shaped iMac computer at the opening of its Macworld trade show in New York today.

Apple is expected to unveil the new iMacs because the range has not been upgraded since last October, and sources say the company has been pushing retailers to clear out older models. Mac fans are also hoping that Apple will hand out a public beta version of its forthcoming OS X operating system.

Gillian Munson, an analyst at financial house Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, said: "We continue to gain evidence from the channel that Apple is likely to embark on a new product refresh. This is a similar pattern to what we saw in the Apple channel prior to [its] last big product release, the colour iMacs."

There is also speculation that Apple will announce technical upgrades to its iMac and PowerMac lines at the show.

Meanwhile, graphics accelerator company ATI Technologies said it will officially unveil Mac support for its new Radeon processor, and promised a "surprise announcement" with Apple today. Apple is expected to introduce three new Macs with ATI graphics hardware on board.

ATI rival 3dfx is also expected to show a host of Mac programs running on its Voodoo4 and Voodoo5 boards at the show.

Separately, Apple announced a drop in profit in its fiscal third quarter results. Net income for the period ended 1 July fell just over one per cent to $200m, or 55 cents per share, compared with $203m, or 60 cents per share, last year. Revenue increased 17 per cent to $1.83bn. The figures include a $37m post-tax gain from the sale of its ARM Holdings shares.

See also:

3dfx Voodoo5 5500

Will 3dfx's VoodooMac graphics card cast a spell over Mac users?  10 Sep 2000

Apple announces MacOS X beta

Apple has promised it will release a public beta version of its delayed MacOS X operating system on 13 September.  30 Aug 2000

ATI Radeon 64MB DDR

ATI's new graphics card performs at extreme speeds at high resolution 32bit colour and textures. Watch out Nvidia.  21 Aug 2000

Apple OS X will not be ripe until next year

Apple has delayed its next generation operating system (OS), Mac OS X, until January 2001, but has unveiled a new beta version of the operating system to pacify developers before the official launch.  31 May 2000

Apple's iMac wins style wars

Style is the most important factor for PC consumers and Apple's iMac range is the coolest of them all, according to researcher IDC.  19 May 2000

Apple delays next operating system

Apple has delayed its next-generation operating system, Mac OS X, until January 2001 and cut the price of its web applications software by a whopping 99 per cent.  16 May 2000

Apple battles iMac clones.

Apple faces new court battles - over machines by rival companies bearing an uncanny similarity to its best-selling iMac.  25 Apr 2000

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