Daily Loaf

New iPods hitorically debut in the fall, around September. This report that says Toshiba will “ramp up” production of flash memory chips during the month of August. Word on the street is that Toshiba is doing so to meet a big order from Apple. So, new iPods could be on the way.

Why such speculation? Read the rest of this entry »

With Apple CEO Steve Jobs’ announcement that he is taking a medical leave of absence until the end of June, all eyes turn to the electronics giant and its price per share. How will Wall Street react? stay tuned. And get well soon, Steve.

• Is this the end of the line for the military’s controversial policy on gay soldiers?
• America supports Obama’s economic plan, despite no one really knowing what it is.

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Apple fan-boys have been in a tizzy for months, speculating about the deteriorating health of Apple CEO/Guru Steve Jobs. Just last week, Jobs released a letter stating that he was not dying, had a treatable “hormone imbalance” and was fully capable of removing himself from power if the need be.

Today, the need be.

Drudge Lap-Dog Breitbart.com has Jobs taking a “medical leave of absence until the end of June.” If this pans out, expect Apple’s stock price to tank — big-time. Fair or not, no other company is perceived as being as dependent on its CEO as Apple.

We’ll have more details on this as they become available.

I’ve been keeping an eye on the keynote address going on right now at Apple’s Macworld conference. After a pretty uninspiring show (upgraded software, one new laptop, almost no surprises), new keynote MC Phil Schiller revealed that Apple’s iTunes Music Store is dumping the annoying copy protection scheme, Fairplay DRM. Basically, this means that when you download something from iTunes, you own it and can do whatever you want with it. No more “You can’t play this song on this computer” message. It’s about damn time, Apple.

In addition, iPhone and iPod Touch users can now download music directly to their mobile device, eliminating the need to first download songs into iTunes running on a computer. A nice, overdue feature.

Other than that, no iPhone Nano, no new Mac Mini, no updates to the iMac line. Weak sauce, Apple. Maybe Steve Jobs is dying after all.

UPDATE: Here is a full rundown of Apple’s announcements from the tech-friendly folks at Ars Technica.

Today is the keynote address at the Macworld Conference & Expo, an annual Apple-centric trade show. CEO Steve Jobs normally gives the big speech, during which he takes the wraps off Apple’s latest shiny thing (iPhone, iPod, etc.), but this year Steve is a no-show. Speculation about Jobs’ health has become so rampant that the guru/CEO published a letter yesterday explaining that he was not, in fact, dying. Get the latest on Macworld here and here, but first check out this great take on the Apple mystique (and get a first look at the revolutionary Macbook Wheel) from The Onion.

Apple Introduces Revolutionary New Laptop With No Keyboard

Much more of today’s news after the jump.

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Last day of the year. Let’s end it with one final look back at the 2008 presidential election, as seen through the all-seeing eye of YouTube. Be back in 2009!

Links after the jump.

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The Fed cuts interest rates to basically nothing and the stock market soars. Let’s hope it lasts.

• Meet the new Secretary of Education. This guys a baller.
• Consumer prices are falling at a rate not seen since 1932.
• MSNBC offers The Year in Pictures.
• Ok, who took all the acorns?
• It turns out Einstein was right after all.
• Steve Job to skip Apple’s last MacWorld.
• Now that the government crackdown is over, who wants a free airline ticket to Thailand?
• Both Manning boys make the Pro Bowl. Derrick Brooks and Clifton Smith (!) of the Bucs also headed for Hawaii.

Here’s the famed “But you can put lipstick on a pig, it’s still a pig” Obama clip from yesterday. Republicans are freaking out, saying Barack called Sarah Palin a pig. Watch the video and decide for yourself. Then decide how Orwellian you think the name of McCain’s “Truth Squad” is.

• It’s a tie.
• Dead or Alive? Kim Jong Il.
• The world’s largest particle collider is now operational.
• Silly Arabs. Why can’t you just believe what we tell you to?
• Steve Jobs is still alive and kicking. The iPod line is starting to get a little old, though.
• Al Franken wins his primary, heads for the general election.
• “Substances in marijuana show promise for fighting deadly drug-resistant bacterial infections, including so-called “superbugs,” without causing the drug’s mood-altering effects.” Bummer.
• New Rays Hero: Dan Johnson. Who?