According to sources, Apple are going to take advantage of their media event on September 12th to introduce two new iPods and a new iMac. The new iPods includes the second-generation of the popular mini MP3 player that goes by the name of the iPod Nano and its bigger brother, the updated fifth-generation iPod. Apparently, additional members of the media will be invited to attend the September 12th event during this week.

Th event will be big, as Apple has gone through lots of trouble to get worldwide media attention. The event will be held near Apple's Cupterino, Calif. headquarters and will be carried by a private satellite feed to a central London location for members of the European press. The items revealed on the day are expected to be on show at the Apple Expo Paris - which also kicks off on September 12.

The new nano will sport increased capacities and be available in multiple colors with a metal finish. The upgraded iPod, meanwhile, is expected to sport increased capacities at the same price points. As far as the iMac goes, expect to see faster Core 2 Duo processors inside and the addition of a new, high-end 23-inch model which we are interested in. Stay tuned to QJ on September 12th for updates.

Jason Bunch was merrily mowing the lawn while plugged to his iPod when a bolt of lightning put an end to his chores. Thankfully, he survived although we think the iPod had worse luck. Anyway, instead of blaming Zeus the dead iPod got the flak for the incident. Not a few thought it was merely an open casting call for lawyers. But now doctors in London issued a warning against listening to an iPod (or using a cell phone) during a thunderstorm.

The doctors didn't explain why iPods and other electronic devices could accidentally put its owner on deathrow. Must be the metal? Well, Jason was listening to heavy-metal rock group Metallica. Until somebody comes up with an iPod (or iPod Killer) that does not attract lightning, we'll follow doctor's orders for now.

It seems that a new kind of hate crime is hitting various metropolis nowadays. The crime? podRage. The victims? iPod users. Just recently, we reported about a teen who was convicted because of an iPod related killing, now lawyers for other podRage victims want to sue not only those responsible for these senseless crimes, but also the top Apple honcho himself - Mr. Steve Jobs.

Gary Tugai of the London lawfirm Tugai Zanner Dogg, says that his client has not been able to work because he was traumatized. In his own words, Mr. Tugai said that his client - John Speakman, "was sitting quietly on a 341 bus, listening to his iPod, when he was attacked without provocation. He had the ear buds ripped from his head, and his iPod thrown from the moving bus. Not only was that a danger to passers by, but Mr Speakman was in the middle of The Fugees moving rendition of Roberta Flack's 'Killing Me Softly', and his inability to finish the track was most distressing." I don't know about you, but if ever that happens to me, I won't care about the song, I'd run for my life.

Although the attacker remains unknown and is still roaming freely up to now, witnesses said that the assailant was becoming increasingly agitated by the noise coming from Mr. Speakman's ear buds. According to the witnesses, they overheard the suspect saying that it was unfair that the whole bus should have to listen to Mr. Speakman's choice of music.

And here is where Steve Jobs could be prosecuted according to Mr. Tugai. "The design of the iPod earphones is clearly defective - It is perfectly possible to design earphones that do not emit ambient noise, and there are some aftermarket brands that do this - Instead, Apple and Mr Jobs have recklessly endangered my client by marketing a product that, when used normally, is a menace to other people." You're suing Mr. Jobs? Lots of luck to you. You're going to need it.

Apple created a sort of a trend with their very popular iPod. Everywhere you go, almost everybody seem to be touting Apple's white music player. This has even given a competition reason to throw a "like lambs" moniker to all iPod users. But just how well do you know the iPod - enough for you to spot where it is in the illustration above?

Denise Wilton, a London-based graphic designer and illustrator, challenges you to "find an iPod" in this work that was made for British Airways' in-flight magazine High Life. It took me 30-seconds to find the iPod. How about you, "Can you find an iPod?"

According to VNUNet, London department store Selfridge, in an apparent move to benefit from the inability of some to understand their ever-confusing electronics devices is now advertising a course in iPods.

iPods 101 will show customers how to make full use of their new toys, with employees working directly with them to show them how to transfer music to their iPods, rip music to iTunes and all the other wonderful things you can do with an iPod.

At just a little below the cost of an iPod Shuffle, VNUNet said the service has confused several potential customers who can just walk down the street to visit the local Apple Store and get the information free of charge. Makes sense. Kind of like how buying one of those lessons from a Geek Squad member might be when other stores offer it for free, though I've never heard anyone stateside complain about that.

[Via, VNUNet]

Midstates are a Chicago-based band, describing themselves as avant-space rock. I'd put them down more as indie-prog or some such, but that's neither here nor there. What's interesting is their claim to be the first act to replace band members with an iPod Video for both their musical performance, and a visual one.

Midstates were invited to play support on a fairly major tour, but their keyboard player, guitarist and drummer couldn't make the dates. Rather than turn down the tour, they decided to record audio tracks for the keyboard and guitar parts and to video their drummer in the studio. Mixing it all down into single-song video files on the singer's iPod Video, off they went on tour (with a lot more space in the van than they were used to). At each venue, Midstates hooked up the iPod's audio output to the amps and it's video output to a projector - the audience could hear the full band and see the drummer as though he was playing live via hi-tech satellite link. The two 'real' members of the band could cue up any track they liked on the iPod and play along.

Whilst the projected video drummer is a fantastic idea, there's nothing new about using an iPod for your live backing tracks. London's iDou have been doing this with an iPod Shuffle for ages. The two of them turn up onstage with a bass and a guitar respectively, and an iPod Shuffle loaded up with drum tracks, keyboards and samples hanging from the mic stand. They set it to shuffle mode, press play, and try to keep up with whatever songs come around until they run out of time. Great fun. Fully embracing the digital music revolution, their debut gig back in May of last year is available as a podcast here.

Yeah, so Steve didn't introduce any new versions of the iPod, bummer, right? Well, it's not so bad, it actually gives us all time to sample from the many accessories that are becoming available for the popular line of Apple products.

According to the Washington Post, the focus of attention of many of the Macworld showgoers were the accessories. Third party companies seeking to get a piece of the billion-dollar pie that iPod accessories has become are scurrying to introduce new products to get the attention of consumers everywhere.

According to the Post:

On display were aisles of new accessories for the world's favorite digital music player, including devices for piping music and videos to home theater systems, and fabrics that let users control the iPod by pressing soft buttons sewn into jacket sleeves and backpack straps.

London-based Eleksen Ltd. showed off its touch-sensitive iPod controls now woven into jackets manufactured by O'Neill, Kenpo and Koyono. The user hooks the iPod up to the jacket and controls the play, pause and volume controls from the sleeve. The Kenpo jacket sells at Macy's for $275.