The September 12 Paris Expo and that San Francisco event is right around the corner, and people are still guessing what new trick Steve Jobs has up his sleeve (Apple's hot new products are usually released or announced in events like this). People thought it would have been the upgunned Core 2 Duo iMacs, but they were released early. They're also placing their bets on Apple's new iTunes movie lineup, but word is that there's something else, something bigger about to be unwrapped.

A New York Times writer has one theory: a living room Mac.

Want to know more? Click "Full Article" to satisfy your curiosity.

According to Market Share, Apple Computer's Safari browser is continuing to fight it's way through the Internet browser arena, taking on the likes of Mozilla Firefox and Microsoft's Internet Explorer to rise by 46% year-over-year. Safari remains the third most popular browser with Internet Explorer topping the charts and Firefox taking second place but the statistics are much in Safari's favor.

In August 2005, Safari's market share was 2.20 percent.  In August 2006, its market share comes in at 3.21 percent.  The rise from 2.20 to 3.21 represents a year-over-year growth of 46 percent for the month of August.  In July 2006, Safari had a 3.18 percent market share and experienced a 0.94 percent increase in just one month. Of course, as you will know the Safari browser is only available on Mac OS X, leading some critics to believe that Safari's market share is directly related to an increase in Mac sales.

Of course, Mac sales have increased, particularly after the integration of Intel-chips into Macs but what critics don't take into account are those who have switched from Firefox and Internet Explorer (especially after Microsoft stopped updating IE for Macs) to Safari as the browser has improved. Whatever the reason, Safari's market share is likely to increase again as browser developers feel the full-force of the Intel Mac.

Would it be an exaggeration to say that iTunes built the legal music download world? Maybe not - after all, it has 85% of the digital music download market (which is way too much for the entertainment industry's comfort). Apple is the undisputed king of this world. And there are upstarts who want to revolt - Microsoft, Sony, SpiralFrog and a few other brave souls. But a Financial Times analyst reckons they're going to have a heck of a hard time scaling Fortress iTunes' walls.

What is the secret to the success - nay, dominance - of iTunes? The analyst chalks it up to rivals botching up their plans to compete with Apple, but more to key advantages Apple holds in the market.

• First, they've got network effects and technological lock-in on their side. People can share their iTunes-downloaded music with each other's iPods - there's the net. And Apple's digital rights management software (so far) allows this to happen - there's the tech. These two turn the iPod and iTunes into natural partners, feeding off each other's market advantages and popularity. The word for this is "synergy."

• Not one to rest on their laurels, Apple has diversified and segmented their captive market to squeeze out more profits and an even bigger share. There's the video iPod and downloadable videos from iTunes. There's the basic iPod, the Mini, the Shuffle, and the Nano. And there's all the marketing support the company has poured into the iPod, turning it into a style icon and a hot-buy item.

• And finally, perhaps the greatest advantage of all: it pays to be first, it pays to be ahead. History demonstrates that, once established, technology leaders are seldom overthrown by direct competition. No, to seize the throne, you've got to go for the jugular: the business model, the technology paradigm. In the case of Apple, the iPod-iTunes synergy.

Read on for the whole analysis on Fortress iTunes.

The news is out that the latest build of Microsoft's upcoming operating system, Vista, now works on all Intel Macs running Boot Camp v1.1. In case you haven't heard, Boot Camp allows Intel-based Mac users to run Windows on their Macs using an original copy of Windows to install.

The new build is Vista Pre-RC1 (5536) and the installation is the same as it is was with Windows XP SP2, although it is important to note that not all the drivers in Boot Camp will work under Vista at this time - including the iSight and Apple Keyboard.

Reports are out that the new build is a significant improvement over the Beta 2 that was made available some months ago. It has even been reported that the bells and whistles are supported for both the MacBook Pro and plain MacBook.

Design boo-boo over at the Microsoft Security webpage, folks!

Steve Jobs must be having a laughing fit on this by now: a PowerBook being advertised as "clean" on a Microsoft Security webpage? I couldn't help giggling. Well, we're not surprised that Microsoft proves once again that they're a cop-out.

Well, in the design industry, it's pretty much of a given standard that most companies (including Microsoft) make their creative designs on a Mac. But when Microsoft itself accidentally slips up and admits that they use their major competitor's products, you got an instant recipe for Apple fans bashing Microsoft.

Razer Pro Solutions announced its upcoming USB multimedia computer keyboard with an integrated iPod dock. The Pro|Type Multimedia Keyboard, dubbed by the  company as the world's most intelligent keyboard (after beating other keyboards in a Braniac Olympiad, we guess), will have the following features:

• 32kb of onboard memory
• Specialized keys for programs such as iTunes
• 10 programmable hot keys for storing macros and keystrokes
• Ergonomic design
• Two USB Ports
• Line-out ports for other devices

We heard Razer will release a version for MicrosoftÂ?s upcoming Zune player. But we didn't see that on the company's website  so we'll treat that as a rumor for now. Meanwhile, the very real Razer Pro Multimedia Keyboard with iPod Dock's pricing and availability is not yet available at this time.

Apple has released version 1.1 beta of their world-famous software that allows Intel-based Mac users to run Windows on their Macs. Boot Camp lets you install Windows XP without moving your Mac data, though you will need to bring your own copy to the table, as Apple Computer does not sell or support Microsoft Windows. Boot Camp will also burn a CD of all the required drivers for Windows so you don't have to scrounge around the Internet looking for them.

Boot Camp 1.1 beta includes:

• Support for the latest Intel-based Macintosh computers
• Easier partitioning using presets for popular sizes
• Ability to install Windows XP on any internal disk
• iSight camera support
• Support for built-in microphones
• Right-click when pressing the right-hand Apple key on Apple keyboards
• Improved Apple keyboard support including Delete, PrintScreen, NumLock, and ScrollLock keys

Apple advise current users yo Boot Camp to update to the latest version. You don't need to partition your hard drive again (unless you want to change its size) or reinstall your Macintosh and Windows software or documents, but it's very important to update the Boot Camp Assistant software, create a new Macintosh Drivers for Windows CD and install the updated software it contains on Windows XP.

You can find the 202 MB download over at Apple's dedicated Boot Camp site.

Unlike other previous "leaks" that turned out to be hoaxes, this one "looks" legit. But then again, it's strange because Apple just doesn't leak things.

It's called APPLE.MAC.OSX.LEOPARD.V10.5.WWDC.PREVIEW-OSX. The claim, if you believe it, is that it's build 9A241.

It hit FTP and Torrent sites. Unfortunately, getting your hands on one was (and still is) complicated by the bandwidth congestion in the rush to get a copy. And beware the presence of fake links (if you see a macosx.10.5.prerelease.dmg on Torrent, you can bet your bottom dollar it's a fake).

We're not too sure that this build is enough to go nuts about. For one thing, it's nothing new. Sources say the 9A241 was the same one installed at the WWDC. If that's true, it's not like nobody's ever seen this before. If it's not the 9A241, it still won't be the final build.

Who wants this build? Maybe you want to download and "hack" into this build to get some street cred. Personally, what would really impress me is to find out about somebody managing to hack this and get it working on the next-gen consoles; PSP Leopard or Xbox 360 Leopard sounds fun. Also, in my own humble way, I still wonder if this is a hoax. But if it's the real thing, can somebody rip the applications because I don't need the whole OS just yet (ha ha ha).

And while we're on a roll throwing around unwanted opinions, here's a question for you guys:

What do you think of all this talk about how Microsoft is going to hack into this build and "steal all the good ideas?" I mean, OS X versions have already been on the market for a long time, and there hasn't been a Windows OS out that imitated or emulated them. Probably because it's a bad marketing move for Microsoft if they are seen as "following" or "trying to be" Apple. So whenever we see "Windows is going to steal this OS" on the forums, our first reaction would be "this is a bunch of X-Files fans with nothing better to talk about except corporate espionage." But you see, some of us here are X-Files fans, and we fantasize about seeing a game called "Splinter Cell 3: Apple OS Espionage" (ha ha).

The technical evangelist is at it again, and this time, he's giving us what may be a taste of some prime Apple goodness.

Robert Scoble has been an outspoken blogger on many issues, apparently playing both sides of the Microsoft-Apple rivalry with words of praise for and criticism of both sides, even during his tenure as Microsoft's tech evangelist.

On his Scobleizer blog, he hints at the possibility of Apple releasing either a Media Center or a Tablet PC... perhaps even both.

I believe Vista DOES make our computing lives easier. The desktop search features are a huge advance. The multimedia capabilities are WORLDS ahead of anything else IÂ?ve used. And the Tablet PC, Speech Recognition, and Media Center stuff thatÂ?s in there is WORLDS ahead of Apple. Although watch Apple in a week. Hint hint.

Does this mean we'll be hearing of a Tablet PC or a Media Center? Maybe.

Next week or, more specifically, perhaps even this week is when we really find out if there's truth behind Scoble's words.

Business Week reported that Apple's brand value went up by 14% last year raising its position in the magazine's Best Global Brand Survey from No. 39th to 41.  According to Business Week, the company continues to be "the style master with its expanded family of iPods and Macs. Its latest hit: the MacBook line of laptops."  Apple's brand equity is currently valued at $9.13 billion.

The annual BusinessWeek/Interbrand rankings measure an elusive but crucial quality known as brand value. This year's list includes Coca-Cola (No.1), Microsoft (No.2) and IBM (No.3). Other brands that made the cut are Motorola, Hyundai, Google, and McDonald's.