Apple aren't the only people announcing new products at MacWorld San Francisco. Levis are to launch a new line of denim jeans with iPod docks built-in to the pockets.

The Levis Redwire DLX Jeans incorporate a docking cradle attached to a red conductive 'ribbon' inside a specially iPod-shaped pocket, designed to make the iPod bulge virtually invisible. A small joystick is built-in to the watch pocket, with four-way controls allowing the wearer to play, pause, skip tracks forwards or backwards and adjust the volume. Once the iPod is disconnected, the jeans are machine washable.

A white leather patch and joystick, bluffed back pockets with hidden stitching, and minimalist buttons and rivets supposedly reflect the design of the iPod.

[Via Reuters]

Half the technology blogs on the web are reporting right now on Steve Jobs' keynote address at MacWorld San Francisco. This is traditionally the day of each year when Apple launches its biggest new products.

First up, his Steveness has announced the iPod sales figures for the 2005 holiday season. In 2004, it was around 4.5 million units. In 2005, Apple sold 14 million iPods over the same holiday period. That's 100 iPods every minute.

The total number of iPods sold in 2004 was 32 million - in 2005 that rose to 42 million units.

Through the year of 2005, the iTunes Music Store has sold 850 million songs worldwide. They only started selling TV shows 90 days ago, and have already broken the eight million mark.

[Via iLounge]

PC Pro is reporting the likelihood of Apple to phase out its current Shuffle lineup to concentrate on its Nano series of portable music players. According to the article, the move can come as soon as next week's MacWorld Expo in San Francisco.

The website bases its speculation on several key factors, including: "The 1GB version of the player is no longer available through the UK version of the online Apple Store and has been out of stock in the US since mid-December. The iPod shuffle was Apple's first flash-based portable music player and immediately became the number one seller. However, it has since been largely eclipsed by the iPod nano."

Strictly speaking, the Shuffle is a product that you either love or hate. With the introduction of the Nano, which has been stealing much of the thunder as far as Apple's MP3 players go, it seems reasonable that the company would want to phase out the lower-end model. Guess we'll have to wait and see if this is true.

[Via, PC Pro UK]

In an invitation only event to be held next week, it appears that Apple may be set to unviel a new iPod. Apple has used events similar to next weeks Moscone Center, San Francisco event to make major announcements. 

According to iLounge, the slogan Â?1000 songs in your pocket changed everything. Here we go again.Â?, the first part being slogan used to announce the 5gb iPod ini 2001, was part of what the invitation said.  Wednesday, September 7, at 10:00am is when we will find out what Apple has planned.  We will keep you posted.