It seems that neither the Zune nor the Universal Music Group royalty fee deal won't stop Apple from coming up with more additions to its already big iPod family. There are murmurs being passed around that the Cupertino, California company is planning on introducing three new iPod models during the 2007 calendar year.

The first of the alleged new iPods is said to be a video-centric model that is a speculated replacement for the fifth generation iPod. The details for the two other models are still swimming on murky waters and could not yet be fished. But we suggest that you don't lose some sleep waiting for the rumored video-centric iPod, it's gonna take a while for it to be announced.

Why is that? Sources said that top Apple honcho, Steve Jobs is still unwilling to commit to the marketing and other necessary actions needed to bring it to the market as he still wants to assess reactions to their new iTunes movie service and their iTV set-top box.

Hopefully, we would be able to fish more info about Apple's plans when the annual Macworld gathering takes place on January. Until then, speculations and rumors are all we have.

There are a lot of developments inside Apple camp this days. It could be because of the upcoming MacWorld Expo. Or it could be that it is just that: a lot of developments strangely close in occurrence to one another.

A few days ago, we reported on how Apple nailed a critical digital download patent while having a hard time reaching an agreement with Universal Music Group. Of course, there's always the senseless banters with other industry players not quite impressed with them.

This time, we have another development for you: the giant computer company just acquired Proximity, a leading provider of creative media asset management and production workflow software. Accordingly, Proximity's artbox workbook and artbox enterprise will be combined with Apple's Final Cut Pro and Xsan. If things work out perfectly, this will then lead to an efficient video production workflow solution for consumers.

With regards to Proximity's current consumers, the company assured that Apple will soon contact them to provide details about their specific agreements and support requirements.

Universal Music Group is hoping to strike a deal with Apple wherein the music company will seek a royalty fee for every iPod sold. That's yesterday's news alright, so the question is would Apple jump at the prospect of giving Universal a piece of the iPod  financial windfall?

ITWire's Stan Beer's opinion: Not likely. We know full well that iPod is the MP3 market leader and Zune is, well, let's just say a new fish who got lost in the iPod sea. Having said that, it's highly unlikely that Apple would see the benefit of sharing the company wealth to Universal.

Universal got Microsoft to sign the deal because it seriously thinks that in doing so, it would succeed in driving "a wedge between the music industry and Apple".  We're not discounting the possibility that it will work, but Microsoft has to successfully get a significant market share in the legal music download department. The way things are, it's going to be an uphill climb for Microsoft and Zune.

We tend to agree with Beer when he said this: "The clear message for Doug Morris and Universal is that their best bet of getting a piece of the action on iPod sales is to buy some Apple shares."

Vivendi-owned Universal Music Group is at again. After striking a deal with Microsoft where Universal gets a fee for every Zune sold, Chief Executive Doug Morris is on a mission to make a similar agreement with Apple and its iPod.

Morris said, "It would be a nice idea. We have a negotiation coming up not too far. I don't see why we wouldn't do that...but maybe not in the same way."

Though no figures were disclosed, the Microsoft deal must have given Universal's revenues a boost, prompting the company to push for a royalty deal with Apple. If the agreement pushes through, it wouldn't be surprising if other music companies follow suit. It's very possible as music companies are finding ways to increase revenues while competing with the insanely popular pastime: music downloading.

It seems that the first special edition U2 iPod did well enough to have a part 2. JApple today introduced the new iPod U2 Special Edition as part of a continued partnership between Apple, U2 and Universal Music Group (UMG).

The new U2 iPod is based on the fifth generation 30GB iPod and holds up to 7,500 songs, 25,000 photos or over 75 hours of video and features a distinctive, all-black stainless steel enclosure, red Click Wheel and custom-engraving of U2 band member signatures.

U2 iPod customers will also receive 30 minutes of exclusive U2 video downloadable from the iTunes® Music Store. The new U2 iPod is available immediately for $329.

The new U2 iPod features AppleÂ?s patent pending Auto-Sync technology that automatically downloads digital music, podcasts, photos, audiobooks, home movies, music videos and popular television shows onto the iPod.

It will also keep its future users up-to-date whenever the iPod is plugged into a Mac or Windows computer using USB 2.0. The new U2 iPod features up to 14 hours of battery life for music playback.