Tuesday, April 04, 2006, 07:00 pm

Retailer fans Bluetooth iPod rumors

By Prince McLean

A UK retailer in contact with Stuff Magazine has thrown its weight behind recent wireless iPod rumors, saying Apple Computer is adding the finishing touches to a new iPod with Bluetooth capabilities.

"Rumours of a iPod with the wireless tech built-in reached fever pitch in February 2005, but it looks like the jukebox is finally ready to appear in the Apple store, along with a deluge of accessories" the report says. It does not identify the retailer which made the comments, but it is true that Apple sometimes offers privileged information to some of its largest resellers ahead of major product launches.

Recently, American Technology Research analyst Shaw Wu sent a research note to clients, in which he said "a new widescreen vPod with Bluetooth headphones could be ready as early as the June quarter." Apple began its June quarter earlier this month. It runs three months through June.

Still, analyst reports are not the only sign that iPod refreshes may be on the way.

Two weeks ago an overseas publication reported that Quanta Computer had won a contract from Apple to manufacture new "video iPod devices." The publication, which did not cite sources, said Quanta would begin delivering the iPods this month.

And just last week, a couple of big-box retailers, including Amazon.com, began selling all of the company's iPod digital music players at costs below Apple's suggested retail price.

In the same research note, Wu further stated that slowing iPod nano sales may force the company to release refreshed nanos as well, likely with increased storage capacities.

Of interest, the Stuff Magazine article also makes references to this Apple patent filing that appears to show the company is also working on a Bluetooth picture frame.

Rumors of a wireless Apple picture frame have swirled amongst insiders ever since it was reported that Apple planned to extend its foray into the consumer electronics market. One insider has referred to the project by the code-name "lunchbox," but at the time offered few other details.