Briefly: Hynix, video sales, SLVR with iTunes, software

Apple's recently publicized flash memory deal with Hynix isn't the first time the two companies have entered into a strategic partnership, tipsters say. Prior to nailing down the terms of a deal where Hynix will supply Apple with NAND flash memory for its iPod digital music players, Apple tapped the memory maker to supply DDR2 SO-DIMMs for its recently refreshed line of PowerBook G4 laptops.

Yesterday Apple announced that it had reached long-term supply agreements with Hynix, Intel, Micron, Samsung Electronics and Toshiba to secure the supply of NAND flash memory through 2010. As part of the agreements, Apple will reportedly prepay $250M to each company for a total initial investment of $1.25B.

Lost outselling Desperate Housewives

In the weeks following Apple's October 31st announcement that it sold more than one million videos through its iTunes Music Store in less than 20 days, various reports have offered some color on which video clips are the most popular.

Earlier this month, Pixar Animation Studios announced that it sold 125,000 short movie clips through iTunes in just under one month. At the time, iTunes was offering six short Pixar films. However, Pixar recently increased its short film selection to seven with the addition of "Knick Knack."

Meanwhile, the ABC TV series "Lost" is outselling "Desperate Housewives" by a two-to-one ratio according to comments made Bernard Gershon, SVP and GM of ABC News Digital Media Group, during at New York University's recent Future of Television Conference.

Motorola SLVR with iTunes in UK

It appears that the previously rumored Motorola SLVR L7 handset with iTunes integration is available for order in the UK. Although the phone has yet to surface elsewhere, tipsters note that UK's Vodafone is currently listed as the exclusive carrier for this phone.

"Ultra-thin, ultra-stylish and ultra-cool, and only available at Vodafone," reads a description on the wireless carrier's Web site. "With video messaging, high quality camera and MP3 player, order yours now before its too late."

Last week's rumored announcement

Rumblings that Apple last week was preparing to make some form of announcement were slightly misguided. Sources now report that "the announcement" was simply the arrival of Mac OS X 10.4.3 retail boxes at Apple retail stores and authorized reseller outlets.

During the remainder of the year, Apple is expected to make very few announcements, the majority of which will pertain to software. Mac OS X 10.4.4 appears to be on track for a release prior to the New Year and Aperture will see an official release on November 30th, according to a MacRumors report.