Apple's shares (AAPL) closed today at $76.90 which is the highest stock value on Apple's financial history, while the stock reached a day high of $77.89. Apple's market capitalisation is now more than $31 billion. As comparison, it was less than $4 billion a few years ago and now it is half the capitalisation of HP (HPQ).

Apple has just released new, speed-bumped Powerbooks. The following confugurations are available:

A processor speed-bump across the line is the major improvement. All models include Airport Extreme and Bluetooth 2.0, scrolling trackpad capability and Sudden Motion Sensor (SMS) technology in standard configurations.

Apple has closed its European Apple Store web sites (UK, France, Germany, Italy,...). The usual page with the yellow "We'll be back soon" post-it has appears on the "Store" section of each site.

At least new Powerbooks are expected to come today.

Apple has posted an update for its consumer video editing application, iMovie HD, part of the iLife suite. The new version, numbered 5.0.1 fixes synchronization problems and other minor bugs.

The update is available for download through the Software Update utility.

According The Register, readers could see a reference to "PowerBook G5" on Apple web site's PowerBook product page. A portion of the source code of the page was referring to the following url:

Apple has announced on Monday that it has reached a total of 250 million songs sold worldwide on the iTunes Music Store. The company is now selling more than 1 million songs everyday and hopes

Exactly 21 years ago, on January the 24th 1984, Apple unveiled the Macintosh. Surprisingly, Apple does not make any celebration or mention on its site about this.

A reliable source has informed macosXrumors that Apple may be preparing to release new Powerbooks as well as new eMacs next Tuesday.

The first signs of success for the Mac mini already appear on the web this week, as Amazon and AppleStore web sites show good ranks for the new Mac.

According to MacMinute, orders of Mac mini, iWork and iLife are starting to arrive since yesterday. Readers of the site have reported that they had already received their orders.

According to MacBidouille, European sources indicate that the current Powerbook line has been declared end of life this week.

Apple has seeded a new build of Tiger this week to a limited number of developers. This build is numbered 8A351 and mainly brings improvements to the Spotlight feature.

As we couldn't update regularly this week, here is a summary of the most important events in the Mac world since the beginning of this week

MacRumors notes that three domain names have been recently enabled: macmini.net, ipod-shuffle.com and ipodmini.com. Each of the domains have a similar page to Apple's product pages related respectively to the Mac mini, the iPod shuffle and the iPod mini.

Although MacRumors surprisingly did not analyse the facts of the posting

In addition of some interesting figures about the production of the, iPod shuffle and the Mac mini, Digitimes reveals today that Apple has already passed an order to one of its main manufacturers in Taiwan, Quanta Computer, for 50 000/month PowerBook G5 units. Moreover, Asustek will manufacture an undetermined number of iBook G5 laptops.

The Harvard Crimson reveals the identity of ThinkSecret's author who, until today, was known only from his nick name, Nick dePlume.

Today, Apple computer announced its financial results for the first quarter of 2005. Apple had revenues of $3.49 billion which represents a 74% increase over last year ($2 billion).

Two days ago we mentioned information from a source who claimed Apple would introduce iTunes Music Store in Australia this week, pointing out this invitation from Apple's Australian web site. In a ZNET Australia article, Music analyst Phil Tripp, denies the rumours that Apple plans to launch its iTunes Music Storein Australia this week:

In addition to the live transcription of the keynote we provided yesterday on MacScoop, here is a recap of today's MacWorld keynote with all the important announcements and new product releases :

Apple has posted the new TV commercial featuring the iPod shuffle, that was released yesterday, on its web site. The ad is available in 3 versions : small, medium and large.

Apple's stock price (AAPL) has closed down -6.38%, today, at $64.56, after Apple makes several product announcements during the MacWorld Expo opening keynote. The stock went up 1.46% in after hours, reaching $65.50. However, according to MacObserver, analysts liked the announcements Apple has made today.

A minor update for iTunes has been made available by Apple though the Software Update utility. This update brings iTunes to version 4.7.1 which now supports the new iPod shuffle and improves performance.

Apple has made available, on its web site, the webcast of Steve Jobs' MacWorld Expo opening Keynote.

Today we have provided a live coverage of MacWorld Expo opening keynote at MacScoop.com. While a full report is coming soon, here is the full live transcription:

Here we are, day-1 to MacWorld Expo - Steve Jobs' keynote. Among all the information we could gather about possible MacWorld announcements, the following are the announcements that we believe could be made during the keynote:

MacRumors brings some confirmation on recent rumours by highlighting two new trademarks that have appeared on the US Patents and Trademarks Office. Guess what? The first is "Pages" and the second is "Shuffle"!

A source informed macosXrumors that, in contrary to what some sites have speculated, Adobe will not make any announcements during MacWorld Expo this week. At least no announcements related to its forthcoming Adobe Creative Suite 2.0.

In an article, posted some minutes ago, ThinkSecret confirms, once again, that Apple will release speed-bumped PowerBooks tomorrow, during the MacWorld Expo opening keynote.

According to MacMinute, LaCie announced today at MacWorld, that it is partenering with LightScribe technology from HP to offer a direct labelling feature to its DVD burners. The company also adds support for Mac to its LightScribe software and hardware.

Apple announced through a press release that the webcast of Steve Jobs' Macworld Expo opening Keynote will be available with a delay of 9 hours.

MacCityNet, an italian Mac enthusiast site has the scoop of the day. It's staff was waiting in front of Moscone Center in San Fransisco, where Steve Jobs is going to present the MacWorld Expo kick off keynote, and saw big posters with the slogan "Life is random".

MacosXrumors was informed that Apple is ready and plans to open the iTunes Music Store in Australia as early as this week, although it is has not been confirmed whether Steve Jobs would announce the opening during his keynote on Tuesday.

MacosXrumors may probably be able to cover MacWorld Expo in real time this year at this web address.

HP's CEO, Carlina Fiorina has announced, during CES (Consumer Electronics Show), that the company will sell it's own HP iPod Photo later this year.

Sources have confirmed the recent rumours, that Apple will release a new iMac without a screen. New PowerBooks are also expected to be released during MacWorld Expo.

A personnal .Mac home page (mirrored here) reveals, through a dozen of pictures and a 3GPP video, what the $500 headless Mac, rumoured to be announced at MacWorld Expo, will maybe look like.

SpyMac highlights a report of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, which mentions Apple among other PC makers in a giant bid of $69 million.

According to MacInTouch, Apple will not webcast the MacWorld Expo Steve Jobs' Keynote this year in real-time.

Macnews.net.tc reveals, today, a picture of the first iTunes compatible mobile phone from Motorola. The new mobile phone will be able to play tunes that have been bought on the iTunes Music Store. This new product is the result of a deal between Apple and Motorola, announced some months ago. Motorola showed its new iTunes compatible mobile phone at CES (Cunsomer Electronic Show) today. See also this article on eWeek.

Apple has made available through Apple Developer Connection web site, a beta of MacOS X 10.3.8. This build is numbered 7U3 and was made available yesterday. Anonymous sources have provided us some information from its seed note.

Although recently sued by Apple, ThinkSecret continues to publish its expectations for MacWorld Expo SF. In the lastest article, the site focuses on the rumoured iPod Flash.

Hitachi has announced that it will release two new 1" (2.5cm) hard drives of 8Gb and 10Gb during the first half of this year. The computer hardware manufacturer is at the CES (Consumer Electronics Show) that's taking place in Las Vegas (the cultural capital of The United States) this week.

Last week, ThinkSecret, known for being a very reliable rumour site, had published rumours about three major future Apple products which are a $500 headless iMac G4, iLife '05 digital content management suite and iWork 05 office productivity suite. Yesterday, Apple filed suit against ThinkSecret as well as against some unnamed individuals for leaking and publishing information on unreleased products.

Along with the release of XSan, the speed bumped XServes and the price drops on the Cinema Displays, Apple has also cut prices by about 10% on most of its products on the European Apple online stores.

Apple has just closed most of its European (UK, France, Germany, Italy,...) online Apple Store web sites. Does this mean new products release is imminent?

ThinkSecret is unveiling Adobe's future products roadmap on an article posted on Monday. According to the article, Adobe will introduce Adobe Creative Suite 2.0 at MacWorld Expo but will ship the product only in March 2005.

MacRumors brings some confirmation about iWork that is rumoured to be coming for MacWorld Expo. Firstly we learn that IGG Software, which has a product called iWork, has just renamed its product iBiz. We also learn that Apple has filed a patent some months ago for iWork.

It's a great start for the new year for macosXrumors as some of our earliest inside information revelations are being confirmed by ThinkSecret, which is known to be, by far, the most reliable Mac rumour site out there. According to the article, Apple is about to release an office productivity suite called iWork for MacWorld Expo.

MacosXrumors wishes you a Happy New Year for 2005. During 2004 Apple has announced some amazing things but we believe that 2005 will be even more amazing and with lots of surprises for Apple fans.