In what has been considered a picture perfect online music “monopoly” on the iPod, the iTunes store has long been the only way for iPod users to shop. Now, in one of the largest moves to DRM-free music, Amazon.com (AMZN) has just released their own fully-functional music store.

The next question is whether or not the music downloaded from the Amazon music store will be playable on those precious iPods that an overwhelming number of the population has. The answer, unfortunately for Apple (AAPL), is YES!

The iTunes Music Store has had little to compete with over the past years, and much of that is due to a lack of reasonable competition. Music download programs like Napster have offered little to the MP3 market. Most have had small libraries, poor pricing plans, and an inability to transfer music between all music devices.

The Amazon Store (Amazonmp3) is:

• All DRM-Free Music
• Priced at a very reasonable $0.89 per song (as opposed to iTunes’ $0.99 for DRM-Protected content and $1.29 for DRM-Free)
• Many popular classic bands and current ones too
• 256K Variable Bit Rate MP3 (playable on every music device)
• MP3 Download Program for Amazon Automaticaly places music in iTunes or Windows Media Player
• For Macs and Windows!

Amazon is basically selling what AllofMP3.com was selling to consumers, but legally and more (realistically) expensively. That price will probably erode over the next few years as competition and flexible pricing mature. All good for the consumers. We can only hope that videos and movies follow.
Source: 9to5Mac.com

Apple, you’ve got some serious competition coming your way. The music, platform, and ease-of-use is way to hard to overlook.

Disclosure: Long Apple Inc. (AAPL)

While still undeclared as “MacBook Pros,” the new slimmer Apple (AAPL) laptop is going to be one of the most portable and best-in-class computers yet.

The Mac will have immediate color changes, which will include a black aluminum. It will be considerably thinner and possibly more expensive than the current MacBook Pros. Screen sizes will be about the same, even with the smaller form factor, because of the reduced screen bezel.

The keyboards resemble Apple’s new Bluetooth Keyboard

Source: 9to5Mac.com

We already have Apple laptops that resemble the Bluetooth Keyboards, they’re called MacBooks.

There is something strange about the touchpad (more on this to come)

Source: 9to5Mac.com

Maybe a right click feature?

The new Macs have an expected release date of October 2007 in order co-launch and benefit from Leopard’s release. Unfortunately, these rumors just make the computer sound like a Black MacBook.

After years of noticing a complete lack of gaming for the Mac platform, EA Games has made an attempt, albeit poor, towards moving Macs towards better gaming machines. Macs are great computers and would certainly be able to handle most games thrown at them. Unfortunately, no one has been designing for them.

Games launched were:

• Madden NFL 08
• Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08
• Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
• Need for Speed Carbon
• Battlefield 2142

It seems as though all of these games are somewhat unimpressive and hardly unique to the Mac Platform, but this is definitely a good first step. I’ll look forward to the majority of game designers moving back to the Mac platform as market share increases positively influence the creators.

Apple (AAPL) has without a doubt been on the rally of a lifetime. Splitting multiple times on the way to its current price point, AAPL has made many investors achieve a loftier tax bracket. In a recent BloggingStocks.com article, they ask the question of any Apple Bull investor, when will be the last opportunity to invest in AAPL for $150 per share?

The stock has been a buy for the past 3-4 years and will continue to be so over the next three years at least. This may be your last chance to get in below $150. My 2008 price target is $200-210.

Source: Last chance to buy under $150?

An already expensive stock (based on P/E standards) is expected to go to $200-210 per share? Climb aboard while the $140 station is still here! With the international exposure and greater base for iPhone growth, investors for many shockingly positive quarters in the near future.

Disclosure: Long Apple Inc. (AAPL)

Component research company, iSuppli, just released information related to the iPod Nano’s current profit margin. The numbers below don’t account for various other costs in the production process, only the part by part costs.

iSuppli estimates the bill of materials (BOM) at $58.85 for the 4 GB nano and $82.85 for the 8 GB version. Apple sells the 4 GB model at $149 and the 8 GB model at $199.

Source: Teardown Reveals Nano Component Changes, Cost Reductions

It most certainly is official, iPhone is now in Germany. The German iPhone will be available under the T-Mobile carrier and will cost approximately €399. The price is about a 40 percent increase over its American counterpart and is due to the taxation between the two countries.

The iPhone will go on sale on November 9th through Telekom Shops of Deutsche Telekom and the T-Mobile web shop. iPhone requires a new 2-year T-Mobile tariff and will be available in an 8GB model for €399 including V.A.T.

Source: Apple Announces iPhone in Germany

All things considered, this was yet another uneventful release for Apple and the staggering price differential should be a concern for consumers.

Apple (AAPL) simply announced the launch of the iPhone for a release date of November 9th and coupled the press gathering with a confirmation that O2 would be the UK’s wireless carrier. Pricing information from the press release is below:

iPhone is scheduled to go on sale on November 9th and will be sold exclusively in the UK through Apple’s retail and online stores, O2 and The Carphone Warehouse’s retail and online stores. iPhone will be available in an 8GB model for £269 (inc VAT) and will work with either a PC or Mac. Three new great value iPhone tariffs will be available from O2 starting at £35, which all include unlimited anytime, anywhere mobile data usage and, in a market first, free unlimited use of the UK’s largest single public Wi-Fi network, covering over 7,500 cafes, restaurants, airport lounges, pubs and other locations across the UK.

Source: Apple UK and Ireland

Steve Jobs has now been spotted in the streets of London, only one day before the “Mum is No Longer the Word” Apple (AAPL) event. The announcement of the introduction of the iPhone to Europe has long been the expected rumor, but would Jobs go to the UK just to introduce the iPhone to a new country? Possibly…

That could certainly be the case, but in the spirit of hypothesizing about Apple rumors, we have another idea in mind. What does an English accent and music have in common?

The possibility of one heck of a large event, dealing directly with the launch of The Beatles collection to a digital format. The iTunes Store could see a much earlier than expected full collection of The Beatles music at the UK Apple Event. Those English consumers would then immediately have the possibility of buying a whole new digital collection for those shiny new iPhones.