Brand: MacNews

Belkin today introduced its 802.11b product line, with two products offering Mac support: the Wireless Access Point (US$179.99) and the Wireless Cable/DSL Router ($229.99).

Shares of Apple are trading down nearly US$1.00 following today’s iPod announcement. The device, presumably, was not as “breakthrough” as Wall Street had been expecting.

Apple today introduced iPod, a new digital audio player (MP3, MP2, more) with a 5GB hard drive capable of holding 1,000 songs and 20-minute skip protection. Billed as the first portable MP3 player to come equipped with a FireWire interface, iPod measures 2.4″ x 4″ x 3/4″ (6.5 ounces) and features a 10-hour, lithium-polymar battery that is fully charged in about an hour.

Apple’s invite-only media event, which will be used to usher in the company’s new “breakthrough digital device,” is set to begin any minute. The Apple Store has been taken offline temporarily. “We are busy updating the store for you and will be back within the hour.” MacMinute is in attendance at the media event and will bring the news as we learn of it.

In an interview with the Manila Bulletin, as noted by MacSurfer, Apple Philippines country manager Charlie Tang said he believes Apple stands to gain from the HP-Compaq merger, if only because it means there will be one less computer maker to compete with on store shelves. Additionally, Tang said he hopes Apple opens one of its retail stores in the country some time next year.