Get ready for some more iHype.
Apple sent out invitations on Wednesday for a special event on Sept. 1 at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco — the same venue where in January Steve Jobs unveiled a little device called the iPad.
As with all Apple launches, there is no official word on what is being announced. But the invitation includes the image of an acoustic guitar with an Apple logo-shaped cutout, leading to some speculation that it may have something to do with its iTunes store or a new iPod. Others think a 7" iPad is coming. Still others contend it will be a revamped Apple TV, “perhaps dubbed iTV, starting at $99." (Apple is in negotiations with major networks to offer 99-cent episode rentals.)
My uniformed but educated guess: Jobs will announce that the iTunes store will begin selling concert tickets, and unveil an iTicket app for iPhones and iPads.
Earlier this year, the company filed a patent for an iPhone application called “Concert Ticket +” that hints at a plan to sell electronic concert and theater tickets via iTunes.
The paperless tickets would be displayed with a unique code on the iPhone for entry into, say, a Stones concert. According to the example shown on the patent diagrams, the e-tickets could be bundled with other benefits, such as pre-paid parking, free drinks, concert t-shirts or a download of the show.
Or I could be totally wrong.
Whatever it is, it is sure to be overcovered, overanalyzed and overhyped.
Stay tuned.
