(IMG:http://www.joejoe.org/storage/applegrey.png) Well with any Apple event there are rumours and Macworld is when it goes mad, and with Macworld 2009 being the final expo with an Apple keynote, this is no exception. So I have decided to go around and get a list of as many rumours as i could find in ten minutes - which was not a limitation at all! Rumours are everywhere and go from subtle updates to... extravagant rumours of Steve tap dancing on stage as the infamous "one more thing" statement.

Also if you aren't in the loop with Apple news lately, well this final Apple Keynote at Macworld will be spoken by Phil Schiller, not Steve Jobs as he has done since he returned to Apple in 1997.

So without further ado here is the condensed list of most of the rumours


iPhone
Tethering Plan, a recent rumour has been circulating that suggests a tethering plan with AT&T which would allow an iPhone to connect to a laptop and share its 3G internet connectivity.
iPhone Nano, not much to say about this but read this article for more.
iPhone Red, if you've been reading the news sites lately you may have seen a red version of the iPhone 3G. This one is unlikely but you never know.

Software
Varying DRM-Free Prices on iTunes, CNet it reporting that other studios besides EMI will start offering DRM-free songs on iTunes and possibly at different prices.
MobileMe Upgrades, this is quite a realistic possibility after its ill-fated launch last year.
iLife and iWork 2009 Editions, also quite a realistic possibility as its the new year and this is Apples first real press event. Some neat integration with MobileMe is also rumoured.
Snow Leopard, it is very unlikely to be released but what is likely is more information, whether it is statistics of performance improvements, a demo, pricing, so keep your eye out for that. However Apple will likely use a different, isolated event to properly announce Snow Leopard.

Hardware
Mac Mini, well personally I am sceptical of this one, mainly due to the fact there have been rumours practically non-stop about this for a few years but after Apple stopped selling in October its either permanently going away or being updated. Engadget has a short roundup of what is expected in an updated Mini.
iMac, well its expected that the NVidia graphics are to be added to the iMac and Macworld has typically been the place for such an announcement. Also rumoured is a super huge 28-inch version.
17" Macbook, since the rest of the Macbooks being updated late last year it has been rumoured that it will be at Macworld where the 17"version gets a unibody and NVidia graphics upgrade.
Cinema Display, also rumoured to get revisions is the 30"; Apple Cinema Display which wasn't revised like the rest of the Cinema Displays late last year, so again Macworld seems to be the obvious choice if it is to be revised.
Home Server, this is quite unlikely but possible and basically it's an Apple Home Server.
Netbook/Tablet, also an unlikely possibility but analysts have been going on about such a device and after the storming success of both the iPhone and netbooks of late... well put the two together.


OK well that's it but feel free to add more if you come across them because this is by no means a definitive list of all the rumours!

Also JoeJoe will have live coverage of the event and news items that come out of Macworld, so keep your eye peeled for all that!

(IMG:http://www.joejoe.org/img/world_link.png) Source: Gizmodo

(IMG:http://www.joejoe.org/img/world_link.png) Source: Analysts say Apple to release Netbook

(IMG:http://www.joejoe.org/img/world_link.png) Source: Engadget

Microsoft's 3,000 employees in the UK face an uncertain 2009 as the software giant considers a plan for substantial redundancies to combat the economic downturn.


At least 10 per cent, and possibly as much as 17 per cent, of its global workforce could be cut in what would be the first mass lay-offs in the company's 32-year history. Across the world, up to 15,000 jobs could be under threat.

According to rumours in the US, overseas divisions could be particularly hard hit, and an announcement of the plan could come within two weeks. The company said yesterday that it does not comment on speculation.

Analysts say the software giant faces pressure on several fronts this year. With retail spending having turned down, consumer sales of its Windows operating system – installed on nine out of ten personal computers – could slow. Businesses, too, are scaling back, threatening licence fees from its Office products, including Microsoft Word, and other corporate software. Meanwhile, online advertising growth has decelerated sharply as a result of the recession, threatening Microsoft's hopes of turning a profit at its troubled MSN internet business.

"The prevailing wisdom on Microsoft is that the company may pre-announce disappointing December results," Brad Reback, analyst at Oppenheimer & Co, told clients. "Should such headcount reductions materialise, we would view them as a positive sign that management is interested in preserving the company's operating margin structure through the downturn."

A 10 per cent cut in Microsoft's 90,000 global workforce could save $1.2bn (£826m) a year, analysts say. A Silicon Valley website reported over the new year holiday that up to 17 per cent of Microsoft's employees could lose their jobs, citing internal conversations at the company. The website, Fudzilla, said that the European divisions may be disproportionately affected.

Microsoft set up its UK subsidiary in 1982, its first overseas outpost, seven years after Bill Gates created the company to make operating systems for the nascent personal computer market. Employees are concentrated at the UK headquarters in Reading, although the British division of MSN is run from London. The company has almost doubled in size in the UK in the past five years.

Microsoft is due to report earnings for the final three months of 2008 on 21 January, but could pre-announce any revenue shortfall and any restructuring plans.

(IMG:http://www.joejoe.org/img/world_link.png) Source: The Independent

(IMG:http://th04.deviantart.com/fs39/300W/i/2009/001/a/2/SteelFlash_Final_100k_by_Steel89.jpg)
Windows Vista Visual Style


SteelFlash 100k


Author: Steel89

On the screenshot you can see all the included features.

-New Visual Style: SteelFlash 100k
-New Patchers and Styles
-Featuring the SteelFlash CdArtDisplay Skin
-x64/x86 compatible
-One unique Visual Style
-1 Windows Media Player new GUI
-2 Sidebar Styles
-3 Logon Screens
-5 Different Taskbars
-6 Taskbar Buttons Styles
-7 Context Buttons Styles
-8 Start Buttons
-35 Windows Media Player Taskbars

(IMG:http://www.joejoe.org/img/world_link.png) Source: In-House

Hello Members!

Shortly an email will be sent around containing the link to a special edition of the joejoe.org Newsletter, if you for some reason do not recieve it or want to read it right now, the link is down the bottom of this post.

This special edition of the newsletter contains a look back the top 2008 news items as well as a few extra things!

(IMG:http://www.joejoe.org/img/world_link.png) Source: View the 2009 joejoe.org New Year Newsletter!


This topic will also be open for discussions about the newsletter (IMG:style_emoticons/veeto/big_smile.png)

Enjoy!

Well its already Christmas Day for many right now (including me) so on behalf of all JoeJoe.org Staff, I wish you ALL a very Merry Christmas. So if catching up with family and friends today... have fun and enjoy it (IMG:style_emoticons/veeto/big_smile.png)

Thanks to stevey for his logo which should be promoted to header for today and next few days (IMG:style_emoticons/veeto/big_smile.png)