The report which first appeared on CNN’s iReport website was swiftly denied by Apple spokesperson Steve Dowling but caused Apple’s stock to hit a 52-week low of $94.

World of Apple reported this week that Apple was opposed to the request and had threatened in a statement to the CRB to close the iTunes store if the rise went ahead. In the statement given to the CRB 18 months ahead of the decision Apple exec Eddy Cue said: “Apple has repeatedly made clear that it is in this business to make money and would most likely not continue to operate iTS (the iTunes Store) if it were no longer possible to do so profitably.”

On Friday Apple spokesperson Tom Neumayr said that “We’re pleased with the CRB’s decision.”

The report by a citizen journalist which appeared on CNN’s iReport detailed that Steve Jobs was rushed to an emergency room after suffering “a major heart attack.”

When Apple was asked for further details this morning Apple spokesperson Steve Dowling told journalists that “The story is not true.”

Apple has posted a list of what the update includes:

• HD TV shows
• Movie browsing by actor and director
• Chapter selection, alternate audio and subtitles
• Movie description
• Genius playlists
• On-The-Go playlists
• Music videos in playlists
• Apple TV standby mode

iTunes 8.0.1 improves stability and performance and provides a number of important bug fixes, including:

• Seamlessly plays the current song when creating a new Genius playlist.
• Improves syncing spoken menus to iPod nano.
• Addresses an issue of deleting HD TV episodes when downloading.
• Improves checking for updates from the App Store
• Improves accessibility with VoiceOver.
• Addresses problems syncing Genius results to iPod.

The report which cites data from NPD goes onto note that in terms of retail dollar share Apple represents 35 percent of all moneys spent on notebook computers during those months.

The increased sales not place Apple in fourth position amongst all North American manufacturers.

The original article in Libération claimed that Mac Pros build before 2008 emit an odour which contains several toxins including benzene which if can cause diseases such as cancer if exposure is prolonged.

Apple spokesman Bill Evans told Macworld, “We have not found anything that supports this claim, but continue to investigate it for the customer.”

Apple Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook was awarded 200,000 shares ($21,052,000), and Senior Vice President Retail, Ron Johnson, and Chief Financial Officer, Peter Oppenheimer, were each granted 150,000 shares ($15,789,000)

Five other executives were each granted 120,000 shares ($12,631,200) including Senior Vice President Industrial Design, Jonathan Ive, Senior Vice President Worldwide Product Marketing, Phil Schiller, Senior Vice President Software Engineering, Bertrand Serlet, Senior Vice President Mac Hardware Engineering, Bob Mansfield and Senior Vice President iPhone Software, Scott Forstall.

Finally Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary Daniel Cooperman who has been with the company just over a year was granted 60,000 shares ($6,315,600).

The stock options will vest on March 24, 2012.

“We put the NDA in place because the iPhone OS includes many Apple inventions and innovations that we would like to protect, so that others don’t steal our work. It has happened before,” reads a company statement.

“While we have filed for hundreds of patents on iPhone technology, the NDA added yet another level of protection. We put it in place as one more way to help protect the iPhone from being ripped off by others.”

Within the statement Apple admits that the NDA caused “too much of a burden on developers, authors and others interested in helping further the iPhone’s success, so we are dropping it for released software.”

Apple also announced that it is currently drafting a new agreement without an NDA covering released software that developers will have to sign later this month.

Fortune is reporting that the Copyright Royalty Board is expected to rule on Thursday on a proposal from the National Publishers’ Association to increase the rates paid to its members from online services from 9 cents to 15 cents.

Apple is reportedly opposed to the rate rise and has submitted a statement to the board:

“If the [iTunes music store] was forced to absorb any increase in the … royalty rate, the result would be to significantly increase the likelihood of the store operating at a financial loss - which is no alternative at all,” Cue wrote. “Apple has repeatedly made it clear that it is in this business to make money, and most likely would not continue to operate [the iTunes music store] if it were no longer possible to do so profitably.”

The record labels who are reportedly “in no mood to pay the proposed royalty increase” have suggested the CRB to do away with fixed royalties in favor of an 8 percent commission to artists, which would translate to about 5.6 cents on the wholesale cost of each 99 cent track. The Digital Media Association which represents online retailers such as iTunes has suggested an even lower rate of 6 percent, or 4.8 cents per track.

One issue was that applications could be reviewed and rated without having to purchase the app, this lead to more reviews complaining about the price than actual reviews of the product. Over the weekend Apple changed this policy and now an application can only be reviewed by those who have purchased it.

Apple has also removed the “All iPhone Applications” link on the app store which was a handy method of viewing the latest released applications. To view the latest applications a user must now go to a specific category.

Apple appears to also be listing applications by there true release date not their most recent update date. In the past a version update to an application would push it back to the top of the most recent applications list.

Image courtesy of Wired.com

iPhone OS 2.2 which was released to developers late this week reportedly includes some changes to the layout of MobileSafari. As seen in the screenshot (old MobileSafari on left, new on right) Apple has moved the refresh button into the address bar and given Google search its own box.

[Image courtesy of Wired.com]

Apple simply lists “compatibility testing” as the description of the release so it is still unclear whether the latest build has background push notifications built-in.

Mac Rumors also points towards a post on its own forums where one user claims to have received a response from Steve Jobs on the where abouts of push notifications.

We’re running a bit late. We want to get it 100% right the first time.

Steve

Java for Mac OS X 10.4, Release 7 delivers improved reliability and compatibility for Java 2 Platform Standard Edition 5.0 and Java 1.4 on Mac OS X 10.4.11 and later. This release updates J2SE 5.0 to version 1.5.0_16 and Java 1.4 to version 1.4.2_18.

Java for Mac OS X 10.5 Update 2 - 136.4MB

ava for Mac OS X 10.5 Update 2 delivers improved reliability and compatibility for Java SE 6, J2SE 5.0 and J2SE 1.4.2 on Mac OS X 10.5.4 and later.

The online tool allows a would-be iPhone purchaser to:

• 1. Enter your billing information.
• 2. Review eligibility and pricing.
• 3. Select your AT&T rate plan.

Once complete the purchaser would simply head over to an Apple store to complete the iPhone purchase. Despite rumours, an iPhone continues to require in-store activation and cannot be activated at home.

Apple has received reports of detached prongs involving a very small percentage of the adapters sold, but no injuries have been reported.

• US
• Japan
• Canada
• Mexico
• Colombia
• Ecuador
• El Salvador
• Guatemala
• Honduras
• Peru

Countries where ultracompact USB power adapters were sold only as a standalone accessory:

• Argentina
• Chile
• Costa Rica
• Panama

Apple USB power adapters supplied with original iPhones or supplied with iPhone 3G units sold in other countries are not affected.

Users with ultracompact power adapters should immediately stop using them until they exchange them for a new, redesigned ultracompact adapter.

In the meantime, they should charge their iPhone 3G by connecting it to their computer with the USB cable that came with their iPhone or by using a standard-sized Apple USB Power Adapter (with fold up prongs) or with a third party adapter designed to work with the iPhone, such as a car charger.

Apple adds that replacement adapters which will not be available until October 10th will have a green dot on them to make identification easier.

Affected users may order a replacement adapter via Apple’s web-based form or in person at an Apple retail store beginning October 10th.

About Pro Applications Update 2008-03
Pro Applications Updates improve reliability for Apple’s professional applications and are recommended for all users of Final Cut Studio, Final Cut Server, and Logic Studio.

For more information about this software update, see the Release Notes

Final Cut Server Update 1.1.1 - 55.3MB

It is recommended for all Final Cut Server 1.0 users.

Hollywood Reporter states that since the networks return on September 9th over 1 million NBC TV shows have been downloaded. It should be noted that NBC is giving away free HD episodes, TUAW has compiled a list of the free downloads available.

Apple’s US notebook marketshare increased from 6.6% in the year-ago Q2 up to 10.6% in Q2 2008.

PC leaders Dell and HP remained reasonably flat while Apple’s four point gain in North America came at the expense of Toshiba and Acer.

The German version of Amazon.com is also listing a 4GB model for sale and available in all nine iPod nano colours.

Compatibility with previous versions of Apple Remote Desktop Apple Remote Desktop 3.2.2 will continue to support computers running version 3.0, 3.1, 3.2 and 3.2.1 of the client software. However if you choose not to upgrade your computers running version 2.0 or 2.1 of the client software, you will only be able to control/observe them.

What’s Included:
Improved reliability with the Copy Items command.
Upgrade Client Software command now uses unicast packets for improved reliability on some networks.
Fixes to the Force Quit All Applications and Copy Items to Computer Automator actions.
For detailed information on this update, please visit this website: About ARD 3.2.2

Digital Camera RAW Compatibility Update 2.2 - 3.5MB

This update extends RAW file compatibility for Aperture 2 and iPhoto ’08 for the following cameras:

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS/Kiss Digital F/1000D
Kodak DCS Pro SLR/n
Nikon D700
Olympus EVOLT E-420
Olympus EVOLT E-520
Olympus SP-570
Samsung GX-10
Samsung GX-20
Sony DSLR-A300
Sony DSC-R1

Customers in the UK who purchase a Mac (excluding Mac mini) and iPod nano or iPod touch will receive a rebate of £95. The promotion will run through to October 31st and is open to students, teachers and education professionals.

Eligible customers can purchase through the online Apple store.

• Security Update 2008-006 Client (Intel)
• Security Update 2008-006 Client (PPC)
• Security Update 2008-006 Server (PPC)
• Security Update 2008-006 Server (Universal)

Details of the Mac OS X 10.5.5 update are available on the Apple website and security changes here.

Some of the highlights in the update include:

• Addresses stability issues with video playback, processor core idling, and remote disc sharing for MacBook Air.
• Improves iPhone sync reliability with iCal and Address Book.
• Includes extensive graphics enhancements.
• Improves Mail robustness when sending messages.
• Improves Back to My Mac reliability.
• Improves Time Machine reliability with Time Capsule.
• Time Machine can now back up iPhone backups that are on your Mac, as well as other items in (~/Library/Application Support).

The iPhone 2.1 contains the following updates as listed by Apple:

• decrease in call set-up failures and call drops
• significantly improve battery life for most users
• dramatically reduced time to backup to iTunes
• improve email reliability, notable fetching email from POP and Exchange accounts
• faster installation of 3rd party applications
• fixed bugs causing hangs and crashes if you have lots of 3rd party applications
• improved performance of text messaging
• faster loading and searching of contacts
• improved accuracy of the 3G signal strength display
• repeat alert up to two additional times for incoming text messages
• option to wipe data after ten failed passcode attempts
• Genius playlist creation

“Steve Jobs is healthy, was taken by surprise by all the speculation about his health swirling around him after his last public appearance in June, and says while he could ’stand to gain 10 or 15 pounds,’ he’s doing just fine,” Jim Goldman reports for CNBC.

“I agreed not to address the speculation about his health on camera, because Jobs didn’t want to go there. As long as I could ask a passing question about his health off-camera, but on the record after the interview, I’d be satisfied. Apple agreed,” Goldman continued.

In the interview itself Goldman quizzed Jobs on the lack of Mac announcements at the event, Jobs rebutted by explaining that the event was music focused.

Jobs also admitted that customers preferred the older iPod nano and thus reverted to the vertical form factor.

“It was very clear to us that customers preferred the vertical form-factor for their iPods. That was the first- and second-generation,” Jobs said. “The third-generation we went to a squarish design so we could fit in a really high-res screen. And we managed to do both in this [fourth-generation iPod nano].”

Ars Technica is reporting that upon downloading an HD episode of a TV show, the SD version is also downloaded for use on an iPod. This relatively unknown fact was not mentioned during yesterday’s keynote.

Upon purchasing an HD episode iTunes will download and sync the SD version to an iPod or iPhone.

The iPod touch advert shows the device off as mainly a gaming device, describing it as the “funnest iPod ever”.

The first set of new headphones are similar to the standard earbuds that ship with all iPods but have the added feature of play/plause/forward/reverse and up/down volume controls as well as a small microphone. The Apple earphones with Remote and Mic are priced at $29 (£19) but are not currently available to purchase.

In addition Apple has updated its in-ear headphone set, these headphones contain two drivers in each earpiece (tweeter and woofer) and ship with three sets of silicone ear tips (small, medium, large). The headphones also incldue the controls described previously.

The new in-ear headphones are listed as “coming soon” and are priced at $79 (£55).

The headphones are compatible with the new iPod classic, 4th generation iPod nano, and 2nd gen iPod touch.

Late Tuesday night iPod touch users began receiving the update which adds many of the features present on the brand new second generation iPod touch.

Some of the changes in 2.1 include the Genius feature for automatically creating a playlist of related music, battery life improvements, and a large amount of bug fixes.

A full list of fixes is now available from Apple.

The software update is free to iPod touch users who have already upgraded to version 2.0 of firmware, those using any version 1 software must pay $9.99 to unlock and download the 2.1 update.

The 2.1 update will be available for free to iPhone users on Friday.

The new lineup includes the iPod shuffle in four vivid new colors starting at just $49 (£32) and the iPod classic in one slimline model with 50 percent more capacity for the same great price - 120GB of storage for just $249 (£179).

According to Apple, the update will address:

• Battery life issues
• Dropped calls
• Lots of Bug fixes
• Backing up to iTunes
• App crashes

During the event company CEO, Steve Jobs introduced, brand new iPod nanos, a revamped iPod touch and iTunes 8.

[Update] A 700MB download is now available to download in Podcast form.

QuickTime 7.5.5 includes changes that increase reliability, improve application compatibility and enhance security.

• QuickTime 7.5.5 for Windows
• QuickTime 7.5.5 for Leopard
• QuickTime 7.5.5 for Tiger

Front Row 2.1.6

This Front Row update provides improved iTunes 8.0 compatibility and bug fixes.

More than 3,000 applications are currently available on the App Store, with over 90 percent priced at less than $10 and more than 600 offered for free.

“iPhone’s unique capabilities, easy SDK and the ability to reach an audience of millions via the App Store made this an easy development choice for us,” said John Pollard, Jott CEO. “To date, we’ve had hundreds of thousands of downloads of Jott for iPhone, which has been a major win for our company.”

“Because I already had a full-time job I used the iPhone SDK to create Trisim in my spare time and in my wildest dreams I never expected this kind of result,” said Steve Demeter, founder of Demiforce. “Selling over 27,000 downloads in the first three weeks means I now have a significant new income stream and some exciting career choices that I didn’t have a couple of months ago.”

“As an 18 year old iPhone Developer Program member I won an Apple WWDC student scholarship and used the opportunity to complete my app over the summer,” said Bryan Henry, developer of Equivalence. “It was a lot of fun to pull it together and certainly the most lucrative summer job I’ve ever had as I made over $8,000 in my first month of App Store sales.”

“Our new account registrations on the App Store are 300 percent better than all our other registration avenues combined,” said Chris MacAskill, SmugMug’s co-founder. “We’ve been able to do things with our iPhone app that we just couldn’t have dreamed of doing on any other mobile platform, so these are revolutionary times for us and for iPhone and iPod touch users.”

networks’ top 10 series available immediately for purchase and download in both standard definition and stunning high definition. iTunes customers can choose programming from NBC, USA Network, SCI FI Channel, Bravo, Sleuth and NBC News including favorites such as the award-winning and critically acclaimed “Heroes,” and the Emmy award-winning programs “The Office,” “Battlestar Galactica” and “30 Rock.” NBCU standard definition television shows on the iTunes Store are $1.99 per episode and HD programs are available for just one dollar more at $2.99 per episode and select library content is available for $.99. Additional NBCU programming from Oxygen, Telemundo, Mun2 and NBC Sports will be available on iTunes soon.

“The return of our shows to iTunes is terrific news for everyone who loves television and the ease and convenience of Apple’s iTunes,” said Jeff Zucker, President and CEO, NBC Universal. “And now, by offering consumers a variety of new options, our fans have even more ways to enjoy our content.”

“We are thrilled that NBC is back on iTunes in time for the Fall TV season,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “NBC has some of TV’s most popular shows and now customers can purchase and download them from iTunes in SD or stunning HD.”

Using Apple’s breakthrough Genius feature is easy—select any song, click the Genius button, and iTunes instantly creates a playlist of songs that go great together from your own library. You can preview the playlist Genius creates, refresh the list to choose different songs and save Genius playlists to enjoy again later. You can even create Genius Playlists on-the-go with the new iPod classic, iPod touch, iPod nano and iPhone. The Genius sidebar appears right in iTunes and recommends music from the iTunes Store that you don’t already have, based on the songs you select.

iTunes 8’s new visual browsing interface displays your music and video libraries using your album and video covers, and also provides a great way to navigate your movies, TV shows, iPhone apps, podcasts and audiobooks.

Image courtesy of Apple

The new iPod touch is smaller and lighter than the original, with a sleek new design that features a contoured metal enclosure with integrated volume control buttons and a brilliant 3.5-inch widescreen glass display. With its rounded edges, flush display and curved, more compact design, the new iPod touch is more comfortable to hold and more portable than ever.

The new iPod touch also features built-in Nike + iPod support making it an incredible workout companion. Users simply place the optional Nike + iPod sensor ($19 US) in their Nike + shoe to seamlessly connect with the new iPod touch to track miles run or sync with the latest generation gym equipment.

The new iPod touch is available immediately for a suggested price of $229 (£169) for the 8GB model, $299 (£219) for the 16GB and $399 (£289) for the 32 GB model.

“The iPod nano is the world’s most popular music player and we’ve made it even better for this holiday season,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “We think users are going to love the amazing new design, the automatic Genius playlist creation, as well as automatically going into Cover Flow with just a turn of the wrist.”

The rumours of an ill Jobs were put to bed after a reporter purportedly received an abrupt phone call from Jobs himself who revealed in detail his health.

Today, analyst Gene Munster of Piper Jaffray stated that he expects Steve Jobs to be on hand at tomorrow’s media event which should boost the confidence of investors and boost the price of shares.

“We are confident that Steve Jobs will be presenting and we anticipate his appearance at the event to be viewed as a positive,” Munster wrote under the heading Steve Jobs’ Appearance Will Be Key in his report to clients on Monday.

“While some investors are concerned that Jobs will not deliver the keynote,” wrote Munster, “we have reason to believe he will. Therefore, we believe his health has improved since the June event, which would be a positive for the stock.”

[Update] John Gruber notes on his blog that Jobs is “just as thin as he was in June”.