"Big" Apple News Today?

Ahead of the trading floor opening this morning, top tech retailer Apple, Inc. (AAPL - Analyst Report) has given reason for investors to expect an attractive shakeup to its product line today, whether introducing new iPod features or perhaps lowering prices.  Shares are actually down 1.5% in the pre-market, so apparently there is still very little to go on.

Estimates ahead of the company's September quarter (Q3) have been relatively stable to this point.  The Zacks consensus for Apple is currently $1.11 per share for the quarter, and $5.22 per share for fiscal year 2008.

In his most recent research report on Apple, Inc., Zacks senior tech industry analyst Steve Biggs, CFA maintained his Hold on the shares.  Perhaps today's shakeup -- whatever it is -- will prompt a closer look and some sort of revision, but for now the analyst had this to say: "iPod revenue is clearly slowing, which will have a negative impact on both revenue and earnings growth, which we expect to decelerate."