Will next Tuesday, 16 May see the debut of the much-touted red iPod? Let's string together a series of coincidences and see if it will. We've no evidence - think of the exercise as a thought experiment. Apple was rumoured to announce its new Intel-based MacBook this week, on Tuesday. A variety of sources say the launch will now take place next Tuesday...

Other sources have claimed that the announcement will be accompanied by new iPods, even though it's much less than a year since the 5G iPod and the Nano were launched. Rumour-mongers have also suggested the MacBooks may be available in different colours.

The conclusion that a red iPod is in the works was first drawn after U2 singer Bono suggested it in off-the-cuff remarks about his Product Red charity, a scheme that calls on famous brands to offer red versions of their products in order to publicise the African AIDS crisis. Next Tuesday, the day Apple is said to be announcing new, coloured MacBooks and iPods, Bono will be guest-editing a major UK newspaper the Independent, which is going red to mark the occasion.

Tuesday, in short, is a big day for the Product Red charity. Since Apple is exactly the kind of iconic brand Bono wants on board, and he's also well in with the company, is it too much to suppose that early next week we'll see the debut of a red MacBook and/or iPod?

The logic's solid - alas there's no corroboratory evidence. Worse, according to the Guardian, Motorola will announce a red SLVR phone on Monday - buy the handset and £5 of the purchase price goes to fighting AIDS in Africa. Carphone Warhouse will be selling the phone, as will the major UK networks.

Motorola's move doesn't preclude Apple's participation in Product Red - the charity wants as many big-name brands as possible to take part. Either way, we look forward to next Tuesday with interest... ®