Even Apple's own staff don't know just what kind of "breakthrough digital device" the company is going to launch next week - on the same day that Microsoft will officially unveil Windows XP, interestingly enough.

We asked our sources and they're all in the dark as much as we are. "Security," we hear, "is insane".

However, it is looking increasingly like a music product, our company sources suggest. "I personally know that it involves collaboration between the QuickTime and iTunes development team with another self-contained team," said one.

Apple staffers will officially be told on Monday what the company is about to offer. CEO Steve Jobs and hardware chief Jon Rubenstein will host a briefing to explain what it's all about. CFO Fred Anderson yesterday called the product "groundbreaking". ®

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