I know everyone and their mom is talking about it, but I just can't resist. The new Apple, Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) releases today were the Apple TV (previously named the iTV) and iPhone. These revolutionary and exciting products are definitely evoking resounding ooh's and aah's, clearly indicated by the sharp rise in Apple stocks today - over 7%! We're talking millions of dollars here. Everyone wants a piece of the Apple pie, and the iPhone is quite a product.

But let's not forget about Apple TV - the artist formerly known as iTV. This device ties in nicely with my rant a few weeks ago regarding the annoyance of viewing online video on my PC. Well not anymore! Just as promised Apple has presented us with a convenient way to stream iTunes content (like 80's music videos!) to our boob tubes. I'd say it's reasonably priced at $299. Some of us might have to put in a couple of extra hours at the office for that one, but it's totally worth it. How else are we going to be able to watch videos like Hot for Teacher or Rhythm Nation on a big screen?

Apple is constantly changing the face of music, video, phones, technology, and that's something I just can't resist. Despite all these sites distributing free or low-fee content, Apple keeps a stronghold on digital media. Yeah you have to pay for it, but look at what you can do with it when using Apple products.

Steve Jobs knows his audience. And the audience at the MacWorld 2007 conference keynote (speaker, as always, the mock-turtlenecked Steve Jobs, but in brown -- a jab at the Zune perhaps?) had been camping out 'since nine the night before.

So it was to no small applause when he took the stage around 9 a.m. here on the West Coast. And everyone was on the edges of his and her seat waiting for the Big News.

Naturally, in our opinion here, the Big News is the iPhone. We've been wondering about it for months, giving it optimistic release dates (hey, still could happen, right?) and wondering whether Apple Computer, Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) could even call it that, given that the trademark to the name is owned by Linksys. And, basically, loving it from afar. Well, it's true, and it is called the iPhone, and Engadget reports Jobs saying that it will be a "leapfrog product," it will include an iPod (duh), a widescreen with touch controls, and it will be a "breakthrough internet communications device," whatever that is.

Also big news from Steve was that the Apple TV will be shipped in February; lots of details over at Engadget, photos of the interface and lots of details on how it will work. There is also ridiculous eye candy coming up every minute on the iPhone. I can't wait to do a montage!