Jonathan Seff

On Wednesday, Apple released an updated version of iTunes to add support for 1080p video and address several issues with iTunes Match.

Apple unveiled a new Apple TV model on Wednesday, with support for 1080p video and a new user interface, at a special event in San Francisco.

The new Apple TV model features a redesigned user interface with iOS-like buttons that appear on the home screen below the thumbnail images. The buttons highlight Apple’s movies, TV shows, music, computers, trailers, podcasts, and settings areas, but also better call out the third-party services available on the Apple TV, including Netflix, Vimeo, and live sports subscriptions for baseball, basketball, and hockey.

In all likelihood, Apple's media event on March 7 will introduce a new iPad. We've even speculated what we might expect from next week's event.

I've been thinking of the ramifications of the iPad gaining a Retina-style display. (That's what Apple calls the screen it debuted on the iPhone 4, with a pixel density so high that the human eye can't distinguish the individual pixels.) When you put it all together, it suggests that March 7 could be the day that Apple ramps up its support of high-definition video -- if it thinks it's worth it.

On Monday, Apple updated its iTunes software to 10.5.2, with unspecified fixes for problems with iTunes Match.

Apple's brief description reads "iTunes 10.5.2 includes several improvements for iTunes Match and fixes an audio distortion problem when playing or importing certain CDs."

Phil Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of worldwide product marketing, announced updated versions of the iPod nano and iPod touch.

iPod nano

Apple has made the iPod nano’s multitouch display easier to navigate by using larger icons. Schiller also said the company has improved the experience of using the nano for fitness. “Right out of the box, you can go on a walk or a run as well, without adding sensors or devices,” he said.

Last week, Apple updated the software for its second-generation Apple TV to add streaming of purchased TV shows and support for the Vimeo video-sharing service.

As a frequent Apple TV user, I welcome every update that brings new features to the company's tiny set-top box, but there are still more changes I'd like to see. Here are some of the items on my Apple TV wish list. (And if I've missed any, please share yours in the comments.)

On Friday, Apple announced that it would replace some Seagate 1TB hard drives included in recent iMacs that could "fail under certain conditions."

The free iMac 1TB Seagate Hard Drive Replacement Program is intended for a "very small number" of Seagate 1TB drives used in 21.5-inch and 27-inch iMacs sold between May 2011 and July 2011.

During the keynote address at Monday's Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple CEO Steve Jobs unveiled iCloud, Apple's new wireless data sync service for iOS devices, Macs, and PCs.

"Some people think the cloud is just a hard disk in the sky," Job told the attendees. "We think it's way more than that. And we call it iCloud."

On Tuesday, Apple released the latest update to iPhoto 9-aka iPhoto '11. iPhoto 9.1.2 adds new card themes to the app, as well as provides the obligatory improvements in "overall stability" and addresses a number of other minor issues.

Areas of improvement include fixes for Toolbars that didn't auto-hide; formatting problems with book, card, and calendar themes; iPhoto 5 libraries that wouldn't upgrade correctly; and photo backgrounds vanishing when changing book types.

On Tuesday, Apple released the latest update to iPhoto 9--aka iPhoto '11. iPhoto 9.1.2 adds new card themes to the app, as well as provides the obligatory improvements in "overall stability" and addresses a number of other minor issues.

Areas of improvement include fixes for Toolbars that didn't auto-hide; formatting problems with book, card, and calendar themes; iPhoto 5 libraries that wouldn't upgrade correctly; and photo backgrounds vanishing when changing book types.

On Thursday, Apple released a minor update to its iBooks e-book and PDF reading app for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.

iBooks 1.2.2 includes "a number of important stability and performance improvements" for playing video with enhanced books from the iBookstore, incorrect fonts being displayed, and navigational responsiveness.

How much difference does $25 make? Apparently enough for Amazon to release a separate, ad-supported version of its third-generation, Wi-Fi-only Kindle ( Macworld rated 4.5 out of 5 mice ) for $114 instead of $139 for the standard version.

Amazon describes the Kindle with Special Offers, announced on Monday, as the same Kindle, "plus special offers and sponsored screensavers".