Apple Computer Inc

Apple Computer Inc. said it had delayed filing financial statements a second time and would restate earnings to account for backdated stock option grants. The size of any charge related to the stock options hasn't been finalized, Cupertino, Calif.-based Apple said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company said it planned to file its quarterly and annual reports with regulators by Dec. 29.

Last month, this column previewed the 2006 Bridge School Benefit Concert, but for most California rock fans, that sparkling annual all-star show in Mountain View is one they always want to attend but always seem to put off for reasons of ticketing, travel or time.

Airline passengers will soon be able to connect their iPods to in-flight entertainment systems and watch their favorite videos without fear of running out of battery power while traveling on any of six major carriers, iPod maker Apple Computer Inc. said Tuesday. Air France, Continental Airlines Inc., Delta Air Lines Inc., Emirates, KLM and UAL Corp.'

Apple Computer Inc., facing 10 lawsuits over stock option backdating, named IBM Corp. executive Donald Rosenberg as its general counsel. Rosenberg, 55, held the same position at IBM, Cupertino, Calif.-based Apple said Monday. He replaces general counsel Nancy Heinen, who resigned in May after working 12 years with Chief Executive Steve Jobs.

ENTERTAINMENT Apple Computer Inc. said it would dedicate space within its iTunes Store for Spanish-language music, music videos, TV shows and podcasts. Telemundo, NBC Universal's Spanish-language TV network, also signed a deal with Apple to offer downloads of its shows, including "Pasion de Gavilanes." Los Angeles-based Univision Communications Inc.

The i's have it: Intel and iPod helped drive quarterly sales and profit up sharply at Apple Computer Inc. as the company continued to dominate portable entertainment and gained traction against rival computer makers. Apple's shift this year to chips made by Intel Corp. boosted sales of Macintosh computers to their highest level since the 1999 holiday season. Sales were also helped by a broader shift in the PC industry away from corporate buyers and toward average people.

Apple Computer Inc. said Wednesday that Chief Executive Steve Jobs knew the computer maker had sometimes changed the grant dates on stock options to make them more valuable -- an improper accounting practice that has tripped up more than 100 companies. Apple said a three-month internal investigation into the timing of stock option grants had resulted in the resignation of former Chief Financial Officer Fred Anderson from its board of directors. The Cupertino, Calif.

Considering that the news leaked out days in advance, Steve Jobs' announcement this month that Apple Computer Inc. was expanding into movie downloads came as no shock. What did catch many off guard was that his supporting cast during the media show at San Francisco's Yerba Buena Center for the Arts included only one top Hollywood executive -- Walt Disney Co. Chief Executive Robert Iger.

Two questions confront Microsoft Corp. as it prepares to launch its answer to Apple Computer Inc.'s hugely popular iPod. First, how badly do the 79% of Americans who don't already own a portable digital media player want one? And second, will they want one made by Microsoft?