A leading US technology analyst has predicted the imminent release of a colour screen iPod mini.

Shaw Wu believes that Apple will release a 2GB colour iPod mini as soon as October.

He also believes that this updated iPod mini will feature new flash-based chip designs, as opposed to HDD.

The prediction is based on data from iPod chip supplier PortalPlayer. In an announcement, president and CEO of PortalPlayer, Gary Johnson, said: “We have completed the design win activity for our customers – exciting new models intend to ship in the second half of 2005”.

Mr Wu’s forecasts also stems from the fact that Apple have previously launched new products around the same time to cash in on the pre-Christmas buzz.

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