News from Apple and M$ and AC/DC

First, OS X 10.9 is in the works. 9 to 5 Mac reports users of early builds of this have shown up on Web logs.

It appears to offer Siri to Mac users as well as a Maps application.

When will it hit the market? 9 to 5 Mac speculates that developer builds will come out in the spring of 2013 and consumer builds later in the year.

So what big cat will they name this after? Your guesses are welcome in the comments. I’m going with “Mr. Bigglesworth”.

Second, in what may be a sign of impending doom :), the Australian rockers AC/DC have signed with iTunes. They held out for a long time, but now you can get them in the iTunes Music Store.

Third, Macrumors.com reports that both Belkin and iPad Mini Mod have released keyboards with cases for the iPad mini. Belkin’s sells for $80, while iPad Mod Mini sells for $40.

Top that, Google and Amazon!

Fourth, Apple has announced its own Black Friday sale:

Apple has posted a teaser page on their Australian online Apple Store for a "one-day Apple shopping event" on Friday, November 23rd.

The one-day Apple shopping event is Friday, 23 November. Get ready to give. Shop online or visit your favourite Apple Retail Store. We'll help you make the most of the day, no matter how you shop.

This Friday represents Black Friday in the United States. Black Friday is the day afterThanksgiving that marks the start of the Christmas shopping season. Traditionally, retailers offer major sales on that day.

Apple's international online and retail stores also participate in these sales, though Apple's discounts tend to be very modest. Last year's discounts for Apple's core products were as follows (in USD):

iPad 2 - $41 to $61 Off

iPod nano - $11 off

iPod Touch - $21 to $41 off

MacBook Air - $101 off

MacBook Pro - $101 off

iMac - $101 off

For absolute savings, customers will have better luck with 3rd party merchants that tend to offer steeper discounts on Apple products on Black Friday.

Finally, Will the New iMacs arrive as scheduled?

Last week, a report from french site MacBidouille claimed that Apple may not be shipping their new iMac until early 2013, despite Apple's official promises that the new iMac models would ship before year's end.

9to5Mac now reassures us that Apple's original plans are still intact for the iMac. The new 21.5" iMacs are said to already be shipping to distribution centers, while the 27" iMacs are due in December. Supplies, however, are likely to be very short through the rest of the year.

Apple continues to list November and December availability dates for the new iMacs in their online store. Pre-orders are not yet available but are expected by the end of November.