Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster predicts that next month, Apple will hold a special event to release new iPod and MacBook models. The forecast, highlighted in an August 6 note, is based on the Cupertino company's previous practice. It appears that each September Apple shares gain on announcements, and he thinks that buying in advance will give a special advantage. Statistically, Apple shares have risen more than 47 percent between the week before those events to the four months after.

Gene Munster expects new iPod models with larger capacities, rather than redesigns. However, the iPod Touch might get a facelift and a price cut, in line with the redesigned, cheaper iPhone 3G. This means that we might well see iPod Touches at acceptable prices, finally.

The Piper Jaffray analyst thinks, however, that a touchscreen-enabled MacBook is unlikely this year. Although the firm expects Apple to develop a full touch-screen MacBook, it will likely be a 2010 event, as the company will probably wait for the technology to be mature enough.

As a conclusion, Gene Munster rates Apple shares "buy".

It will be interesting to see how will Apple evolve in the upcoming months. The company's MobileMe disaster has affected their image and has raised questions about their ability to do many things at once, which was further confirmed by a leaked Steve Jobs email which criticized the company's decision to launch too many products and services at the same time earlier this year.