Apple May Release Video iPod

Apple Computer Inc. is talking with big U.S. recording studios about licensing music videos to sell through its wildly successful iTunes Music Store.

The Cupertino, Calif., computer and electronics company may be positioning itself to obtain content for an as-yet unannounced version of its iPod that would play video, the Wall Street Journal said Monday.

Apple reportedly could announce the video-capable iPod in September.

Rumors about such a product stem, partly, from Apple’s strength in video software, including the Quicktime movie format and Macintosh video-editing software such as Final Cut Pro and iMovie.

In addition, Apple recently licensed a chip from a subsidiary of Broadcom Corp. that could be used to display video on portable devices.

Neither Apple nor any major studio was willing to confirm the talks.