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Rumours of Microsoft’s successor to Vista have been cropping up virtually since day one, and if this latest one is to be believed, it looks like one of the earliest may have been right on target after all. According to TG Daily, "several industry sources" are now saying that the a very early version of the so-called "Windows 7" OS has already shipped to "key partners," and that Microsoft is now eying the second half of 2009 for a release of the real deal. That’s a slight revision from the most recent rumours, which had pegged the debut as late as 2010 or, more vaguely, sometime within the next three years. As if that wasn’t enough, Microsoft’s apparently also lined up the next two early versions to be released, with the so-called M2 build slated for April or May of this year, and the M3 release slated to drop sometime in the third quarter. Given recent history, however, it’s probably not the best idea to start marking your calendars just yet.

Apple just admitted that the first Apple TV didn’t quite work out -- so it’s back with a new model that can access iTunes directly, and streams movies from the new rental store in both DVD quality and HD with 5.1 surround. HD rentals cost a dollar more than SD content -- $3.99 and $4.99, and they’ll sync back to your computer as well. The YouTube selection has also been expanded to 50M videos, there’s now Flickr support in addition to .mac, and what’s more, the entire UI has been revamped. The new single menu interface offers quick search of all available titles, and includes access to 600 TV shows that are available for $1.99, as well as your iTunes library and HD podcasts. Current owners aren’t left out in the cold, though -- Apple’s offering the new software as a free download. That’s not all, either -- to lure you in to the frightening world of HD rentals, Apple’s dropped the price to $229, down from $299.

Sure, we all got a chuckle when Steve Jobs pulled the MacBook Air out from within a manila envelope on stage, but we didn’t exactly expect to-be owners to snag one from the supply cabinet and put it to use. Nevertheless, the quick-thinking duo that is Jona Bechtolt and Claire L. Evans had an idea to riff on Apple’s and create -- surprise, surprise -- a fully functional case resembling a manila folder. Reportedly, this sleeve is handmade from "durable upholstery-grade vinyl and lined with fuzzy, soft fleece," which should protect your forthcoming MBA from all but the nastiest of bumps.

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