MP3PlayerBuying report: the latest news of the famous MP3 players company apple!

Apple today announced the latest in its kind-of-sort-of successful iPod line, the sixth generation iPod "classic." Like the brand new iPod MP3 player nano, the flagship iPod is also sporting an all-new interface, headlined by Cover Flow. The iPod comes in 80GB and 160GB capacities, with 30 hours of battery for audio playback, 6 hours of video on the 80GB version, and 40 hours / 7 hours for the 160GB MP3 player unit. In addition to the new interface, the iPod classic is getting a new all-metal shell, and is selling at $249 for the 80 gigger, $349 for 160. You can order one today, and they should be hitting stores by the weekend.

Late this afternoon Apple sent out invites to a special event on September 5th, confirming rumors first sparked by Apple Insider several days ago. The invite for the event, which will take place at the Moscone West venue in San Francisco 1:00 PM Eastern time, 10:00 AM Pacific, also validates Apple Insider claims that the forum will unveil the new iPod line. An iPod line that will resemble Apple's recently shipped iPod phone in both looks and non phone-based features like Wi-Fi and a widescreen display.

September 5th may also see the annoucement of other new MP3 players, possibly another updated version of Apple TV. We may even get updated sales figures for the iPhone MP3 players, something Apple normally saves for its quarterly report, but might release to manage expectations that right now rely on wildly speculative reports.