With the Macworld Conference & Expo only a few weeks off, yours truly thought it might be a good time to head on over to AppleInsider and see what’s on tap for current Apple-related gossip. It’s kind of funny how much fuss was made last year leading up to Macworld 2007, mostly speculation about iPhone, and how relatively quiet the rumor mill is this year.

 

One very likely announcement from Apple at Macworld might be a deal with 20th Century Fox to rent movies on-demand through iTunes. AppleInsider reports that such a deal is in the works, according to a recent Financial Times article quoting “a person familiar with the situation.” Sounds like a credible source to me!

 

The service would supposedly work like this: users could download a complete movie from iTunes, for a rental fee, but it would only last a set amount of time before “expiring.” Fox would also provide DVD copies of the movies that are copy protected to an extent; these copies would allow the movies to be transferred to a device (e.g. iPod, iPhone) for viewing.

 

Who knows, AppleInsider said—it’s possible not only Fox but other studios as well may be on hand at Macworld to announce similar deals.

 

Of course, all of this is speculation since none of the parties mentioned here—Apple, Fox, other studios—have confirmed that such deals are even in the works.

 

Another possible announcement at Macworld might be exclusive iPhone distribution deals between Apple and mobile service providers in China and Japan. (China Mobile? DoCoMo?) Also, Apple probably will say something about releasing a 3G-enabled iPhone in 2008 (AT&T’s CEO let this slip in November.)

 

It remains to be seen what effect any such announcements would have on Apple’s continued business success. The company is pretty highly valued, if stock prices are any indication; on Wednesday shares of the company topped $200 for the first time, closing at $198.95. Would you pay $200 for a share of Apple?