iPhone + Mac = Love? UBS analyst Ben Reitzes released a research note this week stipulating that Apple may shake things up a little next year by integrating iPhone technology into other products…like Macs. Of course, Reitzes said, Apple would have to get the price of this fantastic hybrid device down to around $500 or $600. Which bodes well for our fantasy of a $200 iPhone by, say, late 2008. (According to a survey of 379 U.S. residents released by Compete Inc., only 1 percent of those who said they were likely to buy an iPhone said they'd pay $500 for it. But 42 percent said they'd pay $200 to $299. That's probably just fine with Apple, since Steve Jobs has already said that all he wants is 1 percent of the cell-phone market.)

In his research note, UBS analyst Reitzes also expressed optimism about sales of Macs throughout 2007, forecasting a year-over-year unit growth of 34 percent to 1.5 million units. Next year's lookin' bright too, with Mac sales expected to grow by 25 percent to 8.4 million units for fiscal year 2008.

Oh, yeah, and Reitzes also mentioned that he expects Apple to host an event at which it will unveil Leopard in April or May, but we're still holding out for end of March.

Euro iPhone to feature 3G by early 2008. When a Swedish firm threatened to drop a huge wireless service contract because it was worried it would make it impossible to move up to the iPhone, its contact at the wireless company assured the firm that the iPhone would be available in Europe by September. But, reports AppleInsider, even more surprising was the assurance that a 3G version of the iPhone would be available in Europe by January 2008. Those lucky Euros!!

Pondering a Jobs-less Apple. As much as we'd like to ignore those stock-related allegations that keep dogging Apple, the Wall Street types refuse to cooperate. TheStreet.com today looks at what Apple would be like if Steve had to leave. Some analysts interviewed took a dire view: "Steve Jobs is Apple's No. 1 asset." Others figure, eh, life would go on: "If Jobs leaves, it's not necessary that Apple falls apart. The perception might be that."

Predicting Apple TV's impact. In a PC Magazine column, Creative Strategies analyst Tim Bajarin weighs in on why the Apple TV matters in the landscape of media convergence. He concludes, "Apple will be the one that finally gets customers to understand what it means to move their content around the house." All the while, the days in February are slowly running out...and the Apple TV hopeful are on pins and needles. (Ouch. Ouch. Ouch.)

Start getting pumped for the WWDC! Apple released topics for six session tracks at the Worldwide Developers' Conference to be held June 11-15 in San Francisco. Most of the excitement centers around the Leopard Innovations track, which tempts developers with the prospect of learning "how to use these technologies to revolutionize" their applications.

Microsoft loses to Lucent. As Steve basks in the glow of the iPhone agreement with Cisco, he might also be gloating over the federal jury decision yesterday ordering Microsoft to pay $1.5 billion to Alcatel-Lucent in a patent dispute over MP3 audio technology used in Windows. The jury arrived at that whopping fine based on the number of Windows machines that sold in 2003. Meanwhile, a company that you've never heard of is also suing Microsoft. And the Brits are demanding that Microsoft lower the price of Vista in the UK. (Think that would work with the iPhone?)

It's almost Saturday… If you tend to enjoy rough-and-tumble leisure activities and you bring our iPod along, you'll soon have a way to keep your 'Pod scratch-free. Here's something to give the kids so they'll leave you in peace for a few hours: a high-tech terrarium that lets them "play God." Or, if you prefer less wholesome entertainment (not to mention dining), take the rugrats to McDonald's for Happy Meals, which are now packing WowWee robots. (Yeah, we'd never heard of 'em either, but the kids love 'em!)