Blu-ray coming to next gen Apple iMacs?

Blu-ray could be coming to the next generation of Apple iMacs according to the latest Mac rumour.

AppleInsider offered little hard evidence on Friday but suggested compelling new features could include Blu-ray, which Apple's Steve Jobs has previously dismissed as a "bag of hurt" due to prohibitive complex licensing.

"One of those features is said to have long been on the wish-lists of many Mac users while the other is expected to cater to the semi-professional audio/video crowd," AppleInsider said.

"This is according to cryptic tips from people often familiar with the Mac maker's future product initiatives, but who declined to elaborate because they were not authorised to discuss the matter in detail."

Slimmer, sleeker iMacs could also be on the horizon according to the Web site, closer in styling to Apple's latest 24-inch LED-lit Cinema Display.

Meanwhile the Boy Genius Report suggests iTunes 9, due possibly in September when traditionally new iPods are announced in time for Christmas, will also offer Blu-ray support along with the ability to visually organise and arrange your iPhone and iPod touch applications.

Previously, a forum member at MacRumors.com spotted that the then forthcoming iTunes 8.2 release included references to Blu-Ray data from Gracenote, which supplies the track listing information that appears in iTunes when you insert a CD, although this failed to materialise.

Previous estimates have suggested it would cost Apple, or the consumer, $30 per Mac to add Blu-ray support.