According to research firm iSuppli, indications are that Apple is about to replace the hard drive in the 4GB iPod mini with flash memory. If true, this can only be good news. Flash memory has several advantages:

* It is slightly lighter.

* It has the potential to be cheaper. (If it is, it will probably not lower the price of the iPod, but rather increase the profit margin.)

* Best of all, it could dramatically improve the longevity of each battery recharge.

Hopefully Apple will resist the temptation to make the iPod mini even smaller than it is now. FreeiPodGuy is about to get his 3rd iPod, and he's getting a little tired of having to buy new accessories just because Apple kept changing the iPod's thickness.

Ironically, the maker of the memory chips that Apple will be putting into these iPods is Samsung, who seems to be hedging their bets. Just last week Samsung announced they would release 6 new mp3 players before the end of the year to compete with the iPod. Even if the iPod kills their mp3 players, Samsung still wins. A smart move on their part.