With "iPod" being one of the most searched-for terms on the net of late and store shelves fully stocked with iPods (despire recent dire predictions of short supplies), this will undoubtedly be an iPod-filled Christmas.

FreeiPodGuy wishes you a great one.

This will likely be my last last post for a few days.  

Got a PayPal account? PayPal and and iTunes have a great offer. Use your PayPal account to buy a $20 gift certificate at iTunes, and get 10 songs for free. Or, buy a $50 gift certificate and get 25 songs for free.

If you do like I'm going to and use the gift certificate for yourself, it's the equivalent of 33% off. (At least I THINK you can do that. Don't see why not.)

Or, you can use it like it was intended for a great last minute gift.

The gift certificate must be purchased by December 31, and the free song codes are good through May 2006.  

Yesterday, I reported on the possibility of new iPods in January. AppleInsider today identifies a new 1GB nano ($150?) as a possible replacement for the 1GB shuffle ($129), and an update to the 512MB shuffle, possibly including a small LCD screen.  

1GB iPod shuffles have sold out at the Apple Store Online, and Apple has already announced that no more will be available until after Christmas. Even before this occurred, rumors were flying that January's Macworld Expo (at which Steve Jobs will be delivering the keynote) would include an update (or replacement) of the shuffle line.

While it is hard to imagine the shuffle getting any smaller and still being usable, among the more plausible guesses would be lower prices and/or increased storage capacity.