Apple CFO Peter Oppenheimer provided interesting answers to questions about the direction of the iPod at last week's Goldman Sachs Technology Investment Symposium. Apple's CFO was a featured presenter representing the company among 140 other leading tech companies in the U.S. Oppenheimer noted the following:

-Apple is co-developing an "iTunes mobile music player" with Motorola to combine a mobile phone with an MP3 player. This will ostensibly compete with the new Sony-Ericsson phones that do the same.
-Do not expect a video iPod anytime soon. Apple thinks such devices have "failed in the marketplace" due to their small screen dimensions and bulky size.
-The iPod is a part and parcel strategy to win back eroded desktop computer market share, often referred to as the "halo effect."
-It's no secret why Apple created the Mac Mini (despite many clamoring for an 'icheap), 75% of all desktop computers retailed for under $800.
-Apple is midly receptive to the idea of a media center PC because their research shows consumers would prefer a powerful desktop in the office beaming content wirelessly to other outlets in the home.