Although most expected Apple to announce new products such as its iPad 3 tablet or an Apple-branded TV in an upcoming January event, industry insiders believe that the company will issue some media-related announcements. Apple is expected to hold an event for its new services in New York at the end of this month.

Apple's senior vice president of Internet Software and Services will host the event, according to an AllThingsD report. Given that Eddy Cue is in charge of media-related services, including the iTunes Store, App Store, iBookstore and iAd, the site predicted his announcement will focus on this area.

Zeus Kerravala, an analyst with ZK Research, said that Apple would probably highlight changes to iBooks this month, citing his own sources .

"It's a media-related event of some sort," said . "And it looks like it will be something about books and magazines, about iBooks. The fact that it's going to take place in New York City gives that away."

He expects Apple to revamp the iBooks app on its iOS devices, and offer Mac users the ability to read books on those machines, probably using the iCloud service that currently emphasizes music.

Another possibility suggested today by multiple media outlets was an expansion of Apple's efforts in digital textbooks

Apple has a history of announcing products during the week of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), where it does not exhibit.

Earlier reports hinted that Apple would release two new iPads at the iWorld in January 26, 2012.