Much buzz online these days about Apple's rumored plans (rumor started by 9to5Mac's Cleve Nettles) to introduce a New Media server product next week at Macworld 2009...

"Apple's take on the system would reportedly expand out Time Capsule's functionality from being a single drive backup system into a more robust multi-drive backup server," writes MacRumors' Arnold Kim. "In addition, tie-ins would be made to Apple's MobileMe services to deliver access to your files and media from anywhere on the Internet."

"The rationale behind a personal media server is simple," writes The Register's Rik Myslewski. "Users today are media junkies who demand regular fixes of audio, video, and images wherever and whenever the need strikes. A media server allows access to personal files stored on it - or stored in the proverbial cloud - whenever an Internet connection is available. A media server also centralizes a media collection so that anyone with appropriate privileges can have easy access to the same digital goodies."

"A device such as this would appeal to those that have the need to efficiently store, access and share files from any computer or mobile device connected to their home network," notes Aviv at MacBlogz. "For example, a home with three computers and two Apple TVs could access the same media from this home server seamlessly..."

More here from Gizmodo ... more here from The iPhone Blog ... more here from MAC.BLORGE ... and more here from ChannelWeb.