Briefly: iTunes to get ads, Shake Universal Binary, iPod contracts

AdAge reports that Apple will include sponsored ads into iTunes, in the lower-left corner of the iTunes library while user listens to podcasts replacing the podcasts' cover.

According to MacWorld, Kirk Paulsen, senior director of pro applications marketing, told during the NAB conference that a universal binary version of Shake will be shipping in May. The product was demonstrated by the company on an Intel-based iMac and Kirk Paulsen admited that the PowerPC iMac couldn't have been used for the demonstration.

The DigiTimes reports that Apple has shifted its recently iPod video contract with Quanta to another manufacturer.

Meanwhile, another report claims PortalPlayer could be loosing its contract with Apple in favor to Samsung. Portal Player announced last week that it was loosing the flash-based iPods market over another manufacturer which was not revealed.