Sources indicated to MacScoop that Apple does not plan to release iLife '07 during MacWorld SF - as it's been doing every year - but next Spring, alongside Leopard.

The consumer software suite, which includes iTunes, iMovie, iPhoto, iWeb and GarageBand will extensively use Leopard's latest core features but will keep backwards compatibility with Tiger, according to the our sources.

Apple has scheduled the release of Mac OS X Leopard for Spring 2007. Major operating system releases have historically never been subject of an Apple special event but have been made through marketing operations and parties that take place at the company's retail stores.

Apple's CEO, Steve Jobs has already provided a first Sneak Preview of Leopard back in August, during the Wordlwide Developers Conference 2006. He's expected to show some additional "super-secret" features during MacWorld SF opening keynote. Although iLife '07 will not be made available that same day, we can expect Apple to provide a preview during the keynote and through its web site.

During this keynote, scheduled on January the 9th, Apple should also provide exact release dates for both Leopard and iLife '07.