Apple creates new division for iPod

Apple has confirmed it is splitting the company into two product divisions - one focused on the Mac and the other focused on iPod digital music player.

An Apple representative confirmed the move and said John Rubinstein, the senior VP who currently heads all hardware development, will lead the new iPod division. Tim Cook, currently executive VP of worldwide sales and operations, will be in charge of the new Mac division. Also, Tim Bucher, who currently heads Macintosh system development, was tapped to head Mac hardware engineering.

The move comes as Apple's business is increasingly focused on iPod and more generally on music. Last quarter, Apple said it sold more iPods than Macs - the first time that occurred.

Apple said in a statement: "This organisational refinement will focus our talent and resources even more precisely on our industry-leading Macintosh computers and the wildly successfully iPod."

Apple has sold more than three million iPods since its launch in October 2001.

The iPod was followed in April 2003 with the launch of Apple iTunes music store - the most popular legal downloading service with more than 70 million downloads.

Ina Fried writes for CNET News.com