Apple to stream Sept 1 event exclusively to Mac, iPod

Apple announced that -- for the first time in recent memory -- it will provide a live video stream of tomorrow's music event, but there's a catch. You'll only be able to watch it on a Mac, iPhone, iPad, or iPod.

In the first sentence of its press release, Apple says (emphasis mine):

Apple® will broadcast its September 1 event online using Apple’s industry-leading HTTP Live Streaming, which is based on open standards.

...then in the next sentence it says:

Viewing requires either a Mac® running Safari® on Mac OS® X version 10.6 Snow Leopard®, an iPhone® or iPod touch® running iOS 3.0 or higher, or an iPad™.

CNet notes the peculiarity:

To our knowledge, this is the first time that viewing of a company's Web event has been restricted to hardware sold by that company. Some observers say the move effectively excludes the majority of Web users, since Safari commands only 5 percent of the browser market, compared with Internet Explorer's 60 percent, Firefox's 22 percent, and Chrome's 7 percent.

If you don't have an Apple device, don't fret ZDNet will be live-blogging the event.