Business briefs for June 29, 2004

Tuesday, June 29, 2004 | 11:11 a.m.

Apple CEO touts next system

SAN FRANCISCO -- Apple Computer Inc. Chief Executive Steve Jobs says the 2005 launch of the next Mac OS X operating system will have features "way ahead" of Microsoft Corp.'s next Windows release due out in 2006.

"It's going to drive the copycats crazy," Jobs said Monday before an enthusiastic audience at the opening keynote of Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference at San Francisco's Moscone Center.

Code-named "Tiger," the upgrade will be the fifth version of Mac OS X in its four-year history.

Among 150 planned new features will be an advanced new searching tool called "Spotlight" that can instantly search for keywords across different types of files in the machine -- whether they're in an e-mail, image, or text document.

Bid boosted in takeover offer

COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho -- Coeur d'Alene Mines Corp., the biggest U.S. silver producer, today increased its hostile bid for Wheaton River Minerals Ltd. by 8.8 percent to $C2.52 billion ($1.88 billion) in stock.

The offer was increased to 0.796 share of Coeur common stock for each Wheaton share from 0.731 share, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho- based Coeur said in a statement. Holders can still elect to take C$1 a share in cash plus Coeur shares. Based on Coeur's closing price Monday, the offer values Wheaton at C$4.44 a share, 18 percent above Wheaton's close yesterday.

Coeur last week asked Wheaton shareholders to approve its offer and reject a bid by Canadian mining rival Iamgold Corp. The Wheaton board had refused the Coeur bid and supported the Iamgold combination.