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Apple teases worldwide Black Friday sale

Apple has begun putting up teaser pages on its online stores for a "one-day shopping event" that will take place around the world this Friday.

The Cupertino, Calif., company is keeping holiday tradition alive this year with its annual Black Friday sale, though it has yet to reveal what items will be on sale this Friday. Commonly referred to as Black Friday, the last Friday of November is usually the biggest shopping day of the year in the U.S.

For now, Apple says only that customers will discover "amazing iPad, iPod and Mac gifts" during the one-day event. The teaser page has appeared on a number of Apple's international online stores, including Australia, Italy and U.K., and the U.S. store is expected to receive its own banner within hours, as noted by MacStories.

Apple's Black Friday deals last year were fairly modest: $101 off iMac, MacBook Pro and MacBook Air systems, $41 off the iPad, a $21 discount on iPod touches and $11 off the iPod nano. Other deals included small discounts on accessories such as wireless base stations, keyboards and the Magic Trackpads and Magic Mouse.

Traditionally, third-party retailers have undercut Apple's promotion with their own discounts for the start of the holiday shopping season. AppleInsider will have full coverage later this week. For instance, an ad for Best Buy's Black Friday sale has reportedly leaked online. According to BFAds.net, the big-box retailer is offering $45 off the iPad 2 and $150 off a limited supply of iMacs and MacBook Pros. The Apple TV will sell for $89.99 and a limited number of $100 iTunes cards will sell for just $80.

Apple is widely expected to set new sales records this holiday season. One recent survey found that the company's iOS devices rank at the top of kids' wish lists this Christmas season.

In its most recent quarterly earnings conference call, Apple said it expects revenue of roughly $37 billion in the December quarter. Given that the company is known for its conservative estimates, some industry watchers believe Apple could top the $40 billion mark this quarter for the first time in its history.