eWeek reports that Apple is nearing the release of new Power Macs featuring IBM’s 64-bit PowerPC 970 chip — but a 64-bit version of Mac OS X (expected to be the upcoming Mac OS X “Panther”) may lag behind by a month or two. “Sources said that the IBM chip will make its first appearance in a new Power Mac known internally as Q37. However, sources said, Q37 won’t ship with a 64-bit version of Mac OS X, limiting OS performance gains in the initial release. Instead, Q37 will launch with a special build train of the current Mac OS X Version 10.2, aka Jaguar. This build, code-named ‘Smeagol,’ will run on the new chip but won’t take advantage of many of its key features, including 64-bit support.” Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference will feature a keynote by Apple CEO Steve Jobs, who is expected to unveil “Panther.” The event will be held June 23-28 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco.