US computer-maker Apple has posted its second quarterly loss in a row.

We're going to keep investing through this downturn Steve Jobs, Apple chief executive

The company is blaming weak demand for computers in the run up to Christmas and one-off costs associated with restructuring.

It sold 743,000 Macintosh computers during the quarter, about the same as it sold in the same period last year.

Chief executive Steve Jobs is hoping to capture consumer's imaginations with a range of new products launched last week, including a lightweight 17 inch powerbook and digital media hub iLife.

'Digital lifestyle'

Apple reported a first quarter loss of $8m, or two cents a share, compared with a profit of $38m in the same period last year.

Mr Jobs said: "We're going to keep investing through this downturn and continue to move our products and distribution channels ever further ahead of our competitors, so that when the economy rebounds we will be positioned for growth."

The company is pinning its hopes on "digital lifestyle" products such as its new PDA manager iSync and iCal calendar software.

Mr Jobs launched new lightweight laptops last week at the annual Macworld Conference & Expo.

He also promoted a digital media software suite called iLife, which is due to be launched in the US later this month.

The product includes updates of popular Apple software such as iPhoto, iMovie, iTunes and iDVD.

Share price

Users can e-mail home videos with their favourite music playing in the background, or integrate still photos into video projects.

Apple is hoping iLife will boost market share of the Macintosh operating system, particularly the newest Mac OS X, and entice customers to switch from personal computers using Microsoft Windows.

Before it released its results on Wednesday, Apple shares lost 18 cents to close at $14.43 on the Nasdaq Stock Market.

In the extended hours session, it lost another 16 cents.