The time has come again, World of Apple have rounded up the hottest rumours, and dissected them and then regurgitated the results for joyous reading. If you're wondering what we're rounding up for then lets remind you, this Tuesday Apple will be hosting a Special Event, invites were sent out to select members of the media and seating is said to be limited. The Special Event will take place at 4 Infinite Loop in the Apple Town Hall, registration begins at 9.00am PT and the Event begins an hour later. Be sure to catch our coverage!
Now lets get into what we know.
Intel iBook
WOA Rumour Rating 5/10
Ever since the release of the MacBook Pro at MacWorld its been a hot topic that the iBook will follow suit, anybody with sense can guess that the new iBooks will indeed be called the MacBook. This naming scheme puts Apple in a great position for further extending its product lines.
AppleInsider has been leading the rumours of the upcoming MacBook but appears unable to confirm whether it will make an appearance on Tuesday. Over the past few months many details have appeared in reference to the MacBook in particular the rumour of a 13.3-inch widescreen model. it also seems natural that the systems would use Intel Core Solo chip which is rated at 1.67GHz. This would once again bring a good distinction between the two lines of laptop computers with the MacBook Pro rated at 1.83GHz and 2.16GHz.
AppleInsider has also mentioned that it expects the new MacBook to be the most redesigned Macintosh to come out of Apple for years.
But it looks slim that the new MacBook will make an impression at this Tuesday's Special Event.
Intel Mac mini - Media Centre
WOA Rumour Rating 8/10
This one has been hot on the cards and was widely expected at MacWorld this year but rumour has it that it was axed at the last minute. With all the rumour sites making guesses at the future of the Mac mini it is uncertain when the Intel Mac mini will makes its debut or even what it will pack.
Although rumour sites have very vaguely covered the subject it is expected that the Mac mini will make a further move in the Living Room bundling DVR functions.
Recently it became clear that Apple were no longer expected bulk orders of current Mac minis although shipping times on the online store have not been effected. Sources close to World of Apple have been able to confirm that this is the case and that a new Mac mini is in manufacturing. None of these sources were unable to confirm the presence of DVR features or when the product would be official launched.
iPod Boombox
WOA Rumour Rating 4/10
This is something AppleInsider has raved about for many months yet no solid information has been able to point towards the release of such a product, this would suggest that either the product was being kept very much under wraps because it is more than a speaker system or that the product does in fact not exist.
AppleInsider describes the device as a Boombox audio system or iPod Hi-Fi and notes that Apple trademarked the term BoomBox back in September. AppleInsider expects the iPod Hi-Fi to launch at a price "in excess of $300". The system is described as "an oversized iPod with boombox type speakers", possibly pointing to that 8-pound iPod Steve recently referred to.
World of Apple are unable to confirm anything related to the launch of such a product but we do realise the accuracy of AppleInsider reports so we cannot discount this rumour.
iPod Video
WOA Rumour Rating 6/10
Since the release of the Special Event Invitation earlier this week the iPod Video has been a hot topic with the leaking of a fake image purporting to be the new video iPod it became the topic of discussion, adding to the mix is the recent flurry of patent filings relating to touch screen devices and the fact that many of these patents contain imagery with the familiar iPod wheel in, it is expected that such a device could be released.
Think Secret recently pointed out that it expects Apple to release what it describes as a "true iPod Video" with a 3.5-inch widescreen display and the possibility of a touch screen display.
Although many little things point towards the existence of an iPod Video with touch screen display it looks unlikely that it's ready for the prime time.
iTunes Movie Store
WOA Rumour Rating 3/10
First of all if this was to ever see light of day it would not be called iTunes Movie Store as that is a clear contradiction. Nor do we think it should be called the iMovie Store but that's not important.
This week analysts came out of their shells and came out with some truly silly predictions but one that has particular taken hold is the rumour that Apple would begin selling feature length films. Although nothing strongly goes against the idea there is nothing available that works with the idea just yet, if Apple were to make a big move into the living room then making ventures into such an area wouldn't seem out of the question, but as of this point no infrastructure is in place and it would be incredibly costly to deliver full length movies via the internet.
We do realise we're really going out on a limb ourselves by truly knocking the idea, lets hope Apple have come up trumps and can deliver such a product.
Other Notable Mentions
Mac Tablet - WOA Rumour Rating 2/10
Shift in iPod nano Capacities - WOA Rumour Rating 1/10
This article will be updated as more information emerges, be sure to join World of Apple for our coverage of the Special Event on Tuesday.