Apple speculation is varied, and plentiful

An Apple lightsaber? That's about the only thing that hasn't been suggested in thousands of blog postings about what Apple might be planning to unveil at a special press event next Wednesday.

While most people are predicting (or even praying) that the "one more thing," teased in the e-mailed press invite is the long-rumored video iPod, other guesses have ranged from new Power Mac G5s to camera iPods or even a new 80 GB iPod.

Anything is possible, it appears. Apple surprised most pundits (and disappointed some consumers) at what was also a highly-anticipated press event last month by unveiling the iPod Nano, instead of the video iPod. On one thing we can count: The speculation has just begun.

Blog community response:

"The event, Think Secret has learned, will not usher in the much rumored video iPod but rather new PowerBook and Power Mac systems...While the October 12 event will disappoint Apple watchers eager to see the fruits of Apple's labor on its fifth-generation iPod, it has become apparent that Apple wants to avoid detracting attention from the new iPod nano, which carries high margins and which Apple expects might sell up to 10 million units this holiday quarter."
--Think Secret

"Apple Computer has begun production of a new version of its iPod digital music player that will be capable of playing videos, AppleInsider has learned. Reliable sources believe the iPod could be introduced as early as next week, possibly around the time Apple releases results from its fourth fiscal quarter of 2005."
--AppleInsider

"During a news broadcast on BBC 6 Music they announced that 'Apple is set to unveil a new video iPod at the BBC Television centre on October 12th. The company is expected to reveal details of the new MP3 and video player as well as video bundles to be available from the company's iTunes store.' Our take on this, it looks like someone wasn't told to keep shut about this one, oops!"
--World of Apple

"Global warming: worrying. War on terror: troubling. Tory leadership: who's it going to be? Right, now that lot's out of the way we can talk about the really important stuff--like the prospect of a new video iPod being announced next week!"
--Goat Mix Man

"Apple has sent out another invitation to a mystery product release scheduled for October 12th. Only it doesn't seem to be too much of a mystery, tech analysts think that Apple will release the iPod Video for sure this time."
--Eazman v2