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Apple Rumors

From the likely (a square iPod Nano with a touch screen) to the unlikely (a Verizon iPhone), The Daily Beast offers a complete guide to the innovations Apple's Steve Jobs could announce Wednesday afternoon.

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The iPod Touch is rumored to get a major overhaul, with back and front cameras, and high-definition retina display, which means FaceTime, aka video calling, capabilities! On the flip side, that smooth, curvy back might be going away.

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The iPod Nano, first introduced as a replacement to the iPod mini, is likely to be reshaped into a square device with a touch screen. Pictures of a number of cases and screen protectors have leaked in the last few weeks, so most tech pundits think this is most likely "a go."

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The iTunes desktop software program is expected to get a major overhaul, with possibilities including, but certainly not limited to, longer song previews, a social networking element, a web-based lite version, and improved "music discovery".

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Will your iPod and iPhone get a new iOS 4.1 update? Will FaceTime technology make its way into email on your iPod Touch? Will Apple introduce GameCenter, which has been in beta for a few weeks, to the masses? Maybe!

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There's a chance Apple might unveil a new "set-top box," synced with Netflix, in an all-new version of Apple TV that will help "deliver TV to consumers," all according to a Bloomberg report.

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Rumor has it Apple might unleash two new versions of its paper-thin MacBook Air. iThinkDifferent notes it's "long overdue" and that these models might have 11.6-inch and 13.3-inch displays.

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Rumors keep surfacing that Apple plans to announce an updated version of its multimedia suite, iLife. If so, expect to lose iDVD, gain improvements in iWeb, and have your mind blown by some unidentified "mystery application"!

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Owners of both iPhones and iPads have long awaited iOS4 for both devices. Some are guessing we might get a look at iOS4 on the iPad, which means multitasking, app folders, and more. Don't get too excited to implement, however, as it still might be a few months before Apple's ready to roll it out…if it even happens at all. Along these lines, but more in the "Yea, right!" category, is an iPad refresh.

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If we get that Apple TV announcement, look out for a follow-up slide that allows for your iPhone or iPod Touch to be its remote. Yes, this means you can talk to your mother while fast-forwarding through the dull scenes in House.

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TV episodes on iTunes currently run $1.99 for a single episode, or $2.99 for HD. Some are speculating Apple might unveil 99-cent TV rentals, potentially alongside that Apple TV as well. The Los Angeles Times reported that Disney's on board, CBS, NBC, and Time Warner are opposed, and News Corp. is swinging both ways.

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Music geeks have been hoping for a cloud-based iTunes service for a while now, but tech pundits and industry insiders are shaking their heads, saying it's too soon for the music labels. Apple's current agreements don't allow streaming services, so unless that all changes overnight, this one's doubtful. Also in this category is the " digital shelf", a space where Mobile Me users might keep limited content for viewing/listening anytime.

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While pretty much everyone would welcome The Beatles in the iTunes Store, Apple and The Beatles' Apple Corp. company have been at each other's necks for years, and it's not looking like things have changed as of late. Gearlog notes they are "still as much at odds as ever."

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Rumors of a coming Verizon iPhone have been gaining steam throughout the summer, but this likely isn't the event for such an announcement. Verizon users, you can dream on, keeping your fingers crossed for that "one more thing…" shocker that comes near the end of every good Apple event. 2011 is more likely.

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