Set Your Crosshairs on Sept 1

That's the day when Apple will hold yet another big press conference event to unload a slew of new information on us. Check after the break to find out a compilation of the latest rumors and what we think will happen.

iPod Touch Refresh

Given that Apple's back-to-school free-iPod Touch deal expires September 7, it's a good bet that the current model will no longer be offered after that point and that a new series of iPod Touches will replace them. The latest screenshots of cases indicate a round back, much like the current model, but clearly include space for a rear camera. It's also likely that new iPod Touches will receive the retina display and a front-facing VGA camera to allow for Wi-Fi only FaceTime chat.

This, of course, will make the iPad the only premier mobile device from Apple to not feature a camera, making it all the more likely that the second generation of iPads will indeed have cameras. A rear camera makes less sense for taking casual photos, but it does make sense given that FaceTime allows you to switch between the two cameras for excellent use.

iPod Nano Refresh

All indications point to a new, much smaller iPod Nano, something more akin to an iPod Shuffle. If it does indeed get that small, it would render the Shuffle more obsolete; at minimum, the Shuffle would feel more like a stripped-down Nano and seem more like a low-quality device than simply an alternative iPod. Could Apple be getting ready to discontinue the Shuffle? Expect an announcement, but don't expect a lot of time devoted to it. This could certainly be the mystery device that Apple is testing iOS on, although we're sure it would use it to a different end.

iPad Mini

The iPad Mini, if it even exists, should not be unveiled next Wednesday. It's simply not the right time. In fact, don't expect this announcement (if ever) until the next batch of iPads in general are announced, which probably won't be until early next year. This mythical 7" tablet just doen't seem like a good idea in our books, but we'll wait and see.

Cloud-based iTunes

The latest rumors are saying that cloud-streaming of your iTunes library is unlikely to happen right now, because Apple hasn't secured all the necessary rights for it. What is expected, though, is a web-based version of iTunes that would allow you to purchase new media without having to install the full client.

There's also a lot of speculation about social media integration, which seems like a no-brainer. In fact, we're surprised that this hasn't come about yet. Plenty of other music services allow you to connect to Facebook, Twitter, and other social networks to let people know what you listen to, what you're watching, and so forth, so it's about time Apple got on the bandwagon.

Apple TV Refresh

We all want this to happen, but given that Apple's invitation features a guitar, a device with a video emphasis would be out of place. It could certainly be the "one more thing" of the event, and we would welcome a $99 iOS device for our big TVs, but we also won't be surprised if Apple holds off on this for another upcoming event later this year.

Stay tuned to Padvance, as we'll have full coverage of the event as it unfolds in the middle of next week!