Will the third generation iPod touch, widely expected to be released at Apple's next Music Event in September, weigh in at 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB, and be position at $199/$299/$399?

Whether Daring Fireball is making the logical assumption based on Apple's previous behavior and iPod touch price points, or they're privy to something a little more concrete, that's what Gruber is saying in response to the Zune HD's pricing of 16GB/32GB for $219/$289.

(Though currently the second gen 8GB iPod touch is $229, not $199...?)

Since the iPod touch has two NAND Flash slots for the iPhone's one, it typically gets double the upper-range of storage for the same year's iPhone. Thus, the 32GB iPhone 3GS almost certainly means a 64GB iPod touch this September.

If accurate, then, there goes Microsoft's purported pricing advantage, storage-wise. (If the iPod touch does indeed have built in camera and video capability, or other so-far-unleaked features, it could again be a case of Microsoft shipping a spectacular Zune, 1 or 2 years too late...)

Apple Insider picks up a Sierra Sun story about Apple filming a top secret commercial for a new product at a restaurant called Jax at the Tracks in Truckee, California. Said owner Bud Haley:

“Apple found us, they're trying to show us as a hip and cool spot for the 20-something crowd.”

Indeed? So what was it for, folks? The upcoming third generation iPod touch? The mythical iTablet? Steve Jobs' revolutionary iVeggie Smoothy cup? Sound off in the comments and let us know what you expect!

Rumors of the third generation iPod touch getting a camera -- even video camera -- is nothing new, however Wired.com now claims they may be getting a built-in microphone as well:

A well-connected source tells us those rumors are on the money, and that Apple’s factories in China are already manufacturing iPod Touch models with integrated cameras and microphones. An Apple spokesman declined to comment when reached by phone.

With the addition of video to Camera, and the Voice Memo app, combined with a built-in mic making VoIP even easier, we'll come out and say it -- ultimate non-phone handset is nigh.

Apple typically unveils new iPod touch models once a year at their special music event, alongside other iPods and related announcements -- which last time, at Let's Rock included the iPhone 2.1 firmware and iTunes 8.

[via MacRumors]

Apple's third generation iPod touch seems to be going out for a little web-based test drive. Designated iPod touch 3,1, we first saw code hints of it in the iPhone 3.0 beta firmware, and then in rumors about the iPod touch getting a camera. Now, according to app analytics provider PinchMedia:

we’ve been noticing an “iPod 3,1″ string appearing in our version reporting, signifying what we believe to be a new yet-to-be-released version of the iPod Touch.

For the last two years, Apple has reveled new iPod touch models during their fall music-focused events. Last year, the second generation iPod touch debuted at Let's Rock alongside iPhone 2.1, and iTunes 8.

Since Apple likes their product cycles, does this mean we'll see iPod touch 3,1 and iPhone 3.1 sometime this September?

[via TUAW]

UPDATE: Ars Technica has found references to an iProd 0,1 (iProduct prototype? Could that be the iTablet?) and an iFPGA, which they say may be something to do with "field-programmable gate array" (yeah, us neither). So Apple is either really busy building out their Mobile OS X offerings, or are having a load of fun punkd'ing the blogosphere...

ORIGINAL: We pretty much know there will be new iPhone hardware. Apple is likely always working a generation, two generations, three generations ahead. What we don't know is what and when.

The first iPhone 2G (2007) is references as iPhone 1,1 while the iPhone 3G (2008) is 1,2 -- which indicates it wasn't a significant hardware revision (3G and GPS not significant? Okay!)

The first iPod touch (2007) was 1,2, however the iPod touch Gen 2 (2008) was 2,1 -- which indicates a more significant revision (external speaker and volume controls, Nike+ are significant? Okay again!)

Now BGR is reporting that deep delving into the iPhone OS 3.0 has found references to future models. iPhone 2,1, which we've heard about before, makes it look like Apple has a more significant hardware revision on its way for the iPhone. No idea what that is yet (we've guessed iPhone HD). What's new is a reference to iPhone 3,1(!).

Does this mean there are 2 new hardware models coming? And soon as in this year (2009)? Or will 3,1 follow a year or more after 2,1, like Apple does with iPod models?

Speaking of which, the code also reveals an iPod touch 3,1. Could that be an iPod touch HD? A large size iPod touch iTablet? Or should we quiet our fanboy hearts for a moment?