Despite still not being there, Apple again the talk of Mobile World Congress

Mobile World Congress 2011 has brought a couple of Android tablets -- LG Optimus Pad, Samsung Galaxy Tab 2-- and slew of Android and Windows phones -- LG Optimus 3D, Sony Xperia Play and Xperia Pro, and Samsung Omnia 7 -- but a quick look at the blogsphere shows an awful lot of headlines about iPad 2, iPad 3, and iPhone nano -- products that don't (yet) exist from Apple, a company not even at the show. (And which may or may not fit into an iPad or iPhone "family")

Last year Apple was the talk of MWC after their iPad announcement, and 2009 they got the buzz following the success of Apple's App Store. How does one company who doesn't even attend MWC still manage to hijack so much press?

Rene joked on Twitter yesterday that the iPad 3 and iPhone nano leaks, coming right at the start of MWC, was remarkable timing. Could it also be remarkable, and remarkably effective strategy on Apple's part to keep their competitors on their heels? Do you think the rumors warrant all the buzz they are drawing at MWC 2011?