Aug 30, 2010 07:01 GMT  ·  By
A photo of the Yerba Buena Center in San Francisco as it gets prepared for Apple's special event this week
   A photo of the Yerba Buena Center in San Francisco as it gets prepared for Apple's special event this week

Enthusiasts are dishing around photos of man-operated machines dressing up the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (San Francisco, California), depicting preparation of the venue for yet another iconic Apple event.

In what is already customary for the Cupertino-based maker of Macs, iPhones and iPods, this year’s event is to be held on September 1, according to a message sent by Apple to select members of the media.

The invitations bear an acoustic guitar with an Apple-shaped sound hole, hinting at the company’s ongoing focus on music.

Although many expect Apple to introduce an iTV this fall, there is little indication that such plans are underway.

A fourth generation iPod touch with FaceTime support and (perhaps) 3G networking, as well as a six-gen nano with a 3x3 cm touchscreen are expected to drop this week.

Several tech-publications, including Softpedia, have recently reported that hardware leaks indicate at least two new iPods are coming out of Cupertino.

Last week, we informed our readers of new findings fueling rumors of a touch-centric nano which boasts a design akin to that of early-generation iPod shuffle players.

Citing people familiar with Apple’s plans, technology site AppleInsider claimed to have learned that the device was expected to have a traditional, 30-pin dock connector, which should enable compatibility with existing iPod accessories.

The touch panel Apple is allegedly using in the new nanos was leaked in photos earlier this year.

Review image
Review image
Review image
Workers dressing up San Francisco's Yerba Buena Center in anticipation of Apple's Sept. 1 event Credits: images gathered by 9to5mac from Twitpic and Flickr As for the new, fourth-generation iPod touch, the player is not only rumored to bring FaceTime support via two cameras and email-based calling abilities, but also to boast 3G wireless.

For this, Apple would need to include a SIM tray akin to the iPhone 4, AppleInsider noted, citing its sources.

A new version of iLife would mark the wrap of Apple’s event, with the company expected to introduce a revamped version of the suite featuring a new “mystery application” and lacking iDVD.