Here’s the latest “leaked” image of Apple’s upcoming tablet. Images hit the net this morning. It’s likely fake, though it comes from a French blog with a decent track record. The image certainly jibes with the iPhone/iPod touch and iMac, and with the rumors we’ve heard. But the thing that jumps out at us is the placement of the home key, which is odd.

You’ll also notice OS X on the display. Analysts have been guessing that the device would run some version of the iPhone OS. What do you think? Fake? Or the real deal?

Leaked images and all sorts of rumors have run rampant about Microsoft’s Zune HD. The device is the latest Zune PMP from Microsoft to try to combat the Apple iPod. The Zune HD is aimed directly at the iPod touch.

Microsoft announced today that the player is set to hit store shelves on September 15 and is available for pre-order today. The HD will be offered in 16GB and 32GB capacities and is the first touch screen Zune player.

According to a report in Barron’s, a “veteran analyst” is claiming to have actually handled Apple’s rumored tablet-device. If you believe the report, the tablet is still on for an announcement in September with availability in November.

The analyst claims the device will cost between $699-$799 and will be aimed at users as a media player and gaming device. Apparently the tablet is just waiting on Steve Jobs to give it the final go. He also claims that other ODMs have put a hold on new products until they see what Apple has up it’s sleeve.

According to the Financial Times, Apple is all set to launch the Apple tablet in September, along with some fancy new iPods. Word is that Apple is working with record labels and book publishers on new iTunes features for the new device. Companies like EMI, SonyMusic, Warner Music and Universal Music Group. They’ve apparently codenamed the project “Cocktail”.

If you believe the Financial Times’ sources, the device will have a 10-inch touchscreen and run iPhone OS. The tablet will be able to connect to the Internet using Wi-Fi and looks like it will also have a book marketplace.

According to a source at Wired, Apple’s Chinese contractors are already hard at work cranking out iPod touch units with cameras and microphones. If true, it would turn the smart media player almost into an iPhone.

According to their source, these new iPods will go on sale in “two to three months.” Could Apple eventually gain carrier independence with a 100% VoIP solution? Things could get very interesting starting in “two to three months.”

Sometimes it seems like the technology world survives on Apple rumors. The new iPhone was rumored each time a new Apple event was scheduled. I guess if you predict that a new Apple product will launch each time Apple holds an event, eventually you will be right.

The long rumored Apple tablet computer has been refreshed with the new rumor putting an October launch date on the device. The rumor also says that the tablet will cost about $800.

With every release the iPhone and iPod gets more powerful and Apple just might be looking into integrated micro projector technology for future iPhones and iPods. It would allow your media to be shared with your family and friends whenever you wanted. It may just happen if you believe the Taiwanese rumor site DigiTimes.

According to them Foxlink, a subsidiary of Apple’s iPhone manufacturing partner Foxconn, is currently developing its own micro projector technology that should begin making its way into integrated devices as early as this year. Apple is on the list.

TechCrunch claims that they have heard evidence that the next generation iPod Touch will have a built in video camera. One of their sources in Asia says that Apple has placed an order for a massive number of camera modules of the type that they include in the iPhone.

The source says that due to the size of the order, they can only be used for one thing – the iPods. Since May it has been rumored that the iPod Touch would get a camera. When Apple does update the new iPod Touch, it seems likely that they will also upgrade the device to the more powerful processor and graphics chips that were introduced in the iPhone 3GS.

Amidst rumors of overheating iPhones since shortly after the iPhone 3GS was launched, Apple has finally released the first acknowledgment that there might really be an issue with the iPhone regarding excessive temperatures. Various sites on the internet have posted reports of problems with the iPhone due to excessive heat such as shortened battery life, shut downs and even discoloration of the device itself. Now Apple has officially issued a warning about operating and storing the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS in places with too much heat.

Apple suggests to only operate the iPhone 3G and 3GS in temperatures between 32º to 95º F (0º and 35º C) and to only store the device between temps of -4º to 113º F (-20º and 45º C). Using or storing the iPhone in temperatures beyond this range can cause the device to stop charging (which could explain a shortened battery life), a dimmer display or a weak signal.

The big news this weekend may be all about Palm, but the Apple rumor mill is still going strong. This picture may or may not be the new iPhone set to drop on Monday.

It shows off a matte black casing with no chrome border, what could be a front-facing camera, and iPhone OS 3.0, which makes it sync up with what we’ve heard. It could be a photoshop job. At any rate, we will know the truth soon enough. Do you believe this?

As we approach WWDC ’09, more leaks are leaking. According to Engadget, a “trusted source” says that you will soon have a choice of 4, 8, 16, and 32GB iPhones. The source claims that the iPhones have been approved by the PCS Type Review Certification Board, which certifies models for use with some carriers.

It lends some credence to the rumor that Apple will be releasing two new models. Will this pave the way for a sub-$100 model? As usual, we will know very soon whether or not this rumor is true. It’s looking likely.

This rumor, if true, may be a sign that Apple wants to compete with netbooks or that in this economy, they don’t think that consumers will continue to pay a premium for the Apple name in the longterm. Either way, Apple may push the cost of the MacBook Air down while extending its feature set. Unnamed sources for SiliconRumors claim that an entry-level model will push the price down to between $1,300 and $1,500, or at least $300 less than the current model. Whether this would be a smaller model or just a price cut isn’t clear.

The same tips say that Apple will add at least an option for built-in 3G for wide-area wireless and may make solid-state drives standard on all models instead of a high-end option. GPS to locate the Mac is an option but “less likely.”

Ralph de la Vega from AT&T has confirmed that the company has in fact been looking at lowering the cost of data plans. Instead of cutting the cost of unlimited access, the company plans to introduce lower priced plans with limited bandwidth.

“Right now we continue to study what is the best thing that is available, not just from an iPhone point of view, but what you can do to stimulate additional demand,” said de la Vega, adding, “[w]e view Apple as a strategic partner for us, a very good partner to have now and into the future.”

And here is your daily iPhone rumor. Word is that the next handset will be announced at WWDC. It will feature an OLED display and a glowing Apple logo, and have a launch date of July 17. Many of the provided specifications go hand in hand with past rumors that the device will introduce a digital compass and a video recorder, as well as other features. Here are the specs:

32GB and 16GB storage (up from the current 16GB and 8GB models), $199 and $299 price points to be maintained, 3.2-megapixel camera (up from the current 2-megapixel camera), Video-recording and editing capabilities, Ability to send a picture & video via MMS, Discontinuation of the metal band surrounding the edge of the device, OLED screen, 1.5 times the battery life of the current models, Double the RAM and processing power, Built-in FM transmitter, Apple logo on back will glow, Rubber-tread backing, Sleeker design, Built-in compass, The camera, GPS, compass and Google map combined will identify photo and inform about photo locations, Turn-by-turn directions

WWDC approaches. You know what that means. Apple rumors galore. Today’s Apple rumor has BusinessWeek saying that AT&T is working on cheaper iPhone data plans. We don’t have many details, so we don’t know just how it would work.

One popularly-discussed option is a $20 “limited-access” plan which could be potentially offered alongside a cheaper iPhone to be introduced at WWDC. The big question is, what exactly does “limited access” mean? If it won’t allow you to do anything fun, no one will care.