Add this one to the ever growing pantheon of Apple rumors. PCPerspective has reason to believe that Apple is preparing a 24″ iMac. They say that we will get a set of four new iMac computers announced this week. Two 20″ iMacs with an NVIDIA integrated-GPU chipset based on the MCP79 design (the same used in the most recent MacBook and MacBook Pro notebooks) and one of those will include the mobility GeForce 9600-series discrete GPU as well. This integrated + discrete graphics solution is basically identical the setup the new 15″ MacBook Pro includes.

If you buy into the hype, the 24″ iMacs will have the same integrated chipset but both of these will include discrete graphics solutions. The lower-end 24″ model will use the same mobility 9600 series that the MacBook Pro uses and the higher-end model will use a slightly faster GeForce 9800M solution. That would make the new 24″ iMac a useful gaming machine.

CES may get more attention from gadget hounds and fans of PCs, but MacWorld gets lots of headlines and the attentions of Apple fans around the world. The two shows run around the same time and offer lots of new products to fans.

Microvision has announced that it will be showing its pre-production version of its pico projector dubbed SHOW WX at MacWorld. The new version is 25% smaller than the previous SHOW projector prototype according to Microvision.

The Apple rumors never stop. They’re flying fast and furious. According to the newest rumors, we may see an updated Mac Mini with dual display support when and if Apple announces the new machine at the upcoming Macworld conference. MacRumors is reporting that the new Mac Mini will feature both a mini Display Port and Mini DVI connector, which leads them to believe that Apple is gearing the machine towards users wanting multiple screen access.

Other rumored new features include a modular design that would allow for a second hard drive in place of the optical drive, an enhanced graphics chipset, and a new color scheme.

9to5Mac is reporting that a unibody, 17-inch MacBook Pro will be announced at Macworld. It would follow in the footsteps of the previously released unibody 13 and 15-inch models. The rumor has been independently confirmed by Apple Insider as well.

The news isn’t isn’t all that surprising. But what is surprising is that this model is expected to have a slim, extended-life, and a very non-removable battery built in. Obviously that’s disappointing. Non-removable batteries are pretty damn lame. Way to go Apple.

So many Apple rumors. Who can keep up with all of them? Most revolve around the latest gadgets from the company. The latest rumors are regarding Apple CEO Steve Jobs decision to not be a part of Macworld, cite to the state of his physical health as the reason. According to sources, “Apple misrepresented the reasons behind Macworld and Jobs’ keynote cancellation.” The real cause is said to be his rapidly declining health.

With this recent alleged news Apple has chosen to remove the “hype factor” instead of letting it later destroy the company when the news of Jobs’ health surfaces later this spring. Apparently, no longer needing Macworld is just a cover designed by the worldwide “loyalty” department.

You know how rumors are. They circulate like a virus and they are twice as hard to kill. This one has been around for a bit. Rumors have been flying regarding the 32GB iPhone. AT&T is playing it’s part, by adding some fuel to the fire, by offering 8GB refurbished iPhones for $99. Then there is Macblogz, who received an anonymous tip which points to the release of the 32 GB iPhone.

Theoretically, to sell a less-expensive iPhone, priced at about $99, Apple would need to introduce a new model with less storage. The current models would get bumped in specs, and a cheaper iPhone would be introduced and outfitted with less storage than it’s bigger brothers. The current 8GB iPhone would be left out in this line up, and will probably be discontinued.

Rumors of an iPhone nano have been persistent for weeks now, and here are the first pics of the so-far fantasy phone. It looks about 3/4 the size of the iPhone, slimmer but still sexy. Is this just wishful thinking?

It could be true, but many don’t see it happening in January. For an announcement of this calibur, Steve Jobs would be making it, right? He’s not going to be at the Macworld keynote next month. But think about this. Why does he have to be there to make the announcement? Why not “phone it in” on an iPhone Nano?

I guess you could say that it’s the end of an era. Apple just issued a press release saying that this next MacWorld in January will be the last, and sadly Steve Jobs won’t be there. Instead, Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, will be heading it up. It marks an end to the daily conference that has launched some of the most important pieces of consumer tech in recent years.

Apple is reaching more people in more ways than ever before, and trade shows have become a very small part of how Apple reaches its customer base. Also, the increasing popularity of Apple’s Retail Stores factor into it as well. More than 3.5 million people visit them every week. Plus the Apple.com website lets Apple reach more than a hundred million customers around the world.

We probably shouldn’t be basing predictions for important new Apple products on protective case mockups from China. Even so, things like this have revealed the truth in the past. iDealsChina is reporting that XSKN is working on a silicone skin for the upcoming “Nano iPhone” a shorter, chubbier version of the iPhone 3G.

According to iDealsChina sources, the phone will feature EDGE data, but otherwise is pretty identical in specs to its predecessors. Well, it has a smaller screen. According to them, Apple plans to sell tons of these for low prices in places like Walmart, and that the company will be unveiling the new handset in January during Macworld.