Wednesday's Apple music event: What to expect

So, what's on tap for tomorrow's "rock and roll" Apple event in San Francisco? New iPods, with built-in cameras? A new version of iTunes? An appearance by the recuperating Steve Jobs? The rumored "iTablet"? Read on for my predictions.

New iPods with cameras, Touch price drops (almost certain)
Rumors have been circulating for months now that the iPod Touch—and perhaps the Nano, or even the Classic—will finally get their own cameras, and there's a solid chance that the new, snap-happy models will be unveiled tomorrow. While late reports have it that camera-packing iPods might be delayed due to a manufacturing snafu, that doesn't mean that they won't be announced Wednesday, although they might not ship until weeks later. I'm also hoping for a 64GB version of the Touch (the current Touch line tops out at 32GB) with a faster processor and a digital compass (à la the iPhone 3GS), as well as some price drops (given that the upcoming 16GB and 32GB Zune HDs, due next week, are currently $80 and $110 cheaper than their existing iPod Touch counterparts).

"Cocktail" digital album format (highly likely)
It's been widely reported that Apple's been working with the big music labels on a yet another scheme to rejuvenate the album: a new digital album format, supposedly code-named "Cocktail," that'll include album art, artist photos, lyrics, and various "interactive" elements. Whether "Cocktail" would actually lead to drive more album sales (versus individual music tracks) is open to debate, but I'd be surprised if we didn't see something along these lines unveiled tomorrow.

iTunes gets social (possibly, maybe)
There's also been plenty of chatter about a new version of iTunes that would debut alongside "some sort of social element"—namely, an app that would let you log into multiple social networks at once (such as Facebook and Twitter) and "broadcast" the music you're listening to. Screen shots of iTunes with Facebook and Twitter icons have been duly leaked, but details remain sketchy.

Pre-edited ringtones (likely)
Will Apple start selling "ready-made" ringtones? That's the word from CNET News and several "music industry sources," who say that the pre-cut ringtones would probably sell for "far less than $3." Kind of a yawner, but there it is.

Beatles on iTunes (doubtful)
The re-mastered Beatles CDs come out tomorrow, as does "Rock Bank: The Beatles," so why not the Beatles catalog on iTunes—especially given that Wednesday just happens to be 9/9/09? That's been the reasoning behind the breathless speculation that the Beatles might, at long last, arrive on iTunes come tomorrow's Apple event. But a "source familiar with the band's plans" recently told AllThingsDigital that it ain't gonna happen, and based on all the other times we've been burned by "The-Beatles-are-coming-to-iTunes!" rumors, I wouldn't get my hopes up.

Steve Jobs appearance (almost certain)
Now that he's back from his six-month medical leave, Jobs is overdue to make a public appearance, and tomorrow's Apple event seems like the perfect venue—and indeed, if Steve doesn't show up, his absence will only raise more questions about his health. I fully expect to see Jobs, clad in his trademark jeans and black turtleneck, bound onto the stage tomorrow (to a standing "O").

Touchscreen Mac tablet (very doubtful)
Rumors of the hotly anticipated "iTablet" have been widely reported, and it seems virtually certain that Apple will unveil its touchscreen tablet in the coming months—but probably not this year, most observers believe, and almost certainly not tomorrow.

New Apple TV with DVR functionality (very doubtful)
A revamped Apple TV that doubles as a cable TV set-top box—complete with live TV recording—sounds like a great idea to me, but late reports are saying that Apple has no interest in wading into the DVR business, and that we shouldn't expect any mention of Apple TV at all on Wednesday. Oh, well.

That's all for now; tune in tomorrow for my full report after Wednesday's event, slated to kick off at 10 a.m. PT in San Francisco.