Apple Expected To Unveil New iPod Next Week

Apple Inc. has officially set Sept. 9 as the date for its next music-themed product launch event in San Francisco.

Apple unveiled redesigned iPod Nano music players at a similarly timed event last year.

The iPod and iPhone maker sent an invitation to journalists Monday morning that reads, "It's only rock and roll, but we like it," borrowed from a Rolling Stones lyric.

Apple keeps a tight lid on upcoming products and hasn't confirmed any rumored developments, including a plan to package extra digital content with albums sold on iTunes, and a new tablet-style device.

The Wall Street Journal adds that this almost certainly means a new line of iPods will be unveiled:

Apple typically unveils its new lineup of iPods every year around this time. Some analysts predict that Apple will introduce a digital camera feature in the iPod touch and possibly the classic iPod and iPod nano models.

"We're expecting they'll renew the entire lineup with the exception of the iPod shuffle," said Gene Munster, an industry analyst for Piper Jaffray, referring to Apple's smallest iPod, which was refreshed in the spring.

Software developers for Apple's App Store say the development kit for an upcoming version of the iPhone operating system -- which also runs on the iPod touch -- opens up more camera features, making it possible to come up with more innovative photo-taking applications for both devices. The development kit refers to the set of tools that third-party software engineers use to create the so-called Apps -- or applications -- which can be downloaded from the App Store