Throwing an iPhone rumor to the gadget-obsessed is a fair bit like burning paper in a fireplace -- sure, things will flare up for a few seconds, but shortly thereafter the flames calm back down again. We recently caught wind of the fact that the new iTunes 7.0.1 update is packed with a bunch of text strings that say things like:" 4301.022" = " ^0 was not copied because the video format is not supported by the mobile phone ^1 ."; and so forth, implying that an iPhone is forthcoming. Now remember, we've seen similar language embedded in Apple software before, but we've yet to see an actual product, although the internet's Magic 8 Ball as of late seems to be pointing to Macworld Expo 2007. But then again, we've heard for months now that our friends in Cupertino are working on such a device, with everyone and everything from analysts to patent filings saying as much; so we're just hoping that Apple is waiting until it's good and ready to release it. For all you Apple and iPhone fanboys, take a moment to do a little jig, and then resume your daily routine.

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Apple rumor dredgin' site AppleInsider just hocked-up another canard for those of you feeling a bit shorted following WWDC 2006. AI reports that the obsessively closed-mouthed Steve Jobs is so giddy about the oft speculated iPod cellphone that he's been blow-harding its merits amongst personal acquaintances. Sources touting an "unblemished track record" in predicting Apple's future and familiar with the device's "ongoings" claim that prototypes have already been released to two potential OEM manufacturing partners with a "big bang" launch coming earlier than expected -- catching even industry insiders (such as themselves?) off-guard. Certainly analysts and believers alike have all but convinced themselves that some kind of iPhone device (like that pictured to the right) with or without an MVNO is a certainty. Still, it's hard to believe that Jobs would break character in such loose-lipped fashion even if they weren't sitting around doing nothing.

Ok everybody, alright, get it all out of your systems now. WWDC's in a few days, and the predominant rumor is that the iPhone is what we're going to get from it. Apple knows we want it, and we know they're working on it. Hell, at this point the only mystery is why they're bothering to keep it such a secret, but so long as they're withholding it from the general public, we're going to be invariably baited into running possibly-photoshopped images of what could be ads depicting the device everyone's been waiting for. According to this particular rendition it's going to be called iChat Mobile (clever, right?), and looks a little something like the Apple Remote, playback buttons front and center -- obviously intended for a proper cellphone-iTunes experience. Alright then, we've filed, now you decide. (Click on for a larger picture.)

[Thanks, Harlan]