San Francisco event will unveil new iPods

Yesterday Apple distributed conspicuously designed invitations to an event on September 9, widely expected to be the third annual iPod refresh event.

While the event hasn't received an official moniker yet, San Francisco has played host to Apple's iPod announcements for the last...three...Septembers. This year's announcement looks like an iPod screen that says "Playing Soon: Lets Rock."

The event ends up being something of a "back to school" fashion show, displaying the year's line of products tied together with partnership and service upgrade announcements. Given Apple's proclivity for giving iPods away to college students, the event does appear well-timed.

Naturally, analysts have already placed their bets on which changes they expect, including: an iTunes subscription service (a la Rhapsody and Napster), a redesigned iPod Nano with a significantly larger screen, and a drop in price that would affect the entire line.

A redesigned iPod nano has been a hot rumor recently, thanks to Kevin Rose of Digg, who leaked a photo purported to be the device. This has also been bolstered by "leaked" images of a third-party silicon sleeve with a similar profile.