A few years back, Starbucks founder and CEO Howard Schultz sat in on one of Steve Jobs’ keynote speeches, presaging a vital computer/caffeine partnership. It wasn’t long before those little iTunes download cards starting showing up on the Starbucks counter, and iTunes was featuring a specially designated iTunes + Starbucks feature. iTunes cards often feature music of the month and the download cards are for a full album. It’s saved a vast amount of space and made the search for music an entirely different experience. The larger the selection of iTunes cards, the more Starbucks will seem less like a coffee shop and more like a record store of the past. But that’s not the end of the story; it becomes even further intertwined when a third party comes into the mix.

Around the time of the launch of the first generation iPhone, Apple decided upon AT&T to provide wireless service. It was highly publicized that Apple was looking for a company that would allow them to get royalties off monthly cell phone payments on the iPhone. As we all know, Apple priced the iPhone at $599, with no savings by signing on for two years. Without a doubt, Verizon Wireless missed the boat here when they declined the opportunity to work with Apple, citing that they could make a phone of their own, without having to pay third party royalties. And so it evolved that Apple and AT&T teamed up to provide service for the iPhone.

Perspective consumers were dismayed when discovering that the device would be running on AT&T’s slower “EDGE” network, known for having notoriously abysmal data service. Add into the equation that 3G technology was already working and delivering close to Wi-Fi speeds. In preparation for the major launch of the original iPhone, AT&T prepared their EDGE network lines and markedly boosted speeds. Without a doubt, these preparations were all tailored for the iPhone.

Eventually, AT&T’s CEO (and rumors around the blogosphere) acknowledged the development of Apple’s next iPhone: the iPhone 3G. AT&T delivered again, by upgrading the EDGE network to 3G. Apple was now ready to release the iPhone 3G on the network.

Right before the announcement of the new iPhone 3G on June 9th, Starbucks was in hot water with T-Mobile, which initiated a lawsuit as a result of Starbucks’ sudden jilting of T-Mobile, in preference for AT&T. Starbucks was preparing to have iPhone/iPod Touch + Starbucks content and music ready for their Wi-Fi consumers. And who does Schultz choose for cafe wireless? None other than AT&T. The new AT&T wireless internet at Starbucks allows 2 hours of free internet when connected to a Starbucks Rewards registered card account. Registration is free, and has made a trip to Starbucks even more appealing.

There have already been a number of rumors about iPhone users receiving unlimited free Wi-Fi service inside every Starbucks. Now more than ever, the probability of the two products working in tandem seems a given. Apple, AT&T, and Starbucks are collaborating so closely these days that one can envision these three companies developing an even closer partnership to serve their niche consumers.

Looks like the leak is out on the iPod Nano user interface. It is a huge step forward and should be quite impressive to consumers and investors alike. Further down, actual screenshots present the browsing of music both through the traditional search and the new iPod Nano Cover Flow. Colors also appear to be more vivid and the screens have been rumored to get a nice step up in screen resolution. Hard Disk sizes are expected to get a healthy upgrade to 12 or 16 GB.

Despite all that’s going for the iPod Nano, the potential for a full-screen regular iPod is taking center stage. The possibilities are endless as to the upgrades, but most are suggesting Wi-Fi, 3.5″ wide-screen, , touch-screen, and the ability to download music directly to the iPod. We’re going to remain skeptical as to whether or not a new regular iPod will be released, as it will most likely hinder iPhone sales.

Only a few more hours until “The Beat Goes On!”

Disclosure: Long Apple Inc. (AAPL)

Rumors have been surrounding a possible addition to the multitude of Apple iPod Shuffle colors. The addition will be a (RED) product, which helps support charities and non-profits for Africa. Supposedly, up to $10 of every sale could potentially go to charities, without an actual price increase. Product (RED) merchandise has been selling like hotcakes for Apple’s current iPod Nano, but the addition of the red color should be quite complementary to the current product line.

Disclosure: Long Apple Inc. (AAPL)

The latest picture now shows a clear change towards the smaller, slightly wider size. Also, the traditional chargers have been scraped to be more like the iPod Shuffle style dock. The new dock will allow for charging and listening of music, much like the Shuffle’s dock. Otherwise, the earphones will go unchanged.

One of our frequent readers just wrote in to ask:
“Your iPod nano pics/link (rumored) are now up to date. New rumored nanos (with new pics) are out. Do you still expect a ‘lackluster’ release?”
-Lumi

Well, as the pictures and mock-ups become more detailed and of greater quality, the next iPod Nano update becomes increasingly more impressive and could have a tremendous effect on Apple’s (AAPL) stock. It will all be up to the user interface, which, as the rumors started, should be two sided and allow for Cover Flow.

Check out our new picture below:

Disclosure: Long Apple Inc. (AAPL)

Only two days before Apple’s (AAPL) release of new products to their line-up, investors and consumers are both hoping for multiple updates to the iPod line.

More pictures have now come out, displaying a clearer model of the iPod Nano update and the possibility of an iPod with a touchscreen interface.

While it seems all too soon to see a full-screen regular iPod, due to the fact that it should squash iPhone sales, anything can happen. The shorter, stockier iPod Nano doesn’t look half bad in the pictures, and it seems as though the screen width allows for better media viewing. Also, it appears as though Cover Flow may be adapted in the Nano update.

Check out the pictures below:

iPod Nano Mock-Up

iPod Mock-Up w/ Touch Display

Disclosure: Long Apple Inc. (AAPL).