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Invitations were sent out yesterday bearing the header "The beat goes on" over an image combining iTunes' (and iPhone's) Cover Flow and the iPod silhouette.

The choice of words has led some to speculate that The Beatles may finally be coming to iTunes, now that the solo catalogues of all four band members have been released on the music store. "The beat goes on" was the last line of the 1970 press release that confirmed the band's demise.

Certainly there would be no better way of promoting

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a range of new iPod that with The Beatles' music. Apple usually revamps the iPod range ahead of the holiday shopping season, so expect higher-capacity nanos and possibly a 2GB shuffle, given that flash memory prices have fallen over the past year.

But as the event approaches much of the speculation seems likely to surround the possibility of a touchscreen iPod, along the lines of the iPhone.

This will mean iPods based on OS X, rather than the Pixo OS that it currently licenses. iPhone runs on OS X, as does Apple TV, and it makes little sense for Apple to continue to license Pixo when its own operating system is arguably its most valuable asset.

The iPod Hi-Fi, if Apple persists with it, is also due a makeover. Its white casing is increasingly out-of-sync with Apple's aluminised approach to product design, and its audio quality has generally underwhelmed reviewers.

UPDATE: Apple has also set invitations to UK press for an event at BBC Television Centre.