Exactly. I dont' see why more people haven't speculated on this. I think our chances of seeing the mythical xMac are greater than ever.
Think about it: Laptops have been redesigned, as has the iMac. iMac refresh is not worthy of MacWorld material. Mac Pros will get Nehalem, but it won't happen at MacWorld. The only significant "hole" remaining in Apple's lineup is the Mini. I think we're going to be pleasantly surprised come January. I mean seriously, what else is there to announce?
My guess? Something to replace the Mini as we know it currently. I know this has been said for years, but based on the current state of product updates/refreshes, this is what all signs point to at the moment.
100% agree. We have the double convergence of Apple TV, and Mac Mini due for huge upgrades. Personally, I think Apple would be wise to merge Apple TV into Mac Mini.
Furthermore, I would wait to see how well Blu-ray does this x-mas season, and depending on that, make it an option as well. But I believe Apple is secretly hoping Blu-ray doesn't do well for other reasons.
I think a marketing arrangement with Netflix, for special pricing on this new device, would be a huge win as well. Either Netflix's version of movies on demand, or even Apple's.
Apple should offer a new pricing model for both TV shows + movies + music, something like $19/month that gives you a set amount of rental content per month, and $5 purchase credits.
There are just way too many opportunities here, on the hardware upgrade side, and the software side, and the business side, to pass up. I think Apple would be making a huge marketing error to do simple updates without coming up with something innovative in this area. This is the time to seize the day with a revolutionary product to drive a stake in the heart of traditional satellite/cable TV industry. Apple should think big here, not small. Think corporate merger or long term partnership w/Netflix, ABC, etc.