[1]Step right up, step right up and get yer crazy Apple rumors! As you likely know, Apple is all set to announce something next Wednesday [2] and nothing gets those rumormongers whipped up into a frenzy like a mysterious invite from Cupertino. Yesterday we discussed some of the more credible rumors: touchscreen iPods running OS X [3], fat iPod Nanos [4] and an iTunes/Beatles deal [5]. Now we can add yet another credible-sounding rumor to the pile: a PRODUCT (RED) iPod Shuffle. You've probably seen Apple's special-edition PRODUCT (RED) iPod Nano--for every unit sold, Apple donates $10 to "the Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS in Africa." If AppleInsider is to be believed, we'll be seeing a similarly red Shuffle on Wednesday. Makes sense.

Credible rumors are all well and good but we all know that incredible rumors are where the fun is at. So I present to you the mother of them all: the iCar. German magazine Capital reports that Apple and Volkswagen are in preliminary talks for a product code-named the "iCar". Say what? Apparently a Volkswagen spokesperson revealed that "the two company heads held talks a few days ago in California on more heavily incorporating Apple products in Volkswagen's compact cars." True though that may be, the idea of a car developed by VW in conjunction with Apple is tantalizing, terrifying and most likely, untrue. Expect better in-dash iPod integration, if anything, to result from this partnership.

For more on the rumors:
- see this AppleInsider article [6] on the red Shuffle
- and this MacRumors article [7] on the iCar