Ever wonder when we'll ever see a 3G-compatible Apple iPhone? Gartner analyst Ken Dulaney thinks that we won't have to wait very long, and we won't be running out of stock soon either. Read more on what Ken Dulaney has to say about the iPhone's future, based on information he's received from certain Asian circles. All the information after the jump.

One of the many factors that come into play when one decides what handheld device we'd buy is the abundance of add-ons available for the product. You'll probably buy a product if you think the peripherals that come with it, or that you can get for it, are nifty. Just look at those two docks at the left. See? Nifty.

Steve Jobs seems to want to continue feeding this peripheral-product balance, as Apple recently made a deal with Creative regarding their peripherals. So it's probably safe to assume that peripheral manufacturers will have a heavy sway on the features that the 6th Generation of iPod will incorporate.  After all, iPod already has a huge peripheral market.

The rumor mills are always churning when it comes to future features, and the nice folks at mp3newswire have made a list of the most likely features that we'll be getting if you consider the peripherals available today.

Here are some of the most likely things they've listed:

• 6GB iPod nano. Odds = Sure Thing
• Brushed metal case. Odds = even money
• 8GB iPod nano. Odds = 9:5
• iPod Phone or iPhone. Odds = 2:1
• Widescreen Display. Odds = 2:1
• Touchscreen Display. Odds = 2:1
• Built-in Bluetooth or WiFi. Odds = 3:1
• iPod with OLED Display. Odds = 5:1
• iPod with 100GB+ drive. Odds = 8:1
• Talking iPod. Odds = 15:1
• Replaceable Batteries. Odds = 18:1
• iPod with HD Radio. Odds = 20:1

All you rumor sleuths have to do now is compare this list with the patent that was published, and you should get a narrower list of likely features.

Display actuators for electronic devices have been one of the focal experiments of Apple computer. The company claims that a display actuator will serve to both display visual information and act as a mechanical input, therefore reducing the space needed to implement both components on devices such as media players. The device can possibly display visual information like text, characters and graphics. It can also take on multiple roles, such as a clickable button, sliding toggle, rotating dial, or a motion controlling device (ie. joystick).

Two of a display actuator's main functions are its compatibility to be incorporated into any electronic device to control various aspects of the electronic device, and/or as a stand alone device that operatively couples to an electronic device through wired or wireless connections.

"The display may [...] be made movable through a combination of joints such as a pivot/sliding joint, pivot/flexure joint, sliding/flexure joint [or] pivot/pivor joint in order to increase the range of motion," Apple engineers said on the display component, which could be based on LCD, OLED, Plasma or rear-projection technology.

One of its promised advantages is that conventional input means on electronic devices having displays can be substantially eliminate, since the display provides user inputs.

The delay of the video iPod is raising a lot of buzz on what the next incarnation of Apple's ever popular digital player will be. Here are some of those rumors and why Think Secret thinks they will remain likely as rumors:

Rumor: The next-gen iPod will surface as a "talking" iPod  - with voice-activated controls.
The Rumor Buster: According to Think Secret sources say yes, the talking technology is there. But no as Apple has yet to figure out how to implement it. Plus the company doesn't think a talking iPod would be a big seller.

Rumor: Apple's next iPods will be lit by organic light-emitting diode displays (OLED)
Rumor Buster: Again Think Secret sources say Apple ruled out the display technology due to the limited life-span of OLED displays. Plus OLEDs don't shine out in direct sunlight. Apple will continue to use LCD displays.

Rumor: iPod will go wireless because the MS iPod Killer (a possible rumor itself) due out by Christmas will feature Wi-Fi functionality. The rumors were so convincing the Daily Mail ran a headline announcing Apple and Microsoft's "race to launch wireless iPod".
Rumor Buster: iPods will not go Wi-Fi because it doesn't fit Apple's media player plans explained the sources. Wi-Fi will compromise battery life which is one of Apple's top priorities for its portable devices. Plus going wireless means slower transfer speeds and Apple has no plans for a music store interface that enables users to purchase and download songs on the go.

Rumor: Apple has put its iPod phone (or iPhone) development plan in deep freeze but will thaw and release it next year.
Rumor Buster: Several analyst reports have suggested that the possibility of a 2006 release for the iPhone is as cold as as ice.