Will next iPod double as a digital camera?

Are Apple technicians busily at work on a touch-screen iPod? Could it possibly double as a digital camera? This is the buzz being generated in the geekier corners of the blogosphere this weekend after some sleuths spotted the latest Apple patent application filed last week in the US.

According to the patent's abstract, it certainly appears as if the the Apple brain trust is working on a touch-screen sensitive model. To be more precise:

"An electronic device has a display and has a touch sensitive bezel surrounding the display. Areas on the bezel are designated for controls used to operate the electronic device. Visual guides corresponding to the controls are displayed on the display adjacent the areas of the bezel      designated for the controls. Touch data is generated by the bezel when a user touches an area of the bezel. The device determines which of the controls has been selected based on which designated area is associated with the touch data from the bezel. The device then initiates the determined control."

ZDNet dug a bit further into the filing to conclude the new gadget may very well allow a user to snap digital photos as well. As ZDNet notes, the patent is incredibly detailed, featuring full functionality of a device that can take pictures either horizontally or vertically. Now, the only question is: could this just be a concept or is Apple anywhere near unveiling this to the public?

Click here for more on Apple patents, including suggestions that the iPhone is on its way