So here we are at the final weekend before one of the most highly anticipated Macworld Expo keynote addresses in recent memory, and we don't mean to alarm you or anything, but that can mean only one thing: some of you are about to die. Yes, this is the time when all the nerve-wracking speculation reaches its peak, which usually takes its toll in the form of a Mac fan or two keeling over because of heart failure, or stroke, or (in slightly rarer cases) spontaneous human combustion-- and surely this time around, what with all the extra excitement over brand new products like the flash-based iPod, the sub-$500 headless Mac, the audio breakout box code-named "Asteroid," etc. there are going to be more speculation-related casualties than ever. Sad but true.

However, since we here at AtAT really care about the health and well-being of our ad revenue faithful viewers (sure, we may privately refer to you as "ratings cattle," but it's a term of affection-- can't you just feel the love?), we're here to help prevent as many fatalities as we can. How do we do that, you ask? Simple: by taking the pre-Stevenote excitement down a couple of notches so your hearts don't seize up, your brains don't choke, and your heads don't burst into flame for no apparent reason. Also, we counsel everyone of the Apple-obsessive persuasion to dress accordingly during this high-risk period by wearing light knits and breathable fabrics. (Why tempt fate?)

First of all, for those of you whose blood pressures and body temperatures are rising to dangerous levels because of those alleged photos of an Apple "iHome" media center posted over at Engadget (as pointed out to us by faithful viewer James), we'll just come right out and save a few lives by saying it: it's a fake. Not a bad one, mind you, but since when does Apple spell "Centre" the British way? Meanwhile, if you look closely at the fifth photo down, it seems pretty clear to us that the product graphics on that box were printed out and glued to, say, a 12-inch iBook box or something like that-- you can see what appears to be the paper coming off a little at the left edge of the box flap. There's also the fact that Apple would never design packaging whose text and product photos would be upside-down when the box was carried by its handle. And, of course, there's a precedent of faked Apple product "spy photos" taken in elevators. So just let it go, already.

And since your poor bodies are already dealing with enough stress due to the virtual certainty of imminent cheapMac/Asteroid/iWork introductions (nothing says "the rumors are true" like an Apple lawsuit or two), allow us to ease the pressure a bit by telling you that you can probably stop stewing over the possibility of an Apple-branded and -designed mobile phone. When Apple first announced its partnership to bring an iTunes Music Store-compatible phone version of iTunes to Motorola's upcoming mobile phones, we took the announcement entirely at face value; since then, somehow the story turned into "Apple is creating its own phone and even made an official announcement," though no one seems to have found an announcement that actually says that.

Well, if this takes any pressure off, you should know that Motorola has already been playing up the iTunes-compatibility of its new phones at the Consumer Electronics Show this week, and according to a PC Magazine article pointed out by faithful viewer John Alabaszowski, the devices are just... phones. Phones that can play iTMS-purchased songs (once you transfer them from your computer) with "the iPod interface," sure, but phones nonetheless. Indeed, faithful viewer Brady Kroupa even dug up a video on Motorola's site that shows footage of Steve Jobs himself talking up iTunes-for-phones solely as a feature for Moto's 2005 phones. In other words, we see zero evidence of any sort of Jon Ive iPod-cell phone hybrid coming next week, so do yourself a favor and don't dwell on it yet. Not that it won't happen at some point, but at least wait until Apple sues somebody before you put any real stock in the iPhone/"Mysterious Dude" rumors.

And yes, we know about the "Apple cellular network" rumor, too, but what say we just steer clear of that one completely for the time being, hmmmm? After all, you've got enough on your plate right now as it is. So just try to keep it together until Tuesday, because we'd hate to lose any more viewers to the Grim Reaper. (We're saving up for a speedboat.)