Apple last updated its iconic iMac line in March of this year. However, the latest rumor suggests that another update is set to launch in early October with hardware and cosmetic tweaks, and maybe even a "bag of hurt."

The design was finalized earlier this month and will remain dual-core, according to sources speaking to AppleInsider. What we should expect to see is an update to the enclosure, which should be thinner than current iMacs. That may partially explain why we won't see quad-core processors like the recently announced "Clarkfield" Core i7, as a thinner enclosure would necessitate a lower thermal envelope than current quad-core processors.

There have been previous hints that updated iMacs may debut technology "previously unavailable to Mac buyers," but this current rumor only echoes what we have already heard and offers no new details. Many bets are on Blu-ray drive compatibility, despite evidence that the drives won't see wide adoption in computers for the foreseeable future. Rumored price drops would also likely preclude the inclusion of what is still considered a pricey add-on. What currently unavailable technology the new iMacs might posses is still anyone's guess (USB 3.0, eSATA, and SSD drives are some possibilities).

There is also a cryptic hint that "Apple is primed to extend the capabilities of at least one technology introduced on the Mac platform as recently as last fall," but again, no details are offered. Perhaps Apple will flesh out the capabilities of its Mini DisplayPorts, utilizing the extra channels included in the DisplayPort spec to transmit sound and other data over a single cable. But again, what the hint might refer to is anyone's guess.

However, AppleInsider's sources said that the updated iMacs have been in production for the last two weeks, and that Apple's sales representatives have been offering significant, but time-limited, price cuts on current iMacs to buyers interested in large volumes. Both of these details suggest that Apple is clearing out existing inventory for an impeding update. We'll also add to that the fact that it has been 206 days since the last iMac refresh; the average time between model updates for the iMac line is 220 days.