Apple will, in fact, launch an updated Mac mini model at next month's Macworld Expo in San Francisco, according to a source speaking to Wired. This rumor comes hot on the heels of recently-revived rumors of an iPhone nano announcement; however, the Mac mini is long overdue for a refresh.

Apple product cycles typically average around 200 to 300 days for most products. But the Mac mini, last updated in August 2007, hasn't been updated for 497 days as of this writing. Though European resellers were told to not expect any further stock of the current model back in October (leading to rumors that it might be EOL'd), one concerned customer got a phone call from Apple telling him to "be patient" about Mac mini.

Apple announced a revised line of notebooks in October, giving us some indication of what we might expect from the new Mac mini. Based on those machines, we would expect the updated Mac mini to take advantage of Apple's new manufacturing techniques, perhaps carving some or all of the casing from billet aluminum. We would also expect to see easier access for RAM and perhaps even hard drive upgrades. Count on the latest iterations of Intel's 45nm processors paired with the NVIDIA 9400M chipset to deliver vastly improved graphics, a Mini Display Port, and possible loss of FireWire 400; but don't count on seeing a Blu-ray optical drive.

Given that Snow Leopard is expected to ship within the next six months (or perhaps sooner), Apple will likely update its other hardware platforms to take advantage of OpenCL and Grand Central. The iMac and Mac Pro line are due for updates as well, and Apple's other Cinema Displays could see an LED makeover. Macworld Expo 2009 is just three weeks away, so whatever Apple has up its sleeve will be revealed then.