The iPod will be 10 years old this fall, and as more and more users opt for the iPhone or even the iPad as their media player of choice, Apple may be asking themselves: Is it time to drive a stake in the heart of the iPod yet? Here are a handful of reasons why they might, along with just as many for why they won’t.

As the summer winds down, all eyes are now on Apple’s annual fall event, where the company is presumed to release iCloud and iOS 5, likely alongside a next generation iPhone as well. The company’s music-centric events have generally been held in the first part of September, and a new rumor claims this year’s shindig should be right on schedule as well.

Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines! A new report claims that Apple has placed an initial manufacturing order for 15 million iPhone 5 units and they’re set to start shipping in September, likely alongside the release of iOS 5 and iCloud.

Now that June is winding to a close and the disappointment over no new iPhone fades into impatient waiting, it’s open season on rumors as to when the next handset will arrive. September has been widely pegged as the next likely candidate, but there could be more to that story.