It’s amazing how one little mistake can seemingly shake up the entire world. Gray Powell, a software engineer at Apple, was out at a bar, testing what looked on the surface like any other iPhone 3GS. Even up close it was tough to tell that the shape of the 3GS was actually a case disguising a much more stylish, sleeker version of the iPhone – the iPhone 4G (this is not the official name, not yet anyway). Unfortunately, Powell left the iPhone behind when he left the bar, and because people are the way they are, someone took it home, realized he was holding the next generation of the world’s favorite smartphone, and likely sold the right to return the device to Apple to Gizmodo, which was kind enough to post pictures and leak what specs it could prior to the device’s eventual voyage home.

Enough of the story, though, and on with the phone. The new iPhone looks great. I was always a little underwhelmed by the shape and design of the previous iPhone models, including the 3GS. Something about them seems too forward thinking – they’re almost so futuristic they look retro. This new phone hits my industrial nerve and hits it hard. It’s slightly thinner than the current iPhone and lays flat instead of the current curved back. There’s a new camera on the back with a bigger lens and a flash, and the volume button is now two small, round buttons on the side. The front of the phone sports a front-facing video camera for video chat and the top has what looks to be a secondary microphone for noise cancellation. All said and done, this is what I wish the iPhone looked like now, and I’m going to struggle not to buy one when it launches.

There is sadly very little information about the OS. Shortly after the phone was reported missing, Apple remotely disabled the device via the MobileMe function, and because device firmware is model-specific, there was no way to restore the bricked handset. Gizmodo did peel the phone apart to reveal Apple stamped internals, which suggests we’re pretty close to launch, and a slightly larger capacity battery. The screen also appears to be slightly smaller but perhaps runs at a higher resolution than the current 3GS.

You can find full exclusive photo galleries at Gizmodo.

Probably a lot more than you or I, to be frank. Mossberg, famed author of the weekly WSJ column Personal Technology, has recently put together a review of the Palm Pre, shedding some of his tech angel dust on what could be a lackluster launch.

Mossberg seems to truly like the Pre, like most of the of the other reviews we’ve seen. And why not? The phone is solid, if a bit small, and the OS is robust. Give developers a few months and the Pre could become a very handy device, if it can sell enough units to remain afloat. But there is some thinly veiled (sometimes just plain direct) iPhone news within Mossberg’s review.

“Unfortunately for Palm, Apple has both a new iPhone operating system and new iPhone hardware coming, likely available within a month, that could obviate [copy and paste, MMS, universal search],” writes Mossberg. I hate to say this man’s word is law, but if there’s anyone mainlining tech news, it’s Walt. Mossberg has historically let little things like release dates slip, always without enough specificity to say he’s violated his press embargoes. If Walt’s right, Monday could bring the announcement we’ve all been waiting for, with hands-on access to the next-gen iPhone in just a few weeks.

Kudos to The Green Room Blog for putting together all the 3rd generation iPhone rumors in one very detailed picture. I especially like the color coding system for how likely the rumor is to come true. You must click through and spend the minute or two it takes to read through all of them.

Almost everything from the “Somewhat likely” and “Very likely” categories I do expect to see. However, from the “Unlikely” category, I wouldn’t be surprised to see a front-facing camera. It’s about time video conferencing took off on this phone. Plus, we already have Skype, right. The other unlikely I really wish was true is the Flash support. I agree it’s unlikely, but I’m hoping it’s true.

According to Hardmac.com, “informations [sic] from one of [their] sources” claims the next generation iPod Touch and iPod Nano will be getting cameras added to their hardware specs. The source also suggests the next iPhone won’t change externally, despite rumors.

I’m willing to believe the first “informations,” but only half-way. A camera on the Touch makes sense. There are plenty of apps that integrate camera use, making them obsolete if used on the Touch. Also, acquiring and integrating a camera into a device already running Apple’s mobile OS should be no trouble.

But why add a camera to the Nano? The device is meant to be the ultra slim, stripped down version of the much sexier Touch. Why do you need a camera? And why introduce a camera at two price points? If it’s only on the Touch, snapping pics is just another reason to upgrade from your Nano to your Touch. I also doubt Apple would try this on an iPod not currently running the same OS as their other camera-capable devices.

On that last rumor, I could go either way. The iPhone 3G is a sleek little device, and I don’t see much reason to update it. On the other hand, Apple’s way is to make the newer, faster versions of things prettier as well. Nothing screams “buy me” like “I don’t look like your other iPhone.