Apple today will kick off its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in San Francisco, Calif. As usual, the three-day conference opens to a bevy of rumors, ranging from a new iPhone to the unveiling of a touchscreen tablet.

Analyst Roger Entner, senior vice president of communications sector for Neilsen IAG, said a new iPhone is a “foregone conclusion,” adding that the most important additions to a new iPhone would be improved processor speeds and additional RAM. 

“[A faster processor and more RAM] should also make the download speeds from AT&T faster. Right now, the network is almost faster than the device,” he said.

The new device could also include a digital compass and an improved digital camera with auto-focus and video-recording capabilities. Entner gave an affirmative nod on all counts.

As for the possibility of a new touchscreen tablet, Entner doesn’t think so. “That is probably too early. There’s a pretty significant development process. It takes time to put stuff like that together,” he said. 

Some are saying Steve Jobs might make an appearance and either announce his return to the helm at Apple or his imminent retirement – the latter being an unlikely scenario. A cancer survivor, Jobs has been plagued by health problems recently. If Jobs does make an appearance, Entner doesn’t think it will be to announce retirement. While he doesn’t claim to know Jobs’ personal plans, Entner thinks the Apple co-founder is too deeply committed to the company.

“I think he’s a little like Charlton Heston with the prying of the gun from his cold dead hands. That’s how Steve Jobs feels about Apple. Either he comes back or he’s dead. I don’t think there’s retirement anywhere in his future,” Enter said.

The WWDC comes on the heels of the Palm Pre release on Sprint’s network, which some are saying may be the iPhone’s most formidable competitor. However, Apple’s recent announcement of the new iPhone 3.0 operating system and the subsequent APIs being offered to developers could keep the iPhone on top of the smartphone pyramid.

The hype and anticipation that typically surrounds the WWDC provides the ideal venue for the launch of new Apple technology. However, the key word here is “rumor,” and while the WWDC has enjoyed many a game-changing releases, it would be nearly impossible for any company to address all the gossip that the WWDC generates.