The folks at iFixdirect are claiming to have received some images of what Appleinsider and MacRumors believe to be parts of a fifth-generation of an iPod Touch. The first photographs were showing up in the Asian market (close to Apple’s manufacturing plants), and now parts are beginning to appear much closer to home in the United States. The images show what is claimed to be the complete front screen from an upcoming white iPod touch.

If rumors are to be believed, Apple is preparing some big changes for this year’s iPod touch model, closing the gap between it and the iPhone. What will Apple do to this year to raise the bar even higher to make its most feature-packed portable media player seem like a worthy upgrade? Read on to find out.

Looks like someone behind the Pano app for iPhone is trying to tell us something. Is there another iOS device coming with a built in camera? Is it referring to the next iPad? The update is kind of vague in its meaning. An update to support any future iOS camera-based devices could mean a lot of things, but we can’t ignore the possibility that they’re referring to an iPad camera.

At the last iPod event, it was widely speculated (by me) that the iPod touch would get a camera addition. When it didn’t show up, the press (me) rationalized that Apple was worried it would cannibalize iPhone sales, since the major difference between the iPhone and touch is the phone, the camera, and the microphone. But now, Apple has to offer Facetime on the next iPod touch.

With the iPhone 4 now on the market, the rumor mill and leaks have switched directions towards the iPod touch. On top of rumors of an iPod touch with retina display and dual cameras, leaked images of the frame show what could be a front facing camera like the iPhone 4 meant for FaceTime calls. This coincides with earlier rumors of an email based FaceTime that will work on the iPod touch.

Daring Fireball’s very own John Gruber has mentioned a little something in a recent article. Nothing big, just the apparent new features coming to the iPod touch in “a few weeks.” The updates he mentioned are very realistic, and if found to be true later this month, would bring the iPod touch up to spec with the iPhone 4.

Apple’s latest beta version of iOS 4.1 has an extra added feature concerning FaceTime. Soon, you’ll be able to initiate FaceTime calls to phone numbers or email addresses. What does that mean to you? Apple’s about to update the iPod touch and possibly the iPad with front facing cameras, that’s what. Why else would you need to be able to link a FaceTime account to an email address?

So you’ve heard the rumors about the iPod touch getting a front facing camera for FaceTime, but how’s that going to work without a phone number? The answer is simple, e-mail. According to one of The Boy Genious’ trusted sources, FaceTime on non-cellular devices will be identified via e-mail addresses instead of cell phone numbers. Obviously, this is all still rumor since there isn’t an iPod touch with a front facing camera, nor is FaceTime available on Mac.

Apple’s next iPod touch has been rumored to be getting a camera for about a year now, and leaks from—where else—Tinhte from Vietnam are supporting that rumor once again. The camera is said to be 2 megapixels, which is a lower resolution than the iPhone 3GS and presumably whatever shows up in this year’s iPhone update. The rumor doesn’t come with a release date, but you could probably expect it some time this year.

I, like many others, was pretty bummed when the rumors about the flaw in the upcoming iPod touch camera prevented it from being produced this year. But time has passed, and apparently Apple is pretty close to fixing those issues. They may be ready to launch the iPod touch with camera in the spring. It’s still unknown whether this upgrade would include a 2 megapixel camera like the iPod nano or will have a nicer iPhone 3GS like camera.