iPad, iPod Touch and iPhone is the most-wanted gift among Kids

This year's holiday gifts are going to be more expensive. According to the latest Nielsen data, 44 percent of kids aged 6-12 want an iPad, 30 percent want an iPod Touch and 27 percent want an iPhone. Apple dominated it completely. The next most wanted are non-iPad tablets, Nintendo 3DS and Kinect and the old Nintendo DS.

Taking a look at what kids ages 13 and older want is a little more interesting. At the top spot is the iPad at 24 percent, a computer at 18 percent and e-readers at 18 percent in third. A Blu-ray player? Seriously? The Apple [AAPL] rumor machine kicks into high gear this weekend, as veteran iWebsite, iLounge, claims a well-sourced rumor: that the iPad 3 ships in March while the iPhone 5 will boast a metal back and LTE support. The report claims the next iPad will be slightly thicker (an additional 0.7mm) but this thickness will be to hold a twin light bar system for the much higher-resolution display. The report claims we may see the device take a bow in January for a March release.

Second claim: the iPhone 5 Release date? "Summer". (I reckon late summer.) There have been unsubstantiated but much repeated claims an iPhone 5 was just weeks away from release, but Apple's then CEO, Steve Jobs, canceled the product which suffered poor battery life as a result of the inclusion of an LTE radio. Variously -- a new processor, faster graphics, LTE support, potential NFC support and a non-mechanical touch sensitive Home button. The iLounge report also claims a MacBook Pro update -- expect this to get thinner. I also anticipate a 15-inch MacBook Air.

That's this weekend's Apple device rumors. The iPad is the most-wanted gift among U.S. kids ages 6 through 12, a new survey has found, while the iPod touch ranks second and the iPhone comes in third.--Apple's iOS devices dominated the top three spots in the survey of young by Nielsen, which prompted the market research firm to declare the 2011 holiday season "iHoliday." A total of 44 percent of kids ages 6 through 12 said they have interest in getting an iPad in the next six months, while 30 percent want an iPod touch, and 27 percent seek an iPhone.

Even among teens, the iPad still reigned supreme ahead of the 2011 holiday season. Apple's iPhone also made the list with teens in seventh place, taking 15 percent of the vote, and edging out non-iPhone smartphones at 14 percent. The iPod touch game in twelfth with 8 percent, tied with Microsoft's Xbox 360.--Our most reliable source has spoken: expect body changes for the next iPad, iPhone, and MacBook Pro. The third-generation iPad will become modestly thicker (0.7mm) in order to accommodate the twin light bar system needed for its higher-resolution display. We’ve been told that the device will have a 4-inch display and will be 8mm longer than before, with a metal casing (probably aluminum).