Apple is enthusiastic about their operating system Mac OS X and so are we, the fans. It’s great, effective and easy to use. It’s so great, in fact, that Apple is building their hardware around this great piece of software. The newly released iPhone is running a derivate of Mac OS X and the question now is whether or not the new iPod will too.

By looking at the direction in which Apple is heading, it would be a natural choice to also include the iPod into the Mac OS family. Thinking ahead, one might argue that it is only a question of time before it happens. It’s pretty much inevitable, as the option of Apple running different software for the iPod is getting more and more unlikely.

AppleInsider reports that the Apple roadmap for the fall calls for as many as four new iPod models, two of which are expected to run a derivate of Mac OS X to varying degrees. To varying degrees, they say, but what does that mean?

As you may have read, rumors say the iPod Nano will retain it’s click-wheel functionality. However, sources told AppleInsider that we may soon be looking at a full-screen iPod with a similar interface to that of the iPhone. Interface concept videos recently pulled from MacRumor’s website further confirms this.

According to AppleInsider, these videos demostrated “widespread use of vibrant album art, Leopard-style interface overlays, a world clock widget similar to the iPhone’s, and a new photo feature that would allow iPod nano users to browse their iLife ‘08 photo “Events” via a CoverFlow interface controlled by a physical click-wheel.”

Hopefully, we’ll find out everything for sure in September, from Steve himself.