If you take away the articles that are lamenting over the current state of things or predicting a dark and dismal future for the iPod, there are only few threads that keep popping up across the Web, mostly fueled by speculation and seemingly seasonal in their repetition.

First it was the color screen, only to be replaced by calls for a wider, touch-sensitive one. These reports usually surface in the winter months immediately preceding and following Macworld San Francisco, beginning in December and lasting until around March or April, when they inexplicitly die out until September or so, when Apple readies a new release.

Then there’s the summer wireless buzz, usually spurred by reports of the latest iPod killer, followed by colors, capacity bumps, Bluetooth, and anything else the dreamers can think of.

And so it continues until one of the desired features is added to the iPod, and a new one takes its place on the list.

But there’s one that’s going to be circulating for some time, despite what the most recent round of rumors have to say about it:

Apple has stated that ease of use is a key element of the iPod, so wireless functionality is an obvious next step for the product line. Apple has also stated that the pace of iPod innovation will not change. Historically, that pace has been about two new iPods per year, but Apple has yet to release a new iPod this year. Based on these two factors, we expect a new wireless iPod this Fall.

The above comment, written by Piper Jaffrey analyst Gene Munster, echoes much of the sentiment swirling around the iPod these days, after rumors began spreading about an iPod competitor — Argo, as it has been dubbed — in the works over at Microsoft’s Redmond, Wash., campus:

Leaks from behind the doors of Project Argo are providing all sorts of rumours of products which include a Volish iPod that includes wireless technology so users can download content directly to the player without first connecting it to a PC.

Now, that’s all well and good for Microsoft, assuming they want to compete with Sony’s Playstation Portable as much, if not more than Apple’s offerings. After all, the PSP is one of the coolest devices to come around since, well, the iPod, and has a slew of features not included in Apple device, along with the ability to play music.

And it hasn’t really dented Apple’s iPod sales at all. So why should a Microsoft player have an edge?

And besides, why would Apple need a reason to add wireless now? The iTunes Music Store is still going strong and TV shows seem to be selling just as well, with new episodes added each week.

And wouldn’t it take an absurd amount of time and battery power to download an episode of “24″ wirelessly?

Wireless is a fine move for Microsoft if it plans to incorporate Xbox gaming technology into its handheld device, but if it’s only to play music and videos, there’s really no benefit. It’s a necessity for online gaming and Web surfing, but unless Microsoft merely wants to add a useless feature that the iPod doesn’t have, it’s a waste of time for a media player.

If you ask me, the wireless fight might be awfully one-sided once Argo and the new iPods are released. But no matter — Apple knows what good for the iPod, cables and all.

And what’s good for the iPod is good for all of us.

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