With the spate of recent rants about all that’s wrong with Apple–although I will admit it is mildly amusing to read all the labored recountings of the longtime devotion from ex-fanboys, followed by the scales falling off the eyes to be quickly replaced by crocodile tears–BoomTown wonders exactly when the bizarre emotional connection some have with the computer company is going to end.

Well, never, I guess, because then it wouldn’t be the cult it is, would it?

And anyway, the pendulum will swing once again, and soon, to favor Apple (AAPL) once the drumbeat gets even louder on the wildly different rumors about the new tablet device that many are predicting will be delivered from on high sometime by–in the most likely and juicily dramatic scenario–CEO Steve Jobs.

Since it is Apple, who knows what they are up to and when?

But, in the interests of relieving boredom, I suggest we move on from the dead-horse issue of the Google (GOOG) Voice app–including the breathless anticipation of a new “war” between Jobs and Google CEO Eric Schmidt, a relationship that moved from bromance to frenemies to one of those lady-fights from “Dynasty” pretty quickly–to more enjoyable late-August frivolities.

Like trying to guess the name that Jobs will ultimately bestow on the tablet.

Here are my thoughts on the various possibilities:

iTablet: This seems the most likely name since it is simple, descriptive and sounds kind of catchy.

Apple always seems to go for the most obvious names and this is certainly it.

The downside is that it also sounds a little medical, like something you might take for indigestion.

But, I am sure some cute commercials will solve that acid reflux pronto.

iPad: Maybe it’s just me, but this sounds like some sort of feminine product.

Except in a scary way.

And iPad Touch, as some have suggested, is much, much worse.

I know the idea is that it is a pad-like device, but it also calls to mind a pad of paper, which feels really old too.

iBooklet: Don’t laugh. Okay, do.

But, it is not the worst idea to take an existing successful product and extend from it.

While the iBook is aimed at the less expensive computer buyers, the new tablet device seems to be a less expensive product for those who spend a mint on other Apple offerings.

iAmnotanetbook: Too long?

iAmakindlekiller: Too obvious?

iWillcallitwhateverthe#@*&ilike: Too much Jobs-channeling?

Whatever Apple does end up calling the innovative new product–which I am already in line to buy–it’s certain to be covered more than, say, critically important national and international issues, such as the health care debate.

So, until this one more thing debuts, perhaps the best name for it will be the most obvious of all: iHype.

Well, for sure, Microsoft execs were not doing high-fives after Yahoo CEO Jerry Yang said he was stepping down yesterday, as Yahoo searches for a new CEO to take over.

Well, maybe some small and discreet ones.

That hand-slapping, of course, was the delightful tidbit from the New York Times after Microsoft (MSFT) dropped its takeover bid for Yahoo (YHOO) earlier this year.

The story: Yahoo execs were reportedly high-fiving each other in celebration for not taking $31 a share from the software giant. Today, of course, Yahoo stock has been halved.

Which has long begged the question why Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has persistently–almost obsessively, really–not gone back and made another bid for Yahoo at discount prices.

Well, simply put, he does not want Yahoo whole and still doesn’t want it, even with Yang’s departure.

While many like to gin up a “Dynasty”-style feud between Yang and Ballmer–as if they were Alexis and Krystle cat-fighting in a fountain–that was never true, and Yang’s moving on will not change the equation that much.

Of course, Microsoft execs were burning up the phone wires down to Silicon Valley yesterday trying to make sure it is well positioned to make the deal it does want: A sweeping search and search-advertising partnership with Yahoo, whose similar deal with Google (GOOG) recently collapsed.

“They are ready to move, as soon as it becomes clear who is in charge at Yahoo,” said one source close to the situation. “They don’t want to appear too eager, but also don’t want to lose this one.”

Indeed, Microsoft is now in a good position to wait and swoop, one of its more effective tactics. Not that its consumer-facing digital strategies have been very successful thus far, and it definitely bollixed the Yahoo takeover attempt.

But the software giant has shown it can be more than willing to fork over way too much payola to try to catch up with its archrival Google in the search game at companies like Facebook and, more recently, Verizon (VZ).

While a deal with Yahoo will not bring Microsoft in even close range of Google, it is a deal that is most likely to be done, given the pressure on Yahoo now.

While a large group of execs at Yahoo still maintain that separating search and the company’s other businesses is dangerous to its future, it is hard to imagine its board will pick a new CEO who is not more than willing to travel to Microsoft’s Redmond, Wash., HQ and make peace pronto, and do a deal.

High-fives, all around, everyone?

Please see this disclosure related to me and Google.