Today’s mobile news roundup: AT&T to start taking pre-orders for Windows 8 phones later this month; Google/Samsung planning co-branded, 10-inch Nexus tablet; Apple begins shipping 5^th generation iPod Touch; and one lucky Japanese consumer accidently receives a Nexus 7 tablet with a 32GB storage space unit.

AT&T To Start Accepting Windows 8 Phone Pre-orders Oct 21

For the more curious consumer, the much-vaunted release of Microsoft’s first batch of Windows 8 phones is perhaps even more exciting than that of the iPhone – finally a genuine alternative to iOS and Android is within our grasp, with The Verge reporting that AT&T will begin taking pre-orders for the handsets including the Nokia Lumia 920 and the HTC 8X.

Also on sale at the same time will be the new Asus Vivo Tab RT, and Samsung’s new Ativ Smart PC, with the first devices expected to be shipped sometime in early November. Microsoft has refused to comment on the rumors, sticking to its well-worn line that Windows 8 phones will be ready “later this year”.

Google/Samsung Readying Co-Branded Nexus 10

Meanwhile, Android lovers may be more interested to learn about a new Nexus 10 that’s reportedly in the pipeline. According to analysts at NPD DisplaySearch, the new tablet will be a joint effort between Google and Samsung, boasting a 10.1-inch, 2,560×1,60 display with a PPI (pixels-per-inch) of 299, far superior to the 264 PPIon the Apple iPad 3’s 9.7-inch, 2,048×1,536.

NPD DisplaySearch explains that the Nexus 10 will be a high-end device, with a price tag expected to be much bigger than the $199 asking price for its Nexus 7.

While the specs are pretty mouth-watering, the bigger news is that the Nexus 10 will be a co-branded product, with Google teaming up with its Android champs Samsung – does this mean the end of the road for the Galaxy Tab?

Apple Ships Out New iPod Touch

Good news for those who have pre-ordered a fifth-generation iPod Touch – Apple finally began shipping them out this morning.

While consumers knew that it was ‘coming soon’, this is the first official confirmation of a release date for the new iPod from Apple, which (somewhat unusually for them) refused to give a concrete date beforehand.

Priced at $299, the fifth-generation iPod Touch is said to be the most iPhone-like of all iPods up until now, featuring a 4-inch retina display, slick Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 – the only major difference bein the lack of a monthly phone bill to contend with.

Lucky Japanese Buys Nexus 7 tablet with a Whopping 32GB of Storage

Google’s 7-inch Nexus has been largely well received – except by a number of storage hogs who complained that the maximum 16GB of storage space would never be enough. It appears that is no longer the case however, at least not for one lucky buyer of a new Nexus 7 tablet who has somehow ended up with a massive 32GB of storage within his new device.

The surprise story comes at an interesting time, with Google rumored to be readying a chunkier, 32GB version of the Nexus 7 that could hit the shops as early as this month – although this has yet to be confirmed anyone at Mountain View. Perhaps they just forgot?