From what our friends in Taiwan tell us, Microsoft is already doing the leg work on getting the next version of what is now being referred to as the “Natal Xbox” ready for production. A variety of other independent sources are confirming that Aptina has drawn the lucky card and will have the exclusive rights to manufacture the 1.3 mega-pixel CMOS image sensors that will be used in the new Natal version of the console.

Don’t get too excited yet, as our sources tell us that Microsoft is taking things a bit slowly and they are not even looking for these new consoles to appear on retailer shelves till at least the second half of 2010. When it does arrive, it is likely to be very much like the Elite system that Microsoft currently sells today; except that it will include Natal with it and it might feature some hardware enhancements, but we think that is more unlikely. The Natal device will still be offered for current owners as a separate add-on, as Microsoft has stated previously.

Of course, Microsoft is denying everything, which only makes sense at this point as they need to clear inventory and get through the holiday selling season this year before talk moves to next year. While we do think we will get a better understanding of what titles you might be able to expect for Natal at CES, it will likely be E3 before we have a better idea of when the new console as well as Natal will actually launch. Our sources insist that multiple developers have things planned for Natal, but the software has to catch up with the hardware prior to release in order for Natal to be successful for the long haul.