iPhone 2.0 screen-maker rumour really points to video iPod?
Coming too soon at too low a price
Apple will release a second-generation, lower cost iPhone in September for an iPod-like price of $249-299 - if a Chinese-language newspaper report citing Taiwanese industry moles is to be believed, that is.
The story - relayed by local newssite DigiTimes - goes along these lines: supplier Wintek has been contracted to make touchscreens for the new product. Wintek is already producing samples.
Said insiders claim the screens are for the much-rumoured second-gen iPhone, but there's no evidence to back up that claim.
In fact, we're sceptical. For starters, the iPhone's screen is believed to come from Germany's Balda, though that doesn't mean Apple wouldn't look elsewhere for a cheaper panel for iPhone 2.0.
But the biggest niggle is the alleged price - half of what Apple and AT&T are asking for iPhones today. And we're expected to believe this massive reduction is going to take place a mere three months after iPhone 1.0 was released? We think not.
Wintek may be making screens for a future Apple product. It may even be working on displays for the iPhone family. But our money's on a next-gen iPod - quite possible the long-awaited widescreen video-oriented model, now forgotten or at least way overshadowed by the iPhone hooplah.
That's a product that might well debut in September - a traditional time for iPod updates - for $249-299.
COMMENTS
Re: Oh Sure
Right- like theyve stopped buying updated iPods, Macs or on a more general tack, automobiles.
Oh sure
I can hear the screams from hear to Cupertino. The mobs will line up outside the gates, pitch forks and torches (the kind with flames) in hand.
If they came out with iPhone 2.0 two years from now, the early adopters would shrug it off. But if the new model comes out before the end of the year, people who just popped $500-$600 for one will probably swear off Apple. Maybe not today, but I'll bet they won't buy a second iPhone.
If only this Iscepiticisim (tm) would take off...
All this talk about Iphone 2.0 is just more evidence of the hype trap Apple has gone and walked into. Its was only out a day, and people wanted the sequel....
Time to start an Iphone Rumour of my own. Apple is the secret partner in talks with Branson about buying Virgin Media. Every Virgin Media (soon to be AppleVision) will get a special version of the Iphone II which has VOIP as well as GSM/UMTS (3g) capabilities. Users will be able to seamlessly switch between a VOIP call over WIFI to the GSM/3g network.
What? Too OUtregous. Just cos I dont work for the times its not going to be taken seriously? Its just as silly as most of the other rumours.
