Evidence for 'iPhone Nano' gathers pace
Second accessory maker points to new Apple phone
Another day, another tantalising implication Apple's about to announced the iPhone Nano.
This time, it's from iPhone case maker XSKN. It doesn't have a picture of the product, but it does have a section on its website with exactly that name. It's present alongside 'iPhone 3G' and 'iPhone 1st Gen', along with sections devoted to HTC phones, BlackBerries, all the iPods and more.
XSKN's addition was spotted by MacRumors, which notes that the company did the same thing in the run-up to the iPhone 3G launch and the fourth-gen iPod Nano. Many observers were sceptical about the site's actions - then backed up with pictures - but they turned out to be accurate representations of Apple's new product designs.
Rumours of a Nano-sized iPhone go all the way back to August 2008, when an unnamed UK phone industry mole told the Daily Mail such a device was on the cards. It will sell for up to £150 for pay-as-you-go customers by O2, it was claimed.
COMMENTS
maybe, but probably not
I don't think it's time for this yet, but with a custom keyboard arrangement, no 3G and no (unlimited) data contract, there's a place for such a product which can run the same Apps, but doesn't cut it for text intensive professional / adult / data entry use. Youngsters would cope with the smaller screen, and Apple would get even more subsidy payments from its carriers. But it has to be a proper iPhone, that runs app store apps, to even be a possibility.
Apple doesn't want to leave a "pricing umbrella for competitors". This might solve that problem without spoiling iPhone 3G sales and margins too badly.
There's no real evidence that it's true, though (supposed product photos are just one of the many Chinese iPhone copies).
@AndyBright
There is also the camera difference between the iPod touch and the iPhone, this small detail meaning that, no, the cases aren't compatible with both devices. Even my clear case has a camera hole. Outside of geek land, this might be one hell of a device for people who want a phone to 'make calls' to 'humans', being a) a phone, b) f*cking shiny (oh yeah, give it to me baby etc etc) and c) something Apple can let every network get their grubby mitts on.
Stop the hype...
Apple are very clever at their marketing. They send out little snippets of information here and there, knowing only too well that they will be "leaked" to the media, and create a load of hype.
People start discussing non-existent products, some people think it'll do this, some think it'll do that, some couldn't care less, but you all comment nevertheless, adding to the speculation and the hype of a product which will inevitably be a disappointment because something will be missing that we all thought would be really cool.
Battery life?
Battery life seems to be the biggest stumbling block they've got to clear for this to be viable.
For an iphone to be sellable, its going to need good CPU power, a good screen, GPS, wifi and after the slamming they got for the 1G iphone they wont seriously try to drop 3g support surely? To fit all that in a smaller package will surely mean a smaller battery - with pretty pathetic life?
I'm sure it will sell in america either way though
pictures
here's pictures -http://www.macrumors.com/2008/12/22/iphone-nano-concept-photo/
although, they're almost certainly fakes - someone's just photoshopped the iPhone images down by 70%
i remain skeptical of this pre-MWSF rumour. Andy Bright says that there's plenty of demand left in the US for the current 3G - and the same is true here in the uk. one die-hard iphone hater friend of mine went out and bought himself one yesterday. another two of my friends are thinking of getting iphones for themselves for xmas
i don't see that the compatibiity with the AppStore apps is an issue.
if they announce this iPhone Nano next month, it's going to be quite a while before it's actually in the shops. plenty of time for iPhone App developers to port their code to a smaller screen format.
