DailyTech - Apple News Sites Awash With iPhone nano Rumors

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Gadgets Apple News Sites Awash With iPhone nano Rumors
Jason Mick (Blog) - December 24, 2008 6:02 PM

18 comment(s) - last by CalWorthing.. on Dec 26 at 9:23 AM

One of the case designs that maker XSKN has began selling for the supposed "iPhone Nano". XSKN successfully leaked designs for the iPhone 3G and fourth generation iPod Nano cases. (Source: XSKN)

Annother of XSKN's cases which range from $25 to $27. (Source: XSKN)

A picture from another Apple case designer -- iChinaDeals -- of the rumored iPhone Nano. (Source: iDealsChina)

Could America's best-selling phone get a little brother?

Apple has a reputation for keeping the American public clinging on its every word, a reputation carefully crafted through a reputation for industry-shaking announcements ever since the release of its fortune changing iPod. The company regularly revamps its iPod line and has launched major products like the iPhone and the MacBook Air at big press events like MacWorld, held each January.

And while this will be Apple's last year at MacWorld, that does not stop the rumors that a big announcement is coming.

America's best selling phone, the iPhone, has long been rumored to be scheduled to get a smaller sibling, an iPhone nano. Now, fueled by moves by some case manufacturers, these rumors are heating up, just in time for the pre-MacWorld buzz.

Third party iPod and iPhone case maker XSKN stoked the fire by launching an "iPhone nano" case section on its site. The skins are for a phone the same thickness as the iPhone, but slightly shorter. There are a variety of colors and the protective cases are selling from between $25 and $27. The site has already received some orders from hopeful Apple fans.

Some believe that XSKN may be on to something, as it accurately leaked case designs for the iPhone 3G and fourth-generation iPod nano, before either product was announced by Apple. However, many remain skeptical that the long term rumor of an iPhone nano is close to coming true.

Another site, iDealsChina, also has begun to sell cases, and even is offering supposed iPhone nano photos.

However, whether either rumor is true is highly questionable, and additionally sources at Apple have indicated that the company's secretive plans for MacWorld have been set back. What its "plans" entail remains to be seen, but a few case makers remain adamant that Apple is cooking up a pint-sized version of its popular iPhone.

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Harder to type on?

By jordanclock on 12/24/2008 7:40:30 PM , Rating: 3

While I'm doubt this device will actually come to fruition, if it were to be released, I can't see a huge demand for it. Typing on a touchscreen the size of the iPhone (which is rather generously sized) is already difficult. I can't imagine typing with even less screen space.

Honestly, if the iPhone just had a slide-out keyboard, I would pick one up without hesitation. Ok, so Apple's totalitarian control over what can be installed via their store leaves me a little weary, but it's a minor concern since I have maybe four third party programs on my Motorola Q.

RE: Harder to type on?

By bunnyfubbles on 12/24/2008 7:48:33 PM , Rating: 5

Since when did the phone lose its primary purpose as a voice communication device?

iPhone Nano doesn't have to be a jack of all trades to be insanely popular, it just needs to be an iPod Nano but with basic cellphone operation...

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RE: Harder to type on?

By StevoLincolnite on 12/24/2008 8:01:00 PM , Rating: 2

I don't own any Apple products yet, however most people would buy it just for the "Apple Name" - However if it's priced decently and has 3G I'll probably pick one up, although I'll miss the dedicated music buttons on my current XpressMusic.

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RE: Harder to type on?

By fteoath64 on 12/25/08, Rating: 0

RE: Harder to type on?

By StevoLincolnite on 12/25/2008 6:54:31 AM , Rating: 3

No I haven't used an iPod, in-fact I have only ever seen 2 iPods in real life in use by someone. (Not counting what I have seen on store shelves) - I live in a small town in South Australia.

There is nothing wrong with using the XpressMusic Phone, I have 8gb of storage, dedicated music buttons so I can pause/start/skip tracks without having to look at the screen, that was the main feature I wanted and enjoy.

So it seems you didn't actually place anything significant on why a dedicated MP3 player is better than a "Music" phone so I'll just skip over that part and ignore it.

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RE: Harder to type on?

By B3an on 12/25/2008 8:10:49 AM , Rating: 2

quote:
Its not the apple name but the product characteristics, usability that sticks to the users of Apple product. The name ain't important, the quality and design matters.

To crApple users it's just how shiny the product is. Functionality and basic features mean nothing.

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RE: Harder to type on?

By headbox on 12/26/2008 5:16:55 AM , Rating: 2

...based on what evidence? Your keen observations as a microsoft drone?

Those magazines, newspapers, audio CDs, TV shows, and films you love... made by "crapple" users.

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RE: Harder to type on?

By omnicronx on 12/25/2008 2:02:16 AM , Rating: 5

I disagree, nobody pays 200-300 dollars and $60 minimum contract to merely use the device as a phone. Like it or not, minimum contracts make the iPhone more than just a phone, and thats what people pay for.

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RE: Harder to type on?

By Clauzii on 12/25/2008 10:50:28 PM , Rating: 2

It might be that Apple is aiming for the kids. Maybe even especially the Chinese and Japanese markets, who knows..

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RE: Harder to type on?

By cochy on 12/26/2008 12:02:32 AM , Rating: 2

I have a HTC Touch Diamond, which I think would be around the same size as an iPhone Nano. It is not difficult to type on once you get used to it.

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What would be left out?

By Delegator on 12/24/2008 8:42:31 PM , Rating: 3

A big question for a smaller iPhone is, what would be left out to make it smaller? These devices cram an awfully lot into their limited space, so something would have to go.

Memory is an obvious candidate. Wifi? Maybe. What if the device was more of a phone and less of a PC-in-your-pocket? That is, take out the wifi, but leave in a 3g interface for iTunes and media?

The most worrying thing would be the smaller battery that would be needed to make the phone smaller. I think you'd really need to remove the high-power-consumption options such as wifi to make that at all viable.

RE: What would be left out?

By sprockkets on 12/25/2008 2:42:37 AM , Rating: 2

The second question is, if the phone is that small, it becomes like a normal cell phone. And since the big iphone has a crappy camera, no video, no MMS, and I can't see how the smaller one would have those features to make the more expensive model look bad, why would people want it? It would offer no compelling features over any other phone, unlike how the iphone does over other pda phones.

Hey, guess what, other cell phones play music and video too.

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RE: What would be left out?

By fteoath64 on 12/25/2008 6:34:25 AM , Rating: 2

"Hey, guess what, other cell phones play music and video too. "

Yes, but not as elegantly as the iPhone could. Thats really the point. I could surf for 3-4 hours per day on the iPhone. No other device would allow me to do that. Not Nokia device, nor SE device, only an MBA comes close to it (PLAIN surf looking at news, youtube etc). No prolonged typing.

The usability of iPhone is just miles ahead of anything else, so much so that we iPhone "idiots" become absolute idiots with normal handsets!. Thats the power of core usability, it becomes addictive and habitual ... I would conclude that it is excellence in human engineering.

iPhone can never be perfect, you would need to buy a better one in a couple of years. But it is still the best phone out there for many people (not all but many enough. 10Million and growing).

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RE: What would be left out?

By omnicronx on 12/26/2008 12:16:19 AM , Rating: 2

The big question is, how is Apple going to make an Iphone with a smaller screen and smaller resolution work with existing apps? WinMo phone users know what I am talking about here with the differene between QVGA and VGA phones, many apps older QVGA apps just don't work on a VGA display. The Apple store really does limit what Apple can do here, which is why I believe this story is a hoax.

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dont go smaller

By Soldier38 on 12/25/08, Rating: 0

RE: dont go smaller

By wetwareinterface on 12/25/2008 10:29:45 AM , Rating: 2

you're only getting all that in 2009 if Steve Jobs stands down and Mr. Rourke and Tattoo take over at Apple.

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maybe the new $99 wally world iphone?

By wetwareinterface on 12/25/2008 10:33:45 AM , Rating: 2

if this is for real it could be huge as far as sales. this could be the fabled future $99 iphone at walmart. also imagine these not being locked down to at&t only. if it came out for verizon, at&t, t-mobile, sprint etc... all at once and carried a smaller price tag than the iphone does now, it'd sell like hotcakes.

Smaller iPhone

By CalWorthing on 12/26/2008 9:23:17 AM , Rating: 2

It's to much to hope for alternative providers (Verizon/Sprint/TMobile), although a 'new' iPhone might be outside the scope of the original ATT monopoly.