iPhone Nano Concept Photo?

[MacRumors]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/12/22/iphone-nano-concept-photo/)

It seems the "iPhone Nano" is the rumor is going to be the one to take the spotlight ahead of this year's Macworld, and while we are publishing these photos and rumors, we at MacRumors have serious doubts about the likelihood of such a device. These doubts are based on the quality of the sources as well as the practicality of introducing a new form factor to the iPhone/iPod Touch platform.

This image, which was submitted anonymously, provides a glance at what the rumored iPhone nano may look like. The images appear consistent (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/12/15/iphone-nano-rumors-revived-in-otherwise-quiet-lead-in-to-macworld/) with previously released case designs for the rumored device.


http://images.macrumors.com/article/2008/12/22/170245-nano_425.jpg

At this point, we have no reason to believe this photo is real and are labeling it a "concept" design for the sake of discussion.




Article Link: iPhone Nano Concept Photo? (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/12/22/iphone-nano-concept-photo/)

[Harpy007]

Could be interesting...

[Techguy172]

I just don't see the point.

[swissmad]

Looks very nice; I would be very happy to see this come onto the market.

[DavidLeblond]

I just don't see the point.

It's smaller.

[Srai-W]

Many have commented on the smaller screen, but that looks somewhat reasonable. I guess my fat fingers may have to give it a miss, but it would all come down to how the implement the design.

Well, if it is this and the Mini, then maybe MWSF won't be so bad after all?!?!?!?!

[hankolerd]

I sure wouldn't mind a device that much smaller to carry around in my pocket, but I don't think I would give up any more screen size. If it is free with a two year plan though it could be interesting.

[matthewHUB]

what features would be missing from the nano compared to the normal?

[Doju]

Nor do I.

The iPhone is perfectly sized right now, bad idea.

[iOrlando]

i think the idea of an iphone nano is real.

could go for $89

apps will be limited to whatever ones can work with the device.

Music -- same
Phone -- same
Video -- same


2010 iPhone for all carriers in U.S. (by that time...there will be multiple models)

[Techguy172]

It's smaller.

Yeah but the keyboard is already small!

[Nick.]

looks nice.

[Tallest Skil]

It's harder to use and harder to read. Unless, of course, they don't keep the same resolution, and then the App Store will have to be thrown out of the picture entirely.

Fixed? :D:o

[mattkap]

*gets in line now!!!!!

[Sirobin]

Honestly, this whole idea seems really stupid and pointless to me. The iPhone is small enough as it is, any smaller just makes it harder to use.

[TheSlush]

Not happening! They'd have to redesign and reconfigure the whole touch interface for the new size. As would all the developers with wares in the App store!

[websyndicate]

what features would be missing from the nano compared to the normal?

It will have a "Laser"

[NOV]

Well, when you are urged by Apple to take the picture off line within 24 hrs, it's probably real. :)

[Kilamite]

Naw.

Prefer the big 'wan man.

[Zuwxiv]

Anything smaller than the current iPhone would have more problems with typing than would be worth the size. Besides, the iPhone is already one of the slimmest phones out there - I don't get why someone would want it smaller. Wouldn't that just make it less appealing because of the smaller screen for movies? Wouldn't it be more expensive, if it is everything the iPhone is, but smaller?

Generally, you pay a premium to get the same thing smaller.

I have the 2G iPhone, and I'll buy a new one if they make the volume buttons work with the in-ear headphones. That's all I need.

[patricksan]

could go for $89


That would be a very nice point.

[chefkohler]

this is surely a mac "rumor"

this photo they took the iPhone 3G and scaled it down in size... and put it next to the original..

no one i know would want this smaller iphone. not even women with their dainty fingers.

Apple does not cater to "low end".... so an $89 price point or free with 2 year is pointless speculation.

sure there can be improvements to the current iPhone 3G, this is not one of them.

[thomahawk]

dude wtf and i thought the regular iphone and ipod touch is small? wow its going to be SUPER small now

[Eswip]

Why does everybody thinks an iPhone nano should be allmost the same as the original iPhone.. What about a iPod nano form factor, no touch-screen (so no appstore or what so ever), no internet.. just an iPod nano with some call and text functions.. maybe a camera..

The whole idea in this picture is pretty useless.. there would be almost no difference between the nano and the original..

[k2spitfire88]

I just don't see the point.

How many people said that with the iPod though??? And in regards to the resolution, isn't OS X supposed to be resolution independent?

[Rojo]

Good god, I really hope this isn't true. It would be a disaster, since the epectation would be that it works just like a regular iPhone, with all the apps working the same. And yet... there's no possible way it can if the screen size is reduced in any way.

As many have pointed out, the phone is really the perfect size now. It could maybe be a tad thinner (though not TOO thin), and lose a teensy bit off the top and bottom (though again, not TOO much) -- but it really can't afford to be any smaller in screen size, without serious issues to go along with it.

[csimon2]

Not happening! They'd have to redesign and reconfigure the whole touch interface for the new size. As would all the developers with wares in the App store! Why? While the interface would undoubtedly be much tighter, if the "iPhone nano" used a higher dpi screen at the same resolution of its big brother, then apps wouldn't have to be redesigned at all. I've read this argument elsewhere, but it is only based on the assumption that Apple would use a similar dpi screen and thus the overall resolution would have to be smaller. But that's simply not a given. In fact, if these rumors are true, I'd be very surprised if Apple didn't use one of the tightest dpi screens available in a consumer electronics device.

[cube]

Now they just have to make it unlocked and open.

And a removable battery.

And a card slot.

And DVB-H.

[Tallest Skil]

no touch-screen

Defeats the entire purpose of the iPhone.

[zombitronic]

New aspect ratio? No.

[PinkyMacGodess]

It wouldn't make sense.

This would be a step backwards into Apple's past where there were too many systems that competed on features and price but were basically the same. Remember the plethora of Performa models?

I'd think that churning out 4G iPhones for the 'Wal-Mart market' would make more sense, especially with the idea that the same plants and same equipment could be used to produce all of them. Making devices that require seperate plants or production lines is expensive and not really cost effective unless there are a whole gaggle of people looking for a phone that they can lose in a coat pocket.

An iPhone nano is a product looking for a market. It will have to be noticably crippled over the capability of the current iPhone 3g otherwise I've been ripped off...

Plus not to mention they just shat on the earlier small nearly square ipod nano. Why? To not confuse them? Hardly...

Another idea: Could this be a leak from Apple to sting those that market in their leaks? Something to throw people off the trail? Wouldn't that be funny...

[Saladinos]

Complete bogus. Does it need to be pointed out?

- iPhone is in French. Apple translates marketing stuff last. Unlikely to be real.
- Colour dispersion on the left indicates this is a photo of a CRT screen.

Also, people saying that the App Store won't work if they don't keep the resolution are wrong. The store is an online service, and can selectively show applications if they can run on the phone. Just like the iTunes store doesn't show french songs on the american store. If it uses the same system, developers will simply need to tweak their interfaces to get it to work. It would be a 5 minute job. There's very little code that needs to be modified (in fact, with Interface Builder, you might not even need to change any code).

[danhig123]

Well assuming these photos are legit, which I very much doubt, the iPhone Nano is displaying a 3g symbol, so Apple would surely have to ditch the WiFi chipset in order fit everything into the smaller form factor....

[JoeJoe]

Yeah but the keyboard is already small!


If they change the keyboard orientation it would be bigger than the current keyboard, I think.

Maybe not.

[Demosthenes X]

Why does everybody thinks an iPhone nano should be allmost the same as the original iPhone.. What about a iPod nano form factor, no touch-screen (so no appstore or what so ever), no internet.. just an iPod nano with some call and text functions.. maybe a camera..

The whole idea in this picture is pretty useless.. there would be almost no difference between the nano and the original..

Agreed. Aside from a "mini iPhone" being stupid and altogether pointless, I think the biggest reason we won't see a device like this is that the iPod Nano was just updated, and it didn't become a "mini" iPod Touch - it retained the traditional iPod interface.

If an iPhone Nano does come to market (and I think it should), then I believe it will retain the iPod Nano's size and interface, with a slide-away number pad. Maybe a slide-away QWERTY keypad, like the LG Rumour has, since the Nano is pretty narrow...

But I don't think we'll get a scaled down iPhone with a Nano badge on it. It just wouldn't be very practical, especially when the on-screen keyboard is being used.

[Schtumple]

I don't think this is real, the photo did not come from a reliable source, like an elevator.

[Aeolius]

Personally, I see no point to the iPhone nano. The iPhone is already the right size. Just stuff more tech into it, please. If you want a smaller form factor, go for the squidget:
http://www.maclife.com/sites/future.p2technology.com/files/imce-images/1126_squidget_numbers_450_0.jpg

[PinkyMacGodess]

They could make the screen smaller but with the ability to go portrait to widescreen, that would be a problem and there wouldn't be anything to gain.

Plus the crippling that would happen for the iPhone nano should have shown up somewhere before now. In some system file.

See, I don't know. Making the 'lessor of' to an already affordable product? making it lessor capable. As some have speculated already, what do you cut? Motion sensing? GPS? Resolution?

I guess if people want an 'iPhone wannabe' they can shlep to Verizon and get the Storm... Right?

[okb001]

I'm with Techguy172, I just don't see the point. The iPhone is already small enough.

[stuarthatto]

The iPhone is poor enough as a phone, without making it smaller, with lesser battery life and a smaller cellular aerial for worse call quality.

Give it a removable battery and maybe I can see a point

[emotion]

Don't see the point? Do you guys ever put your phone in your pocket?

That said this sounds very unlikely. Same screen (or maybe slightly smaller, same rez, less bezel space top and bottom), better battery tech and a lot thinner would work better for me.

Lose the useless camera too to save some space.

[SteveSparks]

I suspect an iPhone Nano would be more expensive not less.

[DomArch]

Look Ma! I learned me how to use photoshop!

This shows no imagination...could anyone seriously see Jobs approving this?

[chameleon81]

I just don't see the point.

Get your eyes checked.

not everyone wants to have a giant phone in his pocket, so simple

[Lepton]

For an iPhone nano, the screen must be the same size, same number of pixels, same pixels per inch. The CPU must run no slower than the original iPhone. The case can be shorter by eliminating the black top and bottom sections. I can be thinner, and the sides can be shaved a tad. Change the glass surface to plastic. Remove the WiFi, GPS, 3G, and possibly camera. Max 8GB (i.e. 1 chip). This makes the device smaller with the ability to run all the same programs as the other models, with smaller case and same battery life (smaller battery but unit needs less power.) There you go.

[emotion]

The iPhone is poor enough as a phone, without making it smaller, with lesser battery life and a smaller cellular aerial for worse call quality.

Fair point. I've had mine for 14 months now and it's not a great phone (esp. on O2).

[Matt23]

I think this image is fake because it looks simply like a scale reduction of the regular iPhone. Wouldn't some of the physical features such as buttons, bezels, mic, camera, or logo possibly stay the same size, while the whole body gets smaller? Or possibly not get smaller on the same scale as the rest of the phone?

[Shagrat]

Not going to happen, I feel...

But then Apple seems to be pretty much a phone company these days, so what do I know?

[mrJnC]

I call shenanigans.

The camera ring on the iPhone nano is scaled down as well, in the same proportions as the rest of this photoshop exercise.

Physically it makes no sense to do this.

[mikeinternet]

no way will this happen.

bring out the 3rd gen iphone! video recording, 2nd camera on front for ichat, thinner, stereo speakers 10 times louder, more storage, better battery, and snapier!

and how about this. One more button on the side for instant voice commands. even let it launch 3rd party apps by first stating the app you want. or if it just hears music lauches shazzam.

forget trying to figure out how to make the phone worse.

[pubwvj]

Why? Maybe to fill the niche of those who want tiny size and don't care about having a smaller screen with it's smaller input (think virtual keyboard) and output (think harder to see things). Me, I don't want to give up the screen real estate and if the device were any smaller it would be inconvenient to physically handle, more likely to get dropped, etc.

[Clive At Five]

I know there's some doubt based on the potential re-writing of iPhone apps... so does anyone know what the technical feasibility of a smaller 480 x 320 screen is?

-Clive

[Zuwxiv]

http://img123.imageshack.us/img123/5685/iphoneck5.png

http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/7498/iphone2em8.png

[PinkyMacGodess]

Well, if this does ship it's probably good proof that Steve has stepped back management.

An iPhone nano that was just a cell phone, no frills might sell although the time to have brought this out would have been before the original iPhone came out.

Trying to pack the same stuff in a smaller box ain't working...

[superstrikertwo]

Didn't Apple say the screen size on the iPhone would never change because it would break apps and other things?

[Aeolius]

not everyone wants to have a giant phone in his pocket, so simple

Not everyone keeps their phone in their pocket, either. I prefer a belt clip, as my front pockets have keys in them and anything in my back pockets would get squashed when I sit down.

[Schtumple]

http://img123.imageshack.us/img123/5685/iphoneck5.png

http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/7498/iphone2em8.png

Learn to use TIMG tags for large images.

[Leemo]

The 3G logo in the picture is from the older firmware. Fakeyfakefake.

[agfrg]

It looks like someone picked up some press shots of iPhone, scaled them down, placed them side by side with the originals, added some reflections and took a photo of the monitor.

I call them, fake.

Besides, iPhone OS is designed for a 3.5" screen. I don't believe that it would be practical to have the same interface on a smaller screen.

[itsmeok]

tell you what! if they make a different sized phone with different screen resolution and little variations here and there, then maybe it can have a network different from the ****** AT&T! At least thats the only reason I would get it. ;)

Otherwise, at the risk of being repetitive, what is the point?

[Zuwxiv]

Learn to use TIMG tags for large images.

Ah. I hardly ever post here and the other forums I'm on don't use the TIMG tag. Thanks for the tip.

[bradl]

As much as I'd like to see this, I have to call bollocks, at least on the image.

Why? It's obvious Apple has created new images of the iPhone. So why would they take an older image of the iPhone, and make it smaller? Have a look at it, and you'll notice the E/3G square around the network that you are on. That hasn't been seen since at least Firmware 2.1 if not 2.0.2. They have newer images than that out there for the iPhone (with newer firmware). To go back to something technically old and make a new image out of it smacks of Photoshop/Gimp.

BL.

[arturb]

It is a fake mockup and here's why:

camera whole would be the same size on both if real
"Home" button on "nano" is blurred - typical when scaled down from bigger in Photoshop, same applies to a camera
icons are not lined up perfectly
in a side view small is a scaled down version of the big, i seriously doubt they would be able to squeeze all factors in even thinner enclosure.


Whoever did it, needs a few professional lessons in Photoshop. Nice try. :)

[Genghis Khan]

Fake

Check out the reflections between the volume and silent buttons.

Also, if Apple were to make an 'iPhone Nano', Jonathan Ive would not send his previous design through at 75%...

[Zimmer62943]

Come on people this is not going to happen? firstly if its going to be smaller im sure that the shape would change even the tiniest little bit, that image has just been free transformed smaller in photoshop, i cant think of a simpler thing to do, secondly have you ever hear someone complain their current iphone and say "its too big", no, neither have i, its the perfect size at the moment that fits in your hand.
There will be NO iPhone Nano. stop posting stupid rumors about it

[buymeaniphone]

I definitely think this image is fake, even if the rumor is true. If it was called an iPhone Nano, don't you think Apple would have that etched into the back of the phone instead of just "iPhone"?

[mdodd]

In response to an analysts question of Apple needing to make more variations of the iPhone:

“From everything I’ve heard, Babe Ruth only had one home run, and he kept hitting it over and over.”

-Steve Jobs, October 2008

Die iPhone nano, die.

[Trajectory]

The image is more than simply a scaled down version of the iPhone. Look at the side views. Besides the size, they are slightly different. However, I still think it's a fake, but, a good fake.

[basesloaded190]

i don't think there is any reason to think this is real. Of course this is a picture made by someone, that's not the point. the point is whether or not the iphone nano will be true or not.

[Yr Blues]

It is a fake mockup and here's why…

I'll tell you why it's fake. The side buttons on the left nano is a different size from the ones in the middle.

And if it's going to be called nano, the name would be on the back.

[nfl46]

Interesting.

Remember people, when they showed us the white iPhone 3G case, MOST people said it was fake, now look at your 3G iPhones...it was the same exact case!

I will not be surprise if this is true.

[TheSlush]

Not happening! They'd have to redesign and reconfigure the whole touch interface for the new size. As would all the developers with wares in the App store!

Why? While the interface would undoubtedly be much tighter, if the "iPhone nano" used a higher dpi screen at the same resolution of its big brother, then apps wouldn't have to be redesigned at all. I've read this argument elsewhere, but it is only based on the assumption that Apple would use a similar dpi screen and thus the overall resolution would have to be smaller. But that's simply not a given. In fact, if these rumors are true, I'd be very surprised if Apple didn't use one of the tightest dpi screens available in a consumer electronics device.

I understand, but this issue is not merely a matter of pixels and screen dpi. It's also a matter of finger ergonomics and usability. With what you're suggesting, the entire interface would scale smaller, as-is. That would result in much physically smaller touch buttons, keyboard keys, input fields, app interactive graphic elements, etc etc etc. Many applications and games would likely be rendered unusable at such a scale! The keyboard would become very challenging! Your finger precision would have to get a heck of a lot better! Apple is not going to risk usability/ergonomic nightmares by scaling down the entire interface, which I'm sure they designed and configured very carefully to maximize ease-of-use with average hand and finger sizes.

[dagamer34]

The iPhone Nano made sense when the iPhone was selling for $499 and $599, but at it's current $199 and $299 price points, they'd have to give these phones away to not cannabilize sales. And I assure you, Apple will kill itself first before doing something like that. Besides, just reducing screen size won't decrease the price, and think of all of the software designed for the 480x320 sized screen.

Fake, Fake, Fake, Fake, Fake!

Perhaps it could be the new iPod Classic or Nano of some sort, but definitely not an iPhone.

[w00143881]

I don't think this will happen. Apple will most likely go towards bringing better specs and not lowering the price or creating a mini. Look at the new macbook line. Instead of lowering the price, now we get more bang for buck (backlit keyboard, unibody alumi body etc.)

It wouldn't make sense to create a iPhone mini if they have enough troubles right now differentiating between the Ipod touch and the Iphone. What would the mini be? Ipod touch with a phone but no 3G?

[T-Will]

Hello people complaining about the keyboard size, it clearly must have a slide out keyboard. :rolleyes:

[basesloaded190]

It wouldn't make sense to create a iPhone mini if they have enough troubles right now differentiating between the Ipod touch and the Iphone. What would the mini be? Ipod touch with a phone but no 3G?

yup. no outrageous monthly plan you have to pay for then;)

[UMHurricanes34]

I'll tell you why it's fake. The side buttons on the left nano is a different size from the ones in the middle.

And if it's going to be called nano, the name would be on the back.

Does any iPod say anything other than iPod on the back?

C'mon.

You have much to learn, young grasshoppa.

[Eric S.]

Get your eyes checked.

not everyone wants to have a giant phone in his pocket, so simple

Cell phones from the early '90s are giant phones. The iPhone is fine.

Anyway, I couldn't see entering information on a "keyboard" any smaller than the one you have to use now.

[redman042]

Fake. Very fake. And not particularly difficult to do. Just take an iPhone photo, do a little photochopping, layer one on top of the other, display it on a CRT and take a photo of it. Wow.

How do I know it's fake? Lots of reasons, but the most important of which is common sense. Apple has no compelling reason to produce an iPhone Nano in the configuration shown here. Judging from the icons, it's got all the same features as the standard iPhone except a screen that isn't is tall, in a smaller form factor. Why? WHY??

Of all the iPhone complaints I read over and over on the web, I very rarely see anyone say "I love the iPhone, it's well worth the money, I just wish it wasn't so damn BIG".

Here's what I do read a lot: "The data plan is a killer".

So here's what DOES make sense to me: A smaller, less expensive iPhone without full data functions. Basically an iPhone feature phone, instead of a smartphone. Think Apple's version of an LG Dare. It has a nice touch screen, all the iPod music and video functions, basic email access, a limited WAP web browser, and a limited app store.

[bdkennedy1]

There's just no way. It took Apple forever to get the keyboard right and on this phone it would be smaller, leaving a lot more room for error. Many current apps in the app store would have to corrected for the new screen size.

[jonjamesm]

of course they will bring this out - whether it is this jan is another matter.

They will do it because they can. and because it follows the trend of apple lately.

They might cut some of the capability, maybe even change the keyboard interface.

But they iphone is just too big for alot of users. The main argument behind not buying an iphone (certainly for alot of my friends) in the UK is that its a bit too big! - imagine what would happen if they brought out a smaller one. those people wouldnt have an excuse and thus apple have clinched into another market group.

The iphone nano will be just as successful as the ipod nano. Why wouldnt it be -

It would be great if it were cheaper too - only if.

[zedsdead]

My only problem with the story is about how much can they really remove from the iPhone in order to reduce the size.

All I can come up with is the GPS.

[coasterswim]

The only reason I give this a glimmer of hope is because the volume buttons on the side view comparison differ between the iPhone and the nano. On the regular iPhone, the specular highlight between volume up and down is in the direct middle of the two buttons, or maybe even a little more towards the bottom. On the nano, however, the specular highlight is in the upper 1/3:

http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/4163/inanodf8.jpg

[mrboult]

read other threads please, it wasn't funny the first time it was said and still isn't funny

Well I thought it was very funny!

We haven't all read every post on these forums.

Be nice or I'll have to point out that your a geek on a computer forum telling people not to make jokes! And who wants to be that guy!

[ChrisA]

could go for $89

No, you mean an $89 down payment with the balance paid over two years at $100 per month. So it comes out to $2,489.

Typically the way phones are sold in the US is they are given away cheap but the user is forced to sign a $2K contract. But it's worth it because after you sign up to pay the $2K, after that, air time is free. It's a great deal free minutes for only $100 a month. unless you use to much then it's not free unless you pay more. Hey it makes perfect logical sense to most consumers. People really do think this way: It's only $89 out of pocket and "some paperwork".

[visor]

These photos show nothing at all. anyone can scale the original iphone.
And honestly - smaller would just be less usable.

[Shagrat]

They could slim it down by removing Firewire, of course...

[Xenious]

In response to an analysts question of Apple needing to make more variations of the iPhone:

“From everything I’ve heard, Babe Ruth only had one home run, and he kept hitting it over and over.”

-Steve Jobs, October 2008

Die iPhone nano, die.

That is a good point. The iPhone/iPod touch is more than a device now, it is a platform. They need to keep that idea and ensure that there is consistency. This means that new hardware needs to run old applications with no issues and no changes to the apps. If physical size changes then the dpi needs to increase so that the overall resolution is the same. Unfortunately then fixed sized on-screen buttons become too small.

What I do see coming is:
Faster network access (HSxPA, 11n)
Physical case changes (bring back metal :) ) or color variations
Storage space increase
Maybe new Apple apps
Internal modifications for faster processing or more graphics power

[ditzy]

Get your eyes checked.

not everyone wants to have a giant phone in his pocket, so simple

With a regular mobile phone I'd see your point but with a smart phone not so much. They have to be big enough to actually do the job.

[swb1192]

Is it possible that Apple is releasing these photos to rumor websites just to see the response they get from the forums? Maybe this is their way of 'testing the waters' before they go all out and introduce a product?

Pretty effective, in my opinion.

[Wingnut330]

Why so bitter? They might be true they might not, but it always seems that others with breaking news get dissed on this site. I for one hope they are true for that very reason.

[Digitalclips]

Many have commented on the smaller screen, but that looks somewhat reasonable. I guess my fat fingers may have to give it a miss, but it would all come down to how the implement the design.

Well, if it is this and the Mini, then maybe MWSF won't be so bad after all?!?!?!?!

It might be ok for younger kids if price is low enough and an app for parent's iPhone to track them at all times. They have small fingers mostly too so size is fine. Might be a huge market there.

[MacFly123]

what features would be missing from the nano compared to the normal?

Exactly! According to that image the iPhone nano would have everything the iPhone 3G does lol. There is no way Apple could squeeze everything in the iPhone 3G into that small of a form factor. There would HAVE to be less features with hardware AND software on the nano if it were going to happen.

Also, the software in that pic is in a foreign language and is old. I can tell because it has the old 3G symbol on the status bar.

I can see Apple doing this only if the nano has less features in hardware and software and is competing with the normal phone market NOT the smartphone market, and if the screen resolution was the same and whatever other precautions are needed so as to make everything compatible for developers still.

[.Andy]

With a regular mobile phone I'd see your point but with a smart phone not so much. They have to be big enough to actually do the job.
Why does it have to be a smart phone? Voice, text, sync with iCal etc would be cool. Even widgets like dashboard (weather, TV guide, calculator clocks et etc) if you want to be really fancy. In a swish form-factor.

[Yr Blues]

The only reason I give this a glimmer of hope is because the volume buttons on the side view comparison differ between the iPhone and the nano. On the regular iPhone, the specular highlight between volume up and down is in the direct middle of the two buttons, or maybe even a little more towards the bottom. On the nano, however, the specular highlight is in the upper 1/3:

http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/4163/inanodf8.jpg

Now compare the length of the button to the ones on the left of the original photo. :D

[milani]

Why is the Apple logo smaller on the smaller phone? If you're going to Photoshop something at least do it right. This rumor is just bogus and I wish it would die already.

[Yr Blues]

Does any iPod say anything other than iPod on the back?

C'mon.

You have much to learn, young grasshoppa.

Ha ha, you would think I'd know that after owning almost every iPod since the original one.

[.Andy]

Why so bitter? They might be true they might not, but it always seems that others with breaking news get dissed on this site. I for one hope they are true for that very reason.
What on earth do you "bitter" about the article :confused:?

[wonderbread57]

Anyone else see this reported on CNBC? The correspondent girl for the NASDAQ mentioned on air that Apple may unveil a iPhone nano at MWSF based on the rumor of an iPhone nano case already spec'd out. I lol'd a little. Seems like her source was macrumors or a lesser rumor mill. Pretty irresponsible but I guess wall street makes bets with even less reliable info.

[t0mat0]

would Apple go to the length of makig the company spread false demo shot as comeuppance for last time ? Wouldn't Apple e mondo pissed otherwise, after the nano premature outing via case photos and models.

Unlikely I know, but what did Apple do otherwise to the manufacturers?
It's not unknown to spread a false design or idea and see where the leaks are.

Having said that - OLED double density nano iPhone? Hehe

[MacDiegoX]

how could someone type on that?:confused:

[BradMacPro]

besides the shorter form factor, what is the point? The iPhone fits in my front pants pocket if it's not in a case and clipped to my belt. If was a bit shorter, then what does that get me, it's just harder to dig into my pocket to grab it. The weight wouldn't be so much lighter to make a difference, and the shorter size would make it that much farther for the mic to my mouth, assuming the earpiece was in the same position by my ear. As for the suggestion of a much smaller iPod nano size without the same interface and apps, then why bother make such a thing? If Apple wanted to make a smaller form factor device such as this concept, then it would be more likely a iPod touch with a smaller and high density/resolution screen to support the same apps from the store. If Apple was going to go smaller dimensions, then I'd think they would go with a clam shell double screen unit which could be more like a netbook with it's bigger screen real estate in total.

[ditzy]

Why does it have to be a smart phone? Voice, text, sync with iCal etc would be cool. Even widgets like dashboard (weather, TV guide, calculator clocks et etc) if you want to be really fancy. In a swish form-factor.

The picture which in essence is what we are discussing, shows phone, iPod, Safari, and email capabilities. That's a smart phone.

[alexbates]

This picture looks like it could easily be fake. Whoever made it might have just decreased the size of the iPhone 3G.

[dagger01]

Ok, I have to chime in on this. This iPhone nano just doesn't make sense. Let me explain:

Apple is a very conservative company when it comes to business practices; not innovation with technology, mind you, but with products and markets. Apple would not dilute their own market share with a product that takes unit sales and revenue away from another product.

As a smartphone (or whatever you would call the iPhone) the iPhone has already gobbled up a significant share of the market, and it is growing with the existing product(s) in the space. Sure, a smaller, cheaper device may help that overall market share grow (like the iBook/MacBook does, or like the iMac does), but that's often a different market segment being targeted with the product; in this case the consumer market as opposed to the business/professional market,

So, ask yourself, what market segment would be served by a smaller, cheaper version of the iPhone? I'm not saying that it's not possible-Apple is full of surprises. I'm at a loss, though, as to what market they would target with this device. Teens? At $199 the 8GB iPhone is not priced out of that market, and I already see a bunch of teenagers on a regular basis with iPhones running around. So, who then?

If I were to speculate, I'd say the device in question would be an iPod Touch nano, if it is truly a product under development. I don't see a market for a smaller, cheaper iPhone.

My $0.02...

You may now resume your regularly scheduled program.

[.Andy]

The picture which in essence is what we are discussing, shows phone, iPod, Safari, and email capabilities. That's a smart phone.
Fair enough. The picture is a concept mockup that most likely isn't real.
An iPhone "nano" may not necessarily be a smart phone and still have massive appeal (if not more than a full smart phone).

[Shagrat]

Fair enough. The picture is a concept mockup that most likely isn't real.
An iPhone "nano" may not necessarily be a smart phone and still have massive appeal (if not more than a full smart phone).

I doubt it's even a concept mockup.. Just a p*ss-poor photoshop job, which I am sure could be done a hundred times better by many who hang out here in Rumourville!

Think even I could do better...if I could could be bothered.

[ivladster]

Yeah but the keyboard is already small!

But it works

[puckhead193]

sad that an iphone rumor is going to take top rumor of the last Macworld :(

[bilbo--baggins]

It is a fake mockup and here's why:

camera whole would be the same size on both if real
"Home" button on "nano" is blurred - typical when scaled down from bigger in Photoshop, same applies to a camera
icons are not lined up perfectly
in a side view small is a scaled down version of the big, i seriously doubt they would be able to squeeze all factors in even thinner enclosure.


Whoever did it, needs a few professional lessons in Photoshop. Nice try. :)

I was thinking the same things. I bet the headphone jack is a scaled down size too...

[iObama]

How many people said that [there wasn't a point] with the iPod though???

A lot!... But no one said that with the iPod mini.

[Jacquesass]

I understand that people have a desire to analyze the "is it a Photoshop?" qualities of a pic, but there's a pretty definitive way to know this isn't real...

If two apps are going to go missing from the home screen, what are the chances that it's "iTunes" and "App Store"?

Case closed.

[Shagrat]

sad that an iphone rumor is going to take top rumor of the last Macworld :(

Yep, an update to the MacPro would be nice...

Logic Pro would be even nicer (personally speaking)

In fact anything but a sodding phone...:(

[ditzy]

Fair enough. The picture is a concept mockup that most likely isn't real.
An iPhone "nano" may not necessarily be a smart phone and still have massive appeal (if not more than a full smart phone).

I accept that there could be a completely different phone. I just don't think that it is likely that it will just be a shrunken iPhone.
If the 'photo' that we see is real, it would be less functional, but more expensive as it would be harder to make.
Saying that it could be possible. But it would have to be called the iPhone air not the iPhone nano.

[pooryou]

Wow, is this the point we have come to? This is the most boring fake Macworld rumor ever.

[somethingelsefl]

Why are we even entertaining this idea? This is the SAME COMPANY THAT HASN'T RELEASED A NETBOOK!

Think about it...why would Apple release a low-end, smaller, less-featured, non-niched iPhone nano...when they won't release a "low-end, smaller, less-featured, non-niched" MacBook Netbook.

This is purely a rumor, it goes against Apple's streamlined product line-up and cohesive product integration. BESIDES...all of Apple's "low-end" or "smaller" units (i.e. the Airport Express, iPod Nano, the MacBook Air, etc) are NOTICEABLY DIFFERENT physically from their full-featured, larger counterparts. Not just scaled down versions of other products.

This is obviously a rumor...or an Apple disaster. I'm even betting that Apple made this rumor up itself (they have been commenting on the rumor mill with a certain laughability more and more recently).

[MacFly123]

Yeah but the keyboard is already small!

That's the other thing... If they do an iPhone nano they would absolutely have to implement global landscape keyboard!!!

[ezekielrage_99]

OMG I am buying one :D

[Shiner]

Ok, I have to chime in on this. This iPhone nano just doesn't make sense. Let me explain:

Apple is a very conservative company when it comes to business practices; not innovation with technology, mind you, but with products and markets. Apple would not dilute their own market share with a product that takes unit sales and revenue away from another product.

As a smartphone (or whatever you would call the iPhone) the iPhone has already gobbled up a significant share of the market, and it is growing with the existing product(s) in the space. Sure, a smaller, cheaper device may help that overall market share grow (like the iBook/MacBook does, or like the iMac does), but that's often a different market segment being targeted with the product; in this case the consumer market as opposed to the business/professional market,

So, ask yourself, what market segment would be served by a smaller, cheaper version of the iPhone? I'm not saying that it's not possible-Apple is full of surprises. I'm at a loss, though, as to what market they would target with this device. Teens? At $199 the 8GB iPhone is not priced out of that market, and I already see a bunch of teenagers on a regular basis with iPhones running around. So, who then?

If I were to speculate, I'd say the device in question would be an iPod Touch nano, if it is truly a product under development. I don't see a market for a smaller, cheaper iPhone.

My $0.02...

You may now resume your regularly scheduled program.

Thanks for your $0.02 I agree with most of your points but there is one big problem.

You are assuming "IF" Apple makes the ipod nano that it will be just as capable as the iphone. That would be stupid for Apple to do, I agree with you. What if Apple decided to actually try to really put a dent in the cell phone market. Now don't get me wrong the iphone is very popular but lets not get crazy here a "significant share of the market". Apple sells one smartphone, and it sells well, but what if apple wanted to make more money and make a cell phone for all non-smartphone people to have. Not a $200 phone that comes laced with a data plan contract of $70 a month but a $100-200 phone that makes calls and messages and plays music and has wifi. They would blow into the cell phone market just like the original ipod.

[acfusion29]

This may have been posted already but I'm not reading 4 pages of "it's true" "omg it can't be true" etc.

But anyways... do you guys have any idea how much code it takes to develop the damn iPhone's... everything? They would have to redo the entire thing for the smaller screen. Now, the only way for them to actually release a smaller iPhone is for them to add a smaller screen with the same resolution, that way iPhone apps from now can be used on it, and developers don't have to create apps for two versions. Plus if a developer creates an app for one version, o god.. the iPhone forum will be a disaster and I will deactivate my account.

So yeah.. if there is an iPhone nano, then that photo is def. fake because I would think that Apple would want the same resolution in all their devices that are using the app store.

[ercanbas]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 2_2 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/525.18.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.1.1 Mobile/5G77 Safari/525.20)

I'll wait for the iPhone Pecanio. The iPhone nano is too big, obsolete. Iphone Pecanio will hold a million songs.

[.Andy]

I'll wait for the iPhone Pecanio. The iPhone nano is too big, obsolete. Iphone Pecanio will hold a million songs.
An iPhone pecorino would be handy when you're out for Italian.

[bobsentell]

and not lose screen size. Look at your iPhone. There is rougly half an inch above and below the screen. Apple could remove that, essentially making it all screen. The home button would be replaced with a clickable touchscreen or multitouch support. You wouldn't lose any function or resolution, but it would be, technically, a smaller iPhone.

[Biolizard]

It's not beyond the realms of technical possibility to do a Nano. Just the basics; phone, Email, iPod, iCal etc. But like everyone else says you either screw over Apps with a new resolution or you implement a higher resolution screen. Problem? The cost of such a screen, when we're considering this a more budget phone. It doesn't compute.

If I were to do a Nano I would thus rip out the App Store and leave the above stuff in, clearly differentiating it from the iPhone 3G and thus appealing to a separate market who just want a phone and don't care about Apps.

But of course Apple have a vested interest in selling Apps since they're making a killer profit on them, so are they going to release a new phone that can't make use of them? Hell no.

And on that point I call it a dud.

[nyisles84]

although I have serious doubts about this ever becoming real, here is my question. Would an Iphone Nano still be locked exclusively to ATT. They have a exclusive contract for the Iphone and that is it. Maybe this nano version would be available to other carriers to spread there products to a wider audience before their contract with ATT ends in a year or so.

[Eric5h5]

isn't OS X supposed to be resolution independent?

No, not yet. Even if it was, that wouldn't help in this case as virtually all iPhone apps as designed for a specific aspect ratio. It would completely break all 2D games, for example, which are hardcoded to 480x320.

--Eric

[Cinch]

Honestly, this whole idea seems really stupid and pointless to me. The iPhone is small enough as it is, any smaller just makes it harder to use.

I'm thinking of the SNL sketch with Will Farrell all in black sitting in a wheelchair.:D

Cinch

[tiiim]

The more i think about this the more i think this wont be happening.

Firstly,

App-rewrites, developers would need to seriously go through their apps or make a nano version of them. Unless Apple has found a magic tick box that does all the hard work, a beta program is a must!

secondly,

The whole "cheaper" non-contract viewpoint, Apple already releases the iphone on pay and go in some countries, no point for making a "payg specific" phone when they have one!

Thirdly,

The "selling point" for developers when making apps is, text, email, camera, gps, 3g etc are all available in the API, do you think Apple will want to remove these features, thus ruin their SDK? Is there was an iphone nano, form factor will be the difference as well as memory.

The Ipod nano does what the classic does, only smaller. Same with a iphone nano.

Why would apple remove 3g?! Marketing diaster, other payg phones have it. Their whole iphone 3g marketing will go up in smoke...

"Introducing the iPhone nano.. 2g" eh no! BIG step back not happening.

While i dont rule out a iphone nano in the future, guys we must remember Apple wont scale back they will only alter form factor. However increasing the resolution and changing the dpi will ruin the apps size and will seriously screw the display. Apple go for detail, the icons will be bigger or the layout re-arranged, however this would have seriously impact on the sdk.

While an iPhone nano would be nice, Apple wont make one for the sake of it and i cant imagine them downgrading any features. The cell phone market is a lot more hostile than the mp3 market. The iphone 3g hardware (accept the graphics) already can do with improvements in this fast-paced market. IF anything the iphone nano will innovate rather than take away.

Fourthly,

Taking out the app store? no! Apple removing a source of income from the phone yeh right!

my 2 cents.:D

[skellener]

Fake image. Not gonna happen. It's hard enough to use the iPhone at the size it is for things like typing. How the ***** are you gonna be able to use it if it's smaller?

I could see a smaller iPhone coming out, but it will differ from the current style. It will have to be. I mean, the iPod Shuffle does NOT mimic the regular iPod. They changed the controls to accommodate the size. That's what will happen with a smaller iPhone. It WON'T simply be smaller. They'll modify it.

[babyj]

What is it with everyone that can't understand why Apple would want (and need) to introduce a cheaper phone? The reason is simple - money and lots of it.

The current iPhone is targeted at a small segment of the mobile phone market - total sales are about 1 billion a year with just 20% of that being smart phones. If Apple want some of the other 80% of the market they need cheaper and simpler phones.

Sure, Apple don't normally do cheap or bottom of the market except we are talking about vast sums of money when it comes to mobile phones. A 20% market share would mean 200 million phone sales a year, even if they made only $20 a phone that is $4 billion profit we are talking about.

Apple is a business and they currently have the hottest, most talked about, most hyped phone in the world. If they weren't looking at ways of building on that to take more market share they'd be crazy. Might not happen in January but some day soon there will be a bigger range of iPhones, primarily to hit the bottom end of the market.

[Zuwxiv]

Worth noting: This rumor has the display time of "09:42". Apple's iPhone gallery has phones which display the time "9:42".

1) I don't think Apple would add a 0 onto the end of that. We all know how obsessive they are about aesthetics.
2) Either Apple really likes 9:42, or this is just a adequate (but not professional) photoshop job.

Of course, it's always possible this is an early prototype screen. Or maybe some Chinese manufacturer is making an iPhone ripoff that's a little bit smaller. You never know.

And everyone should have in mind - nobody here knows. We're guessing. Wait until January to find out.

[DPA]

i think the idea of an iphone nano is real.

could go for $89

apps will be limited to whatever ones can work with the device.

Music -- same
Phone -- same
Video -- same


2010 iPhone for all carriers in U.S. (by that time...there will be multiple models)

GoPhone iPhone anyone?? I think most parents that buy their kids a $90 RAZR would pay $89 or $99 for an iPhone. The internet would have to go though because few parents will pay $60/month for the data package. This iPhone nano may also bring back 4GB in the iPhone line.

[Eric S.]

Is it possible that Apple is releasing these photos to rumor websites just to see the response they get from the forums? Maybe this is their way of 'testing the waters' before they go all out and introduce a product?

Pretty effective, in my opinion.

As much as we like to think our opinions here are invaluable, I seriously doubt Apple does marketing research by floating designs on rumor sites. ;)

[BenRoethig]

Not happening! They'd have to redesign and reconfigure the whole touch interface for the new size. As would all the developers with wares in the App store!

Not if its a more limited device with only phone and ipod functions.

[tiiim]

Not if its a more limited device with only phone and ipod functions.

Why would Apple remove a source of income? The app store is a highly succesful innovated idea from Apple. Removing a source of income thus taking away a chance of making money doesnt make sense. I think Apple would have developers make 2 versions of the app rather than taken away their highly prize feature altogether.

[MattInOz]

The only reason I give this a glimmer of hope is because the volume buttons on the side view comparison differ between the iPhone and the nano. On the regular iPhone, the specular highlight between volume up and down is in the direct middle of the two buttons, or maybe even a little more towards the bottom. On the nano, however, the specular highlight is in the upper 1/3:

http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/4163/inanodf8.jpg

Well Yes,....
but the nano is thinner which is not going to happen. They maybe able to shrink in the other two directions with some skill but if there is a real one planned it's not going to get noticeably thinner. Even if they build SOC to reduce chip count can see there being enough to save the double board. The Battery is going to need volume of the thicker case to have any life.

Well that in just looks like some scaled each of the images in their photo editor of choice

[puffnstuff]

WHY????:confused:

[DPA]

Has everyone in the Apple blogosphere forgotten about the flip phone patent that Apple filed a while back (March 2008).
http://www.intomobile.com/2008/03/17/apple-working-on-iphone-flip-patent-application-details-flip-phone-with-dual-sided-multi-touch.html
I think the next iPhone to come would be a totally different model like a Flip phone for those who prefer that. Although this would mean that App Store developers would have to redesign apps for the model if apps would be available on a new model.

[cgmpowers]

Okay I don't know if this is a fake or real device that's coming out. What I know right now is that the current iPhone 3G in its current form is tied to AT&T.

Does the AT&T exclusivity relate to all future iPhone type devices? Clearly this new phone is NOT the same as an iPhone 3G current form factor. AT&T, T-Mobile and whomever has exclusive rights to certain phones that are very similar but yet different by size...

Could this "iPhone Nano" be possibly an exclusive phone to T-Mobile and the other 3G stays with AT&T until 2010 or whatever..

Thanks
Chris

[Bevz]

Also, people saying that the App Store won't work if they don't keep the resolution are wrong. The store is an online service, and can selectively show applications if they can run on the phone. Just like the iTunes store doesn't show french songs on the american store. If it uses the same system, developers will simply need to tweak their interfaces to get it to work. It would be a 5 minute job. There's very little code that needs to be modified (in fact, with Interface Builder, you might not even need to change any code).

Yes and No. Yes if all your app does is use interface builder and system stuff; No if you've coded a game... Changing the screen resolution can be a big deal with dedicated things like games if you didn't think about it when you first started coding the thing.. If you knew from the beginning that the resolution could change you would code some flexibility into it, but if you fixed all your code (not to mention graphics!) into a 480x320 resolution thinking (quite reasonably) that it wouldn't change, you could potentially have a whole world of hurt ahead of you trying to change it....

Certainly do-able though; and obviously all new games/apps would be coded to allow the new screen size, assuming apple don't just keep the same resolution but squash it into a smaller space.

If the iPhone Nano is real though i just don't get it.... perhaps i missed a meeting but i've heard a thousand (well, it seems like a thousand) people say things like:
"it should have a better camera",
"it should have a camera flash",
"it should be able to record video",
"it should have SMS forwarding",
"it should have MMS",
"it should have cut and paste",
"it should have cut and paste"..... etc etc...

yet, I have NEVER heard anyone say "it should be a little smaller".....!!
:(

[bilbo--baggins]

I accept that there could be a completely different phone. I just don't think that it is likely that it will just be a shrunken iPhone.
If the 'photo' that we see is real, it would be less functional, but more expensive as it would be harder to make.
Saying that it could be possible. But it would have to be called the iPhone air not the iPhone nano.

I think there would be demand for a cheaper, less functional, smaller form-factor iPhone.

I agree that it wouldn't just be a simple case of shrinking the existing design - both from a technical point of view, but also in terms of usability. If you ditch wifi, accept that the screen is too small for internet access, then the goals of the design change and something totally different may be required. Just like the iPod nano isn't just a shrunken replica of the iPod Classic.

[bilbo--baggins]

I have NEVER heard anyone say "it should be a little smaller".....!!
:(

I have.

[skellener]

Apple is a business and they currently have the hottest, most talked about, most hyped phone in the world. You could say the same thing about the iPod, but they still came out with the iPod mini, then the nano.

[connorbevans]

If the images provided are real then there would be no app store, nor mobile iTunes on the phone. And my question...How would anyone be able to type on the thing? (I'm calling this a fake by the way)

[tonyl]

It is unlikely that apple will introduce Nano like this. A truly rumor!

[skellener]

Not if its a more limited device with only phone and ipod functions.To be honest, I'd love to see an iPod that you could simply answer a call on without the rest of the stuff. I'd buy one the second it came out - as long as I could use it with T-Mobile.

[tonyl]

To be honest, I'd love to see an iPod that you could simply answer a call on without the rest of the stuff. I'd buy one the second it came out.

With a camera, please!

[winterspan]

Here is the problem I see:
If they use a smaller screen with the same 480x320 resolution so as not to "split" the platform, then all the text and user interface controls like buttons, icons, etc will shrink proportionally to the screen size... and you are talking about a device with very small UI elements already. Especially for those older than GenY.

If they want to maintain user interface element size, then they would have to either lower the screen resolution in proportion to the display size (hopefully not), or (more likely) use the same resolution but modify the existing iPhone interface to accommodate a smaller screen with less/rearranged/resized display elements. This would work for the general OS interface, but 3rd party applications would still be forced to create and maintain an alternate interface with larger text, control buttons, etc.

I don't see a good solution, other than a full resolution independent user interface that uses vector elements that can be rescaled to any size.

[idannyb]

There are many reasons why a “Nano” iPhone does not make sense … yet there is one reason why it might fly in the Far East. Consider that this could be a “customized” model designed in concert with China Mobile. This model would be EDGE 2.5G and TD-SCDMA ready and would support Monternet (China Mobile’s VAS platform). China Mobile is subsidizing all TD ready handsets authorized in China. Of China Mobile’s 400+ million users, approximately 290 million are pre-paid users (no contract). Many pre-pay users aspire to iPhone but cannot afford without a price incentive (China Mobile subsidy to go on contract). The Nano iPhone may also be available “unlocked” at a slightly higher price-point. Bottom line … a Nano iPhone might be in reach for hundreds of millions of pre-pay users.

[Bevz]

I have.

Really? I did miss a meeting then.... ;) LOL

[eff pc]

i don't know if someone said this already but on the image of the back it still says iPhone, wouldn't it say iPhone Nano if it were a real image?

[babyj]

You could say the same thing about the iPod, but they still came out with the iPod mini, then the nano.

Erm....that was actually the point I was making if you read the next sentence.

[skellener]

With a camera, please!

No! No camera for you! ;):):D

[Stormbringer]

I'd rather like a revision with a autofocus camera and flash and stay the same size...

[stormj]

this is surely a mac "rumor"

this photo they took the iPhone 3G and scaled it down in size... and put it next to the original...

Yup. There's no reason to think that the camera and the button would be scaled down so precisely. Fake as hell.

[eff pc]

I'd rather like a revision with a autofocus camera and flash and stay the same size...

There is an app called Night Camera or something like that that uses the accelerometer to get a clearer picture

[EDIT] I confirmed the name is Night Camera and it is currently in the top 100 paid list.

[noneis]

Not happening! They'd have to redesign and reconfigure the whole touch interface for the new size. As would all the developers with wares in the App store!

Eh, you clearly don't know what your are talking about.

That said, the device would be TOO small to be effective as a phone, were taling Tamagotchi here guys...

[funkyc]

i don't care whether any of u like it or not
i'd buy one if it came out :)

[Eso]

Actually I've looked at the photo and have determined it's been photoshopped. You can all rest easy.

[zflauaus]

I'm not sure if anybody has pointed this out, but I did some calculations and since the iPhone is 4.5" tall, the iPhone nano that appears in that mockup would be around 3.4" tall. That would be way too small for a phone. I deem fake.

Worth noting: This rumor has the display time of "09:42". Apple's iPhone gallery has phones which display the time "9:42".

1) I don't think Apple would add a 0 onto the end of that. We all know how obsessive they are about aesthetics.
2) Either Apple really likes 9:42, or this is just a adequate (but not professional) photoshop job.

Of course, it's always possible this is an early prototype screen. Or maybe some Chinese manufacturer is making an iPhone ripoff that's a little bit smaller. You never know.

And everyone should have in mind - nobody here knows. We're guessing. Wait until January to find out.
That's not true. On O2's website, they have the time labeled as "09:42". That's quite often how the tell the time across the pond.

[fleshman03]

WTF WTF WTF?!!?!?!?!?!?

Apple is all like iPhone, iPhone, iPhone. I'm like all computer, computer, computer. Ugh Apple, when will you get on the same page with me?


haha. ;)

Seriously, just mention the iPhone. Don't make it into the whole event ... yet again.

[dacreativeguy]

The idea of an iPhone Nano is very plausible, but there is no way it would simply be a scaled down version of the original iPhone. A nano would be introduced to cut costs in order to meet a cheaper price point. Therefore, keeping the exact same feature-set would not be practical. Any 'nano' version would have limited features and less expensive parts which probably means no touch-screen.

This mockup is not realistic. Notice that the camera circle is a smaller diameter. If a smaller camera existed, wouldn't Apple already be using it for the original iPhone? And if there was a way to make the iPhone thinner while keeping the existing feature-set (as this scaled down nano suggests), wouldn't the big iPhone already be thinner?

This is just a photoshop experiment!

[Rocketman]

Why isn't my iPhone the size and form factor of a credit card?

! ! !

:D

iPhone Uber-Nano

Rocketman

Rimless full-face display.

[psingh01]

Looks fake. The concept with 4 rows and 3 columns seemed more realistic for a smaller phone.

[DYER]

a shame its a fake id love an iphone nano.
Why I think it is a fake.

1. Same apps as in all other iphone official pics with the last row cut out
2. No itunes store icon DO YOU REALLY THINK APPLE WOULD LEAVE OUT iTunes???
3. Reflections on volume keys are same to the pixel.
4. The button seems to have been made smaller consisten to what it would be like if u did indeed make it smaller proportionally but exactly the amount of space is missing as one line of apps would make up therefore making it unproportional.
5. Rendering is not the same in either foto

just my 2 cents

[kockgunner]

That home button looks way too small. Sure, the whole device is smaller, but the iPhone right now isn't particularly big considering what it can do. The whole experience is what it is because of the easy to read text, and large buttons for our fingers.

[milani]

Here is another concept photo for the article. It took me 5 minutes to make.

[wizard]

Didn't Apple say the screen size on the iPhone would never change because it would break apps and other things?
Not that I can recall. Further the iPhone SDK provdes example and suggests that would be useful if different devices with different resolutions where coming!

As to all the whining about apps breaking that is highly debatable and for manybsimply won't happen. Take an app for example that can change orientation to wide screen. Do they have trouble with scrolling lists? No because a properly coded App adjusts for the new display Orientation. If the orientation results in A screen that is to narrow the programmer can choose from the type of behaviour he wants. Thus you see elipses for long text strings or other behaviours the programmer may have specced.

In a nut shell many programs will work fine.

Dave

[Dejavu]

The iPhone is just too big, IMHO. It's not pocket-size and not very portable. I have a Nokia XpressMusic which is the perfect size for a mobile. Small enough to carry in a jean pocket, and powerful speakers with a good range of capabilities (eg. mp3, photo, video, audio recorder, etc.) for what it is. If Apple can make an iPhone nano similar in size, yet keep all of the iPhone 3G functionality then they will have a winner. Like people say, the size of the touch screen will be a problem so they might make the touch surface the full area of the front surface. Here's hoping at least. :rolleyes: And if the price is $99 or less, then Apple will sell at least 100 million.

[BTW]

I just don't see the point.

Yeah, I don't either unless its another form factor like a flip phone. A smaller screen version just isn't appealing. At least with a flip you could have a dual-screen device with more visual real estate. Can you tell I want a flip iPhone? :eek:

[iCantwait]

why the hell would yo want stocks on a nano?

[allbrokeup]

Even though this image is labelled as a "Concept" Image, I can tell that this will not happen. For one, the AppStore doesn't look like it would be included, as every app would have to be rewritten so the UI could display correctly (320x480 & 480x320).

Also, the tiny size of the device is sort of like the "Fatty" nano, Apple would probably remodel it in a year and release an iPhone Nano 2nd Generation in the same shape as the 4G Nano. :D:D

WiFi probably wouldn't be included, and the Camera would probably be missing, these objects in such a device, require space people! Fair enough that the Motorola RAZR has a camera in the (very) slim casing, but it is shocking quality, Apple would have to dumb down the camera quality if they still wanted to include one. The WiFi may still be included, but the GPS would be out, the Bluetooth still in and a few crucial "What makes the iPhone the iPhone" features would have to be dropped.

Don't you agree?

[kironin]

Why would you assume that smaller would mean cheaper?

It would have to be only 4 GB Flash memory and it might not have GPS, etc.

Who would want that?

[Airforcekid]

:apple:I would never consider it
1st size would cut down on the apps you can use!
2nd their would probley never be a jailbreak.
3rd the keyboard would be useless!
They may however rerelease the 1st gen 4gb that would be nice!:apple:

[bobfitz14]

I just don't see the point.

closest comparison i can think of...
http://www.everythingusb.com/images/list/3g-ipod-nano-classic-size.jpg

[Airforcekid]

Why would you assume that smaller would mean cheaper?

It would have to be only 4 GB Flash memory and it might not have GPS, etc.

Who would want that?

:apple:Someone simple wants to check email/web on edge. Be great for the older crowd.:apple: Remember some people only want a phone and just the image of the I and :apple:

[ShakeWellProd]

The iPhone is a wonderful invention. Even if they released this phone I still wouldn't buy it. Wal-Mart may sell a $99 iphone but I refuse to pay $90ish a month to have a phone. Plus, my wifes cellphone and AT&T walks away with a bundle.

Phones are coming down. When will the stupid cell phone rates do the same?

Remember the Long Distance war in the early 90's?

****** the Wireless companies, I've gone back to my land line at home and love it.

We also have an extra $160 a month in our pocket and that didn't even include the internet on the phone!

Rip off

[XxHOVESKOxX]

Hope this isn't happening

The iPhone is Already small
my big fingers can barely type in the words lol :D

[wizard]

Many of you see to act like you can't grasp that many people have different needs or wants than youselves. This is sad. Apple really has no choice but to release new hardware if it expects to remain viable and competitive in the market place. In any event IPhone is not perfect but it is ahead of the pack.

While personally not interested many people do prefer small phones. In fact I'd say the market is huge. Also the on screen image size and keyboard size is not a problem. You all have heard of syncing haven't you? If the device is for the most part used read only tight text input will not be a problem. Even on my current gen iPhone those adresses I could import I entered in with a real keyboard on my Mac. There is just so much one can do with touch screens.

Now this will feather some shorts but what if the intention was to phase out the current iPhone in favor of Nano and leave the needs for a larder device to iPhone Maxi? This so called Nano might be the current phones replacement.


Dave

[danBARKER]

Ohhh WOW. Some one has learnt how to use photo-shop! Amazing... I mean come on, they are identical, but one is smaller. It is obviously not the real one.

[macthetiger85]

Wow - I found this - it must be real!


Before you yell fake, I did this in 2 minutes in Keynote :p

[iObama]

closest comparison i can think of...
http://www.everythingusb.com/images/list/3g-ipod-nano-classic-size.jpg

That is completely irrelevant. The nano held 8GB, and the classic held 80 or 160GB. What's the iPhone nano going to have going for it?

"Ooh! It's a tiny-screened iPhone with the same amount of storage, and it probably won't be much cheaper! How exciting!"

Or as Chelsea Handler would say, "What... a whirlwind."

[Sweetfeld28]

thats a good comparison. i think its possible to see the iPhone go to 16GB and 32GB, and have a iPhone Nano with 8GB.

[Mjmar]

How would it be possible to fit everything that is needed for an iPhone into that small design. Apple already has a hard time fitting all of the components into the larger iPhone design.

[Yr Blues]

The iPhone is a wonderful invention. Even if they released this phone I still wouldn't buy it. Wal-Mart may sell a $99 iphone but I refuse to pay $90ish a month to have a phone. Plus, my wifes cellphone and AT&T walks away with a bundle.

Phones are coming down. When will the stupid cell phone rates do the same?

Remember the Long Distance war in the early 90's?

****** the Wireless companies, I've gone back to my land line at home and love it.

We also have an extra $160 a month in our pocket and that didn't even include the internet on the phone!

Rip off

The SMS scam is akin to buying ink for printers. Absolutely ridiculous. There has to be more competition.

[Sweetfeld28]

How would it be possible to fit everything that is needed for an iPhone into that small design. Apple already has a hard time fitting all of the components into the larger iPhone design.

i wonder the same thing when i see these SSDs come out every day. Intel just released a 1.8" and 2.5" 160GB drive today. But the way i see it, anythings possible.

[PhotoPhoenix]

i don't know why people are excited about this. there's no point to have an iPhone Nano. it wouldn't make the ridiculous plans any cheaper and the iPhones already have small memory sizes unless you want to pay a lot more for the phone.

it's ridiculous.

[salamence502]

That picture looks just like if someone took the original image, took the 3 views from it and made them smaller. It's the same thing.

Also imagine using the keyboard on that thing.

Oh, but if by making the phone smaller they also downscaled the monthly price then I'll go for it. Assuming this all isn't just a lie.

[indiekiduk]

I just got sent this image anonymously. Could be legit is the IP address it came from was from registered to a publishing company in the Bay Area and has been known for leaks in the past. The message just said to expect the same size screen but reduced bezel and a home button on the edge.

http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/9573/nanoks6.jpg

[lastochka]

News Flash! Fresh from the rumormill:

iPhone Shuffle is going to be released soon.

The new model will apparently measure 3x4 millimeters, come without a screen and have the ability to randomly call up numbers stored in its the 256 bytes internal address book. Although the price details remain scetchy we expect the device to cost around $369 to $968. :D

[queshy]

There's pretty much no proof at all of an iPhone nano. What a random rumor. Apple has always made it clear that you want to have a nice sized screen. That's why Apple didn't even attempt a screen on a shuffle. To make someone decide to buy a nano vs. a regular iPhone 3G it better be dirt cheap as far as iPhones go! (<$79)

[Muncher]

I think it could happen. Obviously, it wouldn't have all the features. Remember, apple sells the iphone at about $500 and $600 to AT&T right now, then AT&T subsidizes it, so apple doesn't have to worry about setting an end price.

The current iPhones and iPod Touches use a 163 dpi screen. The ipod nano uses a 204 dpi screen. If screens were made with the same resolution as the iphone (480x320) with a higher dpi (204?), a size reduction is certainly feasible.

What features would they drop? Well, 3G will stay, as it is a critical component, along with the speaker and mic. GPS is a candidate, and possibly the camera, because that would put the phone in line with the current iPod Touch. With a smaller screen, you don't need as powerful a backlight, and the battery can be shrunk proportionately. What else is there?

[jackfrost123]

News Flash! Fresh from the rumormill:

iPhone Shuffle is going to be released soon.

The new model will apparently measure 3x4 millimeters, come without a screen and have the ability to randomly call up numbers stored in its the 256 bytes internal address book. Although the price details remain scetchy we expect the device to cost around $369 to $968. :D

Hahahaha

Post of the day!

[hexonxonx]

I think this may be a reality especially since there is a case manufacturer listing iPhone Nano as one of their case choices already. There is a post here on MacRumors about it.

I may just buy a Nano just for the fun of it and because it is smaller.

[enkadrummer88]

looks plausible to me... if there is an iPhone nano, I have little doubt that this is a real photo.

[macerroneous]

In order to understand the iPhone nano, you have to understand why Apple would want to release one in the first place. My answer, is that they want to increase sales. Duh. In the US, what is the biggest barrier to sales? I argue it's the ATT exclusivity. This factor alone reduces sales by roughly 50%. Factor #2 is the DATA PLAN! That's what makes it too expensive for some.

So, I don't know what the Apple/ATT contract says, but I suspect that if you eliminate the DATA aspect, Apple might be able to sell the phone unlocked, or even sell it exclusive to VERIZON!

So, could this nano include wifi but exclude all the cellular data aspects? ie, the real cost savings in this nano is that you don't pay ANY data fees? You pay for a voice contract, the wifi is free, and everything else is ala carte?

Maybe you can't call it an iPhone. Basically, it's not what you've shown here in pictorial form, but Verizon might be willing to subsidize it, even if they don't get the data fees.

Meanwhile, it is too small to offer any of the Apps. It's just a regular cell phone, plus itunes, itunes movies, plus youtube, and essentially everything the original iPhone offered, before 2.0. You just have to use wifi to get the good stuff.

YEAH BABY!

[Penguinwrangler]

If this IS happening, expect Apple's stock to tank, and tank hard. No one who spends any amount of time thinking about form factor and long term usability will think this is a good idea. I call bogus, simply because I have to believe there are enough people at Apple who would tell the first person who seriously suggested to go jump in the lake.

[Penguinwrangler]

Maybe you can't call it an iPhone. Basically, it's not what you've shown here in pictorial form, but Verizon might be willing to subsidize it, even if they don't get the data fees.


And Verizon would have incentive to agree to this when they turned down a much more lucrative offer from Apple the first time around? I don't think so. Taking the stripped down version of a wildly popular phone makes you what? That's right, the second best carrier in the market, and Verizon knows this. They get the full iPhone or nothing from Apple at all. Especially since they took the Storm, which I can't imagine is setting their sales numbers on fire, but AT&T has the Bold, which has gotten nothing but good reviews, particularly as the alternative to the Storm. No, if I'm Verizon right now, I couldn't afford the hit to my image if I were to take on a stripped down iPhone.

[macerroneous]

And Verizon would have incentive to agree to this when they turned down a much more lucrative offer from Apple the first time around? I don't think so. Taking the stripped down version of a wildly popular phone makes you what? That's right, the second best carrier in the market, and Verizon knows this. They get the full iPhone or nothing from Apple at all. Especially since they took the Storm, which I can't imagine is setting their sales numbers on fire, but AT&T has the Bold, which has gotten nothing but good reviews, particularly as the alternative to the Storm. No, if I'm Verizon right now, I couldn't afford the hit to my image if I were to take on a stripped down iPhone.

If I were Verizon, under these terms, I'd market the superiority of the smaller form factor, PLUS the $30 per month savings.

[MacGeekDC]

Honestly, this whole idea seems really stupid and pointless to me. The iPhone is small enough as it is, any smaller just makes it harder to use.

+1

[Michael CM1]

Many of you see to act like you can't grasp that many people have different needs or wants than youselves. This is sad. Apple really has no choice but to release new hardware if it expects to remain viable and competitive in the market place. In any event IPhone is not perfect but it is ahead of the pack.

While personally not interested many people do prefer small phones. In fact I'd say the market is huge. Also the on screen image size and keyboard size is not a problem. You all have heard of syncing haven't you? If the device is for the most part used read only tight text input will not be a problem. Even on my current gen iPhone those adresses I could import I entered in with a real keyboard on my Mac. There is just so much one can do with touch screens.

Now this will feather some shorts but what if the intention was to phase out the current iPhone in favor of Nano and leave the needs for a larder device to iPhone Maxi? This so called Nano might be the current phones replacement.


Dave

Another sane voice! I said this in the other thread, but it begs repeating. About 95 percent of the posters on here would never want anything like an iPhone Nano. But there are millions tha would buy it up. The iPod/iPod Nano comparison is a great example. I still don't get the concept of spending $200 on an iPod Nano when I can spend $250 on an iPod Classic, but apparently a lot of people do that.

I still don't think Apple will make a phone that won't run the same apps that the iPhone 3G runs, so the "Nano" may actually just be a stripped down version in slimmer casing or it could have some way of running the same apps at a smaller resolution.

[fleshman03]

I just got sent this image anonymously. Could be legit is the IP address it came from was from registered to a publishing company in the Bay Area and has been known for leaks in the past. The message just said to expect the same size screen but reduced bezel and a home button on the edge.

http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/9573/nanoks6.jpg

That's the best way I could think of doing an iPhone Nano. However, wouldn't the home button be accidently push in pocket and on a dock?


How did you manage to get that picture or am I just biting on sarcasm?

[Yr Blues]

Another sane voice! I said this in the other thread, but it begs repeating. About 95 percent of the posters on here would never want anything like an iPhone Nano. But there are millions tha would buy it up.

I think a lot of naysayers already own an iPhone and don't want to devalue their own property. But that's Apple. They release new stuff the day after you buy them. Deal with it. They make some things that consider the budget minded, like the Shuffle and the Mac Mini. Remember the Cube? It was re-envisioned as the Mini, going from premium to economy and getting outclassed at the same time.

[ChrisN]

an iPhone Nano would be cool to look at I guess but I just want the next full fledged iPhone because mine is falling apart.

ChrisN

[Yr Blues]

I just got sent this image anonymously. Could be legit is the IP address it came from was from registered to a publishing company in the Bay Area and has been known for leaks in the past. The message just said to expect the same size screen but reduced bezel and a home button on the edge.

http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/9573/nanoks6.jpg

I still think it's going to be primarily a landscape device.

[joemama]

In order to understand the iPhone nano, you have to understand why Apple would want to release one in the first place. My answer, is that they want to increase sales. Duh. In the US, what is the biggest barrier to sales? I argue it's the ATT exclusivity. This factor alone reduces sales by roughly 50%. Factor #2 is the DATA PLAN! That's what makes it too expensive for some.

So, I don't know what the Apple/ATT contract says, but I suspect that if you eliminate the DATA aspect, Apple might be able to sell the phone unlocked, or even sell it exclusive to VERIZON!

So, could this nano include wifi but exclude all the cellular data aspects? ie, the real cost savings in this nano is that you don't pay ANY data fees? You pay for a voice contract, the wifi is free, and everything else is ala carte?

Maybe you can't call it an iPhone. Basically, it's not what you've shown here in pictorial form, but Verizon might be willing to subsidize it, even if they don't get the data fees.

Meanwhile, it is too small to offer any of the Apps. It's just a regular cell phone, plus itunes, itunes movies, plus youtube, and essentially everything the original iPhone offered, before 2.0. You just have to use wifi to get the good stuff.

YEAH BABY!

You are right on the money. This is the first thing I thought of. ATT has the rights to the iPhone, maybe not the iPhone Nano.

The only disagree on the App store feature. Apple would INSIST this be in the Nano as it's the future of phones. But, it may be limited to just wifi like you said. No data plans.

Should be a fun MacWorld!

[Kevster89]

this is so pointless. It's not as if the current iPhone/iPhone 3G are huge bricks. There is no need for a smaller phone, this is just plain dumb. If the nano were to encompass the same features at the regular iPhone, then it would be completely pointless.

[nfl46]

Apple is all about making more money! We all know if the iPhone Nano comes out, it'll sell, regardless of how much we disapprove of it.

I could definitely see this iPhone Nano at Wal-Mart next year.

[RKpro]

Why would you make a smaller version of a device that doesn't have a big enough screen? My Archos PMP has a 4.3" 800x480 screen and web browsing doesn't require zooming. Why not make a phone without a thick boarder and a 800x480 screen?

[fleshman03]

this is so pointless. It's not as if the current iPhone/iPhone 3G are huge bricks. There is no need for a smaller phone, this is just plain dumb. If the nano were to encompass the same features at the regular iPhone, then it would be completely pointless.

Smaller storage capacity.

Apple is all about making more money! We all know if the iPhone Nano comes out, it'll sell, regardless of how much we disapprove of it.

I could definitely see this iPhone Nano at Wal-Mart next year.

I'd more more than 4gb, but many WalMart customers are fine with 4gb. That is until they download a movie or two...

[twoodcc]

very interesting. of course i would like to see a device like this released, but i really don't think it will happen

[gtg660w]

WOW, somebody learned how to take a pic in microsoft paint, shrink it, and lay it over another image. Just simply amazing

[SleepyHead157]

that could be really interesting. I don't know how it will do considering the iphone is now priced at a decent price. plus the nano would be hard to type on.

[OrganMusic]

Forgive me if this has been said before in this thread, but the picture in the OP sure looks like a photochop to me.

[eliotschreiner]

What if it was simply an ipod-phone? No internet capabilities. I think a portion of people don't get an iphone because the phone bill is so large because of the internet bill. That would also make the phone fundamentally cheaper and thinner.

[Roessnakhan]

If it happens them I'm fine with it - people will find a use for it like they did the iPod nano. I do not why get why people get all up in arms when so-called spy images come out. Does it hurt you to see a fake? Several highly criticized "fakes" also turned out to be the iPhone 3G and the new iPod nano. I'll take it with a grain of salt, but I won't discredit it.

[hexonxonx]

What if it was simply an ipod-phone? No internet capabilities. I think a portion of people don't get an iphone because the phone bill is so large because of the internet bill. That would also make the phone fundamentally cheaper and thinner.
If you look at the photo of the Nano, you can see it has Safari.

[huntercr]

Personally, I see no point to the iPhone nano. The iPhone is already the right size. Just stuff more tech into it, please. If you want a smaller form factor, go for the squidget:
http://www.maclife.com/sites/future.p2technology.com/files/imce-images/1126_squidget_numbers_450_0.jpg

That looks too much like the Microsoft O-phone :)

[j3yq]

I see no point for this, but some people think smaller is better i guess

[bobsentell]

I just got sent this image anonymously. Could be legit is the IP address it came from was from registered to a publishing company in the Bay Area and has been known for leaks in the past. The message just said to expect the same size screen but reduced bezel and a home button on the edge.

http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/9573/nanoks6.jpg

Well, I'm glad someone posted this possibility, as I discussed here about 3 hours ago. This is the only possible way they could make a smaller iPhone without screwing up the screen resolution. They could put the home button on the bottom or make the whole screen a home button.

[eliotschreiner]

If you look at the photo of the Nano, you can see it has Safari.

I'm assuming that the photo is a concept, and doesn't necessarily represent a real product. If apple were to make an iphone nano, this is what they could do.

[California]

before the iPhone came out, I liked the idea of a shuffle iPhone... no screen just music and phone.

[Sysbase]

Smaller Cheaper! Would be awesome!http://wii2youonline.com/img/1634/h08c1210mdqc/thumbup1.gif

[huntercr]

Would it be as bad if this were a new small form factor ipod touch?
( with speaker/microphone yes )

I think as long as you kept the same resolution, this would be pretty nifty.. sell it as 8GB and 16GB only, have colors like the nano. Sell it for more than a nano, less than a touch.

oh well. I really want my dream device... a 720x480 true 16:9 100GB harddrive based touch with display port out. Have it have all the capability of the AppleTV, infact make a "dock" that effectively is an Apple TV, except that you can take your entire video library of HD movies with you.

One can dream...

[eliotschreiner]

Well, I'm glad someone posted this possibility, as I discussed here about 3 hours ago. This is the only possible way they could make a smaller iPhone without screwing up the screen resolution. They could put the home button on the bottom or make the whole screen a home button.

I'm thinking it would be cool if they did the home button like the mighty mouse; have two buttons, one on either side, for a "squeeze" type idea.

[jfremani]

I welcome the iphone nano. Relax, people. All they have to do is keep the same resolution, but with a smaller screen. If you don't like it, don't buy it.. but I bet tons of people will buy it - depending on the price point.

[bobsentell]

Whatever Apple decides to release, it will be with the following in mind:
1) The economy is a little sluggish. So the price would have to stay the same.

2) Apple is on this "green" thing. So whatever comes out will be the minimum in size it needs to be and still function.

3) The "wow" factor. It's gonna either have to have a new feature that would still keep the price the same or new design.

4) KISS. Apple loves the phrase "Keep it simple stupid" I think the screen size will remain the same. Both the G1 and the Storm are using the same screen size (more or less) and I doubt Apple is going to change it. More than one screen size means more than one team of software engineers.

5) Better than the 3G. Whatever comes out, it will have to be better than the 3G. Otherwise, people will just opt for the cheaper and older device. Also, it will have to convince 2G users to upgrade passed the 3G to the new device.

I think removing the top and lower bezels and moving the home button is a great way to make it smaller and still have the same screen resolution. The processor doesn't have to be too much faster; but under Moore's law, Apple should be able to fit a faster one in the phone without taking up too much more room or put a smaller one of the same speed. Give it a 32GB HD and a few new software features, and I think it would sell well.

[tonyl]

Actually I've looked at the photo and have determined it's been photoshopped. You can all rest easy.

Do you have evidence?

[firewood]

Honestly, this whole idea seems really stupid and pointless to me. The iPhone is small enough as it is, any smaller just makes it harder to use.

That's what they said when portable phones were larger than a mans shoe. Fortunately, these naysayers were ignored when it was found that lots of people would pay more for smaller more stylish devices. Pagers shrank to the size of a pen before cells phones displaced them. They will be harder to use, but a lot of people won't care, and instead prefer the extra portability.

[jfremani]

Whatever Apple decides to release, it will be with the following in mind:
More than one screen size means more than one team of software engineers.



This is simply not true. The screen can be a little smaller, retain the same resolution in pixels, and essentially use the same software.

[tsice19]

Don't know if it's already been said, but:

iPhone nano would be good if it had only text, phone, ipod, and maybe a camera. No Safari, Maps, Apps Store, etc;

That way they could make a smaller interface on a smaller phone. And with cheaper plans, I'm sure many would adopt (especially younger kids who would normally use an iPod and a Chocolate).

It definitely would take over the market.

[deputy_doofy]

Someone may have mentioned it in the 10+ pages, but the keyboard would have to be landscape-only, if the screen shrinks.

[firewood]

The battery power shrinks with the cube of the scale, whereas the display power only shrinks with the square. That means this fake nano will have much less battery life than a full sized device with the same cost technology.

Also a quarter wave 3G antenna has a certain size; much smaller and the radio will require a lot more power to compensate. This nano looks too small for an efficient antenna, thus will require a battery bigger than the full sized version. Where would that go?

Also, Apple's human interface guidelines require minimum sizes for icons, etc. The ones on the small mockup may be too small in millimeters and thus violate the guidelines.

If I were doing a nano phone, I'd get rid of the large display and put a regular nano scroll wheel circle there instead. You can dial with a scroll wheel just fine.

.

[firewood]

This is simply not true. The screen can be a little smaller, retain the same resolution in pixels, and essentially use the same software.

This would only be useful for people (midgets? children?) with smaller than average finger tips.

And young people with better than average near vision eyesight.

.

[xDYLANx]

Well, I'm glad someone posted this possibility, as I discussed here about 3 hours ago. This is the only possible way they could make a smaller iPhone without screwing up the screen resolution. They could put the home button on the bottom or make the whole screen a home button.

That kind of would make sense, just like the new trackpads and like the BB storm. except it wouldn't suck like the storm. that being said, I don't really see the point of this, smart phones shouldn't be so small, that's why I never liked the BB pearl

[obeygiant]

What is this? A phone for Ants?

[op1]

I think this would be great as a phone with no data plan, i.e. $10/month on an ATT family plan that gives a phone, iPod, calendar... all in one neat package.

Of course, it should have WiFi, so Safari, Mail, Maps... that would still work when you have non-ATT internet access.

My kids would get one in a snap.

[xDYLANx]

What is this? A phone for Ants?

lol

[OrganMusic]

You can dial with a scroll wheel just fine.

Just like as with five pound black rotary phone on my desk :D

[MacDaddy901]

What's the point? Where's the market for an iPhone nano? Are you friggin' kidding me people? The iPod nano is the best selling in the iPod family! Why? Because it a cheaper version of something more expensive. Personally, I could care less about an iPhone nano, because I would never buy one and I do agree it would be way to small.

But if it's an iPhone and it's cheaper, trust me, Apple will sell buy the truckloads. No matter how hard it is to text on, how small the screen is, how many features it lacking, people will eat it up just becuase it's an iPhone and it's cheap(er) than the iPhone. The majority of people just don't care. (we are not the majority)

I mean look at the Blackberry Storm for god's sake.

[Hugh]

Why do we need a another iphone? :confused:

Apple should be starting to focus on the computers now. There is 3 computer type that need to be refreshed than having another iPhone. If MW turns into another push for the iPhone (nano) and nothing els. Then I will be very disappointed of the keynote.

I am hoping that we will see an updated MacMini at MW and not a phone.

Hugh

[runningcameron]

I'm a little skeptical for a couple reasons:

- The icons are in a different language
- The screen shows the nano having 3G (contrary to previous reports)
- The Apple logo looks WAY small on the nano; like design goof small

Just my two cents...

[Hawkeye411]

They should release a bigger iPhone.

[coolquasar]

Take a look at the back, it has no "Nano" word written on it.

Its a fake again....:rolleyes:

http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/5844/nanoow7.th.jpg (http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/5844/nanoow7.jpg)

[Muncher]

Take a look at the back, it has no "Nano" word written on it.

Its a fake again....:rolleyes:

http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/5844/nanoow7.th.jpg (http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/5844/nanoow7.jpg)

Also, the apple logo should be the same size on both devices.

[doug in albq]

this is a waste of time.

Apple, how about a MacBook nano, instead?

[adamerr]

I'm thinking iPhone nano with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard.

:)

I'd buy it.

[Stately]

There won't be an iphone, n ... n ... nnnna.. ugh I 'm sorry I can't even say the word. It's always been some of the most ridiculous speculation and still is. No real Apple-head wants gimmicky devices. :cool::apple:

[Maxington]

I would speculate this rumor to be true, but the picture to be inaccurate.

[adamerr]

There won't be an iphone, n ... n ... nnnna.. ugh I 'm sorry I can't even say the word. It's always been some of the most ridiculous speculation and still is. No real Apple-head wants gimmicky devices. :cool::apple:

Apple-heads may not.
Teenagers would buy them by the truckload.

I cant imagine a Nano to have much space though.
Nor a decent sized screen.