Vaja Also Hints at iPhone Nano?

[MacRumors]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/12/29/vaja-also-hints-at-iphone-nano/)


http://images.macrumors.com/article/2008/12/29/170049-vaja.jpg

Relatively well-known iPhone case manufacturer Vaja (http://www.vajacases.com/) has curiously added an "iPhone Nano" listing to their website. The link simply directs you (http://www.vajacases.com/images/mobile/apple/iphone_nano/form_en.html) to a form asking you to sign up for information about "the upcoming release of our iPhone nano cases."

While it may be that Vaja is simply taking advantage of the hype surrounding the iPhone Nano, the rumors (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/12/23/more-iphone-nano-case-design-photos/) have been persistent over the past few weeks. While Apple does not give case manufacturers information about unreleased products, Apple must contract out to factories to manufacture their hardware. It is believed that it is through these contracts that case design specs are often leaked ahead of time. As we've said before, case manufacturers have a huge financial incentive to have cases ready in time for new product launches.

Meanwhile, iPhone Nano knock-offs are already been spotted circulating in Thailand (http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/08/12/26/iphone_nano_knockoffs_already_on_sale_in_thailand_photos.html) and Spain (http://www.flickr.com/photos/flickjulen/3138650678/).



Article Link: Vaja Also Hints at iPhone Nano? (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/12/29/vaja-also-hints-at-iphone-nano/)

[theheadguy]

Now this is interesting!!

I suppose I have finally heard enough to believe this might be a credible rumor.

[TheCheapGeek]

Wow this might really be happening now.

[NyMetsFan08]

Could there really be an iphone nano??? this rumor has been persistent for awhile. Who knows what in store for Macworld 2009 now? it could be possible but I highly doubt it you never know???

[EvanLugh]

I'll call it: iPhone Nano is coming :o

[spazattack674]

Okay, this sounds credible. Vaja is too well known to bother with rumors or speculation.

[Kilamite]

If the iPhone nano does come out - developers would most likely have to re-produce their games and apps to accommodate the smaller screen.

So you'd end up with two App Stores - one for the iPhone and one for the iPhone nano.

[dontmatter]

Knockoffs out before the product itself. What a strange world.

[tiiim]

This rumor just doesnt want to go away;)

[stevearm]

If the iPhone nano does come out - developers would most likely have to re-produce their games and apps to accommodate the smaller screen.

So you'd end up with two App Stores - one for the iPhone and one for the iPhone nano.


Why is it so hard for people to understand?

A higher dpi screen, means same resolution, but smaller physical dimension screen

[yorkshire]

Hmm. I'm still slightly sceptical. Maybe this rumour would be more credible if we had some different leaked info from someone, anything apart from new cases!

[Mad Mac Maniac]

yes, i too, for the first time am starting to believe this may actually become a reality...

i just hope apple knows what the hell they are doing... if it is just a mini-iphone i smell a flop. but you never know. apple may surprise us and make us say "oooh... that's how they did it... AWESOME!" which is what I am hoping for. (not that i care, i have my iP3G and sticking with it)

[Kilamite]

Why is it so hard for people to understand?

A higher dpi screen, means same resolution, but smaller physical dimension screen

Higher than 163ppi?

Show me some (out of curiosity if they exist).

[fendol]

While it may be that Vaja is simply taking advantage of the hype surrounding the iPhone Nano

Finished reading. It's never wise to register on a site with your first and last name and email based on a rumor (even though we're on a rumors forum) :rolleyes::apple:http://www.seoagora.com/img/459/k08q1024glza/ecstatic.gifhttp://www.seoagora.com/img/589/d08l1104oulu/smiley2.gifhttp://www.seoagora.com/img/1261/v08t1201sxfb/cheers.gif

[mac jones]

Vip anyone?

[tiiim]

here comes another 10 page thread on "why their cant be an iphone nano" vs "why a iphone nano make sense" debate.:D

[zombitronic]

Why is it so hard for people to understand?

A higher dpi screen, means same resolution, but smaller physical dimension screen

Then I guess we'll all just use our nano fingers to type.

[skiwhitman]

Hmm. I'm still slightly sceptical. Maybe this rumour would be more credible if we had some different leaked info from someone, anything apart from new cases!

I still want to call BS - but remember when the ipod nano fatties came out? The leaks by the case manufactures were dead on......

[Rocketman]

One thing I would be cautious about, is the images available now from case makers may be intentionally not to scale so cloners, without access to the original info leak, make their cases wrongly.

Rocketman

[macfan19803]

I remember this same thing with the iPhone 3G, if I'm not mistaken...

They had the exact same set-up going for them back then too, with a sign-up site for more information.

macfan19803

[MrCrowbar]

The only reason for me to get a case for my iPhone would be to protect it against drop damage. Normal wear and tear I can live with, and nothing personalizes your iPod better than a nasty scratch. :p

Seriously though, those cases hardly protect your devices against anything. Display protecting stickers I understand; got one on my lil powershot because I usually keep the think in my pants pocket. But the iPhone screen is the most durable part of it all. My iPhone's back looks pretty used (damn those people who want to play with your phone and let it slide over the table top to hand it back to you...), the chrome rim is all dented but the display looks like new when wiped off with a damp cloth.

Every purse out there has a seperate little compartment just for cell phones, too. So why ugly up your pretty device and make it thicker? Resale value?

[FF_productions]

ARR! Why iPhone Nano!! It's still not affordable!!

[mynameisraj]

iPhone Nano. The most rumored Apple device ever.

We all know it's coming, but what we don't know is the specs and pricing :D

[IJ Reilly]

What's the difference between "hype" and "speculation?"

Quite a lot, actually. This isn't the first MR front page article to lose track of that distinction.

[mrkgoo]

Why is it so hard for people to understand?

A higher dpi screen, means same resolution, but smaller physical dimension screen

OR it could be lower resolution, but have hardware scaling to accommodate any difference.

[bryan1884]

i dont know if this has already been discussed or not but i tried going to http://iphonenano.com and it forwards to apples iphone page. Im guessing thats already been discovered tho?

checked the whois and its not registered to apple and has been registered since 2006 so i guess that doesnt matter after all....

[randomusername]

ARR! Why iPhone Nano!! It's still not affordable!!

Because you magically know the price on the iPhone Nano? It'll obviously be priced as the touchscreen feature phones like the Instinct, or Dare, or Vu (around $100) and about around $350-$400 unsubsidized.

The iPhone is around the same price of smartphones subsidized and unsubsidized so I would imagine the iPhone Nano would be, too.

[fabiopigi]

Higher than 163ppi?

Show me some (out of curiosity if they exist).

the iphone's screen is nice and all, but its by far no the highest PPI possible

iphone, 3.5" and 320x480px
blackberry bold, 2.8" and 480x320px (smaller screen, same resolution-> higher PPI)
sonyericsson xperia, 3" and 800x480px (more than double the resolution on less the space)
htc diamond, 2.8" and 480*640px

as i recall correctly, some medical displays have an even higher PPI that is really crazy (but necessary).

however, as someone other pointed out, with a higher PPI, all the buttons, fonts, and keyboardbuttons getting smller making it even harder for some to type.

i'd rather have the same screensize (3.5") and double the resolution (480x640px) than a smaller iphone.

upscaling, especially with the iPhones interface is propably much easier than downscaling. and the websites and maps and pictures and videos are much more sharp and crispy

[DaBrain]

What's the difference between "hype" and "speculation?"



A 2 Year Contract with AT&T?--))) :eek:

[QCassidy352]

Why is it so hard for people to understand?

A higher dpi screen, means same resolution, but smaller physical dimension screen

A good point that I haven't seen brought up before. I think that would have to be the case because otherwise apple would have a real mess on their hands re: the app store.

Then I guess we'll all just use our nano fingers to type.

See, that's what gets me. Who's really going to want to type on this thing (assuming it exists)? The only practical way to shrink the iphone, IMO, is to cut down on the black space on the top and bottom, not to shrink the screen. Shrink the screen and you lose so much in terms of video, games, typing ability, etc.

All of that said, I don't put it past apple to figure out a way to make this work. One more week and we should know! :D

[jonjamesm]

so because vaja suggests it could happen - its ok to want a iphone nano now?

phew cuz I've wanted one for ages *crawles out of nano cave*

[TexasPancake]

Okay, this sounds credible. Vaja is too well known to bother with rumors or speculation.


With the traffic and press that Macrumors gets, a stunt like this could be worth it. How many people are curious as to Vaja cases now just having seen that screencap...? ;)

[Donz0r]

Higher than 163ppi?

Show me some (out of curiosity if they exist).

Blackberry Bold is 225 dpi, and it looks MUCH nicer than the iPhone screen. I wish the iPhone had higher resolution.

Also, I called this one a month ago, there is going to be an iPhone nano for people who don't want a smartphone. Cell phone UIs SUCK! I jsut got back from ATT to get my mom a new cell phone. She got the LG VU, the UI is horrible. She thinks it's so cool, but since I'm used to my iPhone I can't stand it.
idk what they're going to do about the app store but I'm sure they'll figure something out. This iPhone nano is going to sell like hotcakes to people who don't want DATA (see: $30 a month!).

[rish]

See, that's what gets me. Who's really going to want to type on this thing (assuming it exists)? The only practical way to shrink the iphone, IMO, is to cut down on the black space on the top and bottom, not to shrink the screen. Shrink the screen and you lose so much in terms of video, games, typing ability, etc.

All of that said, I don't put it past apple to figure out a way to make this work. One more week and we should know! :D[/QUOTE]


iPhone tIny is aimed I believe at the girls who appreciate things in tiny packages that can fit in their tiny bags. The number of girls out there with tiny bags with their iPod Nano's in them is pretty significant. Come to think of it the number of lads with iPod Nano's is pretty high too.

[mrgreen4242]

If the iPhone nano does come out - developers would most likely have to re-produce their games and apps to accommodate the smaller screen.

So you'd end up with two App Stores - one for the iPhone and one for the iPhone nano.

You're assuming that an iPhone nano would have to built on the same hardware/software platform as the iPhone and iPod touch. This isn't necessarily so.

There's little reason for Apple to release a scaled down version of the iPhone that matches the feature set, more or less, but it just smaller. It would make it more expensive rather than less for starters and doesn't really open up any new market.

What DOES make sense is a smaller phone with a built in iPod, but without a touchscreen, app store support, access to the full web, etc. Aside from being (much) cheaper, it also allows for a phone that doesn't require a data plan, making it much more affordable for the end user (remember that iPhone itself accounts for less than 10% of the end cost of having the device over the length of the contract).

A decent T9 predictive texting application with an optional cheap basic data service for email/calendar syncing (maybe free with MobileMe sub?) would be all most people need from a phone and could be offered for under $50 a month easily. Based on ATTs (crappy) regular plans, I could see them offering a 400 minute, 200 texts, unlimited nights/weekends/m2m plan exclusive to the iPhone nano for $40 or so.

It they release a "standard"/non-smart phone and it's available unlocked I'll get one right away, assuming it's $200 or so. Otherwise, there's very little Apple could ever do to get me to become an AT&T customer.

[ChrisTheFeral]

Higher than 163ppi?

Show me some (out of curiosity if they exist).

http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/25/casio-goes-insane-with-2-inch-960-x-540-pixel-lcd/

well over 500 PPI

[Opie]

I just find it hard to believe that if there is an iphone nano that Steve would let Phil give the keynote. I could be wrong though.

[queshy]

typing would be a nightmare on a smaller virtual keyboard!

[ChrisTheFeral]

typing would be a nightmare on a smaller virtual keyboard!

Who says typing will be the only form of input?
I reckon they will allow writing, with your finger, so the user draws an A and what not, and scribbles out a word to delete the word.

[SleepyHead157]

I'm starting to get real curious about this. I wouldn't have a problem at all with a nano especially if its cheaper. my younger siblings could definitely use one without 3g service and all.

[skiwhitman]

iPhone tIny is aimed I believe at the girls who appreciate things in tiny packages that can fit in their tiny bags.
-------------------------------------------

hmmm, that just sounded far too sexual for this site!!!

I know, I've got my mind in the gutter! :o

btw - is anyone else's mobileme mail down, too??? Arghh

[nfl46]

HAHA! I cannot WAIT until the Nano gets introduced so 70% of these doubters on the forum can have this facial expression : :eek: !

[moniquetx]

www.iphonenano.com

[nfl46]

yes, i too, for the first time am starting to believe this may actually become a reality...

i just hope apple knows what the hell they are doing... if it is just a mini-iphone i smell a flop. but you never know. apple may surprise us and make us say "oooh... that's how they did it... AWESOME!" which is what I am hoping for. (not that i care, i have my iP3G and sticking with it)

A FLOP? An Apple product with iPhone name attached to it? Are you out of your MIND? LMAO!

We all know it isn't going to flop! Thats just like saying Jordan shoes or clothing weren't going to sale after he retired out of the NBA. Jordan is still making 30+ million/yr off his merchandise and he doesn't even play in the NBA anymore.

[randomusername]

I'm starting to get real curious about this. I wouldn't have a problem at all with a nano especially if its cheaper. my younger siblings could definitely use one without 3g service and all.

An iPhone Nano will have 3G. I don't know people are thinking otherwise. EVERY feature phone has 3G now. The only ones with it are basic phones. And it'll obviously have WiFi because of the iTunes music store. I can imagine GPS getting the boot but I wouldn't be surprised if it's included.

[nfl46]

www.iphonenano.com

Apple had this domain since 1995.

[mrgreen4242]

Who says typing will be the only form of input?
I reckon they will allow writing, with your finger, so the user draws an A and what not, and scribbles out a word to delete the word.

That would be (pardon the language for those of you who don't have the cursing filter on) ****ing horrible.

Thing about what you're saying for a minute. Combine handwriting recognition, which is spotty at best, with an unnatural writing gesture (you don't write with your finger, you right with a stick held in your hand/palm).

[mlemonds]

slap in the face: iPod nano has MMS; iPhone 3G gets no software update

[k2spitfire88]

Apple had this domain since 1995.

Where did you find that??? Sorry if it sounds noobish, i just didn't realize stuff like that was easy to figure out. Or are you just yanking our chains???

[nfl46]

Where did you find that??? Sorry if it sounds noobish, i just didn't realize stuff like that was easy to figure out. Or are you just yanking our chains???

Someone posted a website where you can check domains. I believe it said 1995 though. I'll try an find it.

[spazattack674]

With the traffic and press that Macrumors gets, a stunt like this could be worth it. How many people are curious as to Vaja cases now just having seen that screencap...? ;)

Good point. I already have a vaja case and love it, but I'm sure they've picked up some new business.

[andreab35]

Ok.... I really need to voice out here:

I see no point of having an iPhone Nano coming out. I mean, there will probably be less features with it- and I don't think any features are needed to be taken away from the iPhone.
Additionally, I can picture that iPhone Nano being shorter and smaller (of course). But, if you think about it, with a shorter phone how the heck is it going to reach our mouth to pick up our voice? Say the iPhone Nano was an inch shorter, it doesn't even reach my mouth, and just covers my ear!

I can see it coming out to be a cheap alternative for people who do not want to spend the money for a full blown iPhone.

But I don't know- I just can't see it happening for some reason.

The next update for the iPhone I see is just it being bumped up to 32GB.

Sorry if I made anyone mad about my rant. :o It's out of my system.

[Tallest Skil]

Why is it so hard for people to understand?

A higher dpi screen, means same resolution, but smaller physical dimension screen

Why is it so hard for people to understand?

A higher DPI screen means the same resolution, but smaller physical dimensions, MEANS THE KEYBOARD BECOMES IMPOSSIBLE TO TYPE ON.

[Kilamite]

A higher DPI screen means the same resolution, but smaller physical dimensions, MEANS THE KEYBOARD BECOMES IMPOSSIBLE TO TYPE ON.

Depends - if it was the same width but just not as tall, then the keyboard would be the same size (vertically).

[iParis]

I believe something similar happened with the rumor about the 4G iPod nano.

And the thing it says about Spain selling knockoff iPhone nanos, that's not what it is.
It's an iTouch, not a fake iPhone nano.
http://en.pasen.it/product_detail.php?id=23

[IndyJonez]

The only practical way to shrink the iphone, IMO, is to cut down on the black space on the top and bottom, not to shrink the screen. Shrink the screen and you lose so much in terms of video, games, typing ability, etc.

Exactly. Anyone with photoshopping skills please make a little mock-up of this design and post.

They could possibly keep the same screen size, cut down a bit on the home button area and earpiece area maybe making each a bit smaller.

I do not have a current iphone in front of me (or even own one yet for the matter...yes STILL waiting) but people look at your iphones right now. Look how much room there still is to work with between the top and bottom of your screen towards the top and bottom edges of the phone itself. I've played with the phone in store enough and studied this visually time and time again. Looks to me like apple could maybe figure out a way to shorten the phone length wise maybe even keeping the earpiece the same size and maybe changing the "round" shaped home button to, i dunno, a small bar of sorts or maybe even ovalize it somehow. :cool:

The same method, only backwards, I believe would work for the next version of the uh...normal iphone, hehe. Make that screen a slight bit bigger, downsizing the 'home' and 'earpiece' and keep the same overall size as the current 3g.

Imagine this and I think it makes sense. Does to me anyhow. :D

[MrCrowbar]

An iPhone Nano will have 3G. I don't know people are thinking otherwise. EVERY feature phone has 3G now. The only ones with it are basic phones. And it'll obviously have WiFi because of the iTunes music store. I can imagine GPS getting the boot but I wouldn't be surprised if it's included.

Why wouldn't the iPhone nano be a basic phone? The iPhone is hardly a smartphone (and it's not supposed to be one). A basic phone should be able to do call, SMS, basic calendar and address book. And maybe a camera.

The iPhone 3G and the iPod touch are selling pretty well. Having an iPhone nano with basically the same functionality would only cannibalize sales.

I can imagine a smaller iPhone without WIFI, no app store, no safari, landscape-only keyboard and basic phone functionaliy. For, you know, people that need a cell phone and not a big expensive high tech toy. Most non-geek people over 40 are kinda scared of complicated phones with many features. Here's a demographic (an ever growing one actually) Apple has problems selling the iPhone to. So basic features is the way to go. Make a pre-paid version and you can get the kids too because parents can control how much they spend on calls and such.

[Penguinwrangler]

If they announce an iPhone Nano, I'll eat my iPhone 3G.

[Ubbens]

The ''iPhone Nano rip-off'' in Spain isn't really an iPhone Nano rip-off, it's an mp4-player and they've been selling it for months at my local toys store in the Netherlands.

[The Samurai]

Four words: this better be affordable.

[IndyJonez]

Let me follow up my previous post by saying It doesn't make sense to me that apple would release a brand new iphone nearly 1 week after christmas holidays when they know a lot of folks got that 'iphone3g gift card' under the tree and rushed out to buy one the next day. Wouldn't that sort of kill sells of any new device a week later and piss a bunch of iphone newlyweds off?

So, they would release a brand new phone 1 week later after people not in "the know" (as far as following apples every move) purchased the current iphone 3g. If the iphone was a less capable device as the current iphone 3G then it may be 'cheaper' correct? Could this rival the $200 price drop from original iphone owners in '07?

I dunno, just doesn't make much sense to me. Someone help me understand please.

In the meantime, I still havn't purchased an iphone and love getting excited for new products, so this is still fun to me! :D

[MrCrowbar]

I do not have a current iphone in front of me (or even own one yet for the matter...yes STILL waiting) but people look at your iphones right now. Look how much room there still is to work with between the top and bottom of your screen towards the top and bottom edges of the phone itself. I've played with the phone in store enough and studied this visually time and time again. Looks to me like apple could maybe figure out a way to shorten the phone length wise maybe even keeping the earpiece the same size and maybe changing the "round" shaped home button to, i dunno, a small bar of sorts or maybe even ovalize it somehow. :cool:

Apple tried the whole shortening thing with the 3rd Gen iPod nano. That thing is very awkward to use because the clickwheel is too close to the bottom and it's not tall enough to fit comfortably in your hand. Lots of bigger phones with big displays tend to have tiny buttons at the very bottom which makes the whole thing very top-heavy. You basically have to balance it over your index fingers to type comfortably with your thumbs.

Small is good, but there's a limit somewhere if human interaction is involved. Thumbdrives are lost, guitar picks are gone forever, cell phones fall through sewage grilles, small kids put it all in their mouthes...

[Prof.]

Is the monthly bill gonna be "nano" too or are we still gonna be forced to pay $100+ a month?

:rolleyes:

[IndyJonez]

landscape-only keyboard


Yup;)

[Chase817]

I think the iPhone Nano would be a very bad idea.

[IndyJonez]

Apple tried the whole shortening thing with the 3rd Gen iPod nano. That thing is very awkward to use because the clickwheel is too close to the bottom and it's not tall enough to fit comfortably in your hand. Lots of bigger phones with big displays tend to have tiny buttons at the very bottom which makes the whole thing very top-heavy. You basically have to balance it over your index fingers to type comfortably with your thumbs.

Small is good, but there's a limit somewhere if human interaction is involved. Thumbdrives are lost, guitar picks are gone forever, cell phones fall through sewage grilles, small kids put it all in their mouthes...

You have a point that makes sense.

I can't argue this issue as, assuming you have a current iphone, you would know first hand over me.

[iParis]

I would be quite upset if they changed the home button.

Why wouldn't the iPhone nano be a basic phone? The iPhone is hardly a smartphone (and it's not supposed to be one). A basic phone should be able to do call, SMS, basic calendar and address book. And maybe a camera.

The iPhone 3G and the iPod touch are selling pretty well. Having an iPhone nano with basically the same functionality would only cannibalize sales.

I can imagine a smaller iPhone without WIFI, no app store, no safari, landscape-only keyboard and basic phone functionaliy. For, you know, people that need a cell phone and not a big expensive high tech toy. Most non-geek people over 40 are kinda scared of complicated phones with many features. Here's a demographic (an ever growing one actually) Apple has problems selling the iPhone to. So basic features is the way to go. Make a pre-paid version and you can get the kids too because parents can control how much they spend on calls and such.

Well, I expect the iPhone nano to not be watered down as much as you think.
- I believe that if it does have 3G, internet won't be effected by that so you will have to be connected to use wifi for the internet.
- Only 74 spaces for apps.
- No built in apps store.
- No GPS.

[IndyJonez]

I vote: iPhone Nono


:D

[Prof.]

Why wouldn't the iPhone nano be a basic phone? The iPhone is hardly a smartphone (and it's not supposed to be one). A basic phone should be able to do call, SMS, basic calendar and address book. And maybe a camera.

http://i40.tinypic.com/2qibcyq.png
minus the Wi-Fi icon of course.

[IndyJonez]

http://i40.tinypic.com/2qibcyq.png
minus the Wi-Fi icon of course.

Nice work.

I'll pass.

;)

[pcolony]

Someone posted a website where you can check domains. I believe it said 1995 though. I'll try an find it.

This guy's had it since 2006:

# whois iphonenano.com
[Querying whois.verisign-grs.com]
[Redirected to whois.fabulous.com]
[Querying whois.fabulous.com]
[whois.fabulous.com]

Domain iphonenano.com:

4-66 Prospekt Zhukova
Moscow, 154260 RU

Administrative contact:
Technical contact:
Billing contact:

Vlad Simonov
vlad.simv@googlemail.com
4-66 Prospekt Zhukova
Moscow, 154260 RU
Phone: +916.3267718
Fax:

Record dates:
Record created on: 2006-08-11 23:30:57 UTC
Record modified on: 2008-07-15 13:50:51 UTC
Record expires on: 2009-08-11 UTC

Nameservers:
ns1.fabulous.com:
64.15.205.211
ns2.fabulous.com:
64.15.205.212

[Prof.]

^^^^^
www.iphonenano.com is redirected to www.apple.com/iphone

it takes a minute... give it a chance.

[ChrisTheFeral]

That would be (pardon the language for those of you who don't have the cursing filter on) ****ing horrible.

Thing about what you're saying for a minute. Combine handwriting recognition, which is spotty at best, with an unnatural writing gesture (you don't write with your finger, you right with a stick held in your hand/palm).

Not with a smooth screen, it's not that hard to write with your finger.


Apple had this domain since 1995.

The whois database was down at the time that I posted this comment, but they possibly bought it out recently.

Unless, how did you figure out that they were the ones who bought it in 1995? - just curious.


UPDATE: IPHONENANO.COM IS NOT REGISTERED BY APPLE.COM

[randomusername]

Why wouldn't the iPhone nano be a basic phone? The iPhone is hardly a smartphone (and it's not supposed to be one). A basic phone should be able to do call, SMS, basic calendar and address book. And maybe a camera.

The iPhone 3G and the iPod touch are selling pretty well. Having an iPhone nano with basically the same functionality would only cannibalize sales.

I can imagine a smaller iPhone without WIFI, no app store, no safari, landscape-only keyboard and basic phone functionaliy. For, you know, people that need a cell phone and not a big expensive high tech toy. Most non-geek people over 40 are kinda scared of complicated phones with many features. Here's a demographic (an ever growing one actually) Apple has problems selling the iPhone to. So basic features is the way to go. Make a pre-paid version and you can get the kids too because parents can control how much they spend on calls and such.

They could do a basic iPhone, but only if it doesn't have a touch screen. Apple has stated that they are against physical navigation keys (like a D-Pad, physical keyboard) when they announced the iPhone at Macworld '07.

I could see the lack of an App Store but WiFi is a must. The iPhone Nano will still be an iPod, so WiFi would be needed for mobile music download because they can't use a cellular network. There will definitely be a Safari, though it will probably be a watered down version of what you see on the iPhone 3G. Name a touchscreen phone without a web browser.

And I'm going to paraphrase from a post about the iPhone Nano cannibalizing iPhone 3G and iPod Touch sales. First, you don't need to worry about it affecting the iPod Touch sale. The iPhone has done little to the iPod sales so far so nothing to worry about there. And here's where I use something from another poster: Say you sell 10 Mac Pros and then introduce an iMac. You then sell 10 iMacs but only 3 Mac Pros, but in the end you've sold 13 computers, 3 more than you had originally sold.

And an iPhone Nano won't be to compete with the iPhone 3G, it will simply expand the iPhone line-up to target more demographics.

And who says that the iPhone Nano can't be a smartphone? I see them going with that. Look at the HTC Touch Diamond and the HTC Touch HD. Both are smart phones but are different sizes and appeal to different demographics and aren't made to compete with each other, but to expand HTC sales. Also, Apple is pretty happy with how it's doing in the smartphone market and an iPhone Nano will help improve their market share.

I think that the iPhone Nano will simply be a smaller version of the iPhone 3G with a few less features. I think it will still be in the smartphone category but will be targeted more towards smartphone beginners and people wanting a smaller iPhone (many complain about the iPhone 3G's tall and wide form factor). The iPhone Nano will add more features to appeal to that demographic and then those features will be added to the iPhone 3G and it's later models. The iPhone 3G will still be Apple's favorite and the iPhone Nano will just help bring people over to the 3G.

[IndyJonez]

Anyone here work for Wal-Mart?

Have you been trained on the new nano coming out next week? Or are you still learning the 3G you just got last Sunday...?

:D [sarcasm]

[MrCrowbar]

http://i40.tinypic.com/2qibcyq.png
minus the Wi-Fi icon of course.

There you go. I'd swap around the icons but you can do that yourself anyway (wiggle, wiggle). I'd have phone, calendar and SMS in the dock, those things i need immediate access to. Double-tap to get to the iPod works nicely too.

I think we have a winner here. I bet the real deal will be very close to that. It might even have WIFI, but only so you can download songs directly to it.

[AlmostJosh]

Why would Apple make a more affordable iPhone after they announce that even middle-class households are getting them?

[archurban]

I think that it is not a rumor anymore. otherwise they can't just create non existed product. they actually get some information from Apple in advance. that's why it is possible they just posted 'iphone nano'. I think that it will be happened coming macworld.

the same thing was happened when second gen. ipod touch case was shown up on website. nobody believed that. but it turned out to be true.

[randomusername]

Why would Apple make a more affordable iPhone after they announce that even middle-class households are getting them?

Cheeper is always better. Also, I don't think an iPhone Nano is about price as much as it is about size.

[k2spitfire88]

Someone posted a website where you can check domains. I believe it said 1995 though. I'll try an find it.

hmm. If it is true, that is quite odd, seeing as how they didnt even use the "i" in any of their products at this point, and SJ wasn't even back at :apple:. I am doubtful of the 1995 date. Before the launch of the iPhone, or even 2005 is quite believable, but 1995, no.

[joemama]

Cheeper is always better. Also, I don't think an iPhone Nano is about price as much as it is about size.

AARRRRGGGGGGHHHHH!

It's about getting OUT of the exclusive ATT contract, NOT so much about the size!

Just wait until January. What else is Apple going to be talking about? An iTunes update?

[ChrisTheFeral]

hmm. If it is true, that is quite odd, seeing as how they didnt even use the "i" in any of their products at this point, and SJ wasn't even back at :apple:. I am doubtful of the 1995 date. Before the launch of the iPhone, or even 2005 is quite believable, but 1995, no.

It was 2006 and it's NOT owned by apple.

[skiwhitman]

I vote: iPhone Nono


:D

Second!!!

[Eso]

Let me follow up my previous post by saying It doesn't make sense to me that apple would release a brand new iphone nearly 1 week after christmas holidays when they know a lot of folks got that 'iphone3g gift card' under the tree and rushed out to buy one the next day. Wouldn't that sort of kill sells of any new device a week later and piss a bunch of iphone newlyweds off?

Likely if it *is* announced at Macworld, it wouldn't come out for several months, probably in the summer.

[k2spitfire88]

Four words: this better be affordable.
Five words: It is Apple, so no. :p
It was 2006 and it's NOT owned by apple.

My bad, I hadn't finished reading the entire thread before i responded.

[The Samurai]

Let me follow up my previous post by saying It doesn't make sense to me that apple would release a brand new iphone nearly 1 week after christmas holidays when they know a lot of folks got that 'iphone3g gift card' under the tree and rushed out to buy one the next day. Wouldn't that sort of kill sells of any new device a week later and piss a bunch of iphone newlyweds off?

So, they would release a brand new phone 1 week later after people not in "the know" (as far as following apples every move) purchased the current iphone 3g. If the iphone was a less capable device as the current iphone 3G then it may be 'cheaper' correct? Could this rival the $200 price drop from original iphone owners in '07?

I dunno, just doesn't make much sense to me. Someone help me understand please.

In the meantime, I still havn't purchased an iphone and love getting excited for new products, so this is still fun to me! :D

Products are constantly changing, we now live in an era where product lifecycles are short rather than long. iPhone concept has been out for over a year, correct me if im wrong, and Apple are now moving into different markets to broaden their offerings.

Examples of this very situation are the iPods. Not all three products were launched simultaneously (shuffle, classic and nano) when the whole iPod trend kicked off. It was one and then expanded slowly in order to cater for niche markets.

Simply put, Nokia and other manufacturers are doing this all the time.

Just my 2 cents worth.

[newyorksole]

They did the same thing when the iPhone 3G was being rumored.

So this might be true!

Why do people want an iPhone Nano though?.. how are people gonna be able to type on a smaller screen than what we have now.

[JonHimself]

The biggest problem with this is that people are going to think the iPhone Nano is going to be EXACTLY the same as the regular iPhone, but smaller. Then when it comes out and it's missing features people will be pissed off.

[Kilamite]

hmm. If it is true, that is quite odd, seeing as how they didnt even use the "i" in any of their products at this point, and SJ wasn't even back at :apple:. I am doubtful of the 1995 date. Before the launch of the iPhone, or even 2005 is quite believable, but 1995, no.

I believe the whole "i" thing started when they released the consumer aimed iMac back in the late 90's - the "internet" Mac made it much easier than ever to get onto the internet and it eventually became an education industry must.

[Mackan]

If the iPhone nano does come out - developers would most likely have to re-produce their games and apps to accommodate the smaller screen.

So you'd end up with two App Stores - one for the iPhone and one for the iPhone nano.

You know, Apple has to do product differentiation... Most likely the App store will not be available for the nano. Along with a bunch of many other missing features.

[sbrhwkp3]

I hope it's true.

I don't know why people even bother objecting to something like this. All it does is offer a more affordable iPhone with a smaller blueprint. If it's not for you, then fine. But I'm sure there are tons of people out there who will love it, which bodes well for my Apple stock. :apple:

[twoodcc]

wow, this might actually happen! we'll find out soon!

[shrtmkr]

I need to trim my fingers first so I can text my GF with my new iPhone nano :)

[sbrhwkp3]

You know, Apple has to do product differentiation... Most likely the App store will not be available for the nano. Along with a bunch of many other missing features.

I didn't think about that...

But at the same time, as long as the sales people are doing their jobs correctly, it'll be fine.

I see the iPhone nano being a great device for someone who's not a gamer but wants a more advanced phone that also doubles as their iPod.

[IndyJonez]

Likely if it *is* announced at Macworld, it wouldn't come out for several months, probably in the summer.

That's true.

And if it doesn't have the same capabilities of the current iphone then it would cater to a whole other crowd as well, agree?

[IndyJonez]

Products are constantly changing, we now live in an era where product lifecycles are short rather than long. iPhone concept has been out for over a year, correct me if im wrong, and Apple are now moving into different markets to broaden their offerings.

Examples of this very situation are the iPods. Not all three products were launched simultaneously (shuffle, classic and nano) when the whole iPod trend kicked off. It was one and then expanded slowly in order to cater for niche markets.

Simply put, Nokia and other manufacturers are doing this all the time.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Thanks for the post! :D

[dacreativeguy]

So you'd end up with two App Stores - one for the iPhone and one for the iPhone nano.

Spoken by someone who has never developed software. A simple "if device=iphone then show this", "if device=nano then show that" will let each app developer support the nano (if it really does have different screen dimensions) or not. Then Apple will place icons on the App store page denoting which devices a particular app is compatible with. It really isn't that big a deal.

[Kilamite]

Spoken by someone who has never developed software. A simple "if device=iphone then show this", "if device=nano then show that" will let each app developer support the nano (if it really does have different screen dimensions) or not. Then Apple will place icons on the App store page denoting which devices a particular app is compatible with. It really isn't that big a deal.

Um yeah - that is two stores..

[babyj]

I reckon its going to be an iPod Nano / mobile phone hybrid, so more of an iPod than a cut down iPhone. The majority of people want a cheap mobile phone that is just a mobile phone and with iPod functionality they won't need an iPod as well. It will be cheap and it will outsell the iPhone within months.

You might argue that Apple don't do cheap but what about the iPod Shuffle?

You also have to look at the vast sums of money we're talking about, an iPhone Nano could easily sell 20 million units in a year (probably more). Steve Jobs might have talked about a 1% share of the global mobile phone market but that was just for starters, he wants to be the market leader the same as with the iPod especially as the market for mobiles is 20 times the size.

[Maxington]

All signs point to a YES on the iPhone Nano.

[Mercury7]

If they are making the nano for verizon then I will probably get one...otherwise I would get the 3g.

it would be interesting to see the fine print in the att/apple agreement, if the iphone nano is different enough form the 3g then I imagine this could even be a pay as you go phone.

[alexbates]

I smell the iPhone Nano...and I also smell Ballmer and his ZunePhone!

Since cases are obviously already being designed (maybe even manufactured), I bet the iPhone Nano will come out shortly after MacWorld. I know it doesn't make sense for a product to come out right after Christmas, but I bet it will happen.

Games for the iPod Touch and current iPhone will probably be able to run on the iPhone Nano. If the screen size was the same shape but just smaller, I bet the same apps would be able to run. I also think that the iPhone Nano will take on a similar shape to the iPod Nano, but just without the click wheel. The screen sizes are the same shape, so it makes sense to happen.

[dacreativeguy]

That's true.

And if it doesn't have the same capabilities of the current iphone then it would cater to a whole other crowd as well, agree?

It ABSOLUTELY won't have all of the capabilities of the current iphone. Otherwise, it would cannibalize the sales of the existing iphone. No chance that Apple does anything stupid like that.

[skythefly13]

Why?! The iPhone is already small enough in the first place, how are they going to decrease the size and still let the keyboard be enough to type on? I really hope they don't make a shorter, fatter version of the regular iPhone!

[djdjek]

hmmm...yeah right :)

[alexbates]

Why?! The iPhone is already small enough in the first place, how are they going to decrease the size and still let the keyboard be enough to type on? I really hope they don't make a shorter, fatter version of the regular iPhone!

It probably won't have a full-sized keyboard. I bet it will just have the number keys like on a regular phone but on a touch screen.

[mr.stinki]

For all the people complaining about the keyboard being too small, have you ever used other touch screen phones?

Most of them require you to turn the device in landscape in order to type, yet they still have Full QWERTY keyboards.

[SnowLeopard2008]

Maybe Apple is coming out with a slider iPhone... But honestly, I'm still sticking with getting a 3G once my contract with T-Mobile expires.

[rish]

For all the people complaining about the keyboard being too small, have you ever used other touch screen phones?

Most of them require you to turn the device in landscape in order to type, yet they still have Full QWERTY keyboards.

You just have to look at the new Nokia smart phone with physical qwerty keys and you'll get the idea of small. In fact the virtual qwerty keys on the iPhone are slightly bigger. As for small I think if an iPhone nano is on the cards then it will likely be aimed at the discerning consumer who like well designed products in smaller form factor. My page 2 remark was not intended to be sexist in anyway. My wife is keen on the idea of their being an iPhone nano and she is certainly keen on getting one too. She tells me my iPhone 3G is too big. She's very complimentary that way. Hehe.

[Eso]

That's true.

And if it doesn't have the same capabilities of the current iphone then it would cater to a whole other crowd as well, agree?

Agreed.

[julianzz]

I know it doesn't make sense for a product to come out right after Christmas, but I bet it will happen.


Remember, not everyone celebrates christmas. And disappointed people all over the world who do celebrate it and didn't receive their brand new shinny 3G will have something to look forward to.

[fobfob]

My wife is keen on the idea of their being an iPhone nano and she is certainly keen on getting one too. She tells me my iPhone 3G is too big.

Yes I still think this is key. The iphone is svelte and all that but it's still too big and masculine for most females. The thick and fast morphing of the 5 generations of nano (if you include the mini, which I am because of size category and cuteness factor) point to a fashion conscious image. Apple is constantly refining the look to penetrate this market further, recently exploring further into the cuteness factor (multicoloured and even thinner).

Getting back on topic, to make an iPhone compatible phone smaller, it would have to not only come with a higher dpi screen, but also considerably altered software to force landscape typing, and I don't think this would be compatible with many apps that only support the portrait keyboard, although that is only a guess.

Making it a non-smart phone (no appstore) solves this problem. But this leads to a different problem from a marketing perspective. I'm not talking about cannibalization of iPhone sales. I don't think this is a problem because the differentiation in both price (dataplan) and features (app store etc) is huge. The problem is dilution of the established iPhone brand position. Simply put, a non-smart iPhone is not an iPhone.

[alphaod]

Sounds good.

If I had to guess, it wouldn't be smaller, it'd only have less memory and be thinner.

[aaquib]

Sounds good.

If I had to guess, it wouldn't be smaller, it'd only have less memory and be thinner.

Then it really wouldn't deserve the name "Nano". If Apple wanted to release the same product in a thinner sculpture or smaller store capacity, they'd just do that with the existing iPhone.

I think the iPhone nano will be an iPhone - 1" on the screen - the GPS - 3G - a bit of the weight - a bit of the storage capacity.

[The Samurai]

Yes I still think this is key. The iphone is svelte and all that but it's still too big and masculine for most females.

I downright agree with your statement. Consumer Buyer Behaviour is important in business. The iPhone appeals to men mainly (due to its size and its shape, and generally men don't mind that). On the other hands, females like smaller and thinner items - its 'slick' and its a symbol status for females.

In order for Apple to cater for different markets - they need to expand their product offerings.

[nyctravis]

I just find it hard to believe that if there is an iphone nano that Steve would let Phil give the keynote...
I hear you, but I think this very well *could* be the reason the let Phil give the keyenote, see how he performs with a major announcement and generating excitement, etc

[TurboSC]

Rumor has it the new iPhone Nano is going to feature a front-facing camera with facial recognition software to translate facial expressions to keystrokes. :p

[chadder007]

Since it would be "IPhone Nano" does that mean possibly that Verizon could get it? Since it is a different product instead of just "IPhone" ??

[MikeELL]

It ABSOLUTELY won't have all of the capabilities of the current iphone. Otherwise, it would cannibalize the sales of the existing iphone. No chance that Apple does anything stupid like that.

er - how about they make an iphone nano with (almost) all of the current features, and give the existing iphone new features (like extra hard-drive space, better camera etc).

Didn't think of that one didjya? ;)

[rtdunham]

if you think about it, with a shorter phone how the heck is it going to reach our mouth to pick up our voice? Say the iPhone Nano was an inch shorter, it doesn't even reach my mouth, and just covers my ear!

so that's why bluetooth headsets don't pick up anyone's voice, too, right? I'm waiting for someone to come out with a 5" earpiece/mic boom. Yeah, that's the ticket.

:)

[aaquib]

Here's a quick, 60 second mockup.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3092/3149519232_99e11b6166_o.jpg

[rtdunham]

...how are they going to decrease the size and still let the keyboard be enough to type on? ...

wouldn't the present size keyboard fit on the nano screen in landscape mode?

then a software update would allow the iPhone 3G keyboard to also work in landscape: it would be bigger and better than the present typing environment, for that phone's "power users", and the new nano typing experience would be the same as has been acceptable, at least, on the current phones.

can someone shoot holes in that theory?

[Yr Blues]

Whatever it is it probably will have:

1. landscape only for keyboard purposes

2. wifi is a must because the Touch has it and it can't be inferior to the Touch

3. Apps is a must because Apple is making its money that way

What it doesn't really need is an accelerometer if its only in landscape, and it won't need 3G wireless, and perhaps the speakers. It will probably still have the camera and triangulation style mapping. And really, who cares if it might be thicker as long as the footprint is smaller. I mean, the Air is less portable than the 12" PowerBook.

[Yr Blues]

how big a screen would be required to accommodate the current size keyboard, but in landscape mode? seems to me the nano-size would do that.

in other words, same size keyboard as the present iPhone; new software for the iPhone 3G would allow the keyboard to work in landscape mode, thus giving "power users" a better typing experience than presently exists, and nano users the same experience 3G users presently have. can someone shoot holes in that theory?

Yeah, a landscape keyboard, even in nano size, will be bigger than a portrait keyboard on the current iPhone. I agree with you.

[rtdunham]

...I bet it will just have the number keys like on a regular phone but on a touch screen.

this idea, that the nano would not be a smart phone (so no safari/internet, etc) is also very plausible. contact input would be done on one's computer and sync'd to the phone, so lack of a keyboard wouldn't restrict phone functionality too much.

[Eso]

Whatever it is it probably will have:

1. landscape only for keyboard purposes

2. wifi is a must because the Touch has it and it can't be inferior to the Touch

3. Apps is a must because Apple is making its money that way

What it doesn't really need is an accelerometer if its only in landscape, and it won't need 3G wireless, and perhaps the speakers.

1. Won't have a keyboard if it must be used only in landscape

2. Possibly will have Wifi but what is this about being inferior to the touch? They wouldn't be comparable IMO.

3. No apps. The Touch and the iPhone already do apps, so if that is a feature you want you already have sufficient options.

Why wouldn't it have an accelerometer? The iPod Nano's have them. It would definitely have 3G as that is also used for voice, not data. IT WON'T NEED SPEAKERS, ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! Seeing as it would be a phone it would probably need to ring...

[Yr Blues]

1. Won't have a keyboard if it must be used only in landscape

2. Possibly will have Wifi but what is this about being inferior to the touch? They wouldn't be comparable IMO.

3. No apps. The Touch and the iPhone already do apps, so if that is a feature you want you already have sufficient options.

Why wouldn't it have an accelerometer? The iPod Nano's have them. It would definitely have 3G as that is also used for voice, not data. IT WON'T NEED SPEAKERS, ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! Seeing as it would be a phone it would probably need to ring...

I think you got it backwards on every point. :p I guess we'll see if they do make the nano.

[WPB2]

Whatever it is it probably will have:

1. landscape only for keyboard purposes

2. wifi is a must because the Touch has it and it can't be inferior to the Touch

3. Apps is a must because Apple is making its money that way

What it doesn't really need is an accelerometer if its only in landscape, and it won't need 3G wireless, and perhaps the speakers. It will probably still have the camera and triangulation style mapping. And really, who cares if it might be thicker as long as the footprint is smaller. I mean, the Air is less portable than the 12" PowerBook.

I say they can eliminate the Wifi, because you don't need it on the AT&T network with the super speed of the 3G HSDPA, i mean look at Crackberry almost none of them have Wifi, just EVDO and HSDPA. That Wifi chip takes up a good bit of space. Oh Apple will announce iTunes over 3G at MW 09"

[AlmostJosh]

Whatever it is it probably will have:

1. landscape only for keyboard purposes

2. wifi is a must because the Touch has it and it can't be inferior to the Touch

3. Apps is a must because Apple is making its money that way

What it doesn't really need is an accelerometer if its only in landscape, and it won't need 3G wireless, and perhaps the speakers. It will probably still have the camera and triangulation style mapping. And really, who cares if it might be thicker as long as the footprint is smaller. I mean, the Air is less portable than the 12" PowerBook.

how would you use it as a phone without speakers?

[iOrlando]

I smell the iPhone Nano...and I also smell Ballmer and his ZunePhone!

Since cases are obviously already being designed (maybe even manufactured), I bet the iPhone Nano will come out shortly after MacWorld. I know it doesn't make sense for a product to come out right after Christmas, but I bet it will happen.

Games for the iPod Touch and current iPhone will probably be able to run on the iPhone Nano. If the screen size was the same shape but just smaller, I bet the same apps would be able to run. I also think that the iPhone Nano will take on a similar shape to the iPod Nano, but just without the click wheel. The screen sizes are the same shape, so it makes sense to happen.


once the iphone has been out for about 4-5 years..then its time for MSFT and their phone (cough zune cough ipod killer? cough)

I highly doubt these case manufacturers are just playing the PR game...why blow their whole business by listing a fake product? However, if iphone nano is true...apple must be furious...(steve has mentioned his hatred though with this kind of stuff previously...he mentioned how down-stream companies (case makers) always reveal the secrets)

people are overthinking the whole iphone to iphone nano and games situation...i dont see any reason why apps wouldnt work...

also..app store is not a money maker for apple...just like itunes...the revenue meets the expenses..and not much is left over.

[stevearm]

1. Redesigned keyboard (no spaces between letter buttons)

2. No 3rd party apps/App store

3. Wifi / 3G

4. Safari browser

5. No GPS

+ the other standard Apple apps

VERY cheap

[TheMBC]

yes, i too, for the first time am starting to believe this may actually become a reality...

i just hope apple knows what the hell they are doing... if it is just a mini-iphone i smell a flop. but you never know. apple may surprise us and make us say "oooh... that's how they did it... AWESOME!" which is what I am hoping for. (not that i care, i have my iP3G and sticking with it)
Apple always "makes [you guys]" say that after the product that everyone thinks is ugly and despises is released... :rolleyes:

[Macabron]

I agree, it can't be too crippled, Im thinking iPhone 1st gen, smaller almost a candybar form, no gps, 3g, safari is a must, even phones with screens of 1.5 inches have web browsing. 4 and 8 Gb. And at the same time higher capacity iPhones 16 and 32gb, with the improved processor from the ipod touch.

[iMacmatician]

You just have to look at the new Nokia smart phone with physical qwerty keys and you'll get the idea of small. In fact the virtual qwerty keys on the iPhone are slightly bigger. Physical keyboard != virtual keyboard.

er - how about they make an iphone nano with (almost) all of the current features, and give the existing iphone new features (like extra hard-drive space, better camera etc).

Didn't think of that one didjya? ;)Now that would be progress. If Apple would just put some of the new iPhone features to the iPod touch, that would be even better. iWork (and iLife?) mobile would be even better still, if they can fit it in the small display.

wouldn't the present size keyboard fit on the nano screen in landscape mode?
...
can someone shoot holes in that theory?Wouldn't the horizontal keyboard basically fill the whole display? Or would it not?

people are overthinking the whole iphone to iphone nano and games situation...i dont see any reason why apps wouldnt work... Apps would work on a smaller display and iPhone. The problem is that most UI elements are designed around not a fixed pixel size or display fraction, but finger size. A smaller display would either make the elements smaller or probably overlap some elements. The other way is to make a new UI just for the iPhone nano, but that just means more work, not to mention that some apps' UIs won't be able to scale down properly.

[PCFan]

My dad works in the refrigeration business (fixing air conditioners, freezers, refrigerators, etc.) but he likes gadgets. He could get the iPhone 3G from Fido (a carrier in Canada) for barely any money because he has 'Fido points'. He decided not to get it because it's a bad idea having an iPhone with the job he has. He doesn't need a smartphone and the iPhone is a little too big for him. An iPhone nano would be a little smaller and a little more basic and that would be perfect for him.

[Justinm59]

People keep saying that iPhone apps won't work on a smaller screen but if its the same ratio, which it should be, their shouldn't be a problem. Not saying I believe this, but if Apple was going to make an iPhone Nano they'd know what they were doing doing.

[damnyooneek]

iPhone Nano. The most rumored Apple device ever.

We all know it's coming, but what we don't know is the specs and pricing :D
The G5 powerbook is.

[angemon89]

Haha I was at Fry's today and I was messing around with that Spanish iPod touch knockoff.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41VHxrFbeML._SS400_.jpg

[iMacmatician]

People keep saying that iPhone apps won't work on a smaller screen but if its the same ratio, which it should be, their shouldn't be a problem. Read my above post.

Not saying I believe this, but if Apple was going to make an iPhone Nano they'd know what they were doing doing.I'm sure they would, in ways that we've not thought of. That's also why some people believe that the iPhone nano will not use the iPhone OS.

[FF_productions]

Because you magically know the price on the iPhone Nano? It'll obviously be priced as the touchscreen feature phones like the Instinct, or Dare, or Vu (around $100) and about around $350-$400 unsubsidized.

The iPhone is around the same price of smartphones subsidized and unsubsidized so I would imagine the iPhone Nano would be, too.

They could offer iPhone for free you'll still get kicked in the groin from AT&T. I'm talking about the plan.

[tenhead]

here's the picture of iphone nano in Thailand. Yes, Thailand already got them.

http://hitech.sanook.com/mobile/news_11833.php

[ppc750fx]

here's the picture of iphone nano in Thailand. Yes, Thailand already got them.

http://hitech.sanook.com/mobile/news_11833.php

You do realize those are knock-offs, and not actual Apple devices, right?

[alexbates]

here's the picture of iphone nano in Thailand. Yes, Thailand already got them.

http://hitech.sanook.com/mobile/news_11833.php

Just another fake...

I bet the REAL iPhone Nano will be smaller. You can't consider that an iPhone Nano, because it looks about the same size as the iPhone 3G.

[tenhead]

You do realize those are knock-offs, and not actual Apple devices, right?

I know I know they're fake. In fact, the article is making fun of how Thailand are so good and quick at making knock off.

[darklighter]

iPhone nano won't have an app store and will only have basic phone capabilities and it will run on the edge network at a much cheaper monthly plan the iphone 3G.

Seems like the most logical conclusion if the iphone nano is real.

[GC Jr]

(damn those people who want to play with your phone and let it slide over the table top to hand it back to you...)

I can COMPLETELY relate to that.

The iPhone Nano is an interesting idea; I'm not sure about what will happen with it, though. It can either completely promote Apple's greatness or die it down a little-

If Apple does make it (and I'm supposing that with all these rumors that they do), then hopefully it'll be an amazing device- and the iPhone nano should have something that differentiates the iPhone nano from the iPhone rather than size...

Or that would be lame.

[MagnusVonMagnum]

The iPhone's screen is too small as it is and for my reasonably large fingers at least, barely usable in terms of the on-screen keyboard. I can't imagine any reason or need for a SMALLER version of the iPhone. If anything, I'd prefer to see one with a somewhat larger screen. I could easily fit one 50% larger in my pocket and it would be a lot more usable in terms of screen real estate and sizing. But given Steve's obsession with small and thin, it'll probably happen....

[Andrew K.]

Why is it so hard for people to understand?

A higher dpi screen, means same resolution, but smaller physical dimension screen

Thank You man Iv'e seen you make this comment before and they still don't get it! geezuz people iPhone nano is effing coming fudge nuggets

[jmpage2]

Actually the Taiwan knockoffs almost look like the physical specs were leaked a few weeks ago and some factory already started churning out copycats to get ahead of the curve.

The Vaja thing is a big deal. They make upscale cases and have been in business for a really long time. It would be surprising if they put this info on their website and there is no corresponding Apple product releasing.

I'm just waiting for confirmation now so I can have a good laugh at the many posers who have been booming "there will be no iphone nano" in an authoritative (but pib squeaky) voice.

[iMacmatician]

Thank You man Iv'e seen you make this comment before and they still don't get it!No, you don't get it.

[OrangeDog]

Wow the Asians sure know how to pump out anything!!!!

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/08/12/26/iphone_nano_knockoffs_already_on_sale_in_thailand_photos.html

[jmpage2]

As I posted in another thread, it is possible that these are the actual dimensions of the product. Thai and Chinese suppliers are notorious for leaking specs for products weeks or months before they go into production.

This also lines up with all of the case manufacturers, including some extremely reputable ones leaking information on a new case for the Nano.

It seems increasingly likely that this will be announced at Macworld, even if the phone itself doesn't ship for a month or two afterwards.

It also makes sense from a timing perspective so that Apple gets maximum media exposure from the launch of an entirely new class of phone, as well as the renewed exposure later in the summer when the 3G is inevitably refreshed. Apple really seems to be out to take share right now.

While I certainly won't try to guarantee that the iphone nano is coming, signs are increasingly pointing to it.

Good times for sure when all of the people who have been screaming at the top of their lungs that Apple would never do such a thing get proven flat out wrong

[mschmitt]

Remember this patent?

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10114351-1.html

A small virtual keyboard could mimic the dock's magnification technique in OS X, using proximity sensors to enlarge the portion of the keyboard your finger hovers over just like the dock can magnify icons you hover over with your mouse. The patent is described as being for displays larger than that of the iPhone, but some version of such a sensor array could really help in hitting the right key on a small display.

As for how to shrink the phone itself without shrinking screen size, I'm sure they could move the home button to an edge or side, like the volume rocker and power button, eliminating the big black area currently surrounding the home button. The ear speaker is also surrounded by black. This area would also be ripe for a drastic reduction in size.

If they simply scale down the entire phone, however, then I'll hope for an implementation of proximity sensors as described above or an automatic switch to landscape for typing.

[buffalo]

Give the iPhone nano to us Verizon users that will not switch to AT&T just for the iPhone...

[linuxophile]

Yes, I have seen it with my own eyes, I swear!
It is 1nm x 0.8 nm x 0.01nm.
They will sell it in bundle with a 2ton electronic microscope to read it.

[SeaFox]

Meanwhile, iPhone Nano knock-offs are already been spotted circulating in Thailand (http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/08/12/26/iphone_nano_knockoffs_already_on_sale_in_thailand_photos.html) and Spain (http://www.flickr.com/photos/flickjulen/3138650678/).

Cal me crazy, but since at this time the iPhone Nano has not been released, and if you asked Apple would be told it does not even exist, it wouldn't be correct to call these devices "iPhone Nano knockoffs", since they aren't copies of any actual shipped or even announced product. If anything, they can only be called products that are copying ideas and concepts of Apple's full size iPhone, and putting it into a smaller package.

If Apple does in fact release an iPhone, it would only be fair to say that they are the ones selling the "knock off". :D

After all, nobody ever said Watson was a knock off of Sherlock 3 (http://www.macobserver.com/article/2002/07/29.7.shtml).

[MikeELL]

Yes, I have seen it with my own eyes, I swear!
It is 1nm x 0.8 nm x 0.01nm.
They will sell it in bundle with a 2ton electronic microscope to read it.

Sounds very eco-friendly :D

[fobfob]

A small virtual keyboard could mimic the dock's magnification technique in OS X, using proximity sensors to enlarge the portion of the keyboard your finger hovers over just like the dock can magnify icons you hover over with your mouse

This would be very fussy and slow to use. Old school numeric pad predictive text would be much faster in comparison. Speed in typing comes from knowing where the keys are so that you can just automatically move your fingers without thinking. Anytime you have to hunt, it will be frustratingly slow.

There is no way Apple will introduce a new platform (the so-called second apps store), at least not while the original iphone platform is still being established. So a smaller screen must support the same portrait keyboard. Higher dpi screens exist, but can the user experience be usable. I simply can't imagine it.

A slimmed down iPhone with top and bottom trimmed, side edges flush with the side of the screen (none of this bevel indulgence), even thinner (of course), maybe less capacity (4GB?) That's about the best hope for a fully functional smart phone iPhone nano. Apple will never go back to non-3G. wifi is possible to drop (hey does anyone remember firewire on mac, that's so yesterday :) ) Since a nano would be a big seller, it would have to have GPS otherwise the app store vendors will revolt. Again, apple cannot go backwards on the iPhone platform.

The non-smart phone seems more plausable to differentiate the products and justify the "nano" designation, although as I mentioned before, it's not really an "iPhone" as customers have come to expect. The varieties are endless as proposed here. Clickwheel, keypad, touch, non touch, iphone s/w based, new s/w base etc etc. No apps store.

[OrangeDog]

After looking at the Vaja website, I'd be very surprised if the nano isn't announced.

[queshy]

Who says typing will be the only form of input?
I reckon they will allow writing, with your finger, so the user draws an A and what not, and scribbles out a word to delete the word.

Nobody, but it probably will be.

[H. Flower]

Mark my words, if they scrap any internet/data functions and keep it simply as an eloquent, high quality phone, it will sell like hotcakes.

Me and virtually everyone I know wants this - we don't need the internet/GPS everywhere we go, and we certainly don't need the dozens of useless apps - or feel compelled to pay 30 bucks a month for the aforementioned.

If the price is competitive, the IPhone Nano will make a fortune.....

[damage00]

I bought cases from Vaja a few years back. Very nice, durable, super padded... and made to order. In other words, they could still deliver on time having no foreknowledge of a product. My suspicion is they watch what the other case manufacturers are offering and do the same. In short, I'd call this "lead" a weak one. Did anyone at MacRumors call Vaja?

Having said that, and thinking this rumor is probably bunk, if Apple shaved some of the black area off the top and bottom of the device they might be able to call it a nano. But seriously, have ever heard anyone complaining the iPhone is too large? Maybe thinner, but any change that reduces the size of the keyboard, screen, fonts or icons would make it unusable IMO.

[ogandojose]

I still don't believe it. But my guess would be a slimmer, same screen size, less memory, without wifi or bluetooth and also without gps

[yorkshire]

Mark my words, if they scrap any internet/data functions and keep it simply as an eloquent, high quality phone, it will sell like hotcakes.

Me and virtually everyone I know wants this - we don't need the internet/GPS everywhere we go, and we certainly don't need the dozens of useless apps - or feel compelled to pay 30 bucks a month for the aforementioned.

If the price is competitive, the IPhone Nano will make a fortune.....

Yes. Who says the iPhone nano will just be a scaled down 3g? This is Apple.

[inigel]

Fake iPhone is fake.

[svndmvn]

After looking at the Vaja website, I'd be very surprised if the nano isn't announced.

I'd be extremely surprised if it was announced, I will laugh very hard if it won't, sorry.

[nfl46]

The Vaja thing is a big deal. They make upscale cases and have been in business for a really long time. It would be surprising if they put this info on their website and there is no corresponding Apple product releasing.

I'm just waiting for confirmation now so I can have a good laugh at the many posers who have been booming "there will be no iphone nano" in an authoritative (but pib squeaky) voice.

I definitely agree. Vaja is the real deal and is very expensive. I highly doubt a company like them would put a product on their website that won't even exist.

And I cannot wait to laugh at the doubters too. Because its at least 65-70% doubters on this website.

[mschmitt]

This would be very fussy and slow to use. Old school numeric pad predictive text would be much faster in comparison. Speed in typing comes from knowing where the keys are so that you can just automatically move your fingers without thinking. Anytime you have to hunt, it will be frustratingly slow.

I'm sure they'd allow you to adjust the magnification or turn it off completely. It's not much of an issue for me, except in portrait mode. I have to be a bit more careful about hitting adjacent keys in portrait mode, and I wonder why you can't switch from portrait to landscape or vice versa once the keyboard is open.

At any rate, the patent refers to displays larger than that of the iPhone, so such technology would likely require more space.

By the way, touch typing (typing without looking) doesn't work on flat glass. Yes, we know where the keys should be relative to each other, but we still need to look at them. Speed in typing or keyboarding comes from using all fingers, properly placed above the keyboard, none of which applies to a small virtual keyboard.

[OrangeDog]

Time will tell.

[henchosbandito]

Im afraid i just cant see any sense in bringing out the iphone nano - for a start its as ugly as hell. Plus i read on here a while back one user pointing out that browsing the internet would be horrible due to the small size of the screen. Creating an unenjoyable user experience is pretty much the complete opposite to the attitude Apple adopts in developing new products.

Plus, looking at the pictures supplies by the op you can see that the film over the screen, supposedly to show it is new(?) is completely different to that used by Apple. Hate to bring you down from your crashing high but there is no way these pictures are of genuine apple products

[Mackan]

I definitely agree. Vaja is the real deal and is very expensive. I highly doubt a company like them would put a product on their website that won't even exist.

And I cannot wait to laugh at the doubters too. Because its at least 65-70% doubters on this website.

And I will laugh at the people thinking it will be affordable. People never learn. I also predict that the quality of the screen of a possible iPhone nano will suck.

[OrangeDog]

Im afraid i just cant see any sense in bringing out the iphone nano - for a start its as ugly as hell.

The iPhone nano is not something that in anyway appeals to me, but Apple is aiming this at the great unwashed.......they will sell bundles of them. Thats all they care about. I'd personally hate to own one.

Vaja must know something and I doubt that they would have this on their website if it's all ******** -

http://www.vajacases.com/images/mobile/apple/iphone_nano/form_en.html

[j5045096]

The iPhone nano is not something that in anyway appeals to me, but Apple is aiming this at the great unwashed.......they will sell bundles of them. Thats all they care about. I'd personally hate to own one.

I posted in another thread that the experience on the current iPhone is like perfect in terms of size. Any bigger and it's too bulky and gets into netbook territory; any smaller and I wouldn't want to use it. The keyboard is hard enough to send e-mails on (TouchType has been an awesome app though--landscape typing for e-mails is a Godsend).

BUT this is what I don't get: if they sell an iPhone nano for $99 do they even make money (or enough to make it worth while?). Just because it's smaller doesn't mean it's cheaper to make! The touch screen technology has to be the same, sound chip, processor, glass etc. ...it's just smaller!?

When the iPod nano came out vs. the Classic it wasn't much cheaper--wasn't the original Nano 4GB like $250 vs. $300 for the cheapest classic? Part of that was the cost of flash memory at the time, but even still, they shared a lot of the same technology; it was not that much cheaper to make it than the Classic?

If they use a 4gb chip vs 8gb are they saving that much money to make it worthwhile? And then I have to ask another business decision question: why now? The Touch and iPhone are selling like crazy right now--adding Wal-Mart is going to increase that and time is only help right now as people are coming off contracts with other carriers and choosing not to re-up but to switch to AT&T. I've had probably 15 friends in the past 3 months that have switched to AT&T for iPhones when their current plans ended. It's a cash cow they should be riding right?

[franzmueller]

Mark my words, if they scrap any internet/data functions and keep it simply as an eloquent, high quality phone, it will sell like hotcakes.

Me and virtually everyone I know wants this - we don't need the internet/GPS everywhere we go, and we certainly don't need the dozens of useless apps - or feel compelled to pay 30 bucks a month for the aforementioned.

If the price is competitive, the IPhone Nano will make a fortune.....

+1

Saludos

[Jeve Stobs]

Why couldn't the nano be the smaller and more exclusive and expensive version of the iPhone? Don't see why everone expects it to be cheaper. See the Nokia 8xxx series or something similar.

I haven't bought the iPhone just for the reason it's too big for my pocket. I love it tho, lots of my friends have it and its awesome but i just wouldn't want one so big i'd need to carry a bag with me to put it somewhere.

And i thought of the nano version as soon as the first phone was announced, the ipods have the nano version and i doubt that apple couldn't make a smaller version work as well as the larger one.

And well since i mostly use my phone mostly for "calling" (maybe some of you remember the feature where you can speak to some other person and he hears you on his phone) i wouldn't mind if it has a few features less.

Using a Nokia 8800 sirocco atm, hasnt broken up on me and gets its job done, waiting for the nano now :)

[zedsdead]

After all of these rumors I do think an iPhone Nano is coming, but I do not think it will be announced at Macworld. As Jobs' has stated, the iPhone is "near and dear to his heart." I doubt Shiller would be the one to introduce it, but you never know. Also, based on most of the other rumors, Macworld seems like it is going to be Mac-centric.

[fimac]

Given that monthly data-plans and fixed-term contracts represent the biggest costs and limitations associated with iPhone, then I believe iPhone Nano will address those areas.

The leaked photos suggest iPhone Nano could be one of:

Telephone iPod (with different screen)
Simpler iPhone (smaller package, but same screen size & DPI)


An unlocked telephone iPod would drive iPod sales in a major new direction -- replacing existing phone hardware with Apple hardware, and allowing users to continue to use existing service plans. Driving iPod sales is becoming increasingly important as some markets reach saturation.

Introducing a new screen-size might complicate the App Store, but in fact we already have a fragmented experience with iPod games.

A smaller iPhone is a very natural evolution of the product. If Apple can squeeze current functionality in to a "Nano" package, then the current iPhone 3G form-factor could be differentiated with bigger battery, better camera, increased memory, increased storage etc.

Let's hope Phil (at least) shares a roadmap with us next week :)

[kieran12]

Don't know if this has been suggested before but I think they may make it pay as you go only, no contract. It would sell for around $199 for 8gb. Basically same price, no contract. This may even allow Apple to unlock the phone to other carriers as it may not be in breach of their contract with AT&T.

Just a thought. But I don't see how the app's will work. to be the same all the buttons etc would need to be smaller making them harder to touch.
Guess we'll find out soon!

[mccldwll]

Apple gets @$500/iPhone.
Apple gets @$200/Touch.
The data plan allows large subsidy.
Remove data plan, and can't get as much.
Keep it, and simply have a smaller form iPhone.
Keep wifi, and have a smaller form Touch, w/ phone (and camera).

If nano arrives, I vote a touchscreen nano, w/ phone and camera. That's it. (Maybe texting for $). No apps (or maybe a few specialized ones via computer download). No browser (if you want that, get an iPhone). No goodies.

[lex11]

http://i40.tinypic.com/2qibcyq.png
minus the Wi-Fi icon of course.
http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/5171/iphonenanofv5.jpg

I made a better one. The iPhone Nano 3G

[k2spitfire88]

The real question about the new iPhone nano is,
Will it blend??? :p :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qg1ckCkm8YI

[ddTaylor]

It ABSOLUTELY won't have all of the capabilities of the current iphone. Otherwise, it would cannibalize the sales of the existing iphone. No chance that Apple does anything stupid like that.

I disagree with your premise regarding cannibalization but agree with the assessment you made regarding capabilities - in a neutered iPhone Nano. I think it SHOULD have the same capabilities but it will not as Apple does things differently than others. I am holding out hope for a 2.5G phone with WiFi and similar capabilities - then I can ditch my 2G phone for a smaller Nano with Edge and WifI. I have no 3G in my Big 10 town and we are not slated for 3G until somewhere in the early 2010's.

D

[Stately]

Ok I I have stated before that this iphone nano concept is ridiculous. The only way I CAN see this happening is if the phone has one or two extrordinary features; maybe some that the current iphone does not boast. Now to go along with that, I'm thinking how. Its too small to even perform some of the regular functions of the current iphone. Gaming, texting, emailing, talking even would be less enjoyable. I have never been one to doubt Apple on anything, but as of late . . There have definitely been some question marks. :cool:

[ddTaylor]

Why?! The iPhone is already small enough in the first place, how are they going to decrease the size and still let the keyboard be enough to type on? I really hope they don't make a shorter, fatter version of the regular iPhone!

Again, I disagree. for YOU - a Nano iPhone is small and not useful but for people like my brother who looked at and ultimately decided against the iPhone 3G due to size - this would be the ticket. I would like a smaller iPhone with similar features and better DPI for smoother fonts and graphics - but it seems I am in the minority - as I am in most things.

If Apple is worth their salt in design and envisioning new techniques and technology - why would you expect them to NOT nail this? They rarely flub one and most often hit a double if not one out of the park. I am no fanboy as can be seen from my criticism of the way Apple does business - but I more than willing to acknowledge when someone does something right - and Apple is great at design and technique if sometimes short on vision and substance.

D

[BuffyzDead]

EVERYONE continues to assume that a Smaller iPhone would be sold for less money, when in fact, smaller, state-of-the-art technology is typically demanding higher sale price.

I would not put it past Apple, now that the current top-of-the-line iPhone, sells for $299.00, to come out with a slick, very powerful ARM-based Nano, pulling in $499 and $599+ prices again.

Due to it's processing power, miniaturization and overall sleekness (all the standards included, 3G, GPS, WiFi, Bluetooth, etc.), the Nano will be primarily driven by voice recognition instead of touch.

Would not surprise me one bit, with Apples ever increasing desire, to set the standard.

I could see Phil pulling it out of a Deck Of Cards box.
Of course not with the showmanship Steve would have provided, but still a nice launching pad for Phil. ;)

[jmpage2]

I posted in another thread that the experience on the current iPhone is like perfect in terms of size. Any bigger and it's too bulky and gets into netbook territory; any smaller and I wouldn't want to use it. The keyboard is hard enough to send e-mails on (TouchType has been an awesome app though--landscape typing for e-mails is a Godsend).

BUT this is what I don't get: if they sell an iPhone nano for $99 do they even make money (or enough to make it worth while?). Just because it's smaller doesn't mean it's cheaper to make! The touch screen technology has to be the same, sound chip, processor, glass etc. ...it's just smaller!?

When the iPod nano came out vs. the Classic it wasn't much cheaper--wasn't the original Nano 4GB like $250 vs. $300 for the cheapest classic? Part of that was the cost of flash memory at the time, but even still, they shared a lot of the same technology; it was not that much cheaper to make it than the Classic?

If they use a 4gb chip vs 8gb are they saving that much money to make it worthwhile? And then I have to ask another business decision question: why now? The Touch and iPhone are selling like crazy right now--adding Wal-Mart is going to increase that and time is only help right now as people are coming off contracts with other carriers and choosing not to re-up but to switch to AT&T. I've had probably 15 friends in the past 3 months that have switched to AT&T for iPhones when their current plans ended. It's a cash cow they should be riding right?

What you don't seem to understand is that if the iPhone Nano is sold with contract for $99 then in all likelihood AT&T paid Apple something like $299 for the iPhone Nano and then subsidized it for new activations, etc.

If it costs Apple $100 to manufacture it and they sell it to AT&T for $299 it doesn't take a math genius to figure out how much money they are making.

Profit margins on traditional mp3 players are getting smaller and smaller every year and Apple knows this. The upscale phone market is a huge opportunity for Apple to sell millions of devices at the types of profit margins they used to enjoy on their iPod product line.

How people can stick their head in the sand about this is beyond me.

[jmpage2]

EVERYONE continues to assume that a Smaller iPhone would be sold for less money, when in fact, smaller, state-of-the-art technology is typically demanding higher sale price.

I would not put it past Apple, now that the current top-of-the-line iPhone, sells for $299.00, to come out with a slick, very powerful ARM-based Nano, pulling in $499 and $599+ prices again.

Due to it's processing power, miniaturization and overall sleekness (all the standards included, 3G, GPS, WiFi, Bluetooth, etc.), the Nano will be primarily driven by voice recognition instead of touch.

Would not surprise me one bit, with Apples ever increasing desire, to set the standard.

I could see Phil pulling it out of a Deck Of Cards box.
Of course not with the showmanship Steve would have provided, but still a nice launching pad for Phil. ;)

The market for extremely high end phones that require pricey data contracts is limited. For every person who will spend $80-$100 a month for an iPhone 3G there are probably 10 people that would like something like the iphone but with a lower price contract, smaller size, etc.

A lot of people here seem to be frustrated with the idea that Apple will take the iphone concept and apply it to lower cost phones. They want to continue to see super expensive elitest products from Apple (makes them feel special maybe? who knows).

The reality however is that Apple has repeatedly in their history built a product following on a high end model and then produced a lower price/feature version of the product that is sold to the masses at very high profit margins.

Millions of people want an iphone without really wanting an iphone. In other words they don't need 3G data, GPS, etc. They want the rich media experience of an ipod with some telephone capabilities.

The iPhone Nano would be this product and will make Apple a fortune. Even without a data plan, carriers will beg apple for this handset and they will agree to still sell it at a massive subsidy for new contracts, etc. This is because it is going to get them subscribers. If you are going to get a new subscriber who is going to spend $1200 over two years on a contract, subsidizing a super hot phone $200 is NOTHING. I would expect this to sell at $99 with contract and Apple probably gets $300 per unit sold. Which means Apple makes a fortune on it.

Much as people fawned over the high capacity iPods of yesteryear, when in fact Apple made far more money selling larger quantities of their low capacity, cheap to produce ipod minis.

[gkarris]

The market for extremely high end phones that require pricey data contracts is limited. For every person who will spend $80-$100 a month for an iPhone 3G there are probably 10 people that would like something like the iphone but with a lower price contract, smaller size, etc.

A lot of people here seem to be frustrated with the idea that Apple will take the iphone concept and apply it to lower cost phones. They want to continue to see super expensive elitest products from Apple (makes them feel special maybe? who knows).

The reality however is that Apple has repeatedly in their history built a product following on a high end model and then produced a lower price/feature version of the product that is sold to the masses at very high profit margins.

Millions of people want an iphone without really wanting an iphone. In other words they don't need 3G data, GPS, etc. They want the rich media experience of an ipod with some telephone capabilities.

The iPhone Nano would be this product and will make Apple a fortune.

Much as people fawned over the high capacity iPods of yesteryear, when in fact Apple made far more money selling larger quantities of their low capacity, cheap to produce ipod minis.

For us unlockers and jailbreakers, AT&T is still the problem... :eek:

I pay $51/month for 1000 minutes, unlimited nights/weekends, 400 texts, and unlimited EDGE data on T-Mobile... :D

[jmpage2]

For us unlockers and jailbreakers, AT&T is still the problem... :eek:

I pay $51/month for 1000 minutes, unlimited nights/weekends, 400 texts, and unlimited EDGE data on T-Mobile... :D

Honestly I don't think Apple or Steve Jobs for that matter gives a rats ass about unlockers or the whims of people who don't want AT&T service.

The market for pay as you go phones and unlocked handsets is tiny in the US compared to selling to a major carrier that agrees to buy millions of handsets at a shot.

[whatever]

Arn, this story should be removed from the site!

All these companies are doing is creating traffic for their sites!

Unless MacRumors is getting Ad revenue from this (hey if you are then more power to you) you should stop.

Just wait and see how many more of these case companies add dead links on their site for the iPhone Nano case!

[gkarris]

^^^ for real...

[nonstoplay]

Although this is still a rumor, it really makes sense in light of Apple's recent partnership with Wal-Mart. Wal-mart, as you know, caters to price-conscious (and who isn't these days) consumers. By offering a "slimmed" down version of the iPhone (both physically and feature-wise) at a lower price (say $100.00 new), Apple has the most direct route to these price-conscious consumers, with the added benefit of Wal-mart also serving as an additional distributor of the full-featured iPhones. I really does make sense.

[jmpage2]

Arn, this story should be removed from the site!

All these companies are doing is creating traffic for their sites!

Unless MacRumors is getting Ad revenue from this (hey if you are then more power to you) you should stop.

Just wait and see how many more of these case companies add dead links on their site for the iPhone Nano case!

Yes, god forbid that Mac Rumors would post stories about rumors about Apple products!! :D

[whatever]

Yes, god forbid that Mac Rumors would post stories about rumors about Apple products!! :D

What I'm saying is that all Mac Rumors is driving traffic to Vaja's website. At one point there was a form for stupid people to fill out about the iPhone Nano!

Vaja is not even a major player in the iPod or iPhone case market. Apple doesn't even sell their products! And let's face it, a majority of people buy their iPod and iPhone cases when they buy the product!

There will not be an iPhone Nano. Trust me. One of the biggest complaints about the iPhone is that it's difficult to type on it because of the screen, so let's shrink it down further!

Also don't hold your breath for an iPhone to run on Verizon anytime soon!

[GimmeSlack12]

Anyone stop to think of how an iPhone Nano makes no sense?
Is the iPhone REALLY too big? Or are they just trying to cut the cost?

And how in the world will you use the virtual keyboard on a smaller device?

[kdarling]

If it's real, then it would be great fun if it had a physical number pad...

Just watching the kiddies spinning around trying to fit real buttons into their previous touch-oriented worship of Jobs' salesmanship skills, would be priceless. I think their heads would explode.

[kastenbrust]

The technology exists to create such a phone however in the US the market simply doesnt, however in Europe and Southern Asia its possible a market exists there, it would be competing with phones such as the Samsung Tocco etc however i simply dont see with such a small phone where the profit would come in for Apple, as they make a lot from the Apps and surely on such a small screen this would be a bit limited.

Also Vaja may simply be making cases for the fake version of this phone available in Malaysia.

[H. Flower]

Why couldn't the nano be the smaller and more exclusive and expensive version of the iPhone? Don't see why everone expects it to be cheaper. See the Nokia 8xxx series or something similar.


Because hardly anybody wants a more expensive iPhone.

[H. Flower]

After all of these rumors I do think an iPhone Nano is coming, but I do not think it will be announced at Macworld. As Jobs' has stated, the iPhone is "near and dear to his heart." I doubt Shiller would be the one to introduce it, but you never know. Also, based on most of the other rumors, Macworld seems like it is going to be Mac-centric.

Steve will show; it will be a huge surprise.

You heard it here first. ;)

[H. Flower]

Apple gets @$500/iPhone.
Apple gets @$200/Touch.
The data plan allows large subsidy.
Remove data plan, and can't get as much.
Keep it, and simply have a smaller form iPhone.
Keep wifi, and have a smaller form Touch, w/ phone (and camera).

If nano arrives, I vote a touchscreen nano, w/ phone and camera. That's it. (Maybe texting for $). No apps (or maybe a few specialized ones via computer download). No browser (if you want that, get an iPhone). No goodies.

This is exactly what I want. And everyone else I know.

And they know that.

And this is what I think we're getting......

[Sonicjay]

If the iPhone nano does come out - developers would most likely have to re-produce their games and apps to accommodate the smaller screen.

So you'd end up with two App Stores - one for the iPhone and one for the iPhone nano.

When I switched from my 13" macbook to my 15" MBP, I had to buy all new programs. That really sucked. Oh wait a minute, no I didn't :rolleyes:

[H. Flower]

Although this is still a rumor, it really makes sense in light of Apple's recent partnership with Wal-Mart. Wal-mart, as you know, caters to price-conscious (and who isn't these days) consumers. By offering a "slimmed" down version of the iPhone (both physically and feature-wise) at a lower price (say $100.00 new), Apple has the most direct route to these price-conscious consumers, with the added benefit of Wal-mart also serving as an additional distributor of the full-featured iPhones. I really does make sense.

Add to that the ensuing recession/depression, and this is a no-brainer

[iMacmatician]

If Apple does make it (and I'm supposing that with all these rumors that they do), then hopefully it'll be an amazing device- and the iPhone nano should have something that differentiates the iPhone nano from the iPhone rather than size...

Or that would be lame.The world's thinnest mobile phone. :D

When I switched from my 13" macbook to my 15" MBP, I had to buy all new programs. That really sucked. Oh wait a minute, no I didn't :rolleyes:Wrong comparison. The iPhone's GUI is dependent on finger size. A smaller display means smaller controls or a cramped GUI, neither of which is beneficial to the fingers.

[NokX]

will it be able to send MMS? if not, it's a POS just like my regular iphone. :(

[jmpage2]

What I'm saying is that all Mac Rumors is driving traffic to Vaja's website. At one point there was a form for stupid people to fill out about the iPhone Nano!

Vaja is not even a major player in the iPod or iPhone case market. Apple doesn't even sell their products! And let's face it, a majority of people buy their iPod and iPhone cases when they buy the product!

There will not be an iPhone Nano. Trust me. One of the biggest complaints about the iPhone is that it's difficult to type on it because of the screen, so let's shrink it down further!

Also don't hold your breath for an iPhone to run on Verizon anytime soon!

Vaja is a really upscale company and it wouldn't fit with their previous 10 years of history to all of a sudden pull a stunt to drive some web traffic.

I'm not saying it's impossible, just highly unlikely.

[onibro]

I definitely agree. Vaja is the real deal and is very expensive. I highly doubt a company like them would put a product on their website that won't even exist.

And I cannot wait to laugh at the doubters too. Because its at least 65-70% doubters on this website.

With all due respect for Vaja, I can comment on their access to internal Apple info as their prime competitor in the premium iphone case market (hint: the company I work for is my username spelled backwards).

Though we case makers spend a lot of time trying to anticipate what the next great Apple design will be, most of us no little more than the next guy knows -- even if we are a reputable company that has high level contacts with Apple. One thing is for sure: if Apple did give us access to confidential info on a product, the very last thing we would do is go and create a new section in our website dedicated to that product before it was launched. That would blacklist us with Apple for life.

Vaja was clever using this buzz about the "iPhone Nano" to get a little free promotion and to generate a list of potential customers when they give their email address at their site, I can assure you they know just as much about the viability of a potential new product as the rest of us.

So sorry folks: Vaja is not in a position to take Steve Job's place in presenting a new iPhone to the world.

I have my doubt that there is an impending Nano phone. If you recall, we usually see a lot more concrete leaks and detailed specs when a groundbreaking product is on the verge of coming out. All we've heard is very general speculation thus far.

[Sonicjay]

The world's thinnest mobile phone. :D

Wrong comparison. The iPhone's GUI is dependent on finger size. A smaller display means smaller controls or a cramped GUI, neither of which is beneficial to the fingers.

Maybe, but who says the screen would be smaller; there's a lot of non-screen space on the front of iPhone, not to mention the thickness of it. Maybe an iPhone nano would just be thinner, and shorter top to bottom with a smaller home button and smaller speaker, etc.

[puckhead193]

i thought apple was going to stop giving away specs for cases because of the nano leak... o well hope this iphone nano isn't on verizon cause i just my storm :p

[Bevz]

Bit late reading this thread... I just followed the link to the vaja website and i can't see any reference to the iPhone Nano... Am i looking in the right place or have they now removed it? Apologies if someone has already mentioned this....

[OrangeDog]

Bit late reading this thread... I just followed the link to the vaja website and i can't see any reference to the iPhone Nano... Am i looking in the right place or have they now removed it? Apologies if someone has already mentioned this....

Here is the link -

http://www.vajacases.com/images/mobile/apple/iphone_nano/form_en.html

[Bevz]

Here is the link -

http://www.vajacases.com/images/mobile/apple/iphone_nano/form_en.html

Thanks! Ah... Fascinating... ;-)

[martynmc7]

About the resolution issues, isn't the iPhone and iPod Touch OS basically a customised mobile version of OS X? I know OS X is supposed to be resolution independent, so I wonder if Apple could implement the same resolution independence into an iPhone Nano?
It would make some apps very fiddly to use however, and it seems to be a bit of a nightmare to do.
As is mentioned in the original post, Vaja has no official release as Apple will only tell 3rd party case developers the same time the rest of us knows, so perhaps it's just band-wagon-jumping on the back of an unsubstantiated rumour.

[ltdanicecream]

First XSKN now Vaja, looks like the iPhone Nano is on the way. Not sure if this was posted here yet, but did anyone notice when you go to www.iphonenano.com it doesn't take you to the Apple website anymore like some of the iPhone blogs (http://www.iphonenanoblog.com/iphone-nano-news/iphone-nano-evidence-iphonenanocom-redirects-to-apples-site/) reported?

Now it takes you to a forum, I wonder if this is just a cover up by Apple?

[scottylans]

When will they god damn realise we don't ALL want a @#%!@ing phone!
Ipod Nano Touch edition.

I want to get rid of this 4G Nano 16gb, it's AWFUL compared to the 3G nano fatty :(

[Andrew K.]

When will they god damn realise we don't ALL want a @#%!@ing phone!
Ipod Nano Touch edition.

I want to get rid of this 4G Nano 16gb, it's AWFUL compared to the 3G nano fatty :(

how much you want for it? what color?