iPhone Nano Rumors Revived in Otherwise Quiet Lead-in to Macworld

[MacRumors]

Questionably reliable iDealsChina publishes information and renderings of what it claims to be an "iPhone nano".

It is the same height as the just release Nano but wider and thicker and with the same iPhone 3G contours.

iPhone "nano" rumors have persisted for some time with speculation that Apple could introduce a smaller/cheaper version of the iPhone. The site claims the product will be announced at Macworld San Francisco 2009. iDealsChina, however, has a very mixed track record. In August, it passed off renderings of knock-off iPod clones as the real thing and also claimed that the new iPod Touch would have GPS (it did not). The site, however, did previously have access to Griffin case moldings that appeared to be real. The sizes could correlate with smaller touch screen photographs that iLounge published in June.

If Apple were to introduce a smaller sized iPhone, it would not likely be compatible with any of the App Store apps due to difference in screen size and resolution. This fact has led many to doubt that Apple would make such a move.

Otherwise, the rumor mill has been uncharacteristically quiet in the lead in to Macworld San Francisco which kicks off on January 5th, 2009. Also unusual is that at this late date, IDG has not yet announced that Steve Jobs will be hosting the expo's keynote speech.

Article Link: iPhone Nano Rumors Revived in Otherwise Quiet Lead-in to Macworld

[Tallest Skil]

Oh... no... now everyone who thinks its real won't shut up for the rest of the month...

[Bonte]

The screen looks only a bit smaller, maybe this is the new model iPhone. Companioned with a nice tablet iPod would make it perfect.

[xparaparafreakx]

Even if the nano is not the same resolution, that may not stop apple from making one. The might update xcode to prep two version of an app. One at reguar resolution and one at nano resolution. Some apps might "one click" prep to the nano resolution but other might take a little longer.

Or they could make it the same resolution somehow.

[nos]

Originally Posted by xparaparafreakx

Or they could make it the same resolution somehow.

I fail to see why not.

Steve likes to say how thin and small things are, so it could be true.

[CrackedButter]

The current line up is small enough, why do smaller. I hope this rumour isn't true.

[Bonte]

I would guess this is a leak from accessory makers but they don't get to see the new products, only updated existing models. Seems to me this would be an update for the basic iPhone, not a nano. Especially if it has the same resolution.

[ruku]

many screens of equal size to the iphone have a much denser pixel ratio. its totally possible to match the pixels of the iphone in a smaller screen as long as screens of that size are produced somewhere.

[talkingfuture]

I'd love it to be true but I'm not convinced.

Its strange how quiet the rumour mill has been. Either leaks have been plugged or there isn't anything

[Martin C]

Eh, maybe if they sell it for $99.

[labrats5]

I don't believe this for a second. Half the apps in the store would be rendered unusable due to the smaller screen. This is the sort of thing that gives developers nightmares. The App store has emerged as the iphone's #1 killer feature. Breaking thousands of apps, causing endless customer confusion and pissing off their developers (just as serious alternate platforms are emerging) is the absolute last thing Apple would want to do.

C'mon, everyone loves a good rumor, but we are better than this.

[Bonte]

Originally Posted by labrats5

I don't believe this for a second. Half the apps in the store would be rendered unusable due to the smaller screen. This is the sort of thing that gives developers nightmares. The App store has emerged as the iphone's #1 killer feature. Breaking thousands of apps, causing endless customer confusion and pissing off their developers (just as serious alternate platforms are emerging) is the absolute last thing Apple would want to do.

What would be the problem if it has the same speed and screen resolution?

[samh004]

I don't see why a smaller screen couldn't have the same resolution as the old larger screen. After all, it's been a couple years.

This could perhaps be a new iPod nano, following the touch, though they were just updated to it does seem a little premature.

The spot at the bottom for the presumably home button, looks too small.

[Dont Hurt Me]

This would be cool as long as its not crippled in some way, a lot of folks could really care a less about gaming features on a 2" screen.

[fastbite]

It makes total sense to expand the range.

[fastbite]

Originally Posted by samh004

I don't see why a smaller screen couldn't have the same resolution as the old larger screen. After all, it's been a couple years.

This could perhaps be a new iPod nano, following the touch, though they were just updated to it does seem a little premature.

The spot at the bottom for the presumably home button, looks too small.

It couldn't be the iPod nano because of the upper cut for the speaker (if real anyway)

[Tres]

I doubt this is true but if it is I really hope they don't change the screen resolution or reduce the performance, it's just going to be more of a pain in the ass for consumers if they do.

Personally I wouldn't want a much smaller screen than I have on my iPhone now, even if the resolution was the same.

[jackjason]

http://infinitech.wordpress.com/2008...ary-backlight/

they claim to have new spy photo, on the new iphone ,but not the nano one

[Small White Car]

No. It ain't gonna happen.

Anyone who cares can search my history for the many, many times I've explained why.

The short version: There doesn't seem to be any advantage for APPLE in this idea. Anything that doesn't pass that simple test ain't gonna get far.

[djdjek]

Yeah, right.

[alexbates]

My next phone...if I can get service for less than $50.

[Santa Rosa]

Can't see it either. The iPhone at the moment is just the right size, anything smaller with the same interface would be awkward to use with your fingers, and there is no way Steve would allow an Apple product to ship with a stylus nowadays.

[fendol]

Not unlikely?

Well we're on rumors forum, who knows what the future will hold, we can speculate about it though. Looking at the pic, while the iPhone is bigger, the screen on the Nano is just a tad smaller

[o0samotech0o]

Yeah. And my name is Bob Marly.

This would be so unlike apple i think. They've just released a new ipod touch, why would they release another, and in that sort space of time too...

Plus all the apps are rendered for the current iphone and touches screen...

MEH!

-Sam

[Roller]

Originally Posted by jackjason

http://infinitech.wordpress.com/2008...ary-backlight/

they claim to have new spy photo, on the new iphone ,but not the nano one

I've read rumors of a status display that's visible on the unlock screen, though this is the first I've read about a secondary backlight.

But it seems odd that Apple would be releasing anything other than a relatively minor update to the iPhone (32GB, maybe) at Macworld.