Claimed Next-Generation iPod Nano Cases Offer Hints at Device's Physical Features

[dgree03]

I would by an Iwatch in a heartbeat! Especially if it had bluetooth! I dont even need wifi on a device that small... put some nike + action in it.. omg gosh it would be a revolution! I hate armbands.. the slip, cut off circulation, get all stinky and sweaty... velcro sucks... and nice wristwatch would be perfect!

Imagine if they could make it water proof

 

[Kid Red]

Im still very confused about this being a NANO. I mean why would they introduce the camera as early as last year, only to make that obsolete. I'm thinking this will definitely be the new shuffle, based on the hardware and software issues of the previous shuffle. Just my opinon though.

I agree. This is the new shuffle or a convergence of the two.

 

[Kid A]

I'm no expert or industry analyst, but here's what I think:

I doubt they would take something so drastically different from the current nano and still call it the nano. Maybe it's a new shuffle, or it could just be, let's say the iPod Micro. And no, there is no way any type of web browser could possibly work on that thing. I like the GUI presented on the "iWatch" mockup picture.

And I agree with people who say it's a bad move to remove all physical buttons-I actually despise my iPod touch and am going to immediately replace it once the new models come out, unless the new nano is a smaller touch, in which case I'll buy the old nano from eBay or something. I think I'm looking forward to Wednesday more for this event than for my first day of high school.

I mentioned "iPod micro" the other day. I actually don't think the name "micro" sounds good from a marketing standpoint (Redmond, anyone?), I was simply puzzling over what they might call the "tiny square"... besides "nano".

Anyway, someone quickly corrected me, pointing out that micro- is actually larger than nano-. Smaller than nano-, you get pico-, femto-, atto-, zepto-, yocto-... none of which sound like appealing iPod suffixes. Just sayin'.

"The more you know..."

PS-good luck starting high school.

 

[dampfnudel]

I believe hue new lineup is as follows:

iPhone 4
iPod touch - 16 and 32 gb
iPod Mini ( updated and re-badged nano) 8 gb, 16 gb and 32 gb
iPod nano ( new square micro touchscreen design) 4 and 8 gb

Shuffle and classic die.

One last thing - 7" iPad with webcam & FaceTime.

 

[0098386]

If this is a touch screen Shuffle but with 16gb storage then I'd be really tempted to get one.

 

[skellener]

the shuffle and nano will become one. the classic will get a big camera, front camera, maybe and wifi. maybe a speaker too. and a mic if it comes with a camera obviously. this is what will happen

Doubt it. Come Sept. 1, the Classic iPod is dead.

 

[aznguyen316]

has anyone mentioned the possibility of this 3x3 screen being clickable like the trackpad of the Macbooks or the BlackBerry Storm screens?

Maybe this could help in the gym for those complaining about the use of touch screen rather than clickable scroll wheel. Click for play pause, maybe double click for forward or click near edge for FF etc? just a thought, I think I'd like it, especially since there are already physical volume keys.

so no one thinks the screen could be clickable?

 

[skellener]

I really hope there's an real major rev of iTunes. It really needs to be streamlined. It's so cluttered now, it's an eyesore. Slick it up!

 

[Darth Nihilus]

Given the nature of the past few rumors, it is important to post one's predictions given the radical ideas proposed for new Apple products. Here are a few of my predictions:

iPod Nano
-3cm by 3cm touch screen
-top home button
-music, movies (4:3), photos
-widget apps (calculator, clock, calendar)
-back camera
-fm radio
-accelerometer for album art direction
-shuffle headphone controls

a video camera in the Nano is highly likely considering it was only released last year. A clip is also possible

iPod Shuffle will be discontinued

iPod Classic will be discontinued

iPod Touch
-32gb, 64gb, 128gb
-facetime
-back camera
-retina display
-A4 processor
-gyrosensor
-FM radio
-microphone (obviously with any camera)
-shuffle headphones
-possibly a white model

The voice associated with the current Shuffle may or may not be included with the devices.

The shuffle headphones will become a new standard as they will be beneficial for athletically inclined people or consumers that require physical controls.

iTV will be released and will pose a significant threat to video game home consoles.

iPad will see release of iOS 4, actual updates will not be released until later.

 

[Kid A]

iPod²

Oh snap, i just got it! It seems so obvious now! Please forgive me if someone already suggested this name...

The new thing will be called iPod². (pronounced "iPod squared").



...or iWatch or iPod Watch or iPod nano² or.... or iPod FaceTime, if it is the Dick Tracy watch-thing... or or or....

 

[kmiahali]

I would hate if the iPod nano becomes the size of the shuffle... i like the small pocket sized current gen ipod nano, smaller than a touch and larger than a shuffle so it's not too easy to loose.

i hope all this actually becomes the shuffle.

LOOSE??! You mean lose. This aggravates me just as much as iTouch; no you don't touch. It's iPod touch.

 

[JoeinJamaica]

slaves to time

I'd like to see a watch thing, would be good with a holographic genie effect going 3-D above your wrist. Better yet, a 3-D globe of the planet, AKA crystal ball. Come on Apple, touch screens are getting old! Let's go beyond the junk they've shown for years on sci-fi movies.

 

[Jason1001]

Is it at all possible that these small displays are really just being developed/evaluated? I mean, it would be cool and all, but I don't think that we are there technoloicaly on terms of miniaturisation to make anything like this a success, and encompass all the features that consumers demand nowadays (wifi, navigation, tactile screens etc etc) please feel free to prove me wrong! (plus, the battery to drive such a screen would need to be large, to power it for a decent amount of time)

, lets not forget the fact as well that the iPod nano is a "cash cow" for Apple and quite possibly it's biggest selling product (in terms of units), why fix it if it ain't broke, and risk alienating your customers, case in point, the stubby nano, look how long that lasted...

My predictions

Shuffle gets a price drop and 4gigs only
Nano gets updated memory (16 and 32), wifi (for iTunes library streaming), same look, same format/configuration
iPod touch gets the same features as the iPhone and is redesigned a little bit (32,64,128)
iPod classic gets a slight re-design (slimmer maybe) and flash memory 160gigs
AirTunes plus iTunes 10 and iOS updated to reflect this (4.1)
iOS 4 for iPad

Peace.

 

[bobob]

No way. Watches are for lesbians, nerds, and medical staff... most people at work where one but I still refuse...

So you work in a gay research hospital?

 

[bloodycape]

so no one thinks the screen could be clickable?

If it is, it would be like the iRiver S10, or L-player.

 

[devinci99]

Since everyone is giving their .02$ in predictions...
Here's mine.

ipod classic = drop; ipod touch will simply be called ipod with introduction of 128GB.

Nano will still be around. Its such a cool device still with mass appeal.

Shuffle could still be around. It is again a unique and novel product. It is something that is light, you can wear easily, and can withstand a lot of punishment. I dropped it many times and it survives easily. I know many people who in addition to one of the ipods, own a shuffle because they can take a shuffle to do outdoor activities or gym without worry that it could break. All other ipods are too fragile compare with the current shuffle. People will buy a shuffle the way it is, in addition to a nano, classic, or touch.

new ipod line; something to fill another gap or appeal to different people. a smart "watch" concept is interesting; especially one that would complement the nano, or ipod or iphone (as well as the shuffle).

I think there will be plenty of people who would still buy the ipod, along with a nano, along with the shuffle, and along with the new ipod. It does not need to replace any existing line.

Then again, it could replace the nano/shuffle... but I'm joining the fun with my 0.002$.

I think apple will extend their hardware line up of gadgets in such a way where we could buy one or more, so a 'watch' like ipod accessory could do this.

ipad
iphone
ipod (formerly ipod touch)
ipod nano (maybe a refresh with camera, more storage etc).
*rumored appletv/itv*
ipod 'watch' P)
ipod shuffle

Pretty good line up for consumer gadgets to me.

... hmmm then again the classic may still be around until the ipod touch 128GB cost the same as the current classic. It is still expensive to buy a 64GB ipod touch today, the 160GB classic cost $250. BUT I would totally buy an ipod touch 128GB for $250 if it did came out Sept 1, 2010!

 

[Kid A]

My predictions

Shuffle gets a price drop and 4gigs only
Nano gets updated memory (16 and 32), wifi (for iTunes library streaming), same look, same format/configuration
iPod touch gets the same features as the iPhone and is redesigned a little bit (32,64,128)
iPod classic gets a slight re-design (slimmer maybe) and flash memory 160gigs
AirTunes plus iTunes 10 and iOS updated to reflect this (4.1)
iOS 4 for iPad

Peace.

Interesting predictions, but i fail to see the point of keeping the classic in such a line-up? A 32 GB nano is probably plenty for many people wanting "just an mp3 player" (I'd like to see a 64 GB nano someday if that is possible--current design; not talking about the tiny square, folks). And if you have 128 GB iPod touches on the market, and you're Apple, wouldn't you want to push the folks who seriously demand that much storage into the iOS App-osphere?

i dunno... i'm not gooning on the classic. i'm sure they're nice for what they are and the niche they serve (except for that whole moving-parts hard drive thing). it just seems like it is dead and not likely to be zombified. i mean, didn't they once offer a 160 GB classic only to drop it down to 120 GB only? to me that screams "dying breed", and that was, what, a year ago? [I'm wrong; see edit below]. i'd be shocked if Apple spent more than a buck-fifty coming up with a redesign for the tired-looking old classic.

i've said it several times (sorry!), the current nano IS the new classic iPod. it is the current iconic iPod.

also, i think it is interesting many are suggesting iPod touch will be renamed simply "iPod". could be, but i'd just be very surprised. to me, iOS devices and iPods are two entirely different breeds. the fact that the iPod touch even has "iPod" in its name seems like a relic to me... a relic of a time when Apple didn't know what the heck else to call the "iPhone that isn't a phone". if the iPod touch were just introduced today, i think it'd be called "iPad nano". if anything will be redubbed simply "iPod" (or "iPod classic", pending the current classic's death), my money would be on the current nano.

EDIT: I'm a moron. Just poking around wikipedia, looking at the history of iPods, and i realized THE CURRENT IPOD CLASSIC IS 160 GB, which i'm sure is news to exactly zero people here but me. I knew that for a year they weirdly stopped offering 160 GB iPods and offered the classic as 120 GB only... but I guess I haven't paid any attention to the classic since last September. It all runs together after awhile, ya know? (Still think the classic is near the end though).

 

[pawelthegreat]

My money is on this being a replacement for the Shuffle.

Otherwise, the camera functionality was not very useful for Nano users.

Hope for ATV update!!!

 

[mac ath]

Jon Ives: "Steve, I shrunked the iPad."

It looks so cute! iPad pico!

I'm betting money that a watch-case will be an official accessory.

I think its pretty clear that in order for a watch like that to work the headphones can not have a cord

 

[iforme]

i think the i watch think is photo shopped even the story doesnt sound tru

 

[ccmovies]

Why would that be the Nano if they just put a camera in it last year? I think it will be the new shuffle. And how the heck can you have the internet on a 1inch by 1inch screen? LOTS OF PINCH AND ZOOM! I am interested to see what it is though.

 

[Robert M.]

No way. Watches are for lesbians, nerds, and medical staff... most people at work where one but I still refuse... I just use my phone. I hate watches and don't think it would sell well at all.


It would be cool, yes, but it wouldn't sell.

Nerds? You're on Macrumors.com reading a thread about an upcoming iPod. Wouldn't that make you a nerd/geek?

There's nothing wrong with watches, some people wear them because they don't feel like reaching for their phones. I don't want to pull out my iPhone 4 just to check the time. It's easier to look down at my left wrist...

 

[longball11]

Is it at all possible that these small displays are really just being developed/evaluated? I mean, it would be cool and all, but I don't think that we are there technoloicaly on terms of miniaturisation to make anything like this a success, and encompass all the features that consumers demand nowadays (wifi, navigation, tactile screens etc etc) please feel free to prove me wrong! (plus, the battery to drive such a screen would need to be large, to power it for a decent amount of time)

, lets not forget the fact as well that the iPod nano is a "cash cow" for Apple and quite possibly it's biggest selling product (in terms of units), why fix it if it ain't broke, and risk alienating your customers, case in point, the stubby nano, look how long that lasted...

My predictions

Shuffle gets a price drop and 4gigs only
Nano gets updated memory (16 and 32), wifi (for iTunes library streaming), same look, same format/configuration
iPod touch gets the same features as the iPhone and is redesigned a little bit (32,64,128)
iPod classic gets a slight re-design (slimmer maybe) and flash memory 160gigs
AirTunes plus iTunes 10 and iOS updated to reflect this (4.1)
iOS 4 for iPad

Peace.

Now see. This guy talks some sense about these rumors and REALISTIC possibilities.

Squared nano? LOL LAUGHABLE JOKE. 3G iPod touch? HAHA YOU'RE KILLING ME. iTV? AT AN IPOD EVENT? EH....

Get real people and stop dreaming and thinking you're coming up with great predictions.

 

[mrrory]

Is it small enough to be a touchscreen watch yet?

 

[olternaut]

All of you guys are fools! All of you!

It's not going to be the new nano but the new shuffle! I mean, c'mon already!
How could it be anything else? It look exactly like a 2nd gen iPod shuffle but with a tiny screen. If anything, a screen only nano would have the slightly bigger screen size of the one that is on the current nano.

It's the new shuffle people!