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Touch Screen iPod Nanos?

iNfowarrior said:
My question is how could a smaller touch screen device take advantage of current apps? 99% of current apps (including Apple apps) demand every inch of screen space to be usable.

20% screen size reduction or more would be totally useless.

Maybe same screen with even less physical casing ie: no home button or sensor sections?
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Aren't apps and stuff tied more to the resolution of the screen, not the size? Like with your PS3 (or 360 or Wii or whatever), not everyone has the same size TV screens, but all those TV screens will display the games in the same (or correct) resolutions.

So as long as the resolution of any hypothetical iPod Touch Nano or smaller touch screen device is the same as the current iPhone/Touch, the apps should work, right?

Granted, the screen would still be smaller, and for some that'd make it bothersome and a lot harder to see, but still...technically it could work, right?
 
johnnyjibbs said:
What's funny is that the click wheel was invented to solve the problem of having to keep moving your thumb again and again (like using a mouse to scroll a very large area so that it always moves to the edge of the desk and has to be replaced). It was an elegant solution, since moving your thumb around in a circle is infinite.

Now touch has come along, which has better potential, but with the iPhone we're back to the bloody linear scrolling model and so large lists - particularly non-alphabetised ones - become very laborious to navigate... :(

Besides needing the obvious iPod search on iPhone (I know I've said that 1000 times), why can't they add a virtual scrollwheel option?
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Flicking through as a gesture helps to an extent, as does being able to pick a letter A-Z. I'd agree that the linear model needs tweaking - so that moving your finger more to the left or right from the middle affects rate of movement through a list perhaps, so you don't have to flick flick flick through. A circle flick through would also be useful. I'd imagine it'll be revisited at some point through multi-touch gestures, and for sure by next year, come Snow Leopard and Quicktime X.

Till then, it is harder to do, but at least you can skip tracks and pause through your headphones, negating the need to get to the iPhone for those functions. Reminds me of the Sony Ericsson scroll wheel that got added years back - the infinite circle was very useful, rather than having to click click click pages down to get to something. (A circular movement of the iPhone left or right, if it's in your hand? Tilting it? A two finger /other gesture?)

If they are going the reduce the scrollwheel route, i'd imagine they would clearly know they have to provide an equal or superior UI. But then, they're the folks that brought us the click wheel in the iPod. They know a few things :)
 
Redline13 said:
The Nano getting a touch screen seems likely to me. I think Apple is going to push the app store hard and the more ipods that can purchase programs the better. Does anyone remember this news item from a couple of months back?

http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/backstage/comments/is-this-the-new-iphones-touchscreen/

That smaller screen could be for the touch screen Nano.
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Firstly...... the apps will only run on the iPod nano if SJ decides to rename the nano as "iPod gigantus" and fits in a 3.5" screen. I for one dont see that happening any time soon!

Second..... please update yourself since iLounge itself released a backstage news which confirms their stance with click wheel:

http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/backstage/comments/ipod-nano-4g-a-zune-alike/
 
Apple Ink said:
Firstly...... the apps will only run on the iPod nano if SJ decides to rename the nano as "iPod gigantus" and fits in a 3.5" screen. I for one dont see that happening any time soon!

Second..... please update yourself since iLounge itself released a backstage news which confirms their stance with click wheel:

http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/backstage/comments/ipod-nano-4g-a-zune-alike/
Click to expand...

A proposed touch Nano wouldn't have to have a 3.5 inch screen. It could be smaller and have the same resolution as the Touch.
 
I'm not sure if anyone's posted it before, but its become slightly obvious to me.

Two rumours floating around that are extremely similar:
Touch Screen iPod Nanos?
iPhone Nano Rumor Revived

It's going to be one or the other, not both IMO.

I could see Apple doing a touch screen Nano. The could ditch the click wheel, go widescreen (when needed) and it would still be the Nano. There wouldn't be an App Store nor Wi-Fi. It would just be a Nano with touch screen features.

I doubt Apple will release a iPhone Nano. I just can't see how they would do it. What features would they ditch? It would also bring confusion with the iPod Nano.

Place your money on an Touchscreen iPod Nano, not an iPhone Nano.
 
Redline13 said:
A proposed touch Nano wouldn't have to have a 3.5 inch screen. It could be smaller and have the same resolution as the Touch.
Click to expand...

First its already so small.... crumping it more is NOT going to help!
Second even this will need for the apps to be re structured considering the Multi Touch recalibration for a smaller screen with larger PPI
Third it'll be too expensive
Fourth you'll have a real tough time typing and swiping on a 2 - 2.5" screen!
 
i love looking at all the ridiculous looking mock ups. As much as whoever did them did a good job, i doubt that apple will ever make anything quite like them
 
ebouwman said:
i love looking at all the ridiculous looking mock ups. As much as whoever did them did a good job, i doubt that apple will ever make anything quite like them
Click to expand...

Right on point! Remember the iPhone flip and the rotary dial iPod....lol
 

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To the people that think iPod touch/iPod is failing, think twice...

iPhone is locked to one carrier in each country, not everybody is gonna back out of their current phone contract to go pick up iPhone.

2 years of iPhone for me costs $2000..an iPod, not so much.

I don't know if I'd like a touch screen nano, makes it a pain in the ass to hit pause, raise volume, etc. I know Apple will be smart about it.

Makes me wonder what happens to iPod classic as well, they are gonna be making changes to the entire line come September...Maybe they'll show some love for the Mac Mini, or else I'd put it out of its misery cuz its getting pathetic.
 
Redline13 said:
A proposed touch Nano wouldn't have to have a 3.5 inch screen. It could be smaller and have the same resolution as the Touch.
Click to expand...
A finger is only a certain size. A small screen would make it hard to tap etc. with as much precision as with a bigger screen.
 
i think apple will make a nano touch but i personally wouldnt want it. I like the nano because of the ability to click and scroll using a wheel. Its convenient in a car and at the gym because it requires less attention.
 
Touch is the future...

the click-wheel will go the way of horsewhips. Yes, the loss of tactile feedback is a significant price to pay, but the larger screen while maintaining a small overall device size is worth it. After all, it has to fit in your pocket.

Prediction: iPod Nano - slightly narrower than the current version. Screen fills almost the entire front. Software-based click wheel. Touchscreen controls the music player and video playback. 8GB and 16GB models. No Apps, No BT, No wif-fi. For that you have to go up to the iPod Touch.
 
BigBear8080 said:
the click-wheel will go the way of horsewhips. Yes, the loss of tactile feedback is a significant price to pay, but the larger screen while maintaining a small overall device size is worth it. After all, it has to fit in your pocket.
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Although I think the iPod nano will get a touchscreen version, I don't think it'll happen this year.

BigBear8080 said:
No Apps, No BT, No wif-fi. For that you have to go up to the iPod Touch.
Click to expand...
And I'm assuming it's the same as the iPod touch (except smaller) in other categories?
 
am i alone...

am i alone in thinking the issues could be addressed simply by placing a full touch screen on the front as speculated and a tactile click wheel in the back. in the nano form factor i think that it could work - however what would the added cost of production be? too high? and potentially make the nano thicker which could be a negative given the focus on the size in the nano line.... thought? am i just crazy?
 
My best guess is an iPod the size of the current iPod nano with a full touch screen and blind controls on the sides. I can also see blind controls on the next generation of iPod Touch.
 
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