Apple prepping iPod nano with camera, three new iPhones - report

[AppleInsider]

Apple will introduce a new version of its iPod nano with a wider screen and built-in camera later this year after first introducing three new iPhone models distinguished by their network hardware, according to a new report.

Citing sources who've provided accurate descriptions of iPods and iPhones in years past, iLounge is corroborating a recent rumor that has the third-generation iPod nano gaining a point-and-shoot digital camera similar to the one found on the iPhone.

According to the report, new models will arrive sometime between July and August with a screen aspect ratio of 1.5:1, up from 1.33:1 on the current fourth-generation model. Making room for larger screen real estate will be a more compact click-wheel that shifts further down the body of the media player.

Meanwhile a camera placed on the lower left-hand side of the nano's rear will reportedly pave the way for the iPod to dual as digital camera when it's held in landscape mode and gripped by its corners.

The report also cites the same sources as saying that Apple next month will introduce its third-generation iPhones in six configurations: two capacities each for three different models that will sport wireless hardware to match the speeds of wireless networks across the world.

For example, the rumor implies that countries with the most capable wireless networks, like the United States, will see an enhanced version of the iPhone 3G capable of 7.2Mbps downloads while other countries receive a version similar to the current iPhone 3G capable of 3.6Mbps 3G downloads.



China would reportedly get its own version of the iPhone that may be more limited in functionality, possibly forgoing 3G connectivity entirely or offering compatibility with the government-backed TD-SCDMA standard. Each of the three models is said to look nearly identical to the current iPhone but sport a "less scratchable matte plastic body."

Images showing a matte plastic iPhone enclosure nearly identical to the iPhone 3G's surfaced on multiple websites earlier this year.

Images of an iPhone back with a matte finish surfaced earlier this year.

The report may offer clarity to references to two new iPhone models in betas of Apple's iPhone Software 3.0 -- iPhone 2,1 and iPhone 3,1 -- as well as a third conspicuous reference to "ChinaBrick."

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[desarc]

so no oled?
i love the pic in this post btw.

[akf2000]

What are these countries with superfast download speeds? (apart from S. Korea natch)

[DGNR8]

I miss Apple the Computer Company

[PG4G]

Hmm... right where EVERYONE is going to be holding their ipod from? Stupid. It will be up the top with the screen if it's anywhere.

[PG4G]

Originally Posted by akf2000

What are these countries with superfast download speeds? (apart from S. Korea natch)

Australia has 14.4Mbps. Its darn fast. My iPhone is holding it back!

[akf2000]

Originally Posted by DGNR8

I miss Apple the Computer Company

Hey, man, they still make computers. That a look at this *shoos birds nesting in box*, this is a brand new iMac computer, it does typing and number stuff. Also this *clears off cobwebs*, this is a Mac Computer Server, it can hold the equivalent of 1.5 phone books when purchased with the Platter Drive Extension!

[akf2000]

Originally Posted by PG4G

Australia has 14.4Mbps. Its darn fast. My iPhone is holding it back!

And what news of the UK?? Moving to .au for faster speed is uneconomical in the present climate.

[city]

Originally Posted by PG4G

Hmm... right where EVERYONE is going to be holding their ipod from? Stupid. It will be up the top with the screen if it's anywhere.

it's upside down!

[akf2000]

Originally Posted by city

it's upside down!

you're upside down!

[Olternaut]

I'm starting to think all these "rumors" that these "experts" come up with are really from their brainstorming sessions.
It seems like they're starting to pull them out of thin air now.

[melgross]

So many rumors and so little time!

[GQB]

Originally Posted by DGNR8

I miss Apple the Computer Company

I miss buggy whips.

[jpellino]

Camera right where your fingers go when operating an iPod.
This is what happens when you run out of MechE and EEs.
Must be a ChemE or CivE.
Which reminds me of an old joke...

[Hattig]

Originally Posted by PG4G

Hmm... right where EVERYONE is going to be holding their ipod from? Stupid. It will be up the top with the screen if it's anywhere.

Looks like it is in the right place if you hold the iPod in landscape orientation.

[MacShack]

Originally Posted by DGNR8

I miss Apple the Computer Company

I know what you mean. Though it can be argued that an iPhone and even an iPod is a computer. I kind of miss the exitement over new upcoming machines and OS. Sure I like the iPhone and the iPods. I think they are great. ButI have just the feeling that Apples attention is too devided. It might be that I'm just looking for a fix, in need for a confirmation that Apple is stil serious about their computer arsenal. WWDC might give me what I need. I think Apple should continue doing iPods and iPhones. Heck I even wish they start making printers, camera's and the whole other load again. But their OS should never be second priority.

I also hope that this intel thing is a temp thing. A way to get people making the step over to Macintosh. Intel is bad news in the long run. When Apple is ready to make their own processors they should dazzle the world with their own machines.

[PG4G]

Yes, but how often do you hold in landscape? Less than 50% of the time. They could put it above with the screen and affect neither.

No logic there.

[SpamSandwich]

Originally Posted by MacShack

I also hope that this intel thing is a temp thing. A way to get people making the step over to Macintosh. Intel is bad news in the long run. When Apple is ready to make their own processors they should dazzle the world with their own machines.

They'll continue to use Intel to maintain parity with the PC world.

[sandau]

Originally Posted by MacShack

I know what you mean. Though it can be argued that an iPhone and even an iPod is a computer. I kind of miss the exitement over new upcoming machines and OS.

meh, new computer hardware are like toasters anymore. All pretty much do the same thing as the last generation. i only register excitement when there are new capabilities. Who really cares about the new iMac if all it does is go zoom zoom * 2 vs the previous gen?

[sziwan]

"countries with the most capable wireless networks, like the United States"

Is this a joke? Seriously, I know that in regards to mobile telephony, AI is oblivious to where the rest of the world (you know, those countries outside the US) stands, but this is low even for their standards. Guys, you started doing commercial-scale HSDPA deployments a year ago. The rest of the world's been there for at least 2 years longer.

Back on topic, if this is true, I think it'd be one of the most stupid product differentiations in the whole industry. The practical difference between HSDPA 7.2 and 3.6 is negligible unless you're in direct proximity of the base station (think WiFi advertised vs. real bandwidth) and even if it wasn't, most people wouldn't even care or notice.

[ahmlco]

A "less scratchable matte plastic body?" You mean a non-mirrored iPod/iPhone surface that's NOT a fingerprint magnet? Steve would NEVER let it happen.

[ivan.rnn01]

is they seem to have seriously redesigned the radio. For the better, I should say, regardlessly if they would give me longer battery life or not.

[Jimzip]

I love how with the 1st gen iPhone, apple used this beautiful matte-aluminium for the back face, but once it needed to be mass-produced, plastic took over ... I don't care if it's shiny black, white, or is covered in gold leaf, plastic feels cheap to me, and I love my 1st gen iPhone. Wish they'd go back to that. My guess was that the switch also had something to do with blocking the wifi/telephone signal though, not just price cuts.

Oh and there's no way the camera on the nano would be down the bottom, I've eaten crow here a couple of times (not a word!), but I feel pretty safe saying it'll be at the top-centre if it's there at all. Makes no sense to have to change position just to snap something, plus it looks daaamned ugly being sideways next to the text like that.

Just a thought.

Jimzip

[ulfoaf]

Originally Posted by PG4G

Hmm... right where EVERYONE is going to be holding their ipod from? Stupid. It will be up the top with the screen if it's anywhere.

Impossible to see what you are photographing and push the button .... unless you hold it only by those very, very thin edges! Under the screen makes more sense.

But ...

This might work if you held it upside down while taking a picture. You'd have to hold it by the edges around the video screen with your thumb and two/three fingers so you could see and push the button with the other hand. Just holding my very small Nokia work cellphone, this seems to be workable. You might be able to do it one handed.

[ulfoaf]

Originally Posted by ahmlco

A "less scratchable matte plastic body?" You mean a non-mirrored iPod/iPhone surface that's NOT a fingerprint magnet? Steve would NEVER let it happen.

Silly as it sounds, I know ladies who didn't want an iPhone because of the fingerprints gathering on the touch screen.

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by DGNR8

I miss Apple the Computer Company

You ain't seen nothin yet. Wait til the iTVs arrive- to be followed by the iCameras, iRefrigerators, iAirconditioners etc. But they're all still computers because they'll all sport app widgets running off some sort of OS.

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by sandau

meh, new computer hardware are like toasters anymore.

I forgot the iToaster.

[ulfoaf]

Originally Posted by sziwan

"countries with the most capable wireless networks, like the United States"

Is this a joke? Seriously, I know that in regards to mobile telephony, AI is oblivious to where the rest of the world (you know, those countries outside the US) stands, but this is low even for their standards. Guys, you started doing commercial-scale HSDPA deployments a year ago. The rest of the world's been there for at least 2 years longer.

Back on topic, if this is true, I think it'd be one of the most stupid product differentiations in the whole industry. The practical difference between HSDPA 7.2 and 3.6 is negligible unless you're in direct proximity of the base station (think WiFi advertised vs. real bandwidth) and even if it wasn't, most people wouldn't even care or notice.

I don't know about the state of HSDPA elsewhere, have they implemented beyond the 7.2Mb/s ? By the "rest of the world," I assume you mean Europe. The new iPhone will cover these networks unless they are already above 7.2 Mb/s, which you say is essentially useless. Sounds like there is room for improvement in those networks, and they won't challenge the iPhone's new capacities for awhile. There are plans to push beyond 7.2 in 2010/2011 in the US, I believe, still using HSDPA.

I'd be wary about actually ever actually getting 7.2Mb/s, but I'd expect faster than the 3.6. I think people would notice twice as fast. I usually get 1-1.8Mb/s on my iPhone 3G.

[teckstud]

New Nano sounds great- never liked the current one (though never stated it ). A larger screen sounds much better. Surprised the wheel stays- thought the new shuffle was the wave of the future with no controls.

[melgross]

Originally Posted by PG4G

Yes, but how often do you hold in landscape? Less than 50% of the time. They could put it above with the screen and affect neither.

No logic there.

I don't know. Most pictures are taken in landscape.

[PG4G]

Originally Posted by ulfoaf

I don't know about the state of HSDPA elsewhere, have they implemented beyond the 7.2Mb/s ? By the "rest of the world," I assume you mean Europe. The new iPhone will cover these networks unless they are already above 7.2 Mb/s, which you say is essentially useless. Sounds like there is room for improvement in those networks, and they won't challenge the iPhone's new capacities for awhile. There are plans to push beyond 7.2 in 2010/2011 in the US, I believe, still using HSDPA.

I'd be wary about actually ever actually getting 7.2Mb/s, but I'd expect faster than the 3.6. I think people would notice twice as fast. I usually get 1-1.8Mb/s on my iPhone 3G.

If you read above, you'd see I've mentioned Australia has 14.4Mb/s, and is planning on another round of upgrading soon.

[PG4G]

Originally Posted by melgross

I don't know. Most pictures are taken in landscape.

Even so... would you want to take a photo after putting your greasy fingers all over the lens to play music?

[iVlad]

Originally Posted by ulfoaf

Silly as it sounds, I know ladies who didn't want an iPhone because of the fingerprints gathering on the touch screen.

Are they criminals or something. They can wear gloves you know. That way no one knows.

[iVlad]

New Nano will also have the Shuffle features like the voice and headphones control.

[mrtotes]

I don't buy the camera in the Nano... in the iPod touch I can see it being useful as so many apps could draw from it.... what will you do with the low res photos you snap on your nano? Just about everyone I see with a nano also has a mobile phone with a >2.0Mpx camera on it anyhow, what's the value without the software that the iPhone/iPod touch brings?

[teckstud]

...means there could be hope for a Verizon version perhaps?

[melgross]

Originally Posted by Jimzip

I love how with the 1st gen iPhone, apple used this beautiful matte-aluminium for the back face, but once it needed to be mass-produced, plastic took over ... I don't care if it's shiny black, white, or is covered in gold leaf, plastic feels cheap to me, and I love my 1st gen iPhone. Wish they'd go back to that. My guess was that the switch also had something to do with blocking the wifi/telephone signal though, not just price cuts.

Actually, it's better for the 3G and GPS to have plastic rather than metal.

[melgross]

Originally Posted by PG4G

Even so... would you want to take a photo after putting your greasy fingers all over the lens to play music?

I'm just commenting on the landscape vs vertical position of a camera, or the iPhone, when taking pictures.

Most compact cameras, the ones with those little lenses, have them at the top right side, looking at the front of the camera.

[anantksundaram]

Originally Posted by melgross

I don't know. Most pictures are taken in landscape.

That's an excellent point.

Indeed, I had a nagging suspicion that there was something amiss with folders of iPhone photos and was never able to put my finger on it..... now I know!

[Chris_CA]

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

iLounge is corroborating a recent rumor that has the third-generation iPod nano gaining a point-and-shoot digital camera similar to the one found on the iPhone."

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

You mean fourth-generation iPod nano.