iPod supply dwindles as likely Apple event nears
A rumored September 5th special event that would bring new iPods is becoming increasingly likely after checks with multiple sources, AppleInsider has learned.
A verification of the claims from Ars Technica regarding the occasion suggests that Apple has indeed committed to holding the event on the specified date, barring unforeseen circumstances. The presentation is being held on a Wednesday, rather than Apple's habitual Monday or Tuesday, in order to accommodate the Labor Day weekend.
While the list of what would be released at the event is less certain, the report points to at least one new iPod being announced during the event. AppleInsider's own sources maintain that supplies of fifth-generation iPods and iPod nanos have been extremely low or non-existent at high-profile dealers, including Best Buy. This was a strong sign that Apple was clearing channel inventory ahead of completely new replacements, the insiders said.
Recent reports from these sources add that stock of the music players won't be replenished for at least another two weeks, which coincides with the immediate aftermath of the probable Apple event.
And while most of the details of the iPods themselves are unknown, people familiar with the late summer iPod updates claim that as many as four iPod models could be made available within coming weeks, the majority of which would be based on NAND flash memory rather than the hard disks used in fifth-generation models. The direct replacements for the fifth-generation iPod and the iPod nano are said to rely on a heavily modified version of Mac OS X.
Recently, alleged images of the model expected to replace the iPod nano have circulated the web, revealing what appears to be a widened second-generation iPod nano with a larger screen, softer versions of today's nano shell colors, and tapered edges. In most cases, the images have since been pulled at the request of Apple's legal team, though the accuracy of the images is still in dispute.
Investigations into other potential candidates for the September 5th announcements hint at a possible expansion of licenses for iTunes content outside the US, but were unconfirmed as of press time. Apple had promised to deliver movies and other video content to iTunes Stores outside the US sometime in 2007.
A verification of the claims from Ars Technica regarding the occasion suggests that Apple has indeed committed to holding the event on the specified date, barring unforeseen circumstances. The presentation is being held on a Wednesday, rather than Apple's habitual Monday or Tuesday, in order to accommodate the Labor Day weekend.
While the list of what would be released at the event is less certain, the report points to at least one new iPod being announced during the event. AppleInsider's own sources maintain that supplies of fifth-generation iPods and iPod nanos have been extremely low or non-existent at high-profile dealers, including Best Buy. This was a strong sign that Apple was clearing channel inventory ahead of completely new replacements, the insiders said.
Recent reports from these sources add that stock of the music players won't be replenished for at least another two weeks, which coincides with the immediate aftermath of the probable Apple event.
And while most of the details of the iPods themselves are unknown, people familiar with the late summer iPod updates claim that as many as four iPod models could be made available within coming weeks, the majority of which would be based on NAND flash memory rather than the hard disks used in fifth-generation models. The direct replacements for the fifth-generation iPod and the iPod nano are said to rely on a heavily modified version of Mac OS X.
Recently, alleged images of the model expected to replace the iPod nano have circulated the web, revealing what appears to be a widened second-generation iPod nano with a larger screen, softer versions of today's nano shell colors, and tapered edges. In most cases, the images have since been pulled at the request of Apple's legal team, though the accuracy of the images is still in dispute.
Investigations into other potential candidates for the September 5th announcements hint at a possible expansion of licenses for iTunes content outside the US, but were unconfirmed as of press time. Apple had promised to deliver movies and other video content to iTunes Stores outside the US sometime in 2007.
Comments
Am I the only one who thinks there might be a convergence of the iPod and the iPod nano?
Yes.
Sorry to burst your bubble, but the 60GB iPod was discontinued in late 2006, when the 80GB model replaced it. Unless you mistyped.
Am I the only one who thinks there might be a convergence of the iPod and the iPod nano?
Well, if they switch to all flash memory, I wouldn't be as surprised.
I think it would be odd to have 4-8 gig nanos and 8-16 gig iPods even if there is a diffference in screen size...
But I don't think they will drop all of their HDD options. Just don't see it yet.
...Recently, alleged images of the model expected to replace the iPod nano have circulated the web, revealing what appears to be a widened second-generation iPod nano with a larger screen, softer versions of today's nano shell colors, and tapered edges. In most cases, the images have since been pulled at the request of Apple's legal team, though the accuracy of the images is still in dispute....
They seem too "fat" somehow, for a "nano".
Anyone?!
nanos: no change except a price drop perhaps
New flash-based "stubby" iPod video with click-wheel and improved interface (8GB, 16GB)
New "iPod Touch" - flash-based touch-screen design similar to the iPhone, with Wi-Fi. Runs on OS X. (16GB, 32GB) Has the ability to stream content via LAN from your iTunes library, thus acting as a portable Apple TV. The iPhone gets the same streaming feature via an update.
Ultra-portable notebook anyone?...
Anyone?!
There's a greater chance that aliens will spring up from the ground like sunflowers.
This of course is based strictly on the circulating photos...
My prediction:
nanos: no change except a price drop perhaps
New flash-based "stubby" iPod video with click-wheel and improved interface (8GB, 16GB)
New "iPod Touch" - flash-based touch-screen design similar to the iPhone, with Wi-Fi. Runs on OS X. (16GB, 32GB) Has the ability to stream content via LAN from your iTunes library, thus acting as a portable Apple TV. The iPhone gets the same streaming feature via an update.
While agree that the the new Nanos will probably keep the same form factor, there is no way in hell that a Video iPod will have a max 32GB capacity at double the pricepoint of an 80GB HDD iPod. Does that really make sense to you? HDD based devices are not dead! The only way for Apple to make large capacity Video iPods is to use HDDs.
1. The lighting is wrong, check out the shadows and light on the iPod, it is the same iPod cut and rotated (and of course the color has been changed using the Hue slider). Apple does not cut and rotate, and if they did, they certainly wouldn't suck at it. This leads me to believe it is fake.
2. Aesthetically speaking it is a failure of design. Apple doesn't make ugly things.
3. The file on top reads nano-flower.psd @ 100%. .psd as we know is a photoshop file. More proof of an altered image.
4. Why take a photo of a screen? Why not just take a screen capture? "Oh oh, because someone sneaked into apple corporate, and took a picture of a poor iPod flower arrangement with their camera phone!"
5. Apple is all about making statements. Steve always talks about the beauty of his products. He uses anodized aluminum because of how bright he can make the iPods. Why tone them down? It is a poor mistake.
5 1/2. Flowers are synonymous with bright colors, and engaging form. Apple WOULD NOT use a flower pattern to show off toned down iPods. Toned down iPods might be targeted at an older demographic. In this case you wouldn't market using a flower pattern anyway!
Apple's lawyers usually only ask multiple sites to pull down the shots if they're legit. It's not always true that they'll ask if it's real (see the iMac keyboard), but if a C&D notice is sent, you know it's real.
The real question is, was this a work-in-progress file or something else that would make it hard to know if what we were seeing was what we would get?
This isn't a replacement for the nano, just for the iPod. On the left is my idea for a true video iPod.