AppleInsider Staff
You can catch the references over at the website of XSKN, the same company reportedly behind the iPhone nano casing that drew much attention last week when renderings of the supposed product were published by iDealsChina.
XSKN doesn't yet list any product offerings under its iPhone nano category, though the case maker was recognized earlier this year (1, 2) when it began selling protective holders for both the iPhone 3G and fourth-generation iPod nano before those two products were publicly unveiled by Apple.
It's unclear whether XSKN is privy to knowledge of Apple's future product plans.
Last week iDealsChina claimed that Apple would introduce an iPhone nano during next month's Macworld Expo, though the hype surrounding the rumor quickly fizzled when Apple announced that Steve Jobs would not be making his traditional keynote address at the conference.
William Gallagher
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Malcolm Owen
40 Comments
I suppose it's possible that some factory workers talked to some other factory workers who would know about such a thing, but it's more likely some knockoff design only sold in China.
I'm torn on this. Accessory makers are usually given advanced notification of a new device so there can be accessories available upon launch. However, this company doesn't seem to be be one of those Apple would trust.
got an ipod case from them ages ago, haven't been on their site for many years and it's still crap. one of the most unfriendly sites on the net.
I think the moral of this story is that if you're a case-maker and want to drum up business for your site, just put a dead link to a rumored Apple product on the page for a little awhile. Whether or not it's true, that company is probably making out well because of the posting.
Why would Apple do this? The smartphone market is lucrative, but the regular cellphone market is cutthroat and low-margin.