Neil Hughes
Shaw Wu with Kaufman Bros. issued a note to investors Thursday in which he said one potential surprise from Apple could be a redesigned iPod nano with a smaller form factor and no click wheel. Wu said sources have indicated that Apple has procurement plans for a redesigned iPod nano.
"We frankly are not sure if this model will see the light of day," Wu said. "But this would be a big departure from the design it has had since 2005 when it replaced the iPod mini. From our take, a radical refresh may make sense to jumpstart what was once its top-selling iPod."
He also noted that the image of an acoustic guitar in Apple's invitation to its Sept. 1 event may suggest that the rumored Apple TV update will not be a part of the event. Wu does not believe a new Apple TV will be announced, though he added that the Cupertino, Calif., company "may surprise." But the guitar image in the invitation, coupled with the timing of the event earlier in September than usual, seem to indicate otherwise.
"We find the timing somewhat curious and a little earlier than usual," Wu said. "Historically, AAPL has held these events after Labor Day and sometimes as late as October. Because of the timing and the image on the invite, we would be surprised if a new Apple TV is announced at this event."
He continued: "But then again, AAPL is known to surprise."
The analyst has also heard from sources that Apple will introduce a new iPod touch with most of the features found in the iPhone 4, including a faster processor, high-resolution retina display, video recording, and a forward facing camera for FaceTime video chat.
Apple is also expected to offer a new low-end $199 model with limited storage and the same feature set as last year's iPod touch. This would replace the current entry level model, he said.
Apple sent out invitations on Wednesday for its "special event" on Sept. 1 in San Francisco, Calif. The Wednesday event will begin at 10 a.m. Pacific Time, 1 p.m. Eastern, and will be held at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. AppleInsider will have full live coverage.
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61 Comments
Sweet, I can see my album artwork even clearer now with retina display! And of course they'll introduce a camera for Face Time on the Touch, that would have been great last year, but then you'd cannibalize the iPhone 4 (since it only works over Wi-Fi)! I love the Apple innovation cycle!
I think Apple needs to combine the click wheel and touch screen, and draw a virtual click wheel on the screen only when it's needed. It would allow for a smaller overall package with the same (or bigger) screen size.
And I don't think there will be a new Apple TV device. Maybe existing devices will get a software update, but probably just an incremental improvement. Nothing as radical as iOS on Apple TV. Not yet. That would be important enough to require its own media event.
Ahhhh, so that's what that tiny 2" touch screen shown a couple months ago is for.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Anything smaller than 3" diagonal is waaaay to small
For a touch screen.
I think Apple needs to combine the click wheel and touch screen, and draw a virtual click wheel on the screen only when it's needed. It would allow for a smaller overall package with the same (or bigger) screen size.
Although an interesting idea, I think that if you had a virtual wheel drawn on the screen, your finger on the screen would block parts of it making selection and menus harder to use. If it were to go click wheel-less (I don't see it happening, as it has been such an Apple icon, and they have had a fun time defending that patent) I'm sure they could do something interesting.
BTW, people are asking to go back to the square "Fatty" iPod Nano? I remember back in the day when the square iPod nano came out and most people hated the idea of the design.
My guess, Apple includes buttons/touch on the sides or back of the device (I remember seeing a patent fly though here once about that) and keeps a long candy bar shape.