For the dwindling segment of consumers who are either not interested in having an app ecosystem on their music player or for whom raw capacity is the paramount concern, the iPod remains the overwhelming favorite, according to new data provided to AppleInsider.
A video uploaded to the Web on Friday highlights Apple's latest iPod nano in "space gray," the hue that will replace the iPhone 5's "slate" color option for the forthcoming iPhone 5s.
This year's flagship iPhone will no longer come in black and slate, as Apple has instead switched to a lighter shade dubbed "space gray." The same color option is also now available on the iPod touch, iPod nano, and iPod shuffle.
Apple's annual "MFi" conference is currently underway in Shenzhen, China, where the company has informed third-party accessory makers that they will need to meet its supplier code of conduct to sell officially licensed products.
Belkin on Monday announced two new accessories designed for Apple's Lightning connector — the first two official third-party accessories designed for the new iDevice port.
One of the first unauthorized Lightning connector cables from China has been tested and torn apart for a closer look at the cheaply made — but still functional — counterfeit accessory.
Apple announced on Tuesday that sales of its new iPod touch, iPod nano and iPod shuffle have exceeded 3 million since launch.
Apple's latest iPod nano has been pulled apart to reveal a number of anonymous, Apple-branded chips, though NAND flash from Toshiba and a Bluetooth chip with FM radio from Broadcom could be identified.
Apple's new seventh generation iPod nano changes the model's direction from being a square, wearable, audio-only faux-iOS device to being a sort of mini iPod touch, but lacking any cameras, mic, WiFi or apps beyond the typical iPod features bundled with it.
Apple on Thursday rolled out a software update for the seventh-generation iPod nano just days after the first units started shipping from manufacturing plants in China.
As with previous iPods, Apple's newly released fifth-generation iPod touch and seventh-generation iPod nano ship with a special set of headphones that lack integrated controls and do not have a built-in microphone.
Apple is gearing up to begin shipping its latest iPod touch and iPod nano revisions, but supply of the new portable media players is expected to be limited at launch.
Ahead of this week's iPhone 5 launch, third-party adapters for Apple's new Lightning connector have begun to appear online. In addition, the new iPod touch and nano can also be preordered from Amazon.
Pricing for Apple's new iOS device accessories has been revealed, and the Lightning to 30-pin Adapter will cost $29, a Lightning USB cable is $39, and the new EarPods are sold separately for $29.
The redesigned iPod nano has a 2.5-inch multi-touch display and features a tiny home button, just like on larger iOS devices, with integrated Bluetooth and the new smaller Lightning connector.
Apple's online store has gone dark ahead of today's product announcement in California while media gather at Apple's flagship retail store across the country in New York, as excitement builds for the company's next iPhone.
With the name iPhone 5 already hinted at in Apple's invitation to its media event, search results on the company's website now appear to confirm the name of its next-generation iPhone. Also confirmed by the website are the inclusion of LTE 4G support, as well as the debuts of a new iPod touch, iPod nano, and a new version of iTunes.
The new 9-pin dock connector expected to debut with Apple's next iPhone will also cary a higher cost that is projected to push its average selling price up 84.3 percent year over year.
Apple is gearing up for a monster holiday season with a total of 8 new products reportedly set to go on sale, including a new iPhone, a smaller iPad, new iPods and updated Macs.
Along with an anticipated redesigned iPhone, Apple is also rumored to be planning to release two new cases for its next-generation handset, with one of the designs said to have a "major impact on the accessory market."
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Shane Cole
AppleInsider Staff
Neil Hughes
Katie Marsal
Sam Oliver
Daniel Eran Dilger
