iPhone Nano rumors surface once again

Could the case on the right be slated for the fabled iPhone Nano?

(Credit: iDealsChina)

With less than a month to go before Macworld, the rumors have started, and they sound familiar.

The possibility of an iPhone Nano has once again been served up for mass consumption by the Apple rumor mill, this time courtesy of a Web site called iDealsChina. The site claims that Apple accessory maker XSKN has been developing a case for a new version of the iPhone that is shorter and thicker than the iPhone 3G and that will be announced at Macworld in January.

MacRumors.com, which attempts to handicap the Apple rumor industry, notes that iDealsChina "has a very mixed track record" when it comes to reading the Apple tea leaves. The site did publish photos of case designs for what became the iPhone 3G, but incorrectly predicted that the second-generation iPod Touch would have GPS.

iPhone Nano rumors date back to the launch of the original iPhone, when a financial analyst predicted that Apple would have a slimmed-down version of the iPhone out for the 2007 holiday season. That obviously didn't happen, and other reports this summer and more recent speculation about a $99 4GB iPhone to be sold at Wal-Mart have kept the rumor alive.

[Mr. Dee]

Macrumors debunks this one with great flare. It can't happen, since it would make existing applications for the iPhone incompatible because of the current devices screen requirements.

What I can expect from the iPhone in the future is the following:
- Increase in storage capacity
- More open access to the App Store for third party developers (no banning of specific applications)
- Lower price

Speaking of price, Apple needs to talk to the carrier in Jamaica W.I. for the iPhone (CLARO), they are overcharging for it on their network. The phone cost JA $70,000 (US $909) plus a JA $10,000 (US $129) minimum plan.

For a developing country that is just ridiculous. US $1 equals JA $77. They need to look at market economics, the iPhone will never catch on at that ridiculous price, its more expensive than the Blackberry bold which retails for JA $47,000. The iPhone is a consumer smart phone/device, how can they be selling it for more than a enterprise class device?

Apple, you need to better regulate your products. When I saw the price, I said to myself, I will gladly stick with my Motorola E398.

[weeman17]

Dang man that has has got to stink. at least you guys can get the i-phone. AT&T is the only choice in America. I am t-mobile and t-mobile is cheaper.

[Mr. Dee]

If I desperately need it, I could try getting it from a Third Party unlocked for JA $35,000 (US $454) which is still very expensive. Then again, I wouldn't get some of the services to work if I were to use it on another network such as Digicel or LIME. I could buy a SIM of course from CLARO, but the monthly plan is too restrictive...and expensive, I currently use pay as you go on Digicel and LIME. Anyway, I even hear some of the services such as the App Store and iTunes don't even work on CLARO since the 3G role out is still in progress. CLARO, you are off to an awful start in Jamaica.

[petersadosky]

Pretty sure Jamaica isn't at the top of Apple's priorities. With just over three million people, it's not a very important country.

[make_or_break]

Whoa...really going out on limb with those expectations, aren't you?

The aspect of a cheaper iPhone nano is not so unreasonable to me; not everyone wants (or can afford) a full data plan every month. If Apple delivers on a convergent device that has basic phone capability plus some of the sweetness of the the App store on top of nano-like media operations, I'd wager that it would make the iPhone properties even STRONGER, especially for younger tykes that the average Mom and Dad would normally gag at the hefty monthly rates associated with the current iPhone.

[cchenoweth6]

Ok, I'll bite.. what does it matter if the screen is smaller as long as the resolution is the same or larger?

[rapier1]

Size matters. If you had your choice which would you rather have a 12" LCD with 1024i or a 50" LCD with 1024i?

Even on handheld products the size of the screen is important in seeing details, text, and so forth.

[whizkid454]

@rapier:

Screens don't come at a 1024i resolution...

[Nik00]

Agree! A smaller screen with the same resolution will look better..
If you compare the current smartphones (Windows Mobile) with 240x320 display?s to PPC device with larger displays and the same resolution 240x320, you?ll notice the huge difference in quality pixel packing enables.. so if Apple manages to keep the same res (320x480) in a smaller form factor the screen will look much better.

nb. Apple could easily pull this off as theirs many higher res 480 x 640 small screen (by Samsung, LG .etc) devices in Japan.

nb2. In reply to the 50" LCD remark. The quality of any display is not dependent on the resolution alone, but also the density (refresh rate .etc) of those pixels. So a large 10 foot screen with 1080p wont be as good as a 1080p pixel packed screen..
.

[pjhenry1216]

Yes, a smaller screen would be so much better because typing on even smaller keys would just be an exceptional exercise...

...in futility maybe.

I got the iPhone 3g and I have to say that if anything was smaller, a stylus would become required. Screen size isn't just about looks when it comes to touch screens...

[Penguinisto]

@rapier: You mean 1080i?

[weeman17]

Nano makes no since. If anything, apple should be talking to other carriers to use the i-phone. Next time do not set up single contracts unless you want to tick people off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[sting7k]

I have no idea what the point of a nano iPhone would be. Why would you want a smaller screen as your only imput medium? Just doesn't make sense, if anything Apple will keep the current model and drop the price and introduce an iPhone HD or something with a bigger screen and higher resolution. Making a smaller screen doesn't make any sense on a touch screen device.

[abundantsnotbob]

I have an iPod touch and very fat fingers. I think they should make a bigger iphone/ipod touch for bigger people who don't complain about things being too big. I don't know of anyone who complained about portable CD players being to big to carry around. I think they should make a model that is twice as big in screen size, and would still be very pocketable and appeal to us fat-fingered Americans.

Maybe apple is trying to get people to buy their kids with small hands an iphone (I doubt it.)

[davidsmi]

Screen size might matter too apps if they don't use the APIs to get the screen size. Lots of people would like a smaller phone - smaller is often cooler (that's why the Razr did so well).

I could imagine the market for a nano - you could also go bigger and you have an ebook reader.

[ashwinkn]

They can shrink the screen to about 2.8" without impeding usability too much. As long as the resolution is the same, most apps would be fine. Most of the cuts would come from removing GPS and WiFi, along with the smaller battery this would need. It would probably be priced around the same as the iPod nano.

[pjhenry1216]

Keys would be too small on the nano. Decreasing the size of a touch screen where people had already complained about the keyboard makes absolutely no sense. The only way a smaller screen would be possible is if it cut down the resolution as well so everything is still the same size, however that would effect video AND apps.

A nano doesn't make much sense. Visually too much would break and the usability would degrade significantly. It'd be more prone to pushing the wrong button, etc. Only way it'd be remotely possible is with a stylus or a clickable screen (like the storm) where you can see what you have highlighted before you click.

[myles taylor]

You know, I don't think Apple is going to do this. Steve Jobs made it clear in his last speech and he used the analogy of Babe Ruth. Of course, Steve has been known to use misdirection before, but you know how that is. I don't think they will do it though. Apple has been very successful with their single product and they don't need to diversify at this time. Maybe someday, but not right now.

[Shaun822]

The only way the nano would work would be if you only keyed in the landscape mode, something the current iPhone doesn't do for e-mail without a third party app.

[davisiii]

Even though we have 2 Macbooks and 3 ipods in my house, I still cannot justify the expense of the iphone, or I should say the required data plan. Potential customers of a $99 iphone (or a potential iphone nano) have to understand that this is a $360 investment, regardless of the hardware price.

[ggirton]

You can get an iPod Touch and not pay data fees. You will love it, I guarantee.

[SpiritWater]

Oh please no. A flip phone with the ability to view items horizontally would be awesome. Two screen on each side of the fold so you have half a keyboard on each side. Keep it 3G with a 5MP camera and good flash light. 8Gb of flash RAM and we're set.


Break the Wedge!
www.breakthewedge.com

I must agree that this is most asute.

[Zeeshan47]

That is the silliest idea I have ever heard. What would be the point? They're selling iPhones like hotcakes at the 199/299 price point, and a nano version would either have to be cheaper, diminishing the brand, or lose functionality(which it already would by reducing screen size). With the iPod nano, the consumer had the choice of an extremely compact player with flash memory, which served well for a certain market(trendy youth as well as the exercise crowd), while trading off the bigger screen size and capacity. What incentive would there be for people to get an iPhone nano? Pretty much none, unless they start handing these out for free. People like the iPhone and are willing to pay for functionality and size. 'Nuff said. I'm disappointed that someone would actually buy this bull.

[bigstan2099]

I own an IPHONE 3G and love it. I would prob buy a nano phone. Sweeeeet

[mahurshi]

Instead of reducing the screen size, they can reduce the black portions at the top and bottom of the device (for the mic/earphones). That'd definitely make it look much cooler.

[jpsalerno]

Though I doubt this is in the works... Why is it so inconceivable? To the poster that said all of the apps in the app store would be rendered usless... come on! Resolution/screen size is all relative. That's like saying you could ONLY play an Xbox 360 game on a... I don't know... 46" size screen with a 1080 resolution. Sure, some apps wouldn't look as good... or be nearly as functional on a smaller screen... so, like anything else in life, buyer beware.

Now as far as how this COULD work... Apple could keep all of the buttons the same size and simply lessen the amount that are on the screen/page. ie. instead of a 16 squares maybe there's... 9

How would this effect other aspects of the device (like dialing and typing)? Well... for those with an iphone... go ahead and punch up the dial pad or keyboard and ask yourself if it's theoretically possible to condense things into a smaller screen. Before the iphone, we were all cramming our digits into increasingly smaller devices... so it's not outside the realm of possibility. The dialpad on the iphone is amongst the largest.. if not THE largest EVER on a phone. I mean hell.. it's about the size of a landline phone circa 1985 so don't compare it to that.

In short... I think it's doable and wouldn't be nearly as hard to use as people seem to think. But would/will they make it? Doubt it... Where's the market? Are people really clammoring for a smaller iphone? If they are I'm not hearing it. For a phone with so much to offer... it's ideal to have a pretty decent sized screen and what not.

But alas... this has been Apple's model for years so it wouldn't be too surprising. Look at the ipod and the various versions that followed.

[darkcobra]

Well so far there's been a great discussion about the perils of downsizing the screen which I also think would be a blunder. However, I'm wondering about the battery size. The current Ipod is just barely making it through a day of significant use. An even smaller Ipod of Nano size just doesn't seem like a good idea from a power management standpoint. Frankly, I don't hear many complaints about the Ipod being too big. But I sure hear a lot about it not having enough horsepower. Give it more power, more video capability, cut & paste, more volume, better camera, and things that are being asked for instead of solving a problem that doesn't really exist (size).

[make_or_break]

Everyone seems to assume that a iPhone 'nano' would necessarily have the SAME capabilities as the flagship iPhone. Why? Not everyone needs or even wants a full-on smartphone; certainly many don't want the monthly bills associated with them. Apple doesn't have to have a mini version of the current iPhone; they could well address a lower-expectation marketplace with a nano version...where's the blunder in that?

[dnazboy]

If Apple truly creates this nano thing I'm going to be so pissed. Why can't they worry about more important things like the frustrating screen and availability across different carriers.

[zcollvee]

there is no use for this. iphone are already good selling devices. apple would be dumb to put this out

[NorthernSun]

I want the iPhone to get a better screen for typing. The landscape keyboard is ok, but the portrait view texting keyboard isn't good because I have really big thumbs...