iPhone Nano cases appear online

Does XSKN's product listing for an iPhone Nano case mean such a device is around the corner?

(Credit: XSKN)

Has a rogue case manufacturer once again jumped the gun on an Apple iPhone announcement?

XSKN has a section of its Web site that promises an "iPhone Nano" case alongside cases for the iPhone 3G and the first-generation iPhone, as noted by MacRumors. Earlier this month a Chinese Web site called iDealsChina reported that XSKN was working on a case for a purported iPhone Nano that is supposedly shorter and thicker than the iPhone 3G.

It still seems a stretch that Apple would be gearing up to release such a device, given the screen size on an iPhone Nano would make typing a chore and could present problems for developers who designed applications with a different screen size in mind. These rumors are not new, however, and it has always seems evident that Apple planned to roll out a family of iPhones over time.

An iPhone Nano certainly would give Macworld 2009 a bit of a boost. XSKN prematurely revealed its case designs for the iPhone 3G before that device made its debut in June, so they've at least got a track record of scooping Apple. At the moment, the link on their site for the iPhone Nano case is generating errors, and it may not be long before it disappears entirely.

[whizkid454]

Yep. The site is down as of 2PM Eastern.

[BruinGuy]

Ho hum. The G2 will be the big seller in 2009. Why does the press jump 10 feet when Apple belches?

[ibeetle]

You wish. Even if the G2 sales were 5 times that of the iPhone it would be over 5 million short of what Apple is projecting to sell in '09; and that is even with Apple projecting a drop in sales due to the down turn in the economy and expected poor economy in 2009.

If you go into a Mall and ask 50 people what G2, a Google phone, or Android is you will get 50 blank stares. If you ask what a iPhone is you will get 50 people who will tell that they not only know what one is, but either want one or already have one.

Outside of the tech world and a handful of geeks nobody knows (or really cares) what G2 is.

[BruinGuy]

A little over a year ago no one had heard of the iPhone either. Except for the press who jump when Apple defalcates. Projections from the pros, not the fanboys, is because all of the major phone companies will have Android phones next year, some of them more than one, that by end of Q4 2009 there will be more Android phones sold than all of the iPhones combined.

Remember that iPhone, as a phone, isn't even a blimp on the phone world. Nokia sells more phones every day than all of the iPhones sold in the first year. The only place the iPhone is popular is with the smart phone crowd. Apple's draconian and almost fascist handling of the App Store will be it's death.

[cnet.aaron]

It's true that Nokia sells several million more phones than Apple, but it's important to take note of one simple fact when comparing the two. Apple only sells one phone. Nokia currently lists 47 models available in North America on their site. So of course, with their broader selection of units in different categories, they are going to sell more phones.

But when you look at sales of the iPhone next to any of the major smartphone manufacturers, Apple is right up there at the top. The App Store is a slam dunk, and your assessment of their approval policy is short sighted at best. The fact of the matter is that app denials have been few and far between. In addition, Apple has shown a willingness to reevaluate their policies when their customers are vocal about an issue.

Android will make it's place in the mobile world, and I expect it to be a major player. But personally, I currently liken it's presence more to that of Linux, with many different hardware flavors. Eventually those will mature, but one thing that Apple understands is that it's not about the capabilities. Every handset will take pictures, surf the web and read email, but only an iPhone will give you that signature ease of use and consistent Apple user experience.

[BruinGuy]

I will grant you that Apple does make the best "hardware on training wheels." They make feature bland equipment from top to bottom for those that are technology challenged. And, for the masses that's probably going to sell. But an Android phone that is just as easy to use, selling at around the $100 mark will be a big hit. I predict it will become a big hit if for no other reason than it will become available on Verizon. Apple's big mistake in the U.S. was the choice of AT&T, a phone company no one would choose on purpose.

BTW, a correction. Nokia sells over a million phones PER DAY. That's about 300 times more phones than Apple. And, it's because of Apple's narrow product line that they'll end up number 2 in the smart phone arena. Consumer's want choices (if you don't believe me just browse the flat screen TV aisle in Best Buy) and Apple's lack of choices in phones will eventually bore even the technology challenged core of Apple's customer base.

[phrozted]

So I've read all of your comments so far. It's fairly obvious that you're in no mood to listen to anything but the sound of your own infinitely annoying echo. First of all, the iPhone is by no means small potatoes in the phone world, especially not in the domestic market. It's the best-selling phone in the United States. But I get the sense that this isn't about sales. You very clearly have an axe to grind with Apple. Have you forgotten that the G2 is one of the ugliest handsets the phone industry has barfed up since car phones? That's right, some of us expect technology to look good--no doubt a foreign concept to someone so clearly addicted to the masochistic machinery, software or otherwise, put out by Apple's second-rate competitors. What you call software on "training wheels" the rest of us call "intuitive," or barring that "usable." The vast majority of users couldn't care less about Apple's hard line on software development, which only affects the odd sour techie whose open-source XML editor wasn't deemed sexy enough. Apple has every reason to approve anything consumers want to buy--meaning you're complaining on behalf of a marginal subclass of geeks and dweebs who none of us loses sleep over. Yet you inexplicably expect that they somehow represent a disproportionately high profit margin. Face it: fascist or not, Apple makes the trains run on time, and with a lot more style than the companies you're rooting for.

[goodspeed8701]

The iphone is not too big!! What do i need a nano for? Oh wait... i dont even digg the iphone.

[cheman211]

I was able to get through. Pictures are on the site. nano version looks like a shorter version of the iphone. Skins come in various color combinations priced at $24.95

[whizkid454]

It's back up. But the server is busy. I wonder why..... =)

[random truth]

Hmm, Its thicker. Could that mean a slide out keyboard?

[ikramerica--2008]

It may be thicker in order to fit the same capacity battery, since I would imagine that any Nano would be using the current technology in the 3G iphone, and need the same power, while an updated full size iPhone would have more memory and the faster chips from the iPod Touch, at minimum.

A 3" screen and 2/3rds form factor would work for me. One complaint I have had about the iphone is that it is cumbersome in the front pocket and it is limited to 16GB. But if there were a smaller one, I would buy the 8GB version and then replace it when a 32GB nano came out in a year or so?

[Vegaman_Dan]

How would a cheaper Nano affect iPhone sales? If an iPhone is $199, then you'd have to offer the Nano at a much lower price to make the price difference noticable and that may adversely affect sales of the iPhone.

I don't think it's a good choice but time will tell.

[renGek]

Does this mean they are basically saying "yeah nobody gives a crap about watching anything for more than 20 minutes on an iPhone so we're just going to scrunch it down even more anyway but you're still going to pay for all the parts we put in for video".

I don't think I have met one single person who watches movies regularly with an iPhone unless they have bionic eyes.

[jerrybrace]

The iPhone Nano is a knock off from China: http://www.uberphones.com/2008/11/others/iphone_nano_from_china/

This is a non-story people.

[jerrybrace]

Also ironically this iPhone clone was reported in a CNET article already: http://asia.cnet.com/blogs/hktechphooey/post.htm?id=63007611

[crsdoc]

Defalcates? If you use a word to create an air of knowledge, check you dictionary first.