08/07/2008, 10:40am, EDT
Thursday, August 7th
'iPhone nano' rumor supported by accessory maker?
Rumors of an impending "iPhone nano" announcement may have some validity to them, new patent information may suggest. Digital Lifestyle Outfitters, known for its iPod and full-sized iPhone accessories, has recently had a patent application published for a new dock, meant to support a "telephonic portable digital media storage and playback device."
Notably, the player depicted in the patent somewhat resembles the dimensions of the third-generation iPod nano or the iPod classic, but with dialing buttons lain over top of the clickwheel. The patent could merely be outdated, as it was first submitted in 2006, when the design of the standard iPhone was unknown to the public; at the same time however, Apple has often given sneak peeks to prospective hardware makers, and DLO does not have an iPhone dock that closely resembles the patent model. Companies are also free to update patents over time.
While some reports have suggested that an iPhone nano could ship as soon as the Christmas season, most analysts believe that if one is in development, it will only arrive sometime in 2009.
Filed under: iPhone, Apple
Other story tags: patents, iPod nano, DLO, iPod classic
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tiny buttons...
... I said "tiny" not "shiny"!
Doubtful
Didn't Apple patent a clickwheel with buttons on it in the past? I disbelieve this iNano rumor altogether.
No multi touch
without a touch screen...
Maybe a good thing, maybe a bad. But those buttons are going to be horrible to use.
Apple don't like people with big fingers.
fat boyz nano...
...many may buy an iphone for the holidayz with a 3 year commitment, then perhaps the trickle down begins...?
That's just stupid.
Apple isn't going to put something as useless as that tiny interface. Is this a phone for 5 year olds? Who else could use something so small. Totally impractical and unlikely.