Apple 1.2-inch square touchscreen leaks

Apple may be planning a major iPod redesign or another class of device altogether if a discovered part today is an indication. A 1.2-inch square touch display has surfaced at Taiwan's Apple.pro with clear Apple labeling and a thin black frame. It has two connectors; one of these is presumed to attach to a home button, although the button isn't part of the frame here.

Speculation suggests that the display could be used for a replacement of the iPod shuffle. The company's cheapest media player has gone without a screen since birth, but much of the reasoning has been dictated by the need for physical controls that take up valuable space. A very small touchscreen could solve the issue and open up even the smallest player to photos, videos and even apps.

Other options aren't as clear and could see the screen used as a companion display for a Mac or an entirely different device. The Apple connector has a 2009 copyright, but that may only suggest it borrowing older parts or being an early prototype.

by MacNN Staff