View this article at: http://www.electronista.com/articles/09/07/06/ipod.camera.order.leak/
Monday, Jul 06, 2009 8:15am
Apple ordering cameras for "all" iPods?
Apple has been ordering enough camera sensors that every iPod except for the shuffle could have a camera with its next update, Asian sources claim. The American company is believed to be ordering cellphone-quality units worth about $10 but in too large numbers to simply apply to iPhone orders. Which models would get the update aren't specified by TechCrunch, but it's speculated that more than one iPod model would have to be covered given the sheer numbers.

The assertion supports rumors of camera-equipped iPod nano and iPod touch updates and arrives just as cases have appeared for "iPod nano 5" and "iPod touch 3" on DealExtreme, each of which shows a conspicuous hole on the back that would logically fit a camera. No such cases have appeared for the iPod classic, suggesting that if it remains in the lineup it will go without the extra features.

Such leaks have been historically very questionable, but the iPod nano case also supports incidental claims that have a larger, taller screen arriving on the music player in addition to the camera. Apple has also made job postings that, until edited, looked for engineers to develop cameras for both iPhones and iPods.

Any introduction of a camera is likely to have a significant impact on the Internet photo and video markets. Just the addition of video in the iPhone 3GS has triggered a quadrupling of YouTube uploads from phones, while the iPhone's inclusion of a camera has regularly made it one of the most popular cameraphones on Flickr since its debut in 2007. The iPod nano is only likely to have a still camera due to interface and processor concerns but could potentially disrupt entry-level compact cameras; if the iPod touch includes video, however, it could affect sales of pocket camcorders like the Flip Ultra HD that have HD recording at a similar price but lack Internet sharing and on-device editing.