Apple to give new iPod nano an aluminum makeover?

With some iPod revisions just around the corner -- at least according to the more optimistic rumor mongers among us -- there are new whispers of Apple pulling another design revision reminiscent of their iPod mini to nano transition. This time, though, they're taking it in reverse, and are supposedly outfitting their miniature player in aluminum to combat those scratches and durability problems that the nano was so given to. The aluminum is supposed to even come in various colors just like the mini did (pictured above), but the player is said to retain the same form factor as the nano, along with bumping the storage capacity to 8GB. These rumors are based on AppleInsider "sources," so we really have no way to verify their accuracy, but it seems pretty reasonable that Apple will do something about their players to combat those scratches and the accompanying lawsuits.

[js @ Jul 10th 2006 8:55PM]

That sneaky bastard.

[Larryge @ Jul 10th 2006 8:56PM]

Hey, anyone wanna photoshop a pic of what they think this will look like, i'm having a hard time imagining it....

[Mike @ Jul 10th 2006 8:58PM]

How would they fit all the electronics in if the nano is so slim and the aluminum is so thick?

[BobbyW @ Jul 10th 2006 9:01PM]

The mini was a nice form factor. Its size and shape would have made a nice phone.

[AJ @ Jul 10th 2006 9:25PM]

about time! up until this announcement i had thought that ipod minis were way better than nanos even with their black and white screens, simply due to durability, hopefully the nano will be a little bigger thanks to an aluminum shell cause i think nanos are too small.

[bliss @ Jul 10th 2006 9:43PM]

I think this is a great idea... it would certainly address all the fingerprint/smudge issues. OR, Apple could apply some nice scratch proof coating.

[Tuolumne @ Jul 10th 2006 9:59PM]

So in other words, all Apple is doing is outfitting the Nano with an aluminum body to compete wiht the magnesium alloy scratch resistant body of the Samsung Z5?

[@ @ Jul 10th 2006 10:01PM]

The nano's size will remain the same, if not become smaller. It is the perfect companion to joggers and cyclists due to its small form, unlike the mini.

I think that apple will use harder plastics and give the metal backing a matte or brushed finish. Perharps the use of glass might come into play.

[Jedediah Johnson @ Jul 10th 2006 10:04PM]

Well the Mini was one of their most popular iPod additions. I personally loved the sturdy feel and nice look of the Mini. I look forward to this rumor if true.

[bitshitter @ Jul 10th 2006 10:05PM]

I always wondered why the iPods (full sized & nanos) were made of such soft, scratchable plastic, anyway - it can't be because Apple wants everybody to have to buy new ipods every 1 to 1.5 years, because third party skins and cases basically kill that. And there's been far more durable, scratch-resistant polycarbonate plastics out there that are just as smooth, glossy and high quality as the ipods' plastic: the Sandisk Sansa is one example.

Of course, anodized aluminum takes it one step further....

[cycomachead @ Jul 10th 2006 10:07PM]

was dat Steve????
if so would he put his site as Apple

[cycomachead @ Jul 10th 2006 10:08PM]

BTW if it was e-mail me

[daschupa @ Jul 10th 2006 10:30PM]

How thin would that have to be. Sounds like they'd have more lawsuits about dents.

Anyhoo, I don't like the tin can look so I hope it's fake, I just want a harder plastic and video support (though watching a video on a screen that size might give me headaches)

[AUA @ Jul 10th 2006 10:32PM]

Does Apple pay you guys for this??

[jbulava @ Jul 10th 2006 10:36PM]

Here's your quick Photoshop rendering...

http://www.jonbulava.com/ref/iPodmini-nano.jpg

[Vincent Cotton @ Jul 10th 2006 10:41PM]

They need to check out liquidmetal. That stuff is supposed to be pretty durable.

[luis @ Jul 10th 2006 10:44PM]

That's hot. It's a good look if you're right.

[Finished.Law.School @ Jul 10th 2006 11:13PM]

I'll buy one if I can also buy a microphone to record lectures with it...

[tr @ Jul 10th 2006 11:44PM]

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carry on...

[Dull @ Jul 10th 2006 11:46PM]

I always liked the Mini look, it has a nice feel to it. Now if they added a color screen and increased the memory size I would consider it.

[Rick Person @ Jul 10th 2006 11:55PM]

How about a slightly textured finish from carbon-fiber resin. Durable, light, and scratch resistant.

[Dan @ Jul 11th 2006 12:18AM]

this is why you just dont buy anything from the hypocrites @ Apple! yes, apple is hypocritical in everything they do/advertise down to using "lame PC" components in their "OMFG THEYRE AMAZING" macs

[tiuk @ Jul 11th 2006 12:41AM]

Ever since they killed off the Mini I've been saying how the anodized aluminum was the best material they'd ever used. It'd be awesome to see it make a comeback.

[diulei @ Jul 11th 2006 1:03AM]

I'm pretty sure the Al enclosures will come back. It exists on so many other Apple products (PowerMac, MBP, Mac Mini, Displays...)

[Keith L. Dick @ Jul 11th 2006 1:43AM]

I guess if it is Broke, you might as well fix it...

hehehe...

[jbstingray @ Jul 11th 2006 1:54AM]

Mmmmm, tasty...

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a348/jbstingray/ipodnano.jpg
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a348/jbstingray/mockup.jpg

That'll do just fine for me. I love my black nano, but my old mini is screaming for a friend...

[Richie @ Jul 11th 2006 2:14AM]

Hmm,seems nice..Maybe I'll buy one

[Daveoc64 @ Jul 11th 2006 6:18AM]

Now that is good jbstingray

[Ben Gold @ Jul 11th 2006 6:35AM]

their sources are Prince McLean's ass

[Frank Reinders @ Jul 11th 2006 6:57AM]

Here's my impression. A little bit different...:

[url]http://forum.macosx.nl/album_pic.php?pic_id=15065[/url]

[Pav @ Jul 11th 2006 8:20AM]

I sure hope that the nano actually does increase in size. I missed mine one time going through the pockets in some shorts, and through the washer it went, and died. Back to my trusty old mini until the next gen comes out. If nano's smaller, I'll just move up to the full size I suppose.

[Pete Avila J.r. @ Jul 11th 2006 8:55AM]

Fuck that! Sorry for my language. But Im tired of buying Ipod after Ipod! Im just gonna wait on the TRUE video Ipod to arrive in the 4th quarter of this year! After that Im putting my foot down. I dont care if they make one that shoots lasers or can make you fly. NO MORE!

[Swimmer @ Jul 11th 2006 9:17AM]

The only thing i didn't like about the desing of the mini was that I thought it was too toyish, and the colors (except silver) and white clickwheel were on the feminine side. No problem for the any women, but I'd like to see darker colors in addition to the lighter colors.

[Galley @ Jul 11th 2006 9:19AM]

I would be all over one of those nanos that jbstingray made!

[tAjh @ Jul 11th 2006 9:38AM]

hmmm, everyone's mockups seem to be round like the mini, do we know for sure it will be like that, maybe there will be two alluinum sides, one not painted and the top one painted for color options....

[Jeff @ Jul 11th 2006 10:04AM]

"do we know for sure it will be like that, maybe there will be two alluinum sides, one not painted and the top one painted for color options...."

The mini was not "painted". That's kinda half the point of anodized aluminum. The color is actually part of the aluminum. It's not going to rub off or wear off.

There would be zero point in making half the mini one color and the other half plain aluminum. That would actually cost Apple *more* (since they're still anodizing both sides, they're just running two production lines per unit) and it would be uglier.

btw, I think this story is way more significant than the MS Argo of yesterday, if for no other reason than the new nano will outsell the Argo by about 100 to 1.

[Michael @ Jul 11th 2006 10:20AM]

I really like my 5G ipod, but I have to say that after only owning it for 6 months the screen is scratched like hell. The rest of it has had a silicon case around it, but I'd love to be able to use it without any case. So maybe if the nano does change, those changes will trickle up to the full size.

[Jimbob @ Jul 11th 2006 11:03AM]

liked the mini - be cool to have one in aluminium again :)

[Norm @ Jul 11th 2006 12:08PM]

At last! I've been holding off on upgrading my old mini, waiting for a new one of metal!

[Krista @ Jul 11th 2006 12:29PM]

Yes!!! I hope these rumors are true because I've been hanging onto my 6GB mini in the hopes that Apple would wise up and produce an 8GB Nano. (Plus, I'll admit, I dig having a blue iPod.)

[Joe @ Jul 11th 2006 12:42PM]

I dont know what the big fuss is about, scratches are scratches, as long as you can see the screen and play music it should be fine. If you are that conserned about scratches, get a nice case. Luckily, i dont need a case because my ipod nano (that i hav had for roughly a month) hasnt scratched yet and its in my pocket all the time.

[Mambo @ Jul 11th 2006 1:55PM]

PHOTOSHOP MOCKUP:
http://img414.imageshack.us/img414/387/toughnano7os.png

I doubt it would be very different (see above!)

[jbstingray @ Jul 11th 2006 10:45PM]

How about... no.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a348/jbstingray/ipodnano.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a348/jbstingray/Picture9.png

That is all.

[macona @ Jul 18th 2006 2:32PM]

Hmmm.. Dont think they will go with rounded edges like the mockups. Betting they will keep the same dimensions as the current nano. Just hope they drop the pastels and I am sure they will have black. After all First there was the black nano, then black ipod, and finally a black macbook. Cant imagine they would go back.

[Victor @ Jul 18th 2006 3:01PM]

There's no point in using the same design as the iPod mini, if you're just concerned about scratches, get your grubby mitts on a proper, cool skin. If apple drops an all-new iPod nano design, it gotta be different...

[Ralph Wiggum @ Sep 4th 2006 1:52PM]

At last! I love my mini....... but I have really delayed geting a newer, better iPod because I just love the mini's aluminum body. If this comes true it will be great, everything I love about the mini plus a color screen and smaller body size....