Surprise! Apple to refresh iPod nano / touch, make tons of iPhones

Analysts love to come up with all sorts of conjecture based on history, numbers, and general guesswork. In this case, FBR Research analyst Craig Berger has a few predictions to give us regarding the future of Apple's iPod and iPhone lines. We'll keep them short and sweet here and leave the static mulling to you. First, he expects an updated, lower-priced iPod nano in the near future along with product refreshes for both the iPod classic and touch. That sounds about right, as Apple is almost due for updates of those products anyway. As far as Apple's production rate, he says Apple has increased iPod production around 15 percent and sees Apple shipping 15 million iPhone 3G by the end of the year (he's a big fan of the number "15"). Nothing really surprising here, but if all this pans out, Apple will dig deeper into the smart phone market while tightening its stranglehold on the PMP landscape.

[Joseph @ Jun 29th 2008 12:14AM]

This just in:

Analysts report that Apple will come out with new products.

really? How much do these analysts get paid; i want their job.

[GadgetTamer @ Jun 29th 2008 1:14AM]

They probably get paid alot for pointing out obvius stuff.

Analyst: GadgetTamer can't spell.
Boss: Here have a raise, i don't think anyone els noticed that!!
Analyst: Really a raise? It's about time!

[bohsocks @ Jun 29th 2008 1:29AM]

In other news:

Sun to rise in the east at dawn tomorrow.

[MrFairladyz @ Jun 29th 2008 1:35AM]

this guys says he gets $15 mil/ year. thats what im talkin about.

theories for ipod touch update:

1.camera!!! (that would be freakin sweet, but not gonna happen)
2. visual change( like the iphone did) or maybe the trim around the screen will be different also probably not gonna happen.
3.maybe just the 2.0 software update (probably)
4. $50 price raise (better not, or i will lose much respect for apple.) jk lol id still pay 350 (no i wouldntz)

[Vidit Bhargava @ Jun 29th 2008 2:04AM]

so...whats the surprise about???

[phrozunsun @ Jun 29th 2008 11:51AM]

“I want to get a job as someone who names kitchen appliances. Toaster, refrigerator, blender.... all you do is say what the shit does, and add "er". I wanna work for the Kitchen Appliance Naming Institute. Hey, what does that do? It keeps shit fresh. Well, that's a fresher....I'm going on break.”

[phanbouy @ Jun 29th 2008 2:55AM]

@phrozunsun
But will they name blenders?

[Charlie Calhoun @ Jun 29th 2008 6:08AM]

lol at Mitch Hedberg quote.

[d @ Jun 29th 2008 9:46AM]

i'm guessing...
september? once all the college kids take the nanos and touches when they buy there new macbooks? like every other year?

[Max Savin @ Jun 29th 2008 11:38AM]

This sounds good to me because I figured they would sell the current iPods for an extra year like they did with video.

[Karl Viklund @ Jun 29th 2008 1:07PM]

Joseph, get a CLUE...

[Shmalec @ Jun 29th 2008 12:14AM]

i doubt it.

[LiQuiD_FuSioN @ Jun 29th 2008 12:18AM]

Ehh, just expect Apple to bump up HD capacities. I would even bet that Apple would give the iPod Touch a fresh look too. Just my two cents.

[computer.dude.28 @ Jun 29th 2008 12:56AM]

Hang on.. neither the nano OR the touch use "HD"s..
And whether you meant hard drive or high definition, I don't think either is gonna happen, sorry to disappoint.

[LiQuiD_FuSioN @ Jun 29th 2008 12:59AM]

Yeah, forgot to mention I was referring to the Classic line. Though hi-def *would* be very nice!

[computer.dude.28 @ Jun 29th 2008 1:21AM]

Sorry to bring up the Zune but.. anyone else notice that in the Zune settings you can set it to optimize converted video for TV output? That'd be sweet if Apple or Microsoft started support for HD from the PMP to the TV, they already have componant cables. I guess the only problem would be the processing power required to run it.

[DefPo3t @ Jun 29th 2008 1:38AM]

ITS HDD hard disk drive for peets sake not HD

[Niz @ Jun 29th 2008 5:08AM]

everyone knew he meant hard drive, your not going to say High Definition capacity are you, you know using a bit of common sense ohh wait that would be required, sorry i see that's the problem, my bad.

[rcast1986 @ Jun 29th 2008 11:25AM]

I think computer dude was implying the fact that they use flash instead of disks. Could be wrong.

[Mehdi Cheddadi @ Jun 29th 2008 12:18AM]

Apple prints money? or is it Money grows on trees?

[deyanimay @ Jun 29th 2008 5:38PM]

no apples grow on trees

[jon @ Jun 29th 2008 12:19AM]

Wait they get paid to state the obvious?
Where do i sign?

[waiownsyou @ Jun 29th 2008 12:25AM]

How come I'm never featured on Engadget for stating the f00king obvious?

[peekinde @ Jun 29th 2008 10:10AM]

random analyst: because you are not an analyst

[MS @ Jun 29th 2008 11:01AM]

cuz ur a f00king retard

[Mr Epic Hero @ Jun 29th 2008 12:31AM]

Jesus, a new iPod Nano? What's wrong with the video Nano? Unless people are stupid (they are), they're not going to continue buying new iPods when they can get the 4g color for much cheaper. Of course, if you need video, and pretty reflections, transitions and other superficial upgrades like that...

[Haikibutsu @ Jun 29th 2008 12:32AM]

Of course, if you happen to be an otaku, you would want some video capabilities.

[luzzio @ Jun 29th 2008 6:26AM]

Well, for one 8GB might be too little (no I don't want a Classic with it's clunky size and HDD).

I'm hoping they double the capacity of the nano, and price it a little cheaper. It should've been done when they introduced video.

[Haikibutsu @ Jun 29th 2008 12:31AM]

I would like to know when the iPod Classics get bumped up to 240gb or 320gb. I don't think they will get THAT big anytime soon. I have every Naruto (except filler episodes), Bleach, Trigun, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, and Azumanga Daioh episode on there. That is, basically, almost exactly 200 hours of video, and its barely taking up 30 gbs, meaning I have tons of room on my 80gb classic. In addition, since I watch anime in Japanese with Subtitles, the quality is more than good enough to read the subtitles clearly.

[LiQuiD_FuSioN @ Jun 29th 2008 12:43AM]

My 160GB iPod Classic roughly has 5GB left of free space. Those video podcasts, TV shows, games and songs add up! I thought my music collection was pretty much completed, but I keep discovering new artists and.. you get the idea. Personally, seeing 320GB iPods in the near future is inevitable and HD space is one of the main selling points.

[Bunson @ Jun 29th 2008 2:25AM]

HD doesn't mean hard-drive.

[Striker @ Jun 29th 2008 3:22AM]

"I don't think they will get THAT big anytime soon."
That's what she said!

P.S.- Anime is gay.

[Viakenny @ Jun 29th 2008 12:25PM]

@Bunson: forget it, everyone (including myself) forgets the extra "D" in "HDD", and is used to saying "HD" for "hard disk" or "hard drive", not just "high definition".

[Tamer Brad @ Jun 29th 2008 1:03PM]

hey thanks for the life story anime superhero

[LiQuiD_FuSioN @ Jun 29th 2008 3:07PM]

Not sure why I've often referred to hard drives as "HDs" as it's incorrect. I should have caught the error a long time ago.

[BobTurbo @ Jun 29th 2008 12:38AM]

Analysts - the new story-fill for engadget. I can't decide which is better: rumours/denying rumours, prototypes of unworkable products, patents of the obvious, patents that never get used, analyst predictions, or fake camera phone shots of products.

[HalfJoey @ Jun 29th 2008 12:39AM]

If the new iPod Touch had GPS and cost the same as the iPhone it would be my first Apple product purchase.

[AceMilo @ Jun 29th 2008 12:48AM]

iPod Touch + 160gig hard drive for $400-500 and I'll buy it instantly. If it's anything else I don't care and won't replace my current 60gig iPod. I don't understand why apple refuses to put a hard drive in the touch. I can't see spending $500 for 32gigs of space. Seriously, give me a touch with a hard drive!

[Erik @ Jun 29th 2008 1:00AM]

lol... This moron wants apple to make a 5 pound iPod touch ... Haha

[derX @ Jun 29th 2008 1:40AM]

Yes, Erik, because that's exactly what he said.

If anything, per his description, I think that it would only make the Touch thicker; I really do not see it getting appreciably heavier.

[Luke. @ Jun 29th 2008 7:43AM]

Could you imagine an iPod touch with a hard drive? CoverFlow would be so slow, it would be unusable, amongst many other things.

[Steffen Jobbs @ Jun 29th 2008 12:16PM]

It won't happen. No more hard drives for the new Apple iPods. Too bad there isn't a custom built option because I really wanted an iPod touch with a hard drive from day one. Flash is just so more reliable and uses much less battery power. I'm concerned that even the Classic models will disappear this year.

[Erik @ Jun 29th 2008 12:46PM]

@Erik:

I'm ashamed to have the same name as you.

@Luke.:

That's why you use a hybrid hard drive.

[computer.dude.28 @ Jun 29th 2008 12:53AM]

Give the guy a break, and shmalec, we realize schizophrenia is a real problem but you shouldn't doubt yourself.

[Jon Doe. @ Jun 29th 2008 12:53AM]

Meanwhile their laptops still suck....but hey...Its Apple. Their new motto is Apple: "What are Macs? its iPhone beech!"

[phanbouy @ Jun 29th 2008 2:44AM]

you're a relentless little troll aren'tcha? and i don't even see anyone feeding you. oh, shit...

[Tony @ Jun 29th 2008 12:53PM]

But this troll knows his there, their, and they're's apart from each other.

He must be the king of all trolls!

[Ryan Karolak @ Jun 29th 2008 1:05AM]

In other news, I can say with 95% confidence that before the end of the year the Apple Mac line will be updated and it will rain somewhere in the world.

That's also news-worthy, right?

[Mike Bertolino @ Jun 29th 2008 1:19AM]

i'll one up the conjecture this will go along with iphone nike+ integration around the time after 3G is launched. this will not be a labor iPod makeover like we've seen for the past couple of years.

[Andrew @ Jun 29th 2008 1:41AM]

asshole?
I've got one of those...