Kevin Rose unearths redesigned iPod nano, digs for more?

Kevin Rose of Digg origins claims to have the scoop on the latest iPod nano. Mind you, this is the same Kevin Rose who notoriously claimed that a generation one iPhone would launch in both CDMA and GSM versions with a pair of batteries and slide-out keyboard. Uh hem. This time however, he backs up his claims with this picture of a skinnier, longer, and curvier nano -- credible because it just happens to be consistent with other rumors we've seen floating around and certainly makes sense for an Apple obsessed with tapering edges and video playback. Kev also claims that the iPod lineup will undergo "fairly large" price cuts to avoid the market cannibalization assumed by the lower $199 iPhone 3G purchase price. The iPod touch, which currently starts at $299 for 8GB, will see some slight cosmetic changes as well as a new 2.1 firmware update (which will obviously make its way to the iPhone). Tagging along with the iPod refresh is a new iTunes 8.0 which, according to Rose's sources, deserves the full point upgrade based on all the new features and functionality it brings. All this, "in the next 2-3 weeks."

He then adds that OS X 10.5.6 is rumored to include Blu-ray support which could point to future Blu-ray options in Apple's lineup of Macs -- oh, and ponies, lots of ponies. Listen to the man say it in his own words in the video after the break.

[Thanks, Matt and Alexis F.]

[Adrian Williams @ Aug 23rd 2008 4:10AM]

And Drew Curtis picks out the next Alcohol flavored peanut

[Quikboy @ Aug 23rd 2008 7:20AM]

Is it just me, or does that device in the picture look somewhat similar to the Zune?

[iEye @ Aug 23rd 2008 7:40AM]

It has a Star Trek industrial design to it...

[Sushant Verma @ Aug 23rd 2008 7:47AM]

I think that this a heap of bull***p... think of it this way..
when your watching a video(on say iphone) and theres a light behind you... the glare is farken anoying.

So what do you do?..
you tilt you device to divert the glare. This wont be the case for this fake ipod nano.

I suppose only will tel.. buti dont think that apple is stupid enough to make a curved ipod

[FreeRange @ Aug 23rd 2008 10:10AM]

I always thought "bullplop" was supposed that curse word you could type since there's no bad word in it at all. You've given me a lot to think about Sushant...

[Dave95 @ Aug 23rd 2008 12:24PM]

@Quikboy

Is it just me or does it look like the original iPod Nano that the came out long before the Zune.
I'm just saying....

[Cody @ Aug 23rd 2008 3:19PM]

@Dave95

Looks more like a 2nd gen Nano with a Zune's screen. IMO anyways.

[totoro @ Aug 23rd 2008 3:20PM]

Nice try at Zune flamebait :p

It actually looks like the old iPod Mini. And I realize its a rendering, but what possible purpose would there be to a curved front screen?

[Constantin @ Aug 23rd 2008 4:34PM]

After the iPod nano fatty:
here comes the thinny...

[That Fender Strat Guy @ Aug 24th 2008 4:38AM]

What crap.

He even looks likes he's in hiding, should people find him and beat him.

[zomg0t @ Aug 23rd 2008 4:13AM]

Is the screen curved as well? =/

[Ray Von Sixx @ Aug 23rd 2008 5:05AM]

yea, i kinda dont like that it is

i'll end up loving it in a year when they refresh it again

[Speeddemon2008 @ Aug 23rd 2008 6:10AM]

yea, at first i thought cool or interesting, but then i thought oh what about the horrible glare that would result of this!

[Marc Cracco @ Aug 23rd 2008 7:21AM]

I don't see them making a curved screen, too much glare issues

[d @ Aug 23rd 2008 8:48AM]

*just* what I was going to say. I think it should be close to the same body as 2nd gen, with the wheel moved down and screen expanded to take the space.

[Matthew @ Aug 23rd 2008 4:19AM]

i was hoping for a nano touch this year.

[Kim @ Aug 23rd 2008 6:24AM]

yeah, that would b sweet

[Dull @ Aug 24th 2008 11:09AM]

The click wheel is all wrong for landscape mode. That is why they released a fat nano. It would be better for them to come out with a Touch nano (without the Wi-Fi and such).

[mabhatter @ Aug 25th 2008 12:37AM]

I'd agree this is plausible. Apple seems to alternate design teams with "flat" and "tube" small iPods. Mini was a tube, nano was flat, nano2 was a tube, nano3 was flat... I'd doubt this is the real design, but maybe close? They need a bigger wide screen, and nobody liked the "fat" nano as the shape was "off". A more "candybar" shape is logical. I can see the price being lower, or they'd make a 16 GB model instead to keep the $149. I could see Apple adopting a mini-dock connector as most users never use the video dock, only USB and Audio, why keep the extra pins? A mini-Touch that can run app store programs is out as it would cost too much or be to stripped to hit $199. I think the new touch might try to add something more to compete with things like flip video.... the main thing missing from Apple's "i" line is something to put pictures and movies INTO their iLife apps and that won't happen for less than iPhone prices.

[eminemdrdre00 @ Aug 23rd 2008 4:21AM]

Is it me or do his eyebrows look realllly weird?

[%u2580%u2588 %u2588 %u2580%u2588 %u2584%u2588 %u2588%u2588 @ Aug 23rd 2008 5:11AM]

They are curved in honour of the occasion.

[billberto @ Aug 23rd 2008 8:06PM]

You know you want them!

[gad get @ Aug 24th 2008 4:42AM]

Yeah, apparently he isn't insecure enough to care.

[ballsack @ Aug 26th 2008 8:37PM]

The real crime, I think, is the beard.

[Matt @ Aug 23rd 2008 4:24AM]

There's a new big two story Apple Store opening here in Waikiki soon, and I think some Apple folks are in town for it..and at a crosswalk near there today I could swear I saw this Nano being used by a woman and her businessy-looking friend. At the time I thought it was just tourists with a long looking Apple styled knock-off player, but now WHAM.

[Kris @ Aug 23rd 2008 10:25AM]

Apple store folks DO NOT get any heads up regarding new anything from Apple. I used to work for Apple in one of their largest call centers and the only information I was able to receive before the public was the fact that our systems would be upgraded to the newest OS before it was officially released.

They rarely send product to the stores ahead of time and if they do, the employees are not allowed to open it without losing their jobs. They don't get any test products before hand and won't even get any training until the product is officially launched.

You're fooling yourself.

[Randavance @ Aug 24th 2008 10:21AM]

@ kris
Well actually think about it. If the store is opening soon in Waikiki, one of the most expensive cities in the country to ship things to, and this sucker is coming out about the same time as opening, why not have it part of the base inventory? And if it's the first one opening in Waikiki, that's probably the first in the state, and a big deal, so wouldn't apple have some higher ups making sure things run soothe. Plus, we know from when the iphone came out that even most guarded products (iphone) are field tested by select employees before release.

[nostalgic @ Aug 23rd 2008 4:27AM]

I'd actually I'd say Kevin Rose is from TechTV origins... whatever happened to him and Sarah Lane anyways?

Actually whatever happened to Sarah Lane?

Patrick Norton and Leo Laporte rocked as well... too bad I can't find a show like the screensavers on TV anymore.

[Yay. @ Aug 23rd 2008 4:31AM]

I'm not sure what he said, but I do know that mock-up's screen looks like poopoo.

[Rakar @ Aug 23rd 2008 4:33AM]

Sarah Lane is married (not to Kevin) and works at Revision 3 along with Kevin Rose and Patrick Norton.

[CL @ Aug 23rd 2008 4:37AM]

Check out twit.tv for Leo (or twitlive.tv when he's streaming), revision3.com for Patrick, Sarah and Kevin

[nxtiak @ Aug 23rd 2008 4:38AM]

Leo Laporte does all his shows on www.twit.tv (audio podcasts) or www.twitlive.tv (video)

[kevinm @ Aug 23rd 2008 4:48AM]

Sarah is married to Brendan Moran, they both left G4 for obvious reasons.

[Alareth @ Aug 23rd 2008 9:16AM]

Nostalgic, Leo and many of the TechTV refugees moved to http://twit.tv/ and keep things going as video podcasts.

[happy_penguin @ Aug 23rd 2008 11:57AM]

Diggnation rules!

[dBs @ Aug 23rd 2008 4:28AM]

iPhone with 32gig and theyd have me. That wont come until Christmas though. We will see what renovations (if any) happen to the Touch and rest of the iPod line as far as other upgrade paths for the future me.

[Sam Clark @ Aug 23rd 2008 4:41AM]

Hmmm....
I reckon it looks a bit ugly compared to the current iPod lineup.
I'm waiting out til christmas to get a touch

[kevinm @ Aug 23rd 2008 4:51AM]

K Rose is making some bold statements here, it may seem very logical of the direction Apple may go but Apple isn't really logical when it comes to product refreshes.

[CB17 @ Aug 23rd 2008 12:26PM]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canary_trap

[Austin @ Aug 23rd 2008 4:56AM]

Bullshit, iPhone/ iPod touch software updates are always released on the same day.

[Sofunnytom @ Aug 23rd 2008 11:30AM]

i agree. calling bs on this

[HAL @ Aug 23rd 2008 11:54AM]

IT DOESN'T LOOK CONSISTENT WITH APPLE'S PMP PRODUCT LINE.
APPLE'S ALL ABOUT CONSISTENCY!!!

[Brian @ Aug 25th 2008 2:10AM]

The current Touch was released with a higher firmware version than was available for the iPhone at the time.....

[Paulmichael @ Aug 23rd 2008 4:58AM]

So, it's going to be iTunes 8.0 now? Getting up there in numbers, reminds me a bit of AOL back when it always updated its numbers...What version is AOL at anyway? I got lost at 12.0 I think...

[ntlam @ Aug 23rd 2008 5:02AM]

looks like another product from China. ;-) But... china's mp3/4/5... is good... if they just put more effort in R&D.

[Klebbentor @ Aug 23rd 2008 5:09AM]

If this is true, why must they taper the edges and back? That will just make it rock around on whatever it is sitting on. My poop is tapered, that doesn't make it look good.

[zomg0t @ Aug 23rd 2008 5:14AM]

But you gotta admit: It does look better than untapered poop...

[Philip @ Aug 25th 2008 1:06AM]

Definitely feels better than untapered poop.

[Aaron @ Sep 6th 2008 8:42AM]

tee hee... i'm 6 (Not really, just the reaction I had to that comment would make you think I was.)

[Darren @ Aug 23rd 2008 5:22AM]

Apple continue to storm ahead.