Man, Apple's lockdown on product leaks just isn't as tight as it used to be -- remember when having new iPod designs leaked by case manufacturers
seemed totally unthinkable? Yeah, those times are over -- check out these silicone cases for a fourth-gen iPod nano and second-gen iPod touch that just appeared on Alibaba. We're not totally sold on the touch cases, but the nanos look way more legit, especially since we've seen some others
matching this general look before; while nano
KIRFs in this form factor aren't
uncommon, we'd say it's pretty unlikely that anyone's making several different types of silicone cases for them. We're not calling this anywhere near 100 percent yet, but let's just say we're hoping Apple's press photographers can make the new nano look a whole lot better than
our pal Mr. Blurrycam by the time
September 9th rolls around. More case photos after the break.
[Thanks, Samm]
Read - iPod nano case
Read - iPod nano case
Read - iPod touch case
Read - iPod touch case
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 3)
SubGenius @ Aug 26th 2008 2:35PM
Because Apple has updated its iPods in the Sept/Oct timeframe every year for the last 3 years.
Carl Vitullo @ Aug 26th 2008 2:57PM
Go be 12 somewhere else.
Smileypanda @ Aug 26th 2008 3:44PM
HA! See if you can return it.
DChen @ Aug 26th 2008 1:28PM
bet clip on the case maybe?
Kel @ Aug 26th 2008 1:29PM
Its not a camera... Its the clip for the belt...
Ryan @ Aug 26th 2008 1:33PM
not that part.....the small hole on the front, top left hand corner.....
grull27 @ Aug 26th 2008 5:27PM
Way to ruin my day!
ChristianD @ Aug 26th 2008 1:30PM
Front facing Camera, hum!. Could there be iChat Mobile in the Touches future for those within reach of a wifi network. That sure would set the touch apart form the iPhone.
jet @ Aug 26th 2008 1:34PM
I see a hole for a camera!
maybe we'll even get a speaker...
September 9th can come soon enough
yode @ Aug 26th 2008 10:55PM
are you stupid? Are you aware that an ambient light sensor needs a hole?
Rosco @ Aug 26th 2008 1:35PM
If u look at the last case it has a hole for the camera on the back, same as the iPhone...
sean @ Aug 26th 2008 1:37PM
Design is moving closer to the Zune.
brian @ Aug 26th 2008 1:42PM
Why stop now?
zagito @ Aug 26th 2008 1:37PM
...every 6th month a new shape of the same players? C'mon Apple you can't put customers as fools...
Zak @ Aug 26th 2008 1:49PM
So you're positive there will be absolutely no changes other than the form, huh? None at all?
Joppa @ Aug 26th 2008 2:25PM
how do you think they got this far?
Charles @ Aug 26th 2008 1:38PM
Looks like a chinese MP4 case to me
Michael @ Aug 26th 2008 1:40PM
The bottom one is an iPhone case, not iPod touch. Loo kat the cut outs along the top and side of the top portion. Noticed the elongated hole in the front of the cases corresponding with the iPhone speaker.
Bad Engadget for not catching this as a total non iPod Touch case
Sean @ Aug 26th 2008 1:46PM
Good catch. I was hopeful for a moment thinking that Apple finally came to their senses and added external volume controls to the Touch. They may still have, but if this is an iPhone case, then there is no evidence of it yet.
Juxtah @ Aug 26th 2008 1:41PM
Well I don't think anyone can make the argument that Apple innovates anymore looking at that new nano design.
Santz24 @ Aug 26th 2008 1:42PM
I'm pretty sure the last picture is just a 1st gen iPhone case...C'mon, an iPod touch with a camera, side buttons and an ear speaker? I dont buy it.
Scott @ Aug 26th 2008 1:43PM
The clear case looks more like an iPhone case - notice the hole for the speaker on the front.
sinai @ Aug 26th 2008 1:45PM
why do you think i call it the iTouch?
Zak @ Aug 26th 2008 1:52PM
Because you're a dumbass? I don't know, I can't think of any better reasons.
sinai @ Aug 26th 2008 5:40PM
wow, zak gets higher ranked than me on a post?
what is this? bizzaro world?
Eric @ Aug 26th 2008 1:45PM
Looks like the 8 GB Zune to me...and apparently a sign of impending doom, as Apple is now ripping off Microsoft.
Zak @ Aug 26th 2008 1:53PM
That's assuming the shape of the Zune was unique in the first place, which it isn't. You are aware that the Zune was Microsoft's attempt to copy the iPod, right?
Endejas @ Aug 26th 2008 2:37PM
Are you saying their isn't the slight possibility that Apple didn't take some hints from the form factor of the Zune 4/8? I mean, yes they did release a stick shape with its first gen release, but that was way before Apple was probably even considering a widescreen Nano.
The fattie 3rd Gen looks like an attempt to make a bigger screen, doesn't it? What works, works. Apple is intelligent enough [now] to give what's best for its customers, despite not being there first.
Tony @ Aug 26th 2008 1:46PM
You know, they could be just making their cases based on what they saw here
Just saying...
Matt @ Aug 26th 2008 1:47PM
The last one is an iPhone 3G case. Look at the side - volume up/down and ringer switch opening and the on/off button opening is in the same place as the iPhone.
Jason Cox @ Aug 26th 2008 1:48PM
Granted it's just box art, but does anyone notice that the Dock looks diffferent?
hexoDAT64 @ Aug 26th 2008 1:59PM
That's how the Dock used to look on the iPod touch before 1.1.3
grull27 @ Aug 26th 2008 5:28PM
That's what it used to look like on the earlier software versions of the iPod Touch. It was fugly.
Thi mam(kris120890) @ Aug 26th 2008 1:49PM
Is there a chance that these skin makers have just seen pictures if the new nanos on the internet and decided to create skins and other accessories just in case. I remember a couple of years ago pictures appeared on the internet of a new ipod and loads of new products appeared. When the new ipod launched it looked nothing like the "leaked" pictures and the accessories were worthless.
Btw look at this. Theres a god chance this is fake.
http://www.the01phone.com/
Juxtah @ Aug 26th 2008 1:52PM
It's possible but why would they bother? It costs them money and even if the designs are correct they have none of the dimensions so the accessories will be useless even if these new nano designs are correct.
greatsunjester @ Aug 26th 2008 1:55PM
Hmm... The shape of that top case looks strangely close to the "leaked" picture Rose posted yesterday......maybe the shape will suddenly become 'stylish' and 'cool' once official, instead of crappy when a fake?
Ubercharged @ Aug 26th 2008 1:57PM
I'm looking at buying a new mp3 player this winter, and id totally get an ipod touch if it was reasonably priced and had some hard drive version because i need at least 60 gigs for music.
Zak @ Aug 26th 2008 2:29PM
The Touch is reasonably priced already, and it's probably going to get cheaper. Remember, just because you don't want to spend $200 doesn't mean the Touch isn't worth $200. As far as the HD, it's not going to happen unless they change the form factor of the Touch, i.e. make it quite a bit thicker. However I'm willing to bet we will see a 64GB Touch pretty soon, still solid state.
mukul sharma @ Aug 26th 2008 2:01PM
the shape on new ipod nano looks more like sony nw a805, i hope dis is not d new nano ....n just a rumour
current nano's looks so cool....
Richy @ Aug 27th 2008 4:19AM
Did you send your comment in via SMS?
rkls @ Aug 26th 2008 2:05PM
if they go with that full curve deal like the leak pictures from earlier, im just gonna be disappointed. as far as design goes, im sorry, but i think their first gen did it best. they have gotten progressively worse.
Scabrous Vermicelli @ Aug 26th 2008 2:06PM
Silicon is what computer chips are made from. Rubber gadget cases are made of silicone, with an "e" at the end. Botched this in your previous Nano case article as well.
alex @ Aug 26th 2008 2:26PM
It would be awesome if it was a camera hole on this case for the IPOD TOUCH but look at the paper inside the case,it clearly has a hole on top for the telephone speaker on the iphone. :( this must just be an iphone case.
Jaime Rivera @ Aug 26th 2008 2:26PM
The iPod touch doesn't need proximity sensors because there is no reason to hold it next to your face like an iPhone. The bigger hole on the top right might be a speaker.
vdogg89 @ Aug 26th 2008 4:52PM
the light sensor has been there since the first gen, and it is used to dim the screen to save battery when theres low lighting.
Chris H @ Aug 26th 2008 2:29PM
The iPod Touch one (The Blue second one) has an iPod touch in it, but no app store or anything on. You would assume that they would be putting a NEW iPod Touch in there...
Therefore, the iPod touch one(s) (even though one is clearly an iPhone case) are fake. And god I hope the nano ones are fake, I hated the iFatty, but I hate this even more.
Sammy @ Aug 26th 2008 5:39PM
Comon , Cheap Chinese Manufaturers probably dont have the real ipod so they fake it with paper
And Im the guy who tipped engadget anyway
and since the people did actually label that one as ipod touch crystal case
maybe the touches are fake -- but probably not
look at this
Or is it that the New Ipod has A plastic back and has a speaker and has the curves of the iphone..
http://sz-jinlichang.en.alibaba.com/product/50219123/208809759/Accessories_for_iPods/silicone_cases_for_iPod_Touch_2nd_Generation.html
For This Link
Even though they have listed it as a ipod touch notice the cingular --- but you also see the date which is 8/14 and desription that they just got the mould for 4th gen nano ...
robjennings @ Aug 26th 2008 2:30PM
Apple doesn't have "press photographers". They do hire an "advertising agency", which in turn hires "commercial photographers" to take glamourous photos of their products for promotional purposes. This is all part of the advertising industry.
"Press photographers" work for the media industry. They take realistic photographs for use in news and editorial.
Not a big deal, but it would be nice if bloggers would try to learn a little about the basics of the media industry in which they work.
crashoverride @ Aug 26th 2008 2:34PM
Perhaps it is the GPS antenna rumored and/or a camera for ichat and just having a camera for use? That might be the reasoning. It may added programable buttons like the iphone's for universal program use inwriting Apps for both devices. I wish you could tether with BT since ATT sucks where I live. Or-it's just an Iphone case....LOL
Saibot @ Aug 26th 2008 4:02PM
what are phuck you talking about???? ... AT&T is in the US, BT is from the UK where O2 distribute... and it's all irrelevant anyway as we are talking about the iPod Touch.... why would you want to 'tether' that to any provider...