New iPod touch casually leaked in Best Buy weekly ad?

First comes smoke, then comes flames a-blazin'. Shortly after hearing that Apple was gearing up to unveil a new iPod nano (at the very least) on September 9th, in flies a curious Best Buy ad that could be evidence of a tweaked iPod touch. According to our tipster, the image in the ad and the image on Best Buy's website are ever-so-slightly different, and while we'd typically pass this off as the result of a fading ink cartridge, we've been expecting new touches for months now. Just a few days left until we figure out what's really going on here.

[Thanks, Samm]

Update: As a few folks pointed out, it seems the image is a touch on the ancient side. Still, we know new iPod touches are coming in our hearts -- we can just feel it.

[nate @ Sep 1st 2008 9:33PM]

speechless...

[Josh @ Sep 1st 2008 11:16PM]

Since BB is about to carry the iPhone, couldn't this be a mixup in the ad department as they likely have the iPhone artwork ready to go?

[Dylan @ Sep 1st 2008 9:40PM]

That's definitely the most logical explanation.

*Before anyone has a go at Engadget's iPhone/Touch/Nano reporting habits please take into account that the only people whine about these devices so much is because they're bombarded with advertisements and hype for these products and they generally overlook every other mobile device article on the site that they've never heard of (which is most of them). Calm down.

[d @ Sep 1st 2008 9:53PM]

logical, yes, but where's the phone speaker?

[omureadhaigh @ Sep 1st 2008 10:42PM]

@ Dylan
I would like to add to your argument. Anyone who posts on Apple related articles, positive or negative, is encouraging Engadget to post more Apple related articles. This is because free sites such as Engadget are able to remain free by way of the ads that they place on their websites. So even if one were to post a negative comment about an Apple related article it is still a hit on the website, and hit counts are how free websites convince ad agencies to pay said websites to display their ads.
In conclusion, if people don't want to read Apple related article, don't even click on the link to the article, and when Engadget sees a drop in its hit count, it will start posting less Apple related articles.

[who? @ Sep 1st 2008 11:12PM]

Definitely not. http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=533397&highlight=best+buy+ipod+touch+ad+leak

This ad is over a month old. Besides, the iPhone 3G has a chrome rim, not a white one, and the home button is the smaller, iPod Touch one.

[Serenity @ Sep 1st 2008 9:35PM]

I'm not seeing it. What is the difference between eh two circled images?

[thrillchuckles @ Sep 1st 2008 9:41PM]

i like the random burst of canadian in your sentence.
lol firefox thinks "canadians" should be capitalized.

[CUBSWILLWIN @ Sep 1st 2008 9:49PM]

It should be capitalized...

[d @ Sep 1st 2008 9:52PM]

It's not between the two photos, it's between (to take a page from clak's book) http://www.apple.com/ipodtouch/gallery/ and this.

[Alex Padilla @ Sep 2nd 2008 12:04AM]

@ d

At least you didn't post the same link as clak at the same exact time like what happened to another member a few days ago. I thought the world was about to end.

[Tpat @ Sep 2nd 2008 9:54AM]

Clak....hes classsic

[OneLove @ Sep 2nd 2008 11:41AM]

As much difference a iphone 1.0 and 2.0

[Blank @ Sep 1st 2008 9:37PM]

lol serenity i just came here to post the same thing, i dont see any differance

[ScOObyDoo @ Sep 1st 2008 9:38PM]

Just not gonna happen. There is no way Apple will hand Best Buy their newest product just for an ad shoot.

[alberto @ Sep 2nd 2008 5:57AM]

Actually, the way it works we get a collection of cds every couple of months that has a series of images of the latest products. Kind of a stock art collection. We don't shoot anything at all. Well except for a print ad, which is done through an ad agency. So there is a possibility someone added the wrong image for the wrong ad. But from what am seeing someone is to eager and jump the gun. I got a similar ad here in Memphis and the images match perfectly. Well, it is a different layout thou.

Also, notice on the close up both images have the same shadows and highlights. It looks like someone got carried away with the white point adjustment in photoshop or in curves.

If Best Buy was going to make announcement about the new ipod touch. Trust me they would dedicate a whole page for the new ipods alone. For now. That's just the same old ipod touch.

[Justin B @ Sep 1st 2008 9:39PM]

It's a nice try but this is not the next gen iPod Touch. It's the same design as the iPhone (1st gen) and as a result could just be a simple mixup on BB's part. This is nothing more than a picture of an iPhone

[Flashpoint @ Sep 1st 2008 9:40PM]

I've been expecting new touches since last night.

[Twitchy @ Sep 2nd 2008 3:32AM]

That'll end once you get married.

[Krish the Fish @ Sep 1st 2008 9:40PM]

Those actually look more like first-gen iPhones than iPod Touches

notice the chrome around the edge. and the iTunes icon at the bottom right.

[Jester @ Sep 2nd 2008 4:21PM]

I agree, plus there's no app store icon that I can see

[John R @ Sep 1st 2008 9:43PM]

the difference is that they are NOT QUITE touches.. silver rim etc.

lets hope this is wrong - otherwise the ipod touch is now a throwback to the 2g iphone. yuck.

[Chris @ Sep 1st 2008 9:43PM]

If you follow the link in the story, this ad was from late July. Its definitely not a new iPod touch.

[Dylan @ Sep 1st 2008 9:46PM]

Wow. You win.

We got worked up over nothing. :P

[gabe @ Sep 1st 2008 9:51PM]

as if the 3G's are anything to write home about in terms of design.

apple has been getting a pass on the blandness of their iphones - still like my ugly 2G

[loosely_coupled @ Sep 2nd 2008 1:51AM]

"apple has been getting a pass on the blandness of their iphone"

You mean the "bland" design that every cellphone manufacturer is trying to emulate?
- sleek, glossy black slate
- metal chrome
- scratchproof optical quality glass face

[Mitchell @ Sep 1st 2008 9:52PM]

Im sorry, but 8GB and still $299? Ill bet anything that the next iPod Touch is 16GB minimum and at most 200$ for the low end model.

[thebigDallas @ Sep 2nd 2008 12:40AM]

The only reason the iPhone starts at 199$ is because apple gets part of the monthly contract charge.

[Rumor Buster @ Sep 1st 2008 9:47PM]

The iPhone has an earpiece (this does not).
Also, I highly doubt this, I doubt Best Buy would ever throw in "$30 Gift Card" on brand new merchandise.
Secondly, the price $299 is still the same at the current 8GB iPod touch (which contradicts rumors that Apple will be reducing prices to compete with the iPhone's prices).
Thirdly, the Apps store icon does not appear to be in the menu (with rumors pointing toward it coming pre-installed on the new iPod touchs). And finally this appears to be a photoshop job, of someone pasting iPhone's casing on the current iPod touch.

P.s. The part numbers are too small/pixelated to read for us to compare.

[Brandon @ Sep 2nd 2008 4:48PM]

Best Buy does give gift cards away with some new products. Just check their ads and you'll see it happen frequently.

[jtizzlefurizzle21 @ Sep 1st 2008 9:48PM]

notice that there isn't a ear piece so it must be shooped or its an ipod touch

[jordan @ Sep 1st 2008 9:53PM]

there is no way this is the real thing, how can there be only 8GB for 300 bucks!!, doesnt make sense

[Knives_Out @ Sep 1st 2008 9:54PM]

how about some google chrome news instead of another freakin ipod entry ...

[Wormbolt @ Sep 1st 2008 10:10PM]

Chrome is WebKit so it will be carp anyway.

[Alex Padilla @ Sep 1st 2008 10:15PM]

How come not a single thing has been mentioned about Chrome? I sent them a link hours ago, and there's absolutely nothing.

Seriously, if Google releasing a web browser isn't news, then what the hell is a 2-month-old picture of an ipod touch?

[mcatrage @ Sep 1st 2008 10:21PM]

You'd think with a name like Chrome engadget would like it, guess not. Maybe if it was iChrome.

[ethana2 @ Sep 1st 2008 10:22PM]

Yeah really, what the heck.

[Reader @ Sep 1st 2008 10:35PM]

Oh nice, thanks for pointing it out (hadn't heard of it). I'll probably flirt with it tomorrow, but I don't see a reason to leave Firefox (especially with Ubiquity now).

[Reader @ Sep 1st 2008 10:48PM]

Actually to anyone curious about this Chrome thing, check this link out:

http://books.google.com/books?id=8UsqHohwwVYC&printsec=frontcover#PPA8,M1

Actually solves a ton of problems that plague modern browsers, worth a look and it's out tomorrow (Beta).

[Osman @ Sep 1st 2008 11:44PM]

Holy crap!!! Thanks getting the word out, otherwise I would not have had any idea Google was making a browser that's so different. :D

[Kenenth @ Sep 4th 2008 9:10PM]

if its the iphone, why is there no speaker on the top???

[samm @ Sep 1st 2008 10:08PM]

Comon People


Where is the SPEAKER!!!!!!!!!! - If it is a Iphone

Next

The ONE ON THE BOTTOM IS A First gen Ipod touch -- geesh!!

http://bp1.blogger.com/_51kwahYY--w/SI8y4IGEhRI/AAAAAAAAACQ/9--_q8G704w/s400/twoipods.jpg

[Ariel @ Sep 1st 2008 10:10PM]

It's all computer graphics! Duh! Someone drew the render a little off, that's all.

[nyandrews @ Sep 1st 2008 10:12PM]

Best Buy has done things like this before. In my opinion it is not a new product but rather a resized/edited photo to better fit in an advertisement. Still waiting for Sept 9th and the many enhanced or new products.

[Michael Khotoveli @ Sep 1st 2008 10:17PM]

It is possible that it is an iPhone - iPod Touch mix up, since Best Buy is getting ready to sell the iPhone.

[Varuna @ Sep 1st 2008 10:28PM]

OMG Engadget ! Thats just STUPID!

[decadeofevil @ Sep 1st 2008 10:28PM]

wait is this the G1???

[Adam Butler @ Sep 1st 2008 10:58PM]

Proof its fake!

If you open http://bp1.blogger.com/_51kwahYY--w/SI8y4IGEhRI/AAAAAAAAACQ/9--_q8G704w/s400/twoipods.jpg

zoom into where the speaker would be on a iphone and you can see a clear rectangle where pixels have been copied over it.

[AJ @ Sep 1st 2008 11:17PM]

good catch, adam. just bad photoshopping on BB's part.

[jon @ Sep 1st 2008 11:07PM]

depicted is neither an iPhone nor a first gen iPod touch. It's not an iphone because of the lack of speaker on top. it's not a first gen iPod touch because it's bordered by chrome. it's either a photoshop (don't see the point for that) or a 2nd gen iPod touch. my guess is that on the new design, the chrome back simply wraps around to the front, which is perfectly plausible.