iPod nanos set to double capacity, iPod touch likely unchanged in preparation for price cuts? (updated)

MacRumors has some last minute leaks en-route to Tuesday's Lets Rock event. Arn's sources claim that the entire iPod lineup will be refreshed and the heavily rumored iPod nanos will make the move from 4GB/8GB capacities and 6 color choices to 8GB/16GB configurations in 9 color variations -- purple, orange, and yellow will be the new choices. Interestingly, the iPod touch will continue to be offered in 8GB/16GB/32GB choices which sets them up for the rumored price cuts we've been expecting ever since Apple kicked out the iPhone 3G for $199.

By the way, the Apple store will almost certainly be going down in the next few minutes. Consider us and yourselves, notified.

Update: Now AppleInsider has chimed in with leaks from its "longstanding sources." They cite 5 colors of iPod shuffles and an updated black and white silver iPod classic. Elongated iPod nanos are predicted in the same 9 colors with the inclusion of a new accelerometer to switch from portrait to landscape modes.

[fanman @ Sep 9th 2008 4:29AM]

Yellow nano? That way madness lies!

[who? @ Sep 9th 2008 10:20AM]

If it turns out that it really is the iPhone Nano, I can't wait to hear all the jokes about banana phones!

[fanman @ Sep 9th 2008 10:43AM]

I'm piggybacking myself, so it's OK. :)

"Updated black and white classic"? No silver (or colour screen)?

[illegible @ Sep 9th 2008 10:53AM]

Ba-Nano?

[Bob @ Sep 9th 2008 3:48PM]

so when will it be available in stores? (not apple stores)

[ugotamesij @ Sep 9th 2008 4:31AM]

No feature updates to the iPod Touch? Awww man.
I was pretty much definitely going to get one after this show anyway, so a price drop would be welcome, but I was hoping for at least an updated... well, anything.
Surprise us, Apple!

[Ryan @ Sep 9th 2008 5:03AM]

I have a feeling that we're going to be disappointed. I remember waiting and refreshing my browser at this time last year in eager anticipation of what Apple was going to release. I was let down. It's like getting nothing from the tooth fairy. Or maybe it's just life telling me that I'm growing old and that there's more to it than a stupid mp3 player. :P

[Jeff @ Sep 9th 2008 5:29AM]

dude it's from Macrumors ... R-U-M-O-R ....S

[LiQuiD_FuSioN @ Sep 9th 2008 9:08AM]

@Ryan:

Not sure how last year was a "let down", because Apple basically refreshed their entire line-up back then. New Touches, new Nanos, new iPod flagship model. Maybe *this* year it will be a snoozer, yeah.

[LiQuiD_FuSioN @ Sep 9th 2008 9:09AM]

Oh, I see what you did there. I suppose I know how that feels then. ;)

[RyanTV @ Sep 9th 2008 10:14AM]

I'm hoping for a 32GB iPhone update... I'll buy one finally if I can get 32GB of storage!

[MrT @ Sep 9th 2008 4:41AM]

if at least the new itunes works better (mostly faster) on Vista I will be satisfied

[Viaono @ Sep 9th 2008 7:50AM]

It's one of the plan to encourage us to migrate to OSX

[Josh @ Sep 9th 2008 4:45AM]

I hate these events because every time Apple will have a brand spanking new awesome update for my ipod Touch (that I bought the day it came out) that costs me $10!

Why must I pay for every new update?!

*cough*lucky iphone users *cough*

[tpadekar @ Sep 9th 2008 11:23AM]

Switch to a less unscrupulous brand then... Zune or Creative or Cowon or Archos?

I believe most other manufacturers provide new features to existing customers for free? Correct me if I'm wrong......!

[Sean @ Sep 9th 2008 11:57AM]

You don't have to pay for them.
And I don't mean you don't have to download them, I mean you don't have to pay for them.

[Qbert @ Sep 9th 2008 8:39AM]

Software update?ITunes 8? Wifi sync? Please.

[Josh @ Sep 9th 2008 4:46AM]

I hate these events because every time Apple will have a brand spanking new awesome update for my ipod Touch (that I bought the day it came out) that costs me $10!

Why must I pay for every new update?!

*cough*lucky iphone users *cough*

[Josh @ Sep 9th 2008 4:54AM]

I hate paying for ipod Touch updates almost as much as Engadget's comment submission process!

[Kizorblade @ Sep 9th 2008 5:37AM]

You actually update? I don't. I'm still stuck on 1.1.4 without the Jan update.

Oh, and also: Nobody is forcing you to do so

[fanman @ Sep 9th 2008 5:39AM]

Everybody else gives free updates...

[Ignatius @ Sep 9th 2008 7:33AM]

Only Apple would manage to charge you for updates. Only because people are stupid enough to pay for them.

[who? @ Sep 9th 2008 9:52AM]

Everything is fine, let uncle Steve give you an"update" for $10-$20... :-0

[schnapple @ Sep 9th 2008 4:50AM]

Your guide to recycling, by Steve Jobs.

[moonpop @ Sep 9th 2008 4:55AM]

Fashion accessories! Have they improved sound quality and Battery life or is this essentially a bevelled Nano with a paint job?

[WickedEast @ Sep 9th 2008 11:08AM]

More colors, bigger storage, new shell. Where is the much touted Apple innovation?

[Ant @ Sep 9th 2008 4:55AM]

I think we are all looking at the wrong model for a big update.

The iPod touch will be a true 2Gen version next September, following a true 2Gen iPhone earlier in 2009, would recon higher def screen (204ppi like the nano) possibly bigger screen, 4inch diagonal screen possibly, smaller home button (they gota make that thing light up at some point), same size device overall.

The nano as you can see in the photo, 204ppi screen but bigger than the last generation nano, apples screen manufacturer testing the stability of increased screen size ready for iPhone and touch next year.

Now, we have the classic, what happened to that old boy. If any ipod ever needed a proper seeing to the classic dose. Smaller click wheel with possibly some kind of back lighting effect (as patented by apple last year). Bigger 204ppi screen, same size casing, massive memory but on single plater HD so device thinner overall, improved UI leaning toward 'touch' operation without touch screen. I think I might actually by one even though I love my touch.

Saying all that, probably going to be a disappointment with cheep case redesigns and volume button on the touch. When designers start adding curves you know they can’t think of anything better.

[arkweld @ Sep 9th 2008 5:08AM]

The iPod Classic is a simply a stop-gap model. Apple do this often when there are deficiencies in their product line that they cannot fix.

It only exists because Apple haven't been able to match the capacity of the Touch. That's why they are doing little to change it. The Classic is a dead model based on a 6 year old design and it should have been killed years ago.

[thethirdmoose @ Sep 9th 2008 10:19AM]

Also, apple will come out with unicorns. They will be free.

[Dobba @ Sep 9th 2008 4:59AM]

"By the way, the Apple store will almost certainly be going down in the next few minutes. Consider us and yourselves, notified."

Next few minutes? I thought the event didn't happen in the US for at east another 8 hours?

[lees @ Sep 9th 2008 5:11AM]

apple store isn't down yet!

[Tony Cunningham @ Sep 9th 2008 5:16AM]

I assume they mean in prep for the new items being added to the store.

[Dobba @ Sep 9th 2008 6:37AM]

"I assume they mean in prep for the new items being added to the store."

No - they always do that during the Keynote speech whilst the new products are being spokent about and then bring it back up after it's been announced.

Either way, I can't see this being just about new iPods or an iPod Nano. The stock's gonna dip drastically if that's all they've got to announce.

[Wiigee @ Sep 9th 2008 11:05AM]

Its down

[rocky @ Sep 9th 2008 5:04AM]

I love life, and apple

[Tony Cunningham @ Sep 9th 2008 5:15AM]

Depending of if the new Touch has any new features, I may upgrade mine.

[Exekias @ Sep 9th 2008 5:27AM]

The ONLY way in HELL I WOULD UPGRADE TO THE supposed 2gen itouch is of they were to ADD a camera And/or FM Tuner, thats it, i would settle for just the camera, but thats as low as i would go, What would u want?

[Michael @ Sep 9th 2008 6:14AM]

If they provided a high capacity iPod Touch I would consider moving away from my beloved iPod Classic.

Back in the day I thought my 60 GB iPod was large, then I outgrew it. THEN they came out with the 120 GB and my mouth dropped. I knew I had to get it. I've got it, and it's full. Just now I had to remove stuff to sync. I wouldn't mind another drastic jump in size though.

With that said, I have played with the iPod Touch and if they gave it 100 GB or more, I would lovingly fork over the money required to upgrade/downgrade to it.

[happy_penguin @ Sep 9th 2008 5:28AM]

I don't anticipate anything too exciting. It's going to be a good long time before Apple has anything like iPhone debut excitement.

[gad get @ Sep 9th 2008 7:35AM]

Or even Air debut type excitement.

[jakem @ Sep 9th 2008 10:58AM]

That's funny. I didn't know anyone got excited about the Air. Have they sold any of those yet?

[Tom Robertson @ Sep 9th 2008 5:32AM]

Can't wait!

[gad get @ Sep 9th 2008 7:36AM]

Yes you can. Just watch, you'll do it.

[Tony Cunningham @ Sep 9th 2008 5:37AM]

I would like to see Stereo BlueTooth support, Camera, GPS, FM or Satellite radio support, native ability to theme, and anything else that increases the value really. But my main wants are camera and GPS.

[jakem @ Sep 9th 2008 11:01AM]

What is the point of GPS on the iPod Touch? It would be worthless the second you moved out of range of a WiFi access point.

[Jay @ Sep 9th 2008 11:10AM]

Just like standalone GPS units do... With satellites...

Think man...

[CkyBe @ Sep 9th 2008 5:37AM]

Another Photo of new iPod Nano =)
http://ckybe.livejournal.com/17063.html

[Tony Cunningham @ Sep 9th 2008 5:39AM]

Yikes, that UI will be tiny!

I know its not real (at least I hope not)

[tony c @ Sep 9th 2008 5:40AM]

happy_penguine,

What do you think the "next big aple" thing will be?

[happy_penguin @ Sep 9th 2008 5:57AM]

My opinion is the best we're going to see for quite a while is new notebooks. As the press and sites such as Engadget keep telling us, Apple is way overdue for a notebook refresh. Other than that, I'd like to see a true Apple UMPC but I wouldn't count on that. In summary, anyone's guess is as good or better than mine.