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Apple's 3rd generation iPod nano revealed in "spy shots"?
Sure, we know that the photo up over there just looks like someone took a regular iPod, squashed it down, duplicated it, colorized it, and then pasted the copies in a playful circle. But what -- just what -- if you're actually looking at the 3G nano? According to 9to5Mac (and at this point only according to 9to5Mac), Apple's next move on the iPod front will be short, squat, and muted-pastel colorful. The site previously reported that the new color scheme will come in a variety of shades not dissimilar to what their "spy shot" shows, so at least their own info lines up. Other than that? No corroborating evidence from Apple, and no leaks from other sources indicating this direction... let's just say we wouldn't make any bets on this particular piece of news.Update - We've gotten our hands on a nice, large version of the picture, and as many of our astute readers have already noted, you can clearly see a window heading which reads "nano-flower.psd" at the top of the shot, which should give further pause to anyone taking this at face value.Update 2 (August 23) - Our machinegunnin' lawyers advised we pull the original image, but we've replaced it with a mockup. Full story here.
The 99 cent iPhone (and the $99 Nano)
Wanna buy an iPhone for 99 cents? You probably missed your chance. Apparently 99 Cent Only stores in California are having a big 25th anniversary party, and this morning, at their store in Westchester, CA, they sold 9 iPhones to the first 9 customers for only 99 cents each.That can't quite be legal, considering that Apple and AT&T have paid a lot of money to make sure you get the iPhone from them, but of course it's just a fun contest to promote the store's anniversary. Unfortunately, if you missed your chance this morning, the prizes go downhill fast-- a Friends VHS set and cordless powered scissors are among the options for Friday. Wait a minute, "cordless powered scissors"? That sounds pretty cool, actually.Of course, the 99 cent store isn't the only place you can find good deals-- Adam dropped us a heads up that Nanos are being sold in Apple's refurbished store for only 99... ok, well, dollars. But a 2gb Nano for 99 bucks is as cheap as you'll find it.Thanks, Matt and Adam!
Some truth behind persistent iPhone "nano" rumors?
These rumors just keep popping up from all over the interwebs, and with Apple, persistent rumors often lead to real product. As we've mentioned time and time and time again, all signs point to a new iPhone revision later this year, either in the US, Europe, or both. To add fuel to the fire, AppleInsider has posted that an extremely reputable source reports that the Apple roadmap for 2007 does indeed show two distinct handsets. Touted as a scaled back version of the iPod, the "nano" would focus on music and offer basic cellular features -- so you can likely kiss web surfing and mail goodbye. All this makes sense if you look back on the iPod's original launch: the 5 and 10 GB models were out within 4 months of each other, with a hardware refresh 4 months after that. If they stick to a comparable timeline, perhaps the 3G -- if there will be a 3G -- will land in early '08. We're hoping that the nano name doesn't stick, though; how about the Apple iBashful?
NASA researchers working on biological nanobattery
We've seen nanotechnology used to improve on traditional batteries before, but NASA now seems to be taking a slightly different tact, developing an actual "nanobattery" to provide power to other nanoscale devices. According to a recent patent application, its idea is to make use of the iron-containing protein ferritin (seen at right), which apparently has the innate ability to carry either a positive or negative charge. In practice, one layer of ferritin would simply be stacked with another layer carrying the opposite charge, effectively forming a battery just a few nanometers thick. The capacity could then be further increased by adding more layers of ferritin, with the battery still remaining "stable and robust." What's more, NASA says the whole the whole process can be done quickly and easily -- relatively speaking, of course.[Via NewScientist]
JP Morgan retracts iPhone nano insinuations, hints at 3G flavor in 2008
Oh c'mon, it did sound too good to be true, did it not? To just about everyone's chagrin, the hope-filled comments made yesterday by Kevin Chang have now been retracted by JP Morgan, and it looks like the iPhone nano will return to the depths of our imagination for the moment. According to a rebuttal put forth by the North America Equity Research division, the firm "has not been able to independently confirm" his comments with a second source, and also mentions that "a lower-end iPhone appearing in the near-term would be unusual and highly risky." Notably, putting the rumors to rest wasn't the only order of business in the writeup, as it was suggested numerous times throughout the document that JP Morgan believes a "high-priced, non-subsidized 3G model" will surface "in the first half of 2008." Squashing one piece of scuttlebutt whilst conjuring up another (entirely more probable) report, now that's the way we like it.
iPhone nano rumors
According to Forbes, Apple stock is up based on today's rumors of an iPhone nano. We here at TUAW have heard this latest rumor, we're just not freaked out about it. As far as we can tell, all this furor is based around a single Apple patent that was speculated upon by J.P. Morgan analyst Kevin Chang. And right now as far as we can tell, while the news-o-sphere (the traditional media equivalent of the blogosphere) is going crazy on this unsubstantiated suggestion, there aren't any facts backing it up. Yes, Apple will probably follow on to the iPhone--that's kind of a given. And yes, the next iPhone may be cheaper. But since the existing iPhone is already nano-esque in that it is flash-based with only 4 or 8 GB of memory, it's hard to see where speculation about a second iPhone that's nano-esque and possibly slightly cheaper is actually all that, you know, newsworthy. Thanks everyone who wrote in about this.
Rumor: Apple patent points to "iPhone nano?"
Now this is interesting. Apple applied for a patent today that depicts an iPod-looking device with a simple clickwheel that displays numbers...much like an old rotary phone. Could it be a low-cost sibling for the iPhone?This is all speculation, of course, but Apple does offer both a high end and a low end iPod; would a basic companion to the iPhone not make sense? Some users just want to make and receive calls, and couldn't be bothered with all that hoity-toity "internet" stuff.Thanks, Chris![Via Gizmodo]PS - Here's a little something for everyone who is sick of hearing about iPhone.
Keepin' it real fake, part LIX: Sony nano sure to be a hit
It's nice to see Sony finally stop trying to play catch-up with Apple, and instead begin a mutually-beneficial partnership that leverages the design prowess of both companies. Keep reading for another shot of the all-new Sony nano...
Best Buy offers last second Nano + Chocolate gift set for Mom
Face it. It's nearly Mother's day. If you're desperate for a present that says "I love you Mom" and you've got lots of money to spend, consider this Best Buy exclusive. For only $205, you get a 4GB iPod Nano with a gift box and chocolate. It's an in-store item only, so you'll have to actually go over to a Best Buy retail brick & mortar store to track this down. I recommend that you call in advance to make sure they've actually got the gift set in stock before visiting. And while you're there, check out their crash & dent table. My girls picked up several Game Boy Advanced cartridges recently for between $2 and $4 each. They were also burning off iPod accessory inventory, primarily ugly iPod cases and disposable battery boosters at that same table. Selection will, obviously, vary by store.
New Zune(s) in the works? Flash, larger screen may be on the way.
When reports of a Microsoft-hosted Zune event seemed to fizzle out the other day, other Zune blogs lost heart. But not iLounge, which originated the rumors, and says the event indeed took place as a private -- and supposedly secret -- tech preview by Microsoft to developers. iLounge purports that Microsoft wasn't terribly happy to hear about the leak, and even more displeased when iLounge noted the meeting was underway. However, perhaps even more interesting than the drama surrounding the leak is the fact that Microsoft apparently has a flash-based Zune in the works, along with a larger-screened Zune with beefier storage options. The word is the flash Zune is nothing to write home about -- bigger than a nano, and best described as "not bad" by the sources familiar. A bit more surprising is the large-screen Zune, which Microsoft might be positioning to capture folks digging the iPhone's real estate, but looking for more movie storage. The leak seems to overlap and contradict prior rumors about a flash Zune, but a lot of this seems logical enough to be inevitable. No word on when these will be out, or how much they'll cost, but rough estimates point to a couple months from now, and prices will most likely be pretty much in line with comparable Apple offerings.[Image from our Design-a-Zune contest]
Go RED for less
If you've been wanting to grab one of those Product RED iPod nanos, this is a good time. Apple has a quantity of refurbished 4GB models available for $169US each (typically they're $199US). Since Apple's donation to the Product RED fund is a flat fee on these nanos ($10) and not based on their retail price, you can be assured that your purchase will result in the same donation as a full-priced model. Everybody wins!Thanks, Greenline!
iLounge announces iPhone contest
How'd you like to be the first one on your block to own an iPhone? Now imagine getting that iPhone for free.It could happen if you win iLounge's new wallpaper contest. The rules are simple: Create a high-resolution desktop picture featuring any current iPod model and the iLounge logo. The iLounge editors will then pick their top three. That's it! All work must be original and submitted by March 25, 2007 at 11:59PM Pacific Time.The third place contestant will receive an iPod nano and an iPod shuffle, second place gets at AppleTV and the grand prize winner will walk away with an iPhone. Not bad for a few hours with Photoshop.Now get to it!
Great deals on iPod nanos, shuffles
Attention, frugal Mac addicts. Second generation iPod nanos and original iPod shuffles have been added to Apple's list of refurbished items. Nanos are starting at $119US for a 2GB model, and the shuffles are just $49US! I really liked the original shuffle's rough-and-tumble design and here's your chance to pick one up at bargain basement prices.Color availability is subject to change, of course, so good luck there.[Via MacNN]
Keepin' it real fake, part XLIV: RAmos Q13 is not a nano
Apple's products certainly aren't strangers to our series of posts highlighting the tech industry's finest fakes, and although the RAmos Q13 isn't quite as absurd as previous examples -- see the Treo iPod -- the fact that the company had the cojones to release marketing shots of their device alongside the iPod it was very clearly intended to emulate assures the Q13 a place in the hall of tech infamy, and a Keepin' it real fake tag. Notably, the 1GB Q13 comes in five different colors, and is 0.1 millimeters thinner than the 2nd Generation nano: a fact that we feel RAmos is very unwise to trumpet.[Via The MP3 Players]
Nike kicks out Performance Hatphones for your iPod nano
If you poor souls have really been running around with one of the iSoundCap contraptions on your dome in order to bring your iPod a bit closer to your skull, you've finally got a somewhat stylish alternative. Seeing a huge opportunity, Nike has jumped into the strap-your-DAP-on-your-head game with its Performance Hatphones. No, there's no Bluetooth connectivity or any other connection to a mobile handset, but we're assuming Nike is just replacing "ear" with "hat" and calling it a day. Anyways, the fleece caps are designed to keep your noggin toasty while providing a "fully functional iPod nano click wheel" on the outer rim -- you know, so you appear to be calling yourself "loco" while scrolling from Abba to Zebrahead. So if you're looking for the perfect winter companion to your C.O.R.E. Backpack iD (or just really love the swoosh), you can pick one of these up for yourself or the opposite sex in a variety of colors for $60 a pop.[Via Slashgear]
Researchers condense entire image into single photon
A team of researchers has managed to find a way to store a large amount of data in a single photon of light. Although the first stored item -- an image of the characters "UR" -- implies that the inventor was a 13 year old girl dealing with an extremely low text messaging limit, the image was in fact intended to signify the institution which developed the technology, the University of Rochester (either that or it's the shortest example of the "UR IN MY ... " meme that we've seen in the while.) Apparently the system works because "instead of storing ones and zeros" (a la binary code), the team has figured out how to store an entire image in a single photon, which sounds sort of impossible to us. Funny, because that's exactly what John Howell, the leader of the team said about the system. One of the key components of the process is the particle-wave duality nature of light: by firing a single photon of light through a stencil -- we presume one heckuva small one -- the wave carries a shadow of the image along with it at a very high signal-to-noise ratio, even with low light levels. The light is then slowed down in a cell of cesium gas, where it is compressed to 1 percent of its original length. This is where the storage aspect of the device comes in, as the researchers hope to be able to delay a single photon almost permanently, resulting in a device that can store "incredible amounts of information in just a few photons": an enticing thought for a world currently satisfied with a maximum of 1TB hard drives based on physical platters. A pity then that the world is completely distracted by the potential for "Photon on photons" jokes that this throws into the ring.
HP's advancements in adaptable circuits could keep Moore's Law alive
Though we're guessing ink-jet cartridges are foremost on its mind, HP's new flexible circuits could make adaptable microchips possible at the consumer level, opening up whole new worlds of computer use and weird new hacker exploitations. Just like everything else new and hip these days, the new chips involve a few "nano" buzzwords, but instead of going for a full-on molecular computer like many current researchers are doing, HP is taking a bit of a hybrid approach. The new HP design uses a traditional silicon-based chip, with a mesh of nanowire switches on top. The nanowires provide flexibility to the chip, allowing it to adapt to tasks or be upgraded to a new wireless spec, but the silicon still does all the heavy lifting. Plus, the molecular switches don't draw any power except when switching from one state to another, so overall power consumption is reduced. The design is pretty much finished, so right now the HP researchers are building the first prototype, and should be finished by the end of the year. As far off as that may seem -- and there's no telling how long it will take to commercialize this once the prototype is finished -- it sounds like these guys are well ahead of other molecular computing projects, and should provide a nice stopgap for expanding computer performance while we wait for full-on molecular processors to start bumping our FPS frame rates.
Meizu thinks small, copies Apple again with Music Card
Sure, there've been props all around for Meizu's M6 Mini Player, but that still doesn't alleviate those concerns of iPod "homage." Now that we've spotted this upcoming "Music Card" nano foe, who's design was apparently inspired by a user submitted competition, it's pretty clear where Meizu is getting its design ideas, but we're not sure we'd have it any other way. With a shiny metal back, "reminiscent" of the original nano, along with that glossy plastic metal front and familiar screen size, the Apple references are hard to skip. Meizu mixes things up with its scroll strip and that little button on the bottom left, along with what we're assuming is expansive codec support and probably even video playback. Dimensions are familiar as well, at 6.9mm thick and 39mm wide, but enough about similarities: we're looking forward to a bit more info on this player to see just what Meizu has planned for us on price, availability and features.[Via dapreview]
iHome unveils bevy of colorful iPod alarm clocks / speaker systems
No sooner than iLuv hit us with two new iHome competitors, iHome has struck back with the unveiling of no fewer than seven new iPod alarm clocks and speaker systems. Going for that classic look, the iH14 is a tabletop iPod speaker system with a wood or black leather finish, AM / FM radio, and rotary knobs. The iH10 rocks the same overall design, but sports the more typical, trendy white or black finish. The ultra-compact iH4 provides an iHome for folks on the go, offering an alarm clock / docking iPod solution in a tiny enclosure that also features an aux input, adjustable LCD accent lights, and a white or black paintjob. Next up is the colorized versions of the now-famous iH5, and while the iH5 colortunes will come in white with blue, green, or pink grills, the iH3 adds silver to the mix and will be sold exclusively in Target. The iHM1 also gets a colortunes makeover to match those 2G nanos, and comes in blue, green, and pink as well. Lastly, the iH19 sport case rocks a water-resistant design, stereo speakers, and external control pad, and should be available in your choice of blue, green, pink, or silver. No pricing or release information was readily available, but we're pretty sure these colorized units will make it out just in time for Spring.
Atlantic launches waterproof EGO floating speaker system for iPod
Considering your mind is probably more focused on that upcoming trip to the slopes than your thoroughly frozen outdoor pool, you probably aren't in any dire need of a floating iPod speaker system in the midst of January, but nevertheless, Atlantic's bringing it to you. Aside from always staying on the sunny side of whatever liquid it's in, the plastic shell also touts a pair of (presumably weak) stereo speakers and the ability to house your dock-connecting iPod. Reportedly, the device is waterproof enough to withstand pool parties and showers, and can supposedly operate for 30 hours on just four AA batteries. While the EGO has been floating around (ahem) briefly, the firm plans to officially launch it during next week's CES, but those eager to get their swim trunks on in the middle of winter can find one now for around $115.[Via TGDaily]
