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.
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Joey said 3:46PM on 7-05-2007
Rotary dials? I think this is very unlikely
Reply
Simon Arch said 4:01PM on 7-05-2007
The iPhone is pretty tiny to begin with. More than likely this is just a concept they're patenting. Besides, look at the size of the finger in relation to the rest of the unit. That's a full-sized iPod there, not a nano.
And thanks for the iPhatigue link. :)
Reply
Staticoranges said 4:02PM on 7-05-2007
I think this may be one of those patents Apple has, so just in case they want to use it in the future, they can, but the chances of them ever using it (ever) is slim to none.
I sure hope so. A Rotary Dial is like the opposite of the "new technology" that is in the iPhone.
Reply
Ozbone said 4:12PM on 7-05-2007
Just as there is an iPod for any budget, it would certainly seem to make sense to do the same with the iPhone. The current phone, feature-wise, could certainly be considered to be the top of the range.
Reply
frank said 4:27PM on 7-05-2007
I don't think apple is going to actually abandon the touchscreen interface for cellphones. If there is to be a Nano model, it will probably also have a touchscreen display. The nano will probably be a touch wider and a touch shorter.
Reply
Davide said 5:24PM on 7-05-2007
What about a iPhone shuffle? ;-)
Reply
Kefa said 1:40PM on 7-06-2007
Does an iPhone shuffle call people at random? If so, this is old hat - my Nokia does this already when it's knocking around in a pocket :-)
Reply
mayo said 6:20PM on 7-05-2007
iPhone shuffle? And it would no doubt randomly dial people from your addressbook, right?
Reply
Ralph said 8:59PM on 7-05-2007
The current iPhone *is* an iPhone nano. It comes in 4 and 8 GB. The iPod nano comes in 2, 4, and 8 GB. Thus the current iPhone is the iPhone nano.
Reply
Tom said 10:15PM on 7-05-2007
Hey Apple! How about something I can run with? I can't count the number of times I'm out running and miss my friends calls. I dont want a $600 bulky sweat band.
Reply
Mike said 1:08AM on 7-06-2007
I won't be happy until the iPhone Shuffle is released. Imagine - setting up a call list that you can either call in order or flip a switch and make calls at random. Throw in some friends, your boss at work, and your relatives - random calling gets a LOT more interesting. And with the current 4GB iPhone being $499, the iPhone nano would fill the $199 to $299 range. The iPhone Shuffle should be a nice $129 for a 1GB version.
Reply
Greg G said 1:33AM on 7-06-2007
I'd rather see an iPod that could access the internet, maybe even make VOIP calls over wifi (maybe an additional feature download/hardware attachment, like an iTrip), no contract, no AT&T. Less of a phone replacement, more like an internet enabled iPod that can make calls on occasion. And maybe a camera attachment! (Sold separately).
Reply
Christopher said 10:38AM on 7-06-2007
Firstly this looks more like the "lock" that they already use on their iPods. Secondly this patent was *not* filed "today", unless by "today" you mean Nov. 1, 2006. Way to actually read the patent.
Reply
Danny said 1:05PM on 7-06-2007
Looks like a way of inputting numbers into a boring old 5/5.5G iPod. An input for a calculator perhaps?
Reply
Tim Luckey said 9:23PM on 7-06-2007
I saw this the other day on www.deviantart.com thought I would share it for you guys here is the link
http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/48259160/?qo=1&q=iphone+shuffle&qh=boost%3Apopular+age_sigma%3A24h+age_scale%3A5
-Tim-
Reply
Abhishek said 3:44PM on 7-10-2007
If the iPhone nano is in the works, I dont think that the patent is a direct clue to it. Moreover, after introducing a revolutionary multi touch technology, I think a nano would sport more than a simple rotary mechanism.
Ive put in some detailed opinions in my blog here:
http://abhishek-myspace.blogspot.com/2007/07/apple-iphone-nano-hoax-or-reality.html
Reply