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Filed under: Rumors, Odds and ends, Apple, iPod nano, iPod touch

Rumor: Chinese manufacturers building cases (with cameras) for new iPod touch, nano


Here's a story that, strangely, makes sense. Cult of Mac is saying that these cases above are already being made by Chinese manufacturers, in advance of what they call the "worst-kept secret in China": that Apple will be announcing new versions of the iPod touch and the iPod nano in September, complete with cameras on both. These aren't cases comissioned by Apple, they're Chinese companies that have supposedly heard about the dimensions and feature placement of Apple's next products, and are making third-party accessories to match, even before the official announcement here in the US.

Apparently these guys heard about the dimensions back in May, and they're so certain of the information that they're shipping samples and taking orders from US retailers. True or not? We have no idea -- certainly there's enough photos of the new cases on Cult of Mac's site to be convinced, and that Apple would release new versions of popular iPods right before back to school and the holidays isn't just believable, it's business as usual.

But the camera on there is the interesting move -- is it a video or still camera? Why is the iPod touch's camera centered instead of offset like every other iPhone camera? Will there be new software capabilities for taking and sharing pictures on these devices? That's all still up in the air. We guess we'll find out in a few months.

[via Silicon Alley Insider]

Filed under: Hardware, Humor

Microsoft issues style guide to PC manufacturers for Vista launch


Inspired by Apple encroaching on their turf with the Mac's newfound ability to be the only PC one would ever need, Microsoft has issued a PC case style guide to manufacturers in an effort to help get customers excited about the ambiguous day in the future when Vista launches (apparently, Vista's having trouble stirring excitement on its own). Dubbed the "Windows Vista Industrial Design Toolkit", its purpose is to give the likes of HP and Gateway (certainly two of the worst style offenders) a few ideas on how to stop beating their case designs "with the fugly stick", as Engadget puts it so lightly.

All joking aside though, this could ultimately be a good thing for the PC case design industry as a whole (yes, Macs included). The real question, as the Business Week report which broke this story states, is: will the industry bite? Ultimately, as the old adage goes: more competition is good for the consumer.

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