UPDATED: More iPhone nano, free MobileMe rumors
The Wall Street Journal's Yukari Iwatani Kane continues to leak Apple rumors, this time backing up Bloomberg's iPhone nano story and once again raising the idea of a revamped, free MobileMe service to go with it:
One of the people, who saw a prototype of a new iPhone several months ago, said the new device is intended to be sold alongside the current line of iPhones and would be about half the size of the iPhone 4. The phone, one of its codenames is N97, would be available to mobile carriers at about half the price of Apple's main line of iPhones, the person said.
Apple also is exploring a major overhaul of its MobileMe online storage service, the people familiar with the matter said. The service currently requires an annual subscription payment of $99 to $149. Apple is considering making Mobile Me a free service that would serve as a "locker" for personal memorabilia like photos and videos, eliminating the need for consumers' devices to carry a lot of memory, the people familiar with the situation said. MobileMe could become a focal point for an online music service that Apple has been developing for more than a year, the people said.
TiPb took a look at the idea of growing the iPhone and iPad families earlier in the week and nothing here changes the balance. Apple already offers several versions of MacBook Pros and iPod so several versions of iPhone and iPad can never be off the table. What if any compromises Apple is willing to make, especially when it comes to app compatibility, remains the question.
Free MobileMe, on the other hand, could prove essential in matching free services from Google and Microsoft and paving the way to a universal Apple ID for cloud content, sync, and backup. (We can dream right?)
UPDATE: The WSJ has updated their post with info on what the iPhone nano and revamped MobileMe might just be like:
The person who saw the prototype of the new iPhone said the device was significantly lighter than the iPhone 4 and had an edge-to-edge screen that could be manipulated by touch, as well as a virtual keyboard and voice-based navigation. The person said Apple, based in Cupertino, Calif., also plans to upgrade the iPhone 4.
The new MobileMe file-storage and music service could be available as early as June, depending on the progress of licensing talks that are in their preliminary stages, the people familiar with the situation said. Apple had planned for the service to be available a year earlier. The new service would give users access to their iTunes libraries from, say an iPhone or iPad, instead of requiring that the devices be synced by cable with a computer and use space to store the actual files, the people said. The new service likely would be compatible with the iPhone 4, one of the people said.
So now that the Verizon iPhone is off the rumor plate, you have any room left to believe in an iPhone nano?
[WSJ]
Editor-in-Chief of iMore, Executive Producer at Mobile Nations, co-host of Iterate and ZEN and TECH, cook, grappler, photon wrangler.
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Hopefully they wont force people to use this new mobile me service. I still like to keep my things with me. I bought them or created them, they do not need to be in the hands of Apple servers.
Apple's hands?? Google's... Yahoo's..what difference does it make ??
A little surprised at the Bluetooth icon in the mock-up. This thing is no bigger than a "jawbone"
So, pretty much like the Sidekick did years ago. Your stuff was always synched to the cloud and could be accessed on the device or the web. It even did push email.
Remember when T-Mobile (US) lost all the Sidekick cloud data? That would have sucked.
Yeah, I hope they won't force people to sync to cloud, but give them the choice between cloud and desktop. Being able to sync anywhere sounds convenient on the surface, but I don't want to lose my data due to a potential unforeseen event at Apple's end. Also, accessing/syncing with iTunes while travelling abroad could end up being very expensive as free WiFi isn't as ubiquitous (or stable) as it should be. Not to mention possible storage restrictions for photos, videos etc. Look at the "free" Dropbox: to get real use out of it you have to buy a subscription. So depending on how much music, pics and videos you store on your phone you might have pay for a service you currently get for free just to be able to use your phone to its full potential.
I wouldn't be interested in the iPhone Nano either. If anything, like others have said, I want my screen to be bigger, not smaller.
HA ha ha I like that name N97, now that Nokia is going WP7 Apple both with one stone, Does Nokia and Microsoft have combined forces to beet Google that is funny. I had hopes for MeeGo and next genration Symbian not anymore. GO APPLE GO APPLE kill your biggest rival (not Google) kill Microsoft make them cry. Apple has the high end market making a "nano" iPhone takes the low end of the market and this is how I see things happening. Apple #1 ,Google # 2, HP# 3 RIM #4 Microsoft/Nokia #5, Samsung BADA #6 , mobile is not going to be a three -legged race it is going to be bigger than the PC world and the PC world is Three (APPPLE ,Microsoft and Linux) it is said that the mobile spaces is twice as big as the PC spaces , so using that logic 2x 3 = 6. Like I said Apple fell free to kill Microsoft anytime now.
I don't get why anyone would want less competition. Competition is good for consumers.
I still find it funny how some people so in love with a company that they feel destroying competitors is a good thing. Apple doesn't care about you. No tech company does. They do things to earn a profit, not to make you happy.
Windows, Apple, and Linux? Haha, yeah, 1% really makes them a competitor. I use Linux for servers but that it. It's nice to have an open option but no one in their right mind sees them as competition.
If consumers aren't happy, they don't purchase products. No purchased products translates to no revenue. Maybe they don't care about each individual per se, but they certainly care that thier consumer base is pleased and satisfied with its products.
That goes for any product or company. They want to make products people will be pleased with inorder to get people to buy more. That just common sense. I was referring more to how some feel the need to defend or preach how great a company is. Love Apple products but they are just tools. Nothing more.
Why the hatred towards Microsoft, because it was one of the only companies willing to help Apple when it was at the brink of disaster in 96? "Bill, Thank you. The world is a better place", ring any bells? No good deed goes unpunished eh?
They definitely need to work on Mobile Me and their cloud strategy, but a half-size iPhone? It would have to be like the latest iPod Nano, with a fixed set of custom apps. I'm still not buying it.
Long-time iTools/.Mac/MobileMe user, since its intro in 2000. Hoping for a free service, as in 11 years I've managed to give Apple nearly $1000 for this service. I waffle between MobileMe and Google/Gmail for a number of reasons, but here's what I figure. MobileMe is about being weak on customization and configuration but big on experience and how information is presented to the user/what it looks like. Providing interfaces between non-Apple interfaces is not a priority. Google is about aggregation of data in a platform-agnostic way that is presented in not as pretty a way. Google News, as a news aggregator, is a perfect example of presenting volumes of information in a useful way.
Wrong way Apple. I want a bigger screen, not smaller ones. I might pick one up as gifts but not for myself. Hopefully there's rumors of bigger iPhones since I see no need to upgrade unless there is. I'm not sure streaming music is a good idea for those without unlimited data plans. I have yet to sign up for MobileMe since Google and Dropbox combo is smooth already but if free, might try it out.
I agree. They better bring more to the plate than file storage if they want to compete with Google and Dropbox. Music streaming won't be very useful now that the carriers are capping data plans.
I want a bigger screen too, this smaller screen talk is foolishness.
These kinds of developments make me glad to have my unlimited data plan.
I don't see it. The low end apple iPhone is the previous model they keep around. I.e. You can buy the 3GS for a $100 or $50 with AT&T. Well know apple isn't it the market of small screens for highly capable devices such as the iPhone and iPad. The nano rumor comes around every year. And is wrong every year.
$100 on contract. If this Nano iPhone only about $250 and commitment free, it would be like a nice feature phone. Think Nano that can make calls. For tech savvy individuals, prob most here, this thing would be pretty useless but for parents, elderly, teens, this could be a hit.
Covering all of their untapped markets with reduced price points and presumably greater user-friendliness, particularly, as you said, geared torwards the elderly. Good call...
That concept? ok. Having an app store, etc? No. It would cause the fragmentation of the OS they label Android with. The beauty of the iOS ecosystem is that they all share a common footprint.
So let's see now. Apple has several million MobileMe customers according to various guesstimates. Those customers, around the world, have prepaid subscriptions averaging around $100 a head. Apple is presenting renewing year long subscriptions into 2012. Does anyone really see Apple eating $100 million in either credits or refunds? No, I don't either. The more realistic appraisal sees Apple launch a much restricted (either usage, capability or data) free service.
I don't understand why Apple would really make an iPhone nano?
How could you possibly type on an iPhone nano? That thing looks tiny...I have enough trouble on my iPhone!
that mock iPhone nano is less than attractive
That's a chopped 3rd gen iPod nano, right? The one from what, 2007 or 2006.
Really really old picture.
make mobile me, or least parts of it free for everyone, and allow users to sign up from ALL devices and computers...
"The person said Apple, based in Cupertino, Calif., also plans to upgrade the iPhone 4."
meaning what?
I take this to mean this summer's iPhone will be like the 3Gs upgrade was to the 3G
And somehow, this will not be considered fragmentation
This is kind of a forward leaning conclusion, no?
Cloud storage is kind of an iffy thing here. I have 28 GB of video and music on my phone. All of it is ripped from CDs and DVDs.
After 3 days of continuous uploading, I'll be set to go. That's if Apple gives everyone all the storage they wanted. Then, everything is either synced or streamed. Aren't we in the bandwidth capped and throttled era? How can this possibly work well.
I'm waiting for 64 GB iPhone, preferably with light peak. Syncing for a few minutes sounds much more pleasurable then keeping an eye on my bandwidth.
Cloud storage for documents sounds cool too. But what's going to happen when it's 10s or 100s or 1000s of GB of storage is needed?
Apple will probably give us 2GBs to start but in order to increase storage size you'll have to drop cash
My hands are too big to hold (comfortably) any phone smaller than my iPhone 4. I can't imagine ever needing a smaller phone; at least until they make implantable ones.
As I'm typing this on a 3GS, I just realised that the Nano might have the same screen size without the bezel. It makes sense if they can get rid of the home button and make the loudspeaker tiny. No doubt would third parties jump on the bandwagon to supply accessoires to make this thing (look) bigger again, cfr. the Ipod wrist watch. Next to that the Iphone 5 could be bigger like some of those WP7 phones and they will keep the Iphone 4 going as well, meaning sizes would be : S, M, L and XL for the Ipad 7 inch. Is that enough rumors for a Monday morning ?
What does this mean for the iphone 5? Is there even going to be one? Is this the new phone that's coming out in June? If apple makes me wait till June and they don't announce a new iphone model I swear to god i'll get a droid.
Bunch of crap! I want a BIGGER screen.. I can wait till June/July.. My sister now works for Verizion which I can receive 50% off my monthly bill, I'm thinking Thunderbot if iPhone doesnt increase screen size. Just a waiting game now.
Oh btw.. Happy Valentines Day
an iphone nano would be a terrible idea. it would be simple enough to make, just a 480 x 320 retina screen. that would allow complete compatibility and half the size. still who on earth would want to use that?
I have been using the Evo since launch. Yesterday I got an Iphone 4 for trial. I own everything apple except phone. I like the iphone alot but have to try first, due to the screen being so small. I am far sighted and I will say sometimes without the reading glasses it is hard to see. Still not sure I am keeping the Iphone, may have to go back to Evo. PLEASE APPLE 4 inch screen on the Iphone 5.
A free, maybe stripped down, digital locker-style MobileMe launching in June makes a good deal of sense. The new data center in Maiden, NC is about finished and would be a likely spot to store all of that. It also gives them room to grow since rumor around town (I live near Maiden) is that Apple has bought a similar-sized property across the road.
I think what Apple will do with its Free Mobile Me service is Stream any content to your devices that you purchased from iTunes. They won't be offering free storage for everyone to store their songs but they will stream your purchased songs to you on demand from their master copies. This would be a free service that would encourage purchases from iTunes instead of just a free backup service.
They may also offer syncing to the web through Mobile Me as well but that will not be free.
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