Some fresh pictures of a camera-equipped iPod nano have slipped out, indicating that Apple’s music player may be due for an update soon. Apple usually updates the iPod nano every fall, but this year the iPhone 4S hogged the spotlight at Apple’s traditional event. The 2009 iPod nano had a camera, before ditching it for the current form factor in 2010. Aside from the camera, the overall design doesn’t seem to have changed much from the previous generation.

As Georgia aptly points out, the iPod nano isn’t really hurting for a camera; instead, the iPod nano really should start changing into a smartwatch accessory, complete with notifications pushed over Bluetooth, hosting lightweight apps, while still playing music. Motorola and Sony Ericsson have both taken a stab at this idea, but Apple will likely be able to pull this off in a way that really resonates with their fans.

Anybody out there own an iPod nano? Do you ever find it lacking in functions, or does it already do what you need it to? Is a camera really needed?

Source: Apple.pro via MacRumors

It appears as though Apple’s iPod nano G1 replacement program is now sending out current model iPod nano’s instead of refurbished originals.

Some users initially reported receiving their replacements quickly but the process slowed substantially over the last few weeks and a backlog built up. Now appears as though Apple is using current models to speed up the process.

So,if you’re in the replacement program, have you received any word on your iPod yet?

Source: MacRumors

According to the NYT, Apple is rumored to be testing wearable iPod-like devices that fit around your wrist and are controlled not by touch, but with your voice using Siri.

Apple has also experimented with prototype products that could relay information back to the iPhone. These conceptual products could also display information on other Apple devices, like an iPod, which Apple is already encouraging us to wear on our wrists by selling Nanos with watch faces. [...] One idea being discussed is a curved-glass iPod that would wrap around the wrist; people could communicate with the device using Siri, the company’s artificial intelligence software.

Apple previously experimented with a nearly buttonless, voice controlled iPod shuffle but quickly returned to physical controls for the tiny device. Siri, which unlike the older VoiceControl system, currently requires a network connection to properly parse voice queries. Since no iPod other than the iPod touch currently has Wi-Fi, let alone cellular data, that raises the same interesting questions about the future of Siri and the iPod line both.

We’ve been asking for an iPod nano watch with Bluetooth connectivity for a while now. Perhaps the iPod will work as a tethered link to your iPhone?

Although it may be some time down the road before we actually start to see something like this materialize in Apple’s product lines, it’s still good to know they’re considering ideas like this.

Source: NYTimes Bits

Concept image credit: Yanko Design

A couple readers let us know recently about the status of their 1st gen iPod nano replacements, and while Luc was simply told there’s a huge backlog and to sit tight, Dave got some more information out of Apple:

He said that problem has been resolved and that according to the latest memo he could find, we can expect to start receiving our replacements 6 weeks after the date Apple received your device.

For more on what exactly the problem was, and how Apple is resolving it, hit the source link below.

Source: MyCapsRule

Apple has announced an replacement program for the first generation iPod nano following potential safety risks that have arisen due to issues with overheating.

This issue has been traced to a single battery supplier that produced batteries with a manufacturing defect. While the possibility of an incident is rare, the likelihood increases as the battery ages.

Apple recommends that you stop using your iPod nano (1st gen) and follow the process noted below to order a replacement unit, free of charge.

Note: This battery issue is specific to the iPod nano (1st gen) and does not affect any other iPod.

Apple has posted a support page detailing the replacement process. Link below.

Source: iPod nano (1st generation) Replacement Program via @daveizzle

If you bought a new iPod nano in 2010, don’t worry, Apple has already pushed out an update to bring you all the new features, including big icons and 12 new watch faces — today! That’s right, just plug into iTunes, hit update, and you’ll be ready to rock everything from a classic timepiece to Mickey Mouse and… wait for it… ANIMAL!

What’s really super sweet is that the watch faces know what color nano you have an match themselves accordingly. So if you have a golden nano, they’ll be colored differently than if you have a silver one, for example.

It’s great that Apple pays such attention to detail. Now hurry up and update your nano and let me know which watch face you choose to rock!

Apple has posted their streaming video feed and iTunes podcast download for the Let’s Talk iPhone event. So if reading all the live blogs and news still isn’t enough for you, you can hop on over to Apple’s events page and watch the keynote address for yourself.

To summarize, here’s what you can expect -

• The normal facts and figures Apple always gives us
• A revamped iPod Nano and an addition of a white iPod Touch
• A recap of what iOS 5 will bring come October 12th
• Introduction of the iPhone 4S
• New features including Siri and many more

When the YouTube version shows up, we’ll add them in. Meanwhile, hit the links below to watch the keynote for yourself.

• Apple Events Stream
• Apple Keynotes podcast download

The iPod nano and iPod touch lines have now been refreshed. The iPod nano will now have built in sensors to make the fitness experience even better. You won’t need any additional adapters or software. Icons are also a bit bigger to make navigation easier. It’ll come in seven different colors and you can choose between an 8GB capacity ($129) and a 16GB capacity ($149). It will even have 12 new watch faces — including Mickey Mouse — for those who want to strap it to their wrists!

The iPod touch line will also see the addition of a white model. The models will remain the same capacity wise – 8, 32, and 64GB with the following price points –

• 8GB iPod Touch – $199
• 32 GB iPod Touch – $299
• 64 GB iPod Touch – $399

It doesn’t appear there are any internal changes to the iPod Touch. The main change Apple seems to be highlighting is iOS 5, which will be a free update on October 12. Since there’s no AirPlay Mirroring and no Siri, that probably means there’s not even an Apple A5 chip in there!

So for iPod touch, Apple slightly lowered the price on the baseline model by $30 instead of bumping features to maintain price point and parity with iPhone 4S. Why?

There are some alleged 7th-generation iPod nano prototypes floating around the internet that show it just might be getting a camera this fall, something the 5th generation had but the current iPod nano lacks. Aside from Apple having to modify the clip so as not to interfere with the camera, is this really something we want?

What I’d much rather see is an alleged prototype floating around that shows a Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, NFC or some other type of short-range radio. Because I don’t want my iPod nano to be just another crappy camera (looking at you iPod touch and iPad 2!) — I want it to be a really smart watch.

We’ve been talking about this since the current nano launched and Steve Jobs “joked” that an Apple board member wanted to wear it as a watch. I did too. So did many others. It’s create a whole cottage industry of iPod nano watch band adapters and accessories. But really the current nano isn’t optimized for the job. It’s not finished.

If it had Bluetooth we wouldn’t have to use wired headsets (especially the hateful Apple earbuds). Sure, we’d lose FM radio (the wire serves as the antenna) but we’d also lose a cable running up our arm as well. More than that, we’d gain the ability for a nano watch to interface with our iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.

Instead of reaching into my purse or pocket every time I get a text message, event reminder or notification, I could just glance at my iPod nano smart watch, which seamlessly received the transmission and echoed it from my iPhone. And once the connectivity is there, who knows what else Apple — and developers! — could come up with.

One day I fully expect my iPhone and iPad to seamlessly integrate with my entertainment center, my fridge, my car — my entire home and life. Things like Apple TV and AirPlay, and the accessory program started with iOS 3 show bits and pieces of what needs to be a cleaner, more organized, more well rounded solution.

Google is hard at work on this, and HP has shown off notification transfer on webOS, so Apple can’t afford to fall behind. Maybe the iOS 5 preview at WWDC this June will give us some hints?

In this context, an iPod nano smart watch is just another bit or piece in the puzzle, but darn if it isn’t one I want this year!

[Alleged iPod nano 7 with camera via AppleInsider]

The Giffin Wristlet for iPod nano is nice silicone holder for Apple’s tiniest screen-based music player. Just slip your 6th generation iPod nano into the stretchy case, then wrap the wrist strap around your wrist.

The case covers the on/off and volume buttons, protecting them from scuffs and scrapes and minor weather, but leaves the 30 pin dock connector and 3.5mm headphone jack clear for easy syncing, charging, and listening. There’s a cutout for the clip, so you can still clamp your nano onto a shirt or band or anything else if you so choose.

The wrist strap is quite comfortable, and the nice thing is you can really hang it on just about anything. And yes, it does let you weaponize your nano, kung-fu whip style — though it might not survive a lot of impacts. Unfortunately, it’s moulded out of the same single piece of silicone as the case itself so it’s not really adjustable.

All in all the Giffin Wristlet for iPod nano offers good protection, and the wrist strap an extra option for carrying around your music player. It’s available now from the TiPb iPod nano accessory store.

Pros

• Easy to put on and take off
• Protects sides and buttons
• Wrist strap works well

Cons

• Doesn’t protect the screen
• Wrist strap is not adjustable

TiPb review rating

The Griffin Slap for iPod nano is a fun, colorful watch adapter that children of the 80s will no doubt appreciate. It gets its name from how you use it — just grab it by the strap and slap it onto your wrist. It wraps around and voila — iPod nano watch!

But how does it hold up in use? Read on for the review!

To put your iPod nano into or take it out of the Giffin Slap you just pop it in and pop it out. Seriously. It’s that simple. It also wears really well and you don’t have to worry about it falling off.

It has cutouts for all the usual buttons like power and volume and a cutout for the 3.5mm headphone jack. Yes, I did wear it around with my earphones trailing from my wrist to my head and yes, I did get some stares. It’s not ideal but until Apple adds Bluetooth to the iPod nano its the only option for those who actually want to use it as an iPod music player.

Which brings me to my last point — this really is an iPod and not a watch. That’s too bad because it shows Apple could make a super sweet watch. The iPod nano in the Griffin Slap is really cool but a bit of a novelty. It’s not that quick to check the time, the UI remains a bit of a challenge to use and there are basically a lot of functionality gaps that still need to be overcome.

Still if you have an iPod nano the Griffin Slap is a lot of fun and definitely something to add to your case collection.

The Griffin Slap for iPod nano comes in black, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, and pink and is available from the TiPb iPod nano accessory store!

Pros

• Lets you wear your iPod nano as a watch
• Comes in a lot of colors
• Easy to put in and take out
• Slap on!

Cons

• A little big for people with small wrists, especially women or children
• iPod nano wasn’t really designed to be a watch (fix that, Apple).

TiPb review rating

The Griffin AeroSport for iPod nano is an armband strap for those who are always on the go and want to take their music with them. It’s made of a lycra so it is very light, comfortable, and flexible and stays put on your arm whether you are jogging or playing sports. For more on the Griffin AeroSport for iPod nano stay with us after the break!

The Griffin AeroSport band is one piece. You just strap it on and then velcro the band in place. It was very secure and extremely comfortable when I tried it out. The nano just slips into the clip on the AerosSports faceplate and you have full access to all ports. You can change music easily while using the armband and it is great for those of you who are active and enjoy music to keep you moving. I really love this armband. I only wish they’d made it adjustable enough to wear as a watchband!

The Griffin AeroSport for iPod nano is available now from the TiPb iPhone and iPad Accessory Store. Let me know if you’ll be picking one up!

Pros

• Comfortable
• Easy to use
• Full access to ports
• Light
• Affordable

Cons

• Wish I could adjust it to be a watchband

TiPb review rating

Photos

The TiPb Store has the coolest iPod nano watch straps, including the Griffin Wristlet for iPod nano, the Giffin Aerosport for iPod nano, and the Griffin Slap for iPod nano. So if you just got a hot new iPod nano for Christmas and want to wear it as a super sweet watch, take a look and order away!

The Griffin Slap for iPod nano are cool, fun, multi-color slap bracelets straight from the 80′s that Griffin has brought back with a vengeance for the tech of 2010. They are easy to put on your wrist, just hit them against your wrist and they wrap perfectly around your arm. [TiPb Store link].

The Griffin wristlet for the iPod nano fits around your wrist with tough stretchy silicon then protects and covers the iPod nano. You can still access all of the controls and it even has a back slit allows access to the iPod Nanos clip. [TiPb Store link]

The Griffin AeroSport watch strap for the iPod nano is the perfect gift for every athlete and fits almost any wrist size. It is made of lycra so will be comfortable while you work out [TiPb Store link].

Do any of these tempt you? Send us some pictures if you pick one up!

Sponsored by the TiPb iPod nano accessory store

Developer and hacker, James Whelton has managed to “Jailbreak” the iPod nano, getting past its cache comparison and installing a rather simple tweak that can remove default apps and replace them with ‘blank spaces’ on the nano’s springboard. This can open up the iPod Nano to more hacks and mods from other hackers, including the ability to potentially view Movies or TV Shows, set Calendar Events and set a passcode lock.

Whelton pointed out some hidden strings that he discovered in the iPod nano OS as well.

Next is the discovery in some of the device’s plists of reference to support of Movies, TV Shows, Apps, Games, vCards, Calender events and so on, with a few other cool things like a passcode lock. With the bypass I figured out, I hope to enable these pretty soon. It seems like the OS is a rehashed version of the previous nano’s OS.

Details on how to jailbreak the iPod nano are said to be released in a few days. It’ll be interesting to see what Team Jailbreak will do with the newly hacked Nano. Would you want Movies and TV Shows on such a small screen? Are there any particular mods you would like on the sixth-gen nano?

Check below for a video of the hack in action.

[MacStories] [Nanohack.me]

Should you get an iPhone 4, iPod touch (2010), or iPod nano (2010)? Or more specifically, who should get an iPhone, iPod touch, or iPod nano? That’s a question we get a lot from people considering their first iOS device or a second device for their family, and that’s the topic for the fourth episode of our new, conversational video show, TiPb TV!

Rene and I go over the strong and weak points of each device, always on internet connectivity vs. the cost of a data plan, sleek and thin vs. smaller camera sensor, cheap and highly portable vs. no video and apps. Sure there’s a lot of overlap but there are a lot of differences too.

Maybe you already have a phone or smartphone, maybe you need a phone or a second media player or workout music. If you’re thinking of picking up a new iPhone, iPod touch, or iPod nano this holiday season — for yourself or for that special someone — then check out the latest episode of TiPb TV and we’ll help you decide!

Take an iPod nano that’s just begging to be worn as a watch and add renown Nike designer Scott Wilson and you get the TikTok and LunaTik, a truly sweet project on KickStarter.

TikTok and LunaTik transform the iPod Nano into the world’s coolest multi-touch watches. The idea to use the Nano as a watch was an obvious one ever since the product was announced. But we wanted to create a collection that was well designed, engineered and manufactured from premium materials and that complemented the impeccable quality of Apple products. Not just clipped on a cheap strap as an afterthought. We wanted to create a product that your friends and strangers would stop you and ask “WTF is that??? And where can I get one?!”

The only issue I have with the nano as a watch is that if you want to listen to music you need to get longer headphones. Either way this watch is very cool.

If you like them you can pledge your support — and get in on the pre-order — now via the link below. I’m not even going to lie, I’m waiting on one of each already!

Video after the break!

[TikTok + LunaTik on KickStarter]

Appe Online in the US has posted their once-a-year sale prices for Black Friday and as expected, iPad, iPod touch, and iPod nano as all being discounted. Come tomorrow you’ll be able to save $15 on a brand new iPod nano, $21 on an iPod touch, and $41 on an iPad.

Accessories like the iPad camera connection kit are also on sale from $5, while an Airport Express (for AirPlay audio) is $11 off. Check them all out and plan tomorrow’s spending accordingly. (And let us know what you’re getting!)

[Apple Shopping Event page]

For one week only, Toys R Us is taking trade-ins on old iPods for credit of up to $100. Customers can take up to 3 (functioning) older generation iPods to their local Toys R Us service desk, and receive credit worth up to the value of your device. The value will vary on the age and condition your iPod is in.

You will receive an iPod “trade-up” card, loaded with the total amount of all your trade-ins, which can be used towards a new iPod, just in time for the holiday season.

Toys R Us are currently offering:

• iPod Touch 8GB, 32GB, 64GB
• iPod Nano 8GB
• iPod Shuffle 2GB or 4GB

The offer is not available online and is only available at selected stores, in the US, so it’s probably best to call before you cart that old G1 in.

Will you be trading in your old iPod for a new one?

[CNN]

by George Lim

Want a shiny 6th generation iPod nano for free? Long story short, due to some shipping delays TiPb had to run out and buy some so we could get our review up in a timely manner. That means we have some extra. And that means we’re going to give them away to you. Now keep in mind these are review units — they’ve been opened, photographed, video recorded, and tested, but gently and lightly and are in mint condition with boxes and cables and all that.

Want one? All you have to do is tweet this to enter:

• #FF @TiPb @reneritchie @backlon @ichadman @jfsikora @llofte @imuggle @GeorgiaTiPb Follow and RT to win an iPod nano http://bit.ly/coolqi

We’re not telling which writers have iPod nanos to give away, so follow as many as you want to increase your chances. (Last time many people who could have won weren’t following and we had to pick alternates, so if you enter, make sure you follow.)

Give away starts today and ends on Tuesday, September 21 at 12pm Cupertino time. Writers with nanos will pick the winners at random sometime Tuesday night and notify them via DM.

Good luck and get tweeting!

iPod nano (2010), the sixth generation iPod nano, is a complete redesign from form factor to interface. Gone is the click-wheel, gone is the camera, gone is the video. What’s left is a beautiful, polished square running something that looks like iOS, complete with multitouch, gestures, and little nano apps. How does that compare to an iPod touch or iPhone? Read on after the break for our review.

Hardware

The 2010 iPod nano is cooler and sleeker, and definitely smaller than last year’s model — 46 percent smaller to be exact and 42 percent lighter. That works out to a tiny 1.48 inches (37.5 mm) high, 1.61 inches (40.9 mm) wide, 0.35 inch (8.78 mm) deep with the clip, and a weight of just 0.74 ounce (21.1 grams). That makes it extremely portable.

The nano also picks up the iPod shuffle’s clip. Located on the it’s easy to use and can be worn almost anywhere — believe me, I’ve tried!

You may have heard that it’s hip to be square and the nano proves it. The anodized aluminum outer shell comes in 7 different colors, silver, grey, yellow, green, blue, pink and red.

As for ports, the new nano has the same old 30 pin connector so you can use it with your computer, car, and any other iPod accessories that you may already have, and the standard 3.5mm headset jack.

There are also buttons, which are round and metal and similar to iPhone 4, including volume up and down and sleep/wake. Unfortunately there’s no home button like iPhone, something I’ll gripe about later.

The bright 1.54-inch display packs 240-by-240 pixel, 220ppi resolution. The multi touch screen allows you to tap to launch apps or make selections, drag apps around to re-arrange them, put two fingers down and twist to rotate the display, double tap (Zombieland ftw), and press-hold an icon to star/stop jiggly mode, or in the middle of the screen to go back to the main home page.

Apple rates the battery life at 24-hours for music with a fast change time of an hour and half to get to 80% and 3 hours to get to full.

And yes, no more video camera. The iPod touch stole it.

Software

Music is where the iPod nano is at. You can select your music from a multitude of different icons (I can’t really call them apps, they just launch different views of the iPod app). Songs, albums, artists, playlists, genres, and composers are all here.

The Genius app will take music you already like and choose other songs which you may find appealing. You use the genius application in iTunes and then just sync over any songs you want.

The FM radio works very well on the iPod nano, just plug in your earphones (they double as the antenna) and let the tuner do the rest. You also have the ability to live pause your music, this way you can listen to a song on the radio and then pause the song and come back to the song just where you left off.

If you like to run with your iPod Nano then the pedometer is perfect. It will track how many steps you have taken, how many calories you have burned, and any when you have reached your target goal. If you use Nike+, it’s there and waiting for you as well.

One of my favorite applications is the clock, which looks like a snazzy watch. You can choose to have the black or white watch background, I think the black looks nicer.

Apple continues to lead the pack when it comes to accessibility and he new nano is no different. You can turn on the VoiceOver feature which will then give you a description of what is under your finger.

There’s a photo app so you can swipe through any photographs you’ve synced over, but there’s no video player any more. I synced over a few video podcasts just to see what would happen and all I got was the audio. Maybe Apple doesn’t think people want to watch video on a 1.5-inch square, or maybe Apple just wants them to buy an iPod touch instead.

Conclusion

The 2010 iPod nano is small and lightweight and offers great battery life. The clip also makes it wearable for athletes, hipsters, and pretty much anyone on the go.

It’s easy to use and immediately familiar to anyone coming from an iOS device like iPod touch or iPhone. That said, the “tap and hold center” as home button is not very intuitive and sometimes conflicts with other interface actions. Could they have fit in a real, physical home button, or somehow added the functionality to the sleep/wake button? As it is, it’s a klutzy deviation from iOS and not for the better.

It’s also an iPod in the more traditional sense, not in the iPod touch sense. You’re limited to music, music, music, and a few nano apps (napps?). There’s no more video playback, and there’s not even a contact book or calculator. (Sure it would have been hard at that size, but if anyone could do it it’s Apple).

Taken as a whole, which is how Apple products simply must be taken, the iPod nano (2010) won’t appeal to those who can afford a iPhone or a iPod touch but might just be the best nano yet for those who want to bring something lightweight with them on the go.

iPod nano fashion? I was more than excited when Steve Jobs announced the new iPod nano. Not because I am a huge music lover but because of the multitude of different ways that I could use it. This new iPod nano is a tech geek girls fashion dream come true.

Follow along after the break to see just some of the ways I’ve been accessorizing with the new iPod nano, and how well it’s been working out.

iPod nano hair clip

This may be more of a dream than a reality. I found that if you use the iPod nano all alone in your hair it is prone to slipping out. If you are going to put it in your hair it is much more secure if you attach it to a hair elastic. It was already slipping out before I even began to walk around. I think if Apple has added a bit of rubber to the edges of the clip it would be much more secure. Steve why did you let me down!

iPod nano pony tail clip

Wearing the iPod nano in your hair is quite cute but lacks the functionality of being able to actually see the new 1.5-inch screen. If you already have a playlist playing and are comfortable using the headset remote buttons to play, pause, and change, its ok but still not ideal. It was quite secure though. You could even go jogging and have them stay in place.

iPod nano watch

The iPod nano is just screaming to be used as a watch. It is the perfect size and with a multitude of different functions it may be the first in a new smart watch generation. Get real iOS and and App Store onto this bad boy and there’d be no stopping us. For the band I use a tight fitting bracelet which is not too thick. This way the clasp on the iPod Nano is able to fully close. I also really liked attaching the iPod nano to my hair elastic. It was quite secure and comfortable.

iPod nano earring

Yes the new iPod nano are very capable of being used as earrings. It is easy to use some two part epoxy and attach a loop and then a regular fishhook earring holder. It is a bit heavy for an earring (though I have worn heavier). It would also present the same issue of not being able to easily change your application or music. For the picture I just clipped the nano right onto my ear, this was not the most comfortable of ways to wear it, however, nor was it very secure.

iPod nano necklace

This is one of my favourite ways to wear the iPod nano. It makes a beautiful show piece and is very user friendly. It is also very beautiful and when I go around people just think it is another piece of jewelry. Then I turn it on and everyone is left in awe.

And more…?

I am sure that I have just covered the tip of the iceberg with some cool new ways to wear your iPod Nano. If you have any other cool new ideas, comment away!

He may be little, but the 2010 iPod nano 6 still looks like iOS and still acts like iOS so I’m going to show him off like he’s iOS — up against the iPhone 4 and iPod touch 4.

I’ll be working on the review this weekend, so if you have any questions, leave them in the comments.

Follow along after the break for the gallery!

Is it possible the new iPod nano isn’t running iOS, but isn’t running the old iPod OS, either? The latest firmware has hit Apple’s servers so developers are tearing into it and here’s what Steven Troughton-Smith had to say on Twitter:

The nano codename is N20 it appears; also labelled as “1.0″ of the OS. Definitely not iOS

Rusty Mercury also says it’s running on a Samsung S5L8723, a step up from the previous Samsung 8730.

So what is this OS 1.0? something new? Something hybrid?

[@stroughtonsmith via 9to5Mac, @RustyMercury]

Apple introduced a new iPod nano this week with a multitouch screen, and a new Apple TV with an A4 chipset, but didn’t make clear if either or both were running iOS. Unlike iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad, where they shout iOS from the rooftops, they’ve historically kept mum about iPod and Apple TV OS.

iPod nano looks like it’s running iOS. It has an iOS-like user interface with a subset of iOS-like built-in apps controlled by iOS-like gestures. There’s inertial scrolling with elasticity. You can even put icons into jiggly mode and rearrange them. In fact, when demonstrating that during his keynote, Steve Jobs said (emphasis mine):

Say… I want [albums] on the home page, I can just push down, jiggle it, and move it, just like I can with my other iOS devices

Not official confirmation to be sure, but think about it this way: given their focus on iOS of late, would Apple spend the effort to re-create that interface on the old iPod OS just for iPod nano, or to spend it getting iOS running on iPod nano hardware?

Apple TV on the other hand looks nothing like iOS. However, it’s running on an Apple A4 chipset which has, thus far, only been used for iOS devices. Again, given Apple’s focus on iOS, would they spend the effort porting OS X to Apple A4 just for Apple TV, or recreate the Apple TV UI for iOS?

I didn’t hear Jobs mention anything about iOS during the show but Daring Fireball‘s John Gruber claims it’s definitely iOS.

I’d love to know for sure, but for now my guess is Apple sees iOS as their future and any effort they put in to new mobile or media devices is going to be put into iOS, including iPod nano and Apple TV.

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We’re all up in Apple’s 2010 Special Music event – new iPod shuffle, iPod nano, iPod touch with Retina Display and FaceTime, Apple TV with iOS… but no apps! Along with iOS 4.1 and iOS 4.2. We’re streaming like crazy. This is iPhone live!

Oh, and here’s the Vapor Case give-away we mentioned…

Credits

Thanks to the TiPb iPhone accessory store for sponsoring the podcast, and to everyone who showed up for the live chat!

Our music comes from the following sources:

• I Called You — iPhone Remix by Pete Leidy
via Sneakmove iPhone Ringtone Challenge

Apple has released new commercials for their updated iPod touch 4 and iPod nano 6. iPod touch – All kinds of fun holds true to its roots — lots of hands doing lots of awesome things, but iPod nano – Travel seems more like a hybrid, including elements previously seen in iPod shuffle commercials — less nano chromatic, more wearable.

Check out both commercials after the break and let us know what you think. Do they convince you to buy?

Apple will be streaming this year’s special music event live (here’s the link), and we’ll be here to provide all the color and commentary you’ve grown to love… or to love to hate. So if you’re watching, come watch with us. Party starts now!

Back in July we saw an Apple labeled 1.5″ touchscreen and wondered if it would be for a tiny, multitouch nano. Now some new cases, purportedly for the same device, makes us wonder much the same again.

Would it run iOS? Could it, with a screen that small? You could fit, what, 2×2 icons for a grid of 4 apps total? Web browsing probably wouldn’t be included, but could it have ports of all the usual nano music, photos, video, and other assorted functionality?

Apple has scaled up iOS on the iPad, and is rumored to be doing that again with Apple TV/iTV but would it work as well scaled down for the iPod nano?

We’ll find out in a few days.

[iLounge]

Could Apple be getting ready to release a 7″ iPad nano and re-designed iPhone 5 as early as January? Could the iPod shuffle or nano with a 1.7″ screen be around the corner in September? Are bumpers going all-silicone?

Our gut says crazy talk, but iLounge has a pretty good track record on leaks so take these for what they’re worth, even if it’s with an ocean-sized grain of salt.

Here are some details:

1. New iPods. Apple apparently has three new iPods ready to go as early as this month, or as late as September. One is the new iPod nano, one is the new iPod touch, and the third one is a question mark, but may be a small (1.7”) touchscreen replacement for the iPod shuffle.

2. New iPad. A seven-inch-screened version of the iPad is substantially finished and will be ready for announcement either later this year or early in 2011.

3. New iPhone. According to our source—and we have to say that we find this part hard to believe—Apple is pushing up the release date of the fifth-generation iPhone to early 2011 (as soon as January) because of the antenna issues with the iPhone 4.

4. iPhone 4 Bumpers, Generations 0 and 2. To reduce the cost of the current iPhone 4 Case Program, the company is currently working on a less expensive all-silicone version of the Bumper to give away after September.

Would Apple fragment the iPad market so quickly by introducing a smaller device? They haven’t done that with iPhone or iPod touch going on 4 years now. Could a January iPhone be an iPhone 4 variant for Verizon instead?

If you have any insight, shoot us an email. If you have a guess, drop it in the comments!

[iLounge]

So, as part of the It’s only rock and roll, but we like it special music event, Apple pretty much gave the one big feature everyone wanted for the third generation iPod touch… to the nano instead.

• Camera and mic for video (with nifty iChat style special effects!)
• VGA 640×480 recording, H.264
• Sync photos and video to PC (iPhoto on Mac)
• FM Radio + Live Pause, Tagging
• Nike +
• Genius Mixes
• VoiceOver
• Still nanochromatic in wide color range
• $149/$199 for 8GB/16GB

Still, sounds like a jogger’s, or ultra-light traveler’s dream music player, with a great amount of convergence built in… What do you think?

More pics after the break!

The iPod touch, iPod nano, and now it sounds like the hard-drive based iPod classic are all set to receive cameras, presumably at Apple’s September 9 music event. We’ve heard rumors of the iPod touch before, of course, and even the iPod nano, but the iPod classic as well?

That’s what Digitimes (via MacRumors) is reporting:

OmniVision will be the sole supplier of 3.2-megapixel CIS products for new iPod nano, iPod classic and iPod Touch models which will be launched in September, the sources indicated.

So, the take away — if these rumors pan out — is that those of you who want apps (touch), portability (nano) and now, massive storage capacity (classic) might all have uber-convenient picture snapping in your future.

Could the iPod touch and iPod nano also be getting in on the camera action? We’ve heard the rumor before but evidence continues to mount with Techcrunch claiming:

One of our sources in Asia say that Apple has placed an order for a massive number of camera modules of the type that they include in the iPhone. These are inexpensive cameras, in the $10 range. And the size of the order, our source says, means they can only be used for one thing – the iPods.

As Dieter mentioned on iPhone Live! a camera is such a natural fit for the iPod touch that it’s hard to imagine Apple not doing it at this point. Adding video recording, editing, and sharing (along with the beefier chipset) also seems like a no-brainer port from the already-enabled iPhone 3GS. Even if Apple sticks with VGA resolution, users who want highly portable video recording might easily take the iPod integration over the better quality of a dedicated device like a Flip Mino HD.

Macrumors is also showing off a case that, if real, re-enforces the iPod nano camera rumors as well. Absent the iPod touch interface and processor power, however, it’s hard to see that being functional for anything but still photography. That being said, it remains a great way for Apple to keep moving the traditional iPod line forward even as it approaches market saturation.

Anyone eager to get their iPod camera action on?

We’d heard rumors about the iPod touch getting a camera already — makes sense and would tie it even more closely to the iPhone OS. HardMac (via MacRumors) is now saying the iPod nano will as well.

Sounds plausible as it provides an easy way for Apple to both strengthen ties within their ecosystem and incrementally update both platforms in time for the holidays.

Engadget has scored a couple of sneaky first looks at both Apple’s upcoming “Let’s Rock” event (above) scheduled for Tuesday, and the new 4th Generation iPod Nano (below) that’s all but certain to be released there.

Once Kremlin-eque in their secrecy and security, Apple’s iPod division has either grown leakier as of last year’s 3G “fatty” Nano, or Apple itself is doing a little guerilla marketing to soften the news up and build anticipation.

Which one is it?

Was Kevin Rose right? Is the Analyst-busting 8-Ball now batting 500? Could there be any more speculation about something that’s close-to, but not quite an iPhone?? Engadget Spanish (via MacRumors) has seen the usual pre-Special Event hype, and raised the first “in the wild” case leaks:

The case is by Hama and is a Sport Case specifically labeled “for iPod nano 4G”.

While notoriously secretive Apple managed to shock the world with the iPhone in 2007, things have been a tad more leaky ever since, with the “fatty” Nano, MacBook Air, and even iPhone 3G details all getting out before Jobs could utter a single Boom!

Not many were thrilled with the Nano 3G prior to holding it in their hands, and not many seem thrilled with the advance peaks at the 4G either (calling it Zune-like — ouch!). Personally, I’m not sold on the design yet either, but I’ve learned the hard way you don’t ever count Jonathan Ive out.

What do you think? Hawt or really not?

Engadget confirms it, Apple is going to be giving us the new hotness on September 9th. All signs point to new iPod Nanos, but many are hoping that we’ll see a revision of iTunes with new features, from iTunes Unlimited to something a bit more scaled back. Others (me) are hoping for the 2.1 update with background notifications and another killer app: stability.

‘Course, there’s a Magic 8-Ball vs. Analyst riding on this one, and so far the 8-Ball appears to not be holding up too well — only time will tell for sure, though.

What are you hoping for next week?

Could all the rumors — and even Kevin Rose — have been right? Will we see a longer, widescreen iPod Nano that brings the candy-bar shape back? MacRumors rounds up some “leaked” “case designs” that suggest maybe they are — or merely that even the Chinese read Kevin Rose’s blog? Roughly Drafted, on the other hand points out that a new aspect ration for the screen might cause problems for existing iPod formatted videos and games.

Wilder still is the rumor that the next generation iPod Touch might just beef up its LocationServices with… GPS. Lacking the cell radio of the iPhone, it probably wouldn’t be aGPS (which uses the cell towers to pre-crunch, and thus really speed up, GPS location discovery), but it would certainly supercharge the current, WiFi only offering.

So, will we be seeing tall-boy Nano’s and GPS Touches? And more importantly, will they finally feature Phasers?! September cometh!

Internet superstar Kevin Rose, founder of Digg, Pownce, and Revision3 has a… er… spotty record at best when it comes to iPhone speculation. Still, we give him full marks for getting back on that rumor horse once again. This time, Kevin’s saying he knows that sometime before the end of September we’ll see:

• Firmware 2.1, debuting on the iPod Touch (which will get a minor facelift).
• iTunes 8.0 with “new features and functionality” he can’t get into.
• Price drops along the iPod line to keep them competitive with iPhone’s $199
• Rounded wide-screen nano, back in candy-bar form factor
• Mac OS X 10.5.6 to feature Blu-Ray support.

Rose, who’s locked in a battle with Barak Obama and Leo Laporte for the crown of top Twitter’er, asks that we follow him there, or on his own platform, Pownce, for more updates.

Our take? Last year’s big pre-holiday Apple event introduced the iPod Touch, which debuted the new 1.1 firmware, including the WiFi Music Store, so that’s quite possible. iTunes 8.0 is more opaque, however. If App Store integration wasn’t a big enough marketing excuse to make the full point jump to iTunes 8.0, what would it take? (7.0, for example, added CoverFlow and iPod Games).

iPod price drops before the biggest selling season of the year make sense, as Apple dropped the iPhone $200 at last years event. Likewise a new Nano.

Blu-Ray support — if it’s to include BD movie playback — is a bigger nut to crack, however, because the short sighted industry killers in Hollywood demands HDCP DRM compliance (i.e. hardware enforced, digital rights managed copy protection) over the full path, from player, through cables and graphic cards, into the monitor — and in the OS. This caused a bit of an internet brouhaha when Microsoft “caved” for Vista. Laptops and the iMac would be far easier to implement, but is there business advantage enough for Steve Jobs to feel like doing it?

(via MacRumors)

What’s with Apple and fire this month? First Cupertino, now the first generation iPod Nano? (Not to mention MobileMe‘s early crashes and burns…). And this one is scary enough that I admit it had me staring at my own uber-battery packing iPhone just a tad more nervously than usual. The good news is, however, according to CNet AppleCare is all up in fixing the problem:

Apple has determined that in very rare cases batteries in first generation iPod nanos sold between September 2005 and December 2006 can overheat causing failure and deformation of the iPod nano. Apple has received very few reports of such incidents (less than 0.001 percent of first generation iPod nano units), which have been traced back to a single battery supplier. There have been no reports of serious injuries or property damage, and no reports of incidents for any other iPod nano model. Any first generation iPod nano customers who have experienced their battery overheating should contact AppleCare for a replacement. Any other customers who have concerns about their first generation iPod nano battery should also contact AppleCare.

As always, keep a close eye on your gadgets, especially as they get older. Look for frayed or damaged cables, discolored or distorted casing, and strange sounds or odors. And when in doubt, stop using it and take it to be checked. Better to waste your time than endanger your health or home.

(Mac users may also want to check their Mag Safe power adapters, which are currently experiencing similar issues).

The iPhone might be the best iPod ever, but as Steve Jobs keeps saying, if no one else can compete with Apple, Apple will compete with itself. Witness a number of new iPod rumors that have just surfaced.

First up, iPhone Atlas brings word of a new iPod Touch. Seems the latest developer deep diving in the upcoming iPhone 2.0 code, in addition to cut and paste, has discovered strings for what looks like iPod Touch 2,1. To give perspective, the original iPhone and iPod Touch were 1,1, while the iPhone 3G is 1,2. A jump to 2,1 then looks to be an upgrade quite a bit more significant than what the iPhone just enjoyed. A replacement? An additional model? A twice-sized iTablet? And what will this mean for the similarly Mobile OS X powered iPhone?

Next up, iLounge says the next iPod Nano will shed its “phat” and grow tall again to accommodate an iPhone/iPod Touch wider-screen aspect ratio of 1.5:1 (bumped from the current 1.33:1). iLounge — and almost everyone else who picked up the story — headlined the form factor as “Zune-like”, for obvious link… er… attraction purposes. Well played!

Also, while rumors have swirled over multi-colored iPods being introduced in the next generation, which harken back to marketing mishaps like the Flower Power iMac of yore, MacObserver reveals a new Apple patent application for “computing device with dynamic ornamental [i.e. color changing] appearance”. Though supremely awesome in concept (Predator-like chameleon camo class awesome), iLounge claims any rumors of multi-colored iPods coming this year are inaccurate. Instead, each model will sport its own anodized aluminum skin, much like the old iPod Nano.

Lastly, Apple Insider says Apple is advising resellers to stock up soon, as iPod shortages this way come. Clearing out stock in preparation for another Special Event this autumn? The last one not only debuted the iPod Touch, but a new iPhone Firmware which included the WiFi Music Store, so we certainly hope so!