It wouldn't be a good ending to the year without speculation about yet another new Apple product. Rumors of an Apple iPhone nano have run rampant in recent months and resurfaced as silicone-mold cases designed for iPhone nanos have appeared on the Internet.
Vaja, a case manufacturer, listed the iPhone nano on its Web site among products for which it provides accessories. Since reports of the listing hit the Internet, however, the iPhone nano listing has disappeared.
While it remains only speculation, cases made by XSKN in China also seem to confirm the rumors. On its Web site XSKN lists the iPhone nano as a product for which it manufactures cases. When a user clicks on the link, however, it goes to a registration page.
Getting Stronger
Other accessories have also been surfacing, such as the iPhone dock developed by North Carolina-based Digital Lifestyle Outfitters (DLO), which produces a line of computer and digital  -music accessories, including for the Apple iPod and iPhone. Requests for comment from DLO were not answered in time for publication.
"The iPhone nano rumor has been around for a while, but with two case vendors now advertising cases for a nonexistent and non-announced device, the rumor does get stronger," said Michael Gartenberg, vice president of mobile strategy for Jupitermedia. "Like the iPod, it's likely the iPhone will fragment into a family of devices at different price points and features at some point in the future."
Some believe the rumors have no truth, and manufacturers are simply rolling out products in anticipation of the device; others say it's safe to presume that these manufacturers would not be working on accessories they didn't believe would be bought by consumers.
"Presumably, they need specs from Apple," Gartenberg said. "Prior to the last revision of the nano, there were similar leaks of pending cases that proved accurate, giving credibility to the latest round of rumors."
Building Up Momentum
While speculation about the iPhone nano has become stronger, it is also building up anticipation for Macworld.
In less than one week, Apple will make its last appearance at the Macworld Conference & Expo, slated for Jan. 5-9 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco.
It would be fitting for Apple to end its appearances at Macworld with a bang. And what other way to do it than announcing a mini-version of its hottest-selling mobile device?
"We'll have to wait a few more days to see if that point happens at Macworld," Gartenberg said.
|
