iPod XXXX - the New Flagship iPod

Cleve Nettles
|
August 23, 2007
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Hug it out Yeah we had a spy picture to show you but we've learned our lesson - twice. We'll just describe it and let your minds wander:

Update: We are having a contest!

Name - iPod XXXXX... HTC be damned!

Same form factor as the iPhone with some notable exceptions:

  • Outside rim is black, not silver like the iPhone and more flush with the screen like the 5.5G iPods not rounded like iPhone
  • No ear speaker or microphone for phoning
  • Thinner - slightly

Things that are the same:

  • OSX Embedded OS
  • 480x320 screen
  • Coverflow-enabled iPod application
  • Single button home navigation

Things we wish we knew:

  • WiFi?  (This is the Capper)
  • GPS?
  • NAND RAM and/or 160GB Hard Drives configs?
  • Cost?  (Like it matters we want them!)

Also, just a quick note to Apple Legal.  We've learned our lesson and will shy away from posting what could be considered trademarked information.  9to5Mac is an Apple enthusiest website and we are all huge Apple fans here (obviously).  We are not trying to hurt the company - just inform other Apple consumers who might want  more intel on upcoming products so that they may make more informed buying decisions.  No one wants to spend their hard-earned money on a product that is about to get put in the dumper.  We are just hyping your products and informing your consumers.

Who doesn't want that?  Apple, let's just hug it out!

Peace!

Comments (79)

Dr_cube (not verified) | August 23, 2007 - 2:18am

I would like to see the picture, but i think it's better if we discover it during a Keynote or a Special Event ! The Apple Expo is soon ^^.

macmanager (not verified) | August 23, 2007 - 2:19am

this is very exciting. however i totally hope that the picture for nanos wasn't real.

macmanager (not verified) | August 23, 2007 - 2:56am

I don't get why you feel that you can't put up those pictures? Just put them up, and take them down when you're asked to. That way, we (with the RSS feed) get to see them!

admin | August 23, 2007 - 3:06am

You know the huge margins on all those little iPods and MacBooks you buy? Yeah that is a lot of money. We do not want to be sued into oblivion when Apple decides they feel like it.

Can they do this? Absolutely. The only thing holding them back is the negative publicity like they got when they sued Think Secret.

Also, we don't want to hurt the company we love! :D

macmanager (not verified) | August 23, 2007 - 7:52am

so just leak a leaked pic to a leaked photobucket or something....

heck, check out wikileaks if it makes you feel better.....

bravedeer (not verified) | August 23, 2007 - 7:53am

I'll gladly post it on flickr and say I got it from China. I want to see Apple legal go after a poor hispanic kid, too bad PR :-)

macmanager (not verified) | August 23, 2007 - 10:57am

Hispanic kids in China? That was a dumb one.

bravedeer (not verified) | August 23, 2007 - 6:21pm

Hey fuck you 9to5 admins for censoring my post!

Marger (not verified) | December 31, 2008 - 1:17am

Amazing design. This should set a new precedent.
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9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | January 03, 2009 - 12:26am

Great design...Another top grade product from Apple.
http://www.gadgets4nowt.co.uk/

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | January 30, 2009 - 11:35am

As 9to5Noob said above, it is a great design, and yet another top grade product from Apple.

http://www.getthings4free.co.uk

Nathaniel (not verified) | August 23, 2007 - 8:32pm

Hey Dick. Grow a Brain.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | January 11, 2009 - 11:51am

Brilliant. Just brilliant.Technology Updates and News

Mike (not verified) | January 20, 2009 - 6:19pm

Great stuff..Kudos for sharing this out with us.
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cameron (not verified) | August 23, 2007 - 2:59am

If this thing has 100g + capacity, I'm all over it!! I won't even look at the price!!! lol

cameron (not verified) | August 23, 2007 - 3:03am

Could you guys draw up a mockup like you did for the nano so we can get the general idea?

admin | August 23, 2007 - 3:10am

People universally diss our art skills 24/7. How about we have a contest. You draw it up like we've described and we'll post the picture of the best/most acurate mockup!

cameron (not verified) | August 23, 2007 - 3:20am

Okay, I'll try to. One question though; are the black bars on the top and bottom of the screen there still?

admin | August 23, 2007 - 3:29am

Black bars? Dunno - it is exactly like the iPhone except the stuff mentioned

cameron (not verified) | August 23, 2007 - 3:33am

I mean the portions of the iphone where the proximity sensor and home button are. Are those spaces there, but just empty?

cameron (not verified) | August 23, 2007 - 3:36am

I mean the portions of the iphone where the proximity sensor and home button are. Are those spaces there, but just empty?

admin | August 23, 2007 - 5:24am

just empty

macmanager (not verified) | August 23, 2007 - 7:46am

Does it have any other button (like volume buttons)?

WillSmash (not verified) | August 23, 2007 - 8:04am

Nobody anywhere seems to discuss the possibility of the shuffle or nano being dropped. Shuffle is already in a market segment where competitors are plentiful and sell their products for half the price and with some form of screen.

Nanos have a long battery life with some engineering 'leg-room'. Drop the scroll wheel, the 8gig and maybe 4gig flavo(u)rs and large battery on the Nano, keep the screen and the clip along with the strong (non 'pastel(l)') colo(u)rs so that it retains it's fashion statement and you have the new clip on Nano/Shuffle with thumbnail 'old school' mono screen ( or colo(u)r photo capability if your 'pushing the boat out').

New 16gig maximum flash only 'iPod' will be along the lines of the stubby pastel(l) shaded alumin(i)um thing rumo(u)red with same screen size and retaining current 5.5 capability. Games yes, A/V out no.

iPod Touch will be iPhone minus phone and plus hard disk plus thickness and revised design. May just be a flight of fancy but I think iPod touch will also differentiate itself from the iPhone by using the 'space' at top and bottom for buttons and a analogue or digital thumb pad for casual gaming. Makes sense that all that power under the hood could be used to launch a PSP DS killer.

If you think about it this whole product line refresh is necessary for the respective products positioning in the market place and for each product not to cannibali(s/z)e each other or the iPhone.

macmanager (not verified) | August 23, 2007 - 10:35am

[quote=WillSmash] May just be a flight of fancy but I think iPod touch will also differentiate itself from the iPhone by using the 'space' at top and bottom for buttons and a analogue or digital thumb pad for casual gaming. Makes sense that all that power under the hood could be used to launch a PSP DS killer.[/quote]

It would be great to have this feature, but it will be way too expensive to compete with the DS. DS retails for $129 in the US. It is used primarily by kids under 10 years old. I don't see this this market being impacted by a new high-end iPod. As the Wii shows, Nintendo knows their markets.

A device can be a winner without being a killer of another device.

macmanager (not verified) | August 23, 2007 - 10:57am

Your guess is so far off, why would you ever assume there would be a bunch of extra buttons and joysticks all over the damn thing. IT COMES FROM APPLE, you know, the company run by the guy WHO HATES BUTTONS. look at the mighty mouse, iphone, current ipods, etc. The dude hates buttons and would never approve a design with a ton of buttons.

kev (not verified) | August 23, 2007 - 11:49am

Dude, your colo(ur) and rumo(u)r is driving me batty! :-) Almost as hard to read as those crazy UR unble 2 spll peepl.
I just type them colour and rumour and favourite and anyone who can't understand me is someone I don't need to try to communicate with! Zed zed zed!

Sorry for the mildly off-topic rant. Back on topic, sorta, any word on whether the iPod Touch will survive a journey through the washing machine like my Shuffle did the other day? Ear buds and all, working perfectly!

Kavin (not verified) | June 27, 2008 - 11:04am

In this case I think I need an ipod battery replacement, any tips for that? I don't want to risk choosing the wrong thing for my ipod.

WillSmash (not verified) | August 23, 2007 - 8:21am

Oh, and maybe the 'stubby' is just a prototype leak to gage opinion and they're actually going to suprise us with a 'landscape' 'stubby' iPod 6G (not 'Touch' A/V) with the click wheel on the left or right side.

Hate to go on about games all the time (don't really play much myself these days) but casual gaming is humongous now and a once 'geeky' passtime has become commonplace on London's tube. So place a more robust clickwheel on the left and a couple of buttons on the right and you have a half decent 'iPodboy' to chuck at Nintendo/Sony's hegemony and get there before the imminent or looming 'XboxBoyGPSZuneFi' from Microwank.

Felix (not verified) | August 23, 2007 - 9:26am

Why there is a Home button?

It is not a iPhone, it is just a iPod. There is absolutely no need to put a "home" button since there is no need to take the iPod user back to home.

iPod is, after all, not a iPhone. iPod is not meant to be multi-task. What the users can/should do is to listen music.

I feel sorry to reveal this fact but this is highly NOT possible.