Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Man, Apple’s lockdown on product leaks just isn’t as tight as it used to be — remember when having new iPod designs leaked by case manufacturers seemed totally unthinkable? Yeah, those times are over — check out these silicone cases for a fourth-gen iPod nano and second-gen iPod touch that just appeared on Alibaba. We’re not totally sold on the touch cases, but the nanos look way more legit, especially since we’ve seen some others matching this general look before; while nano KIRFs in this form factor aren’t uncommon, we’d say it’s pretty unlikely that anyone’s making several different types of silicone cases for them. We’re not calling this anywhere near 100 percent yet, but let’s just say we’re hoping Apple’s press photographers can make the new nano look a whole lot better than our pal Mr. Blurrycam by the time September 9th rolls around. More case photos after the break.

[Thanks, Samm]

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Continue reading New iPod nano and touch revealed by case manufacturers?

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Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

There’s been a lot of iPod chatter in the air lately and now MacRumors and Ars Technica say that we’ll be seeing El Steve boom-boom some new gear on September 9th. No specifics on what’s in store, but new nanos are obviously on the table, as is that rumored subscription service and possibly a new iPod touch at a lower price. Anything you guys hoping for?

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Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Sure, magic man and all-around seer Kevin Rose delivered the “news” that a refreshed iPod nano is coming in the form that slimmed up, tapered in, longish tube of a device — but you might be looking for harder evidence. We’ve just come across two case-related designs supposedly destined for Apple’s next PMP, but both raise as many questions as they answer. Chinese accessory-maker Beelan apparently has a silicon sleeve ready to drop ship to a location of your choice via Alibaba, and iDealsChina is showing off renders of the 4th gen nano and another case from “some unknown Canadian company.” Unfortunately, neither design can really be verified, and as they’ve just appeared on the heels of last night’s Rose rumor, the timing seems a touch suspect. We’re wondering what the Engadget hive-mind thinks — any meat on these bones?

[Via PMPToday; Thanks Joel]

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Read - New! iPod Nano 4TH Gen Touch Screen

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Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Kevin Rose of Digg origins claims to have the scoop on the latest iPod nano. Mind you, this is the same Kevin Rose who notoriously claimed that a generation one iPhone would launch in both CDMA and GSM versions with a pair of batteries and slide-out keyboard. Uh hem. This time however, he backs up his claims with a picture of that skinnier, longer, and curvier nano pictured above — credible because it just happens to be consistent with other rumors we’ve seen floating around and certainly makes sense for an Apple obsessed with tapering edges and video playback. Kev also claims that the iPod lineup will undergo price cuts to avoid the market cannibalization assumed by the lower $199 iPhone 3G purchase price. The iPod touch, which currently starts at $299 for 8GB, will see some slight cosmetic changes as well as a new 2.1 firmware update (which will obviously make its way to the iPhone). Tagging along with the iPod refresh is a new iTunes 8.0 which, according to Rose’s sources, deserves the full point upgrade based on all the new features and functionality it brings. All this, “in the next 2-3 weeks.”

He then adds that OS X 10.5.6 is rumored to include Blu-ray support which could point to future Blu-ray options in Apple’s lineup of Macs — oh, and ponies, lots of ponies. Listen to the man say it in his own words in the video after the break.

[Thanks, Matt and Alexis F.]

Continue reading Kevin Rose unearths redesigned iPod nano, digs for more?

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Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Sure, you could dismiss this round of iPod rumors — so carefully culled by the fine folks at 9 to 5 Mac and AppleInsider — as baseless speculation, but we’ll have none of your dowdy skepticism. We’re talking about rainbows here, people. AppleInsider claims that retailers are seeing current iPod models being switched to “discontinued” in inventory systems, Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster says to expect iPod refreshes across the board, including a slightly redesigned $200 iPod touch, and meanwhile 9 to 5 Mac has it from an unnamed source that the new iPod nanos will have enhanced features, double the storage and rainbow color schemes. It’s almost like somebody in Cupertino is reading our mind! We’ll know for sure when new iPods arrive mid-September filled to the brim with “Run’s House” episodes and bedecked in rainbow-hued gummy bears. It’s going to rock.

[Thanks, Kiwi616]

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Filed under: Portable Audio

digg_url = ‘http://digg.com/apple/Apple_admits_to_iPod_nano_smoking_and_sparks_will_replace’; It’s only taken a number of years and some seriously ruined pants — but Apple has finally come clean on the flammable nature of the first-generation iPod nano, and is now offering to replace the faulty devices. After reports today that two more of the media players had lit up without warning in Japan, the company issued a statement admitting that the nanos do — in fact — have battery problems which cause them to smoke or spark and generally burn the hell out of things. In the company’s words:

“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.”

Well, thanks guys… at least we didn’t die.

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Filed under: Portable Audio

digg_url = ‘http://digg.com/apple/Apple_admits_to_iPod_nano_smoking_and_sparks_will_replace’; It’s only taken a number of years and some seriously ruined pants — but Apple has finally come clean on the flammable nature of the first-generation iPod nano, and is now offering to replace the faulty devices. After reports today that two more of the media players had lit up without warning in Japan, the company issued a statement admitting that the nanos do — in fact — have battery problems which cause them to smoke or spark and generally burn the hell out of things. In the company’s words:

“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.”

Well, thanks guys… at least we didn’t die.

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Filed under: Portable Audio

var digg_url = ‘http://digg.com/apple/Japan_orders_Apple_to_investigate_exploding_iPod_nanos’; Uh oh. Japan’s trade and economy ministry is now officially investigating the explosive nature of the iPod nano. The culprit is model MA099J/A — aka, the old black and white plastic model already reported to spew “chest high flames,” cause bedroom fires, and explode across the floor. The Japan incident occurred in January when an iPod nano reportedly “shot out sparks while recharging.” At this point, all odds are with the nano’s lithium ion battery. Apple Japan has been ordered to investigate the issue and report back to the ministry with the cause. Kind of like asking the fox what it was doing in the hen house, eh?

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Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Oddly enough, this isn’t the first time we’ve seen a product proudly designed in Cupertino erupt, but it’s pretty safe to say this story could have had a much more tragic ending. Reportedly, an iPod nano owner recently awoke to a blaring fire alarm around 2:00AM, only to find his beloved PMP wrapped in flames on the bedroom floor. Thankfully, the fire was tiny enough to be extinguished without any major trouble, and no substantial damage of property or human flesh was tallied. As of now, we’ve no idea if the unit simply exploded or if surrounding circumstances are at least partly to blame, but you can bet your bottom dollar that be sleeping with one eye open (and on our media players) tonight.

[Thanks, Sandy]

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Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

We’ve gotten a tip that there could be a new iPod nano color on the way — purple to be exact — due to a Circuit City circular ad distributed in Minneapolis this weekend. As far as exciting or even remotely interesting rumors go, this one falls about one space after dead last, and is most likely some kind of funkdafied CMYK mishap, or worse yet — the most boring Photoshop job in the world. Still, for all you serious iPod aficionados who simply must have the latest shade, perhaps your player will soon be awash in Grimace-colored tones that only the Hamburgler and Prince could truly love.

Update: Well you can rule out printing errors, thanks to tipsters Jack and Joe, we have some proof that the device in question is actually purple.

[Thanks, Tony T.]

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Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

We’ve gotten a tip that there could be a new iPod nano color on the way — purple to be exact — due to a Circuit City circular ad distributed in Minneapolis this weekend. As far as exciting or even remotely interesting rumors go, this one falls about one space after dead last, and is most likely some kind of funkdafied CMYK mishap, or worse yet — the most boring Photoshop job in the world. Still, for all you serious iPod aficionados who simply must have the latest shade, perhaps your player will soon be awash in Grimace-colored tones that only the Hamburgler and Prince could truly love.

Update: Well you can rule out printing errors, thanks to tipsters Jack and Joe [but not necessarily photoshops, thanks to Eliav]. Check it out after the break — you can make the call for yourself, For now we’re placing this one back on the table.

[Thanks, Tony T.]

Continue reading iPod nano coming in purple? Probably not.

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Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

If you just so happen to have a spare 35mm slide viewer gathering all sorts of dust in your basement and one of Apple’s latest nanos, we’ve discovered a perfect way to spend your weekend and exercise your DIY muscle. Granted, the Nanoscope has been around the block a time or two, but that doesn’t weaken its geek factor one iota. Essentially, you simply modify said viewer to accommodate the nano, add in a set of speakers and kick back to enjoy your stored movie files in larger-than-originally-intended fashion. Really, it’s way cooler than it sounds — check out the video after the jump.

[Via RetroThing]

Continue reading 35mm slide viewer hacked to enhance iPod nano viewing

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Filed under: Peripherals, Portable Audio, Portable Video

You’ve got to hand it to modder Mark Irwin, who did his fellow tinkerers proud by assembling a bunch of found objects into a very handy audio / video dock for the squat new iPod nano. The project is brilliant in its simplicity: Irwin just carved a nano-sized slot in an old slide magnifier, embedded some discarded speakers, and ended up with a super-handy viewing station on the cheap. Check out the video after the break for inspiration on how you, too, can help put an end to this national Made for iPod nightmare perpetrated by Griffin, Belkin, Monster, and their evil cohorts.

Continue reading Nanoscope, the DIY ipod nano fatty A/V dock

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Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

It’s a small, small consolation, but Apple has donated free iPod nanos to over 100 kids in a California school district who lost their homes in the recent wildfires. Affected high school students in Poway, California, received the devices after Steve Boyack, husband of a Poway city councilwoman, noticed that fundraising and gift drives organized by the city targeted mainly young children and older folks and decided to write Steve Jobs an email at his famously public email address. Steve didn’t write back, but Michael Foulkes, Apple’s senior manager for state and local government affairs, soon had the iPods on their way. Apple being Apple, it’s declined to comment on the story, and Boyack says the company didn’t want any publicity to begin with, saying, “It was strictly from the heart and just wanting to help.” Love or hate Apple, you’ve got to respect them for trying to provide at least a little holiday cheer.

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Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

It’s a small, small consolation, but Apple has donated free iPod nanos to over 100 kids in a California school district who lost their homes in the recent wildfires. Affected high school students in Poway, California, received the devices after Steve Boyack, husband of a Poway city councilwoman, noticed that fundraising and gift drives organized by the city targeted mainly young children and older folks and decided to write Steve Jobs an email at his famously public email address. Steve didn’t write back, but Michael Foulkes, Apple’s senior manager for state and local government affairs, soon had the iPods on their way. Apple being Apple, it’s declined to comment on the story, and Boyack says the company didn’t want any publicity to begin with, saying, “It was strictly from the heart and just wanting to help.” Love or hate Apple, you’ve got to respect them for trying to provide at least a little holiday cheer.

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Portable Audio

Got a third-generation iPod nano? Looking for a new set of earbuds, preferably with noise-canceling abilities? If so, look no further than Radius’ new set, which plug right into the dock in order to extract all the juice they need to block out extraneous clamor. The radStrap canalphones are expected to ship in black, green and silver, and feature a neck strap, on / off switch for the noise-cancellation, an aluminum housing and frequency response of 20Hz to 20kHz. Check ‘em out next month for ¥8,980 ($82), but don’t get your hopes up for a bonafide US release.

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Practical? No. Still, there’s something about this Shimura full metal iPod jacket which makes us want to love it long time. It ships direct from Japan for something like ¥17,900 (about $165). Yeah, that’s bit fubar.

[Via Akihabara News]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Digital Cameras, Portable Video

Funny huh? We knew something was a tad too familiar with those Sony’s DSC-T2 Cyber-shot cameras announced yesterday. Now, Engadget Japanese reveals why. Those pictures are official, un-doctored press shots from both Apple and Sony. The former (and we mean former) comes courtesy of archive.org since it’s been supplanted by Apple’s new nano. Of course, Apple’s no saint in these matters either. Flattery at its finest, eh? Sony, like.no.other.

[Via Engadget Japanese]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Desktops, Portable Audio, Portable Video

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Apparently that 1.0.1 iPod update the other week didn’t do much to fix the iPod Classic and Nano’s Coverflow performance, with a new update fixing low framerates and jerky animations once and for all. Overall faster menu performance is also part of the package, with TV Out functionality getting the fix it should have had in the first place, with a third “ask” option for selecting TV out mode when a cable is plugged in. These cases of release now, fix later are really becoming a bore.

[Thanks, Billy. Via MacRumors]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!