[読んだ] Rumor: Could the new iPod touch be delayed?

Courtesy of Apple
Here at TUAW, we are all looking forward to the possible launch of a new iPod touch at Apple's music event on Wednesday. After all, who isn't excited after a slow Labor Day weekend (with no talkcast)? Unfortunately, over at AppleInsider and HardMac, they are both reporting that the new iPod touch revision may be delayed. They state that the delay could be related to last-minute technical issues with the rumored camera modules on the new devices.

We have already seen many case designs in various places showing a opening on the back for a possible camera, which already makes for lots of speculation. However, both sites still expect that new a iPod touch will be announced on Wednesday, but the new devices might not ship immediately after the announcement. It's still not known if this will affect possible upcoming iPod nano and iPod classic refreshes, which might also include a camera. Hopefully, we won't have to wait too long to get our hands (and fingers!) on a new iPod touch with a camera.

日本時間では明日の深夜にAppleの音楽イベントが行われるはずですが、ここにきて嫌なウワサが流れてますね。
中国の工場で生産をストップしたとかなんとか。
nanoとclassicだけ先行発売とかあんまりだなぁ……。

[読んだ] Apple To Kill Off iPod Classic, Double Down On Touch, iPhone Developer Predicts (AAPL)

Marco Arment, who created the excellent Instapaper, has some guesses. In a blog post (worth reading the whole thing), Arment predicts:

  • Apple will kill off the iPod classic.
  • Apple will cut the price on the iPod shuffle to $59.
  • Apple might stick a camera into the iPod nano, but will reduce the line to one model, 8 GB, for $99.
  • Apple will stick a camera into the iPod touch, double the storage capacities, and adjust pricing: 8 GB for $149, 16 GB for $199, 32 GB for $249, 64 GB for $349.

Certainly plausible. The main idea is to gradually spin down the legacy iPod line -- which Apple has already told us is slowly headed toward zero -- and get as many people using the iPod touch line instead.

Why? It's a more exciting, sophisticated experience, for one.

But also, the App Store, of course. Apple is in the beginning of a mobile platform war with RIM, Palm, Google, and others, and the iPod touch is a key part of it. Getting more people exposed to the App Store, which is only available on the OS X-powered touch iPod, will boost app sales, could boost iPhone sales, and should build platform loyalty and lock-in that is important, especially as Apple's rivals improve their own app platforms. Plus, it makes the App Store user base look even bigger, which makes the platform look better to developers.

iPod touchを値下げ・容量アップしてtouchユーザー増加を図り、さらにiTunes Storeの売上増も狙う、という構図はたしかにありえそうですね。

[読んだ] New Gallery of Cases for Next-Generation iPod Touch and iPod Nano Posted - Mac Rumors

The new cases are by no means the first to appear, and a number of manufacturers have developed cases of similar design, but the hands-on views and packaging images shown in this latest gallery may be of interest to readers.

たしかにパッケージに入った状態で見るのは今回のHamaが初めてかも。

[読んだ] From Berlin with love: Hama cases for rumored iPod touch with camera

It's no secret that next week's Apple event is built around the iPod, and all signs point towards new iPod touch and iPod nano models with a marquee new feature: cameras. As the cavalcade of case manufacturer leaks continues, Engadget visited with case builder Hama at the IFA trade show in Berlin and got plenty of pictures of the new cases for both models, complete with camera ports.

Even allowing for the possibility of mass hysteria among scores of accessory vendors, one thing to keep in mind here is that this same firm -- Hama -- was among the first to show new cases for the iPod nano 4G, last year at this very same event. Check out the gallery of images from Germany and let us know what you think.

イベントまで1週間切りましたね。
もうここまでくると腹が据わりました。
ケースのリーク情報くらいでは大して興奮できない自分がいます(^^;

[読んだ] Technology: My Predictions for the Apple Sept. 9th Event.


I thought, since the Apple iPod Event  is this Wednesday, I would give you my predictions for what Apple is going to announce. So, here they are:


- iPod Touch to get a Camera. 3.2 megapixels, with Video recording. Possibly a Price Drop

- iPod Nano to possibly get the same Camera. Possibly a Price Drop

- iPod Classic to possibly get the same camera. Bigger HD. Possible Price Drop

-iTunes 9 to get Social Networking features, and hopefully, better iPhone app management.

自分はプライスダウンよりも容量を大きくするのではないかと予想。
あと希望としてiPod touchには5メガピクセルのカメラを搭載して欲しいですね。

[読んだ] Apple's Tablet Could Be Larger than Expected

There have been numerous rumors saying that Apple is prepping a tablet with a 10-inch screen, but a new report says this device could be much larger than this.

A source in Asia claims to have see two Apple tablets in a factory, one with 13-inch display, and a second with a 15-inch display. 

This comes on the heels of a separate unconfirmed report, saying that this company is also considering a tablet with a screen smaller than 10 inches. This version apparently looks like a super-sized iPod touch.

新しいウワサ。
個人的な予想としては、現在1種類しかないMacBookに置き換わるかたちでtabletが出てくるんじゃないかと。
このウワサはその予想を裏付けそうな話題です。

[読んだ] Rumor: Apple planning new iPods with cameras | Apple - CNET News

The fact that Apple would use a September event to launch new iPods wouldn't be a big surprise, but the new iPod Nano and iPod Touch will reportedly have cameras. AppleInsider didn't cite sources for this detail but said it "has it on authority" and that it has been able to "independently confirm" the information.

The addition of cameras would increase the functionality of iPods, making them dual-purpose devices.

この記事にはclassicの名前がありませんね。

[読んだ] Electronista | iPod classic, nano, touch to get 3.2MP cameras?

How the camera system will work is unknown. It's suspected that only the iPod touch will have video recording features due to both its touchscreen and the fast processor, but all should at least have the option of taking photos.

そうそう、ビデオのこと忘れてました。
スペック的にも形状的にもiPod touch以外には載せづらそうですね、たしかに。

[読んだ] iPod touch, nano and classic will gain 3.2MP cameras - report | 9 to 5 Mac

Apple’s next-generation iPods - including the iPod touch, nano and classic - will carry 3.2 megapixel cameras supplied by Taiwan’s, OmniVision.

As 9to5Mac reported last week, the new generation iPods are expected to be introduced at an Apple special event on September 9

Reports this morning claim OmniVision has secured CMOS image sensor (CIS) orders for the upcoming products.

 

It will supply “3.2-megapixel CIS products for the new iPod nano, iPod classic and iPod touch models which will be launched in September,”  sources claim.

The company is one of the 3.2-megapixel CIS suppliers for the iPhone 3GS and is expected to ship 18 million CIS products to Apple per quarter.

Apple is also expected to introduce a new version of iTunes, equipped with social networking features including the capacity to depatch songs played to Facebook, iLike and Last.fm. The new software is also expected to support direct import of Digital Copy movies from Blu-ray discs. Some speculate on updates to the Apple TV at the event.

むぅ…5メガピクセルくらいを期待してたんですけどねぇ……。
消えると思われたclassicもカメラ付で残るとはちょっと意外。
まぁあくまでウワサですが。

[読んだ] Jobs 氏指揮で Apple 製タブレット PC ついに実現か - japan.internet.com Webビジネス

Apple のCEO (最高経営責任者) Steve Jobs 氏の復帰は、業務が通常に戻るだろうことを示す兆候というだけではない。長い間噂されているタブレット PC への参入計画の進行を示すと同時に、同氏が開発に再び采配をふるっていることを示すのかもしれない。

肝臓移植と6か月の療養を経て、Jobs 氏が Apple に職務復帰したのは6月だ。それ以来、同氏は噂されている Apple のタブレット型デバイスの開発に集中して取り組んでいると『Wall Street Journal』(WSJ) 紙が報じている

むしろtabletのような大事な製品にジョブズが関わってない方がおかしいですよね。