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Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

There you have it, more supposed iPod nano 4G love, unboxed and wearing a distinctive iPod nano 2G lime-colored coat. Must be cold in the house that fruit built from all these leaks.

Update: As noted in the comments, that 2G coloring is matched with a an old-style squeeze connector for the dock making this leak, at least, highly suspect.

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Original post by Thomas Ricker

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Look, you know the drill here. This may be the painstaking result of some CAD-school-dropout’s nights home alone, or the latest in cheapo knock-offs from the Far East. You may be looking at a Photoshop spackled together from newspaper clippings, puppy dog tears, and Steve Jobs’ fever-dreams. Or, this could be a really crappy, actual photo of the iPod nano 4G in its packaging. It sure looks enough like what we’ve been seeing lately to be any / all of the above. Regardless, we’ll know the truth real, real soon.

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Original post by Joshua Topolsky

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Hey, what’s one more leaked OEM/ODM image of the iPod nano 4G between friends. While usually we’d be highly suspect of an image like this from Alibaba.com (peddlers of the Mac G6), the stars have certainly aligned around this next generation iPod nano form factor show beneath the Screen Guard for iPod Nano 4th Gen. Besides, it’s the first clean render we’ve seen from below.

[Thanks, Chris W.]

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Original post by Thomas Ricker

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

So, iLounge has a hot tip on dimensions for the hotly-rumored, upcoming iPod nano and iPod touch refreshes. The diagrams appear to the type of thing provided to case manufacturers so they launch their player-hugging wares on day one, but could just as easily be faked, so we’ll take ‘em with a grain of salt. Of note, the new fourth-gen iPod nano has supposedly slimmed down to a mere 6.08mm thick, compared to the 2nd gen’s 6.5mm, while the second-gen iPod touch got all curvy on us like big brother 3G, and similarly adds thickness: 8.4mm thick, instead of 8mm on the original. More exciting than the design tweak is the addition of volume control buttons to the side of the iPod touch, though the headphone port has stuck to the base of the device. Hopefully we’ll know more soon, the mock-suspense is just killing us.

Update: A couple have people have pointed out that XSKN has also made a nano 4G case to these dimensions. Hooray for them!

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Original post by Paul Miller

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

var digg_url = ‘http://digg.com/apple/iPod_nano_4G_case_found_matches_the_Kevin_Rose_nano’; Our spicy, siesta loving friends over at Engadget Spanish just nabbed a hands-on with Hama’s iPod nano 4G case on the floor of IFA. The tip came in anonymously about an hour ago and sure enough, there it is, buried in a mountain of iPod accessories and sharing the same smooth arc of the Kevin Rose nano — as it will from henceforth be known. Hit the read link for all the pics, or check a couple more after the break.

Continue reading Hands-on with Hama’s iPod nano 4G case at IFA

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Original post by Thomas Ricker

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]

Read - iPod nano case
Read - iPod nano case
Read - iPod touch case
Read - iPod touch case

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

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Original post by Nilay Patel

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?

Read - MacRumors
Read - Ars Technica

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Original post by Nilay Patel

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]

Read - for iPod nano 4G Silicon Skin Case
Read - New! iPod Nano 4TH Gen Touch Screen

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Original post by Joshua Topolsky

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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Original post by Thomas Ricker

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 Curpentino 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]

Read - AppleInsider
Read - 9 to 5 Mac

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Original post by Paul Miller

Filed under: Portable Audio

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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Original post by Joshua Topolsky

Filed under: Portable Audio

Look, it’s pretty clear that the lithium-ion battery in the first generation iPod nano has the potential to burst into flames. Seriously, how many more cases do we have to see? Even after giving Apple a stern talking-to and ferocious wag of the finger back in March, Japan’s government is once again investigating possible battery defects that caused a pair of Tokyo nanos to burn: nano model MA099 recently singed a piece of nearby paper while a model MA005 nano burned a traditional tatami mat in January (no injuries were reported).

Presumably Apple is calculating the Tyler Durden cost-of-recall at this very moment. In other words, take the number of 1st gen nanos in the field, A, multiply by the probable rate of failure, B, multiply by the average out-of-court settlement, C. A times B times C equals X. If X is less than the cost of a recall, they don’t do one.

Update: Japan has issued a warning to iPod nano users saying, “Users need to be careful about overheating of the machines,” particularly when charging the players. Japan’s government has reported a total of 14 similar incidents to Apple related to models MA004J/A, MA005J/A, MA099J/A and MA107J/A all sold between September ‘05 and September ‘06 — two of which resulted in minor burns. NHK claims that Apple does not plan a recall but is ready to exchange defective parts.

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Original post by Thomas Ricker

Filed under: Portable Audio

Look, it’s pretty clear that the lithium-ion battery in the first generation iPod nano has the potential to burst into flames. Seriously, how many more cases do we have to see? Even after giving Apple a stern talking-to and ferocious wag of the finger back in March, Japan’s government is once again investigating possible battery defects that caused a pair of Tokyo nanos to burn: nano model MA099 recently singed a piece of nearby paper while a model MA005 nano burned a traditional tatami mat in January (no injuries were reported).

Presumably Apple is calculating the cost-of-recall at this very moment. In other words, take the number of 1st gen nanos in the field, A, multiply by the probable rate of failure, B, multiply by the average out-of-court settlement, C. A times B times C equals X. If X is less than the cost of a recall, they don’t do one.

Update: Japan has issued a warning to iPod nano users saying, “Users need to be careful about overheating of the machines,” particularly when charging the players. Japan’s government has reported a total of 14 similar incidents to Apple related to models MA004J/A, MA005J/A, MA099J/A and MA107J/A all sold between September ‘05 and September ‘06 — two of which resulted in minor burns. NHK claims that Apple does not plan a recall but is ready to exchange defective parts.

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Original post by Thomas Ricker

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Man, it has been quite awhile since we’ve seen an iPod of any sort get dressed up in limited edition attire. Thinking back to those Harry Potter, Madonna and Tony Hawk editions, we can’t help but wonder how this one missed the boat. Coincidentally (or not) enough, the CBS Store has decided to offer up a special run of 8GB Beverly Hills, 90210 iPod nanos just as The CW pushes the all new rendition of the show. Buyers can add up to 30 characters of text and choose black, pink, green, blue or silver hues, but you better hurry — who knows how fast raving fans will be handing over their $269 in hopes of securing one.

[Via ChipChick]

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

Looks like the latest Leopard update, 10.5.4, just landed. Nothing big, but all the details are after the break; Mac users, you know how to snag it.

Continue reading Apple releases Leopard 10.5.4 update

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Original post by Ryan Block