According to a report filed by the Times this evening, the fabled iPhone nano isn’t any smaller than the current iPhone. In fact, it isn’t nano at all unless you consider its bill of materials. However, the report did corroborate other details of Apple’s soon to be released “value iPhone” which will likely just be the current iPhone 4 with cheaper components (like the iPod touch?).
The current iPod touch 8GB retails for $229 so it might stand to reason that Apple could keep prices under $300 with the addition of some extra radios, considering the prices of components are always falling.
Reasons for not making a smaller iPhone include its difficulty to use and the fact that manufacturing prices wouldn’t drop significantly.
The new iPhones would be able to be controlled by voice commands, something we explored last night with Apple’s acquisition of AI app Siri, likely with iOS 5, also due this summer.
Also, a huge MobileMe overhaul is in the works, which we’ve heard before:
The new MobileMe service will allow users to sync photos and media across all Apple hardware and the cloud, allowing devices with smaller amounts of storage to be built.
The current version of MobileMe, which costs $100 a year, has failed to catch on with consumers. Rivals like Google and others offer similar services free.
The new version of MobileMe is expected to be free and would allow users to synch their files without using a cable.
They also throw salt across town at the WSJ’s report earlier by debunking the “N97” codename:
