iPhone Nano (Mini?) on the Way?

It looks like the iPhone will be getting a diminutive sibling in the near future — perhaps the iPhone Nano or iPhone Mini? That’s the word according to The Wall Street Journal. The rumored model would be small and cheaper than the mainline iPhone. Here are the details:

One of the people, who saw a prototype of the phone late last year, said it is intended for sale alongside Apple’s existing line. The new device would be about half the size of the iPhone 4, which is the current model.

The new phone — one of its code names is N97 — would be available to carriers at about half the price of the main iPhones. That would allow carriers to subsidize most or all of the retail price, putting the iPhone in the same mass-market price range as rival smartphones, the person said. Apple currently sells iPhones to carriers for $625 each on average. With carrier subsidies, consumers can buy iPhones for as little as $199 with a two-year contract.

Although Apple competes in the mid-range market with older iPhone models, it stands to do even better with a new model that costs $49 to $99 (on contract). That part of the rumor makes sense.

What doesn’t make sense is the whole “half the size” thing. The iPhone 4 is pretty damn small as it is. Even if the iPhone Nano does use an edge-to-edge screen, something half the size of the iPhone 4 sounds tough to use. I’m having visions of Derek Zoolander’s phone.

What do you think of the iPhone Nano rumor? Do you expect to hear about it at Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference in June? What features do you expect to have (and lack)?

Source

Author: RPadTV

https://rpad.tv

10 thoughts on “iPhone Nano (Mini?) on the Way?”

  1. Wow, no other comments yet? Weird.

    Anyways, I can only seem to talk in gaming terms. In terms of smaller games, nobody wants to look at a really small screen. The only way people buy smaller systems is if they don't sacrifice controls or screen size in the process. Take a look at Nintendo's little-mentioned GameBoy Micro; A smaller, less-bulky GBA isn't a bad idea, but the Micro took it a little too far. I never saw one in person, as nobody I knew actually got one. I still never hear it mentioned. Upon research, I found that even stores seemed to ignore it due to US criticism; some stores even delayed the release date until 11 days after the official release!

    Another good example is the PSP Go; although much of the criticism is due to the lack of UMD compatibility, I can't say that nobody has criticized it's size. Many people think that, on top of having no UMDs, the size just hurts it more. Sometimes, companies just need an eye opener about how small their systems can be. Both Nintendo and Sony have learned this: if the iPhone Nana (or Mini) is released, I have a feeling that Apple will get this dose of reality as well.

    For one, screens are already small, and controls are already uncomfortable enough in some regards. Nobody would spend time watching a movie, video, or even reading a book on a screen that small, as it would hurt their eyes. My thumbs already take up much of the space on the iTouch my parents own; how would that even work? I definitely don't like the concept.

  2. Wow, no other comments yet? Weird.

    Anyways, I can only seem to talk in gaming terms. In terms of smaller games, nobody wants to look at a really small screen. The only way people buy smaller systems is if they don't sacrifice controls or screen size in the process. Take a look at Nintendo's little-mentioned GameBoy Micro; A smaller, less-bulky GBA isn't a bad idea, but the Micro took it a little too far. I never saw one in person, as nobody I knew actually got one. I still never hear it mentioned. Upon research, I found that even stores seemed to ignore it due to US criticism; some stores even delayed the release date until 11 days after the official release!

    Another good example is the PSP Go; although much of the criticism is due to the lack of UMD compatibility, I can't say that nobody has criticized it's size. Many people think that, on top of having no UMDs, the size just hurts it more. Sometimes, companies just need an eye opener about how small their systems can be. Both Nintendo and Sony have learned this: if the iPhone Nano (or Mini) is released, I have a feeling that Apple will get this dose of reality as well.

    For one, screens are already small, and controls are already uncomfortable enough in some regards. Nobody would spend time watching a movie, video, or even reading a book on a screen that small, as it would hurt their eyes. My thumbs already take up much of the space on the iTouch my parents own; how would that even work? I definitely don't like the concept.

  3. OH NOES! I got upset with my computer's loading time and clicked 7 times! And it only blocked 1! AAAAARGH! I feel sooo stupid right now.

    1. haha.

      I think with touchscreen contextually sensitive controls work best. Tiny Wings for example.

      1. I don't really follow; my family just bought our first iPod Touch, and we're still trying to figure it all out really. Of course, I am stupid at the moment, so… I tried looking up what you meant, but all I found is that Tiny Wings is supposedly the '#1 Paid Game' for Apple systems. I will assume, at least for the moment, that you mean controls made specifically for the content in mind.

        But really, getting a system with a larger touch screen isn't bad at all, but downsizing a touch-only system? What?

        I won't be bagging on Touchscreen controls anytime soon, having owned a DS before. Unlike SOME Sony fans I know, I value the precision of said screens.

        PS: SOME Sony fans weren't on this site. Somewhere else, somebody was arguing that touchscreen controls weren't very precise. In some regards, they were right, but not all.

  4. Wow, no other comments yet? Weird.
    Anyways, I can only seem to talk in gaming terms. In terms of smaller games, nobody wants to look at a really small screen. The only way people buy smaller systems is if they don’t sacrifice controls or screen size in the process. Take a look at Nintendo’s little-mentioned GameBoy Micro; A smaller, less-bulky GBA isn’t a bad idea, but the Micro took it a little too far. I never saw one in person, as nobody I knew actually got one. I still never hear it mentioned. Upon research, I found that even stores seemed to ignore it due to US criticism; some stores even delayed the release date until 11 days after the official release!
    Another good example is the PSP Go; although much of the criticism is due to the lack of UMD compatibility, I can’t say that nobody has criticized it’s size. Many people think that, on top of having no UMDs, the size just hurts it more. Sometimes, companies just need an eye opener about how small their systems can be. Both Nintendo and Sony have learned this: if the iPhone Nano (or Mini) is released, I have a feeling that Apple will get this dose of reality as well.
    For one, screens are already small, and controls are already uncomfortable enough in some regards. Nobody would spend time watching a movie, video, or even reading a book on a screen that small, as it would hurt their eyes. My thumbs already take up much of the space on the iTouch my parents own; how would that even work? I definitely don’t like the concept.

  5. Wow, no other comments yet? Weird.
    Anyways, I can only seem to talk in gaming terms. In terms of smaller games, nobody wants to look at a really small screen. The only way people buy smaller systems is if they don’t sacrifice controls or screen size in the process. Take a look at Nintendo’s little-mentioned GameBoy Micro; A smaller, less-bulky GBA isn’t a bad idea, but the Micro took it a little too far. I never saw one in person, as nobody I knew actually got one. I still never hear it mentioned. Upon research, I found that even stores seemed to ignore it due to US criticism; some stores even delayed the release date until 11 days after the official release!
    Another good example is the PSP Go; although much of the criticism is due to the lack of UMD compatibility, I can’t say that nobody has criticized it’s size. Many people think that, on top of having no UMDs, the size just hurts it more. Sometimes, companies just need an eye opener about how small their systems can be. Both Nintendo and Sony have learned this: if the iPhone Nano (or Mini) is released, I have a feeling that Apple will get this dose of reality as well.
    For one, screens are already small, and controls are already uncomfortable enough in some regards. Nobody would spend time watching a movie, video, or even reading a book on a screen that small, as it would hurt their eyes. My thumbs already take up much of the space on the iTouch my parents own; how would that even work? I definitely don’t like the concept.

  6. Wow, no other comments yet? Weird.
    Anyways, I can only seem to talk in gaming terms. In terms of smaller games, nobody wants to look at a really small screen. The only way people buy smaller systems is if they don’t sacrifice controls or screen size in the process. Take a look at Nintendo’s little-mentioned GameBoy Micro; A smaller, less-bulky GBA isn’t a bad idea, but the Micro took it a little too far. I never saw one in person, as nobody I knew actually got one. I still never hear it mentioned. Upon research, I found that even stores seemed to ignore it due to US criticism; some stores even delayed the release date until 11 days after the official release!
    Another good example is the PSP Go; although much of the criticism is due to the lack of UMD compatibility, I can’t say that nobody has criticized it’s size. Many people think that, on top of having no UMDs, the size just hurts it more. Sometimes, companies just need an eye opener about how small their systems can be. Both Nintendo and Sony have learned this: if the iPhone Nano (or Mini) is released, I have a feeling that Apple will get this dose of reality as well.
    For one, screens are already small, and controls are already uncomfortable enough in some regards. Nobody would spend time watching a movie, video, or even reading a book on a screen that small, as it would hurt their eyes. My thumbs already take up much of the space on the iTouch my parents own; how would that even work? I definitely don’t like the concept.

  7. Wow, no other comments yet? Weird.
    Anyways, I can only seem to talk in gaming terms. In terms of smaller games, nobody wants to look at a really small screen. The only way people buy smaller systems is if they don’t sacrifice controls or screen size in the process. Take a look at Nintendo’s little-mentioned GameBoy Micro; A smaller, less-bulky GBA isn’t a bad idea, but the Micro took it a little too far. I never saw one in person, as nobody I knew actually got one. I still never hear it mentioned. Upon research, I found that even stores seemed to ignore it due to US criticism; some stores even delayed the release date until 11 days after the official release!
    Another good example is the PSP Go; although much of the criticism is due to the lack of UMD compatibility, I can’t say that nobody has criticized it’s size. Many people think that, on top of having no UMDs, the size just hurts it more. Sometimes, companies just need an eye opener about how small their systems can be. Both Nintendo and Sony have learned this: if the iPhone Nano (or Mini) is released, I have a feeling that Apple will get this dose of reality as well.
    For one, screens are already small, and controls are already uncomfortable enough in some regards. Nobody would spend time watching a movie, video, or even reading a book on a screen that small, as it would hurt their eyes. My thumbs already take up much of the space on the iTouch my parents own; how would that even work? I definitely don’t like the concept.

  8. Wow, no other comments yet? Weird.
    Anyways, I can only seem to talk in gaming terms. In terms of smaller games, nobody wants to look at a really small screen. The only way people buy smaller systems is if they don’t sacrifice controls or screen size in the process. Take a look at Nintendo’s little-mentioned GameBoy Micro; A smaller, less-bulky GBA isn’t a bad idea, but the Micro took it a little too far. I never saw one in person, as nobody I knew actually got one. I still never hear it mentioned. Upon research, I found that even stores seemed to ignore it due to US criticism; some stores even delayed the release date until 11 days after the official release!
    Another good example is the PSP Go; although much of the criticism is due to the lack of UMD compatibility, I can’t say that nobody has criticized it’s size. Many people think that, on top of having no UMDs, the size just hurts it more. Sometimes, companies just need an eye opener about how small their systems can be. Both Nintendo and Sony have learned this: if the iPhone Nano (or Mini) is released, I have a feeling that Apple will get this dose of reality as well.
    For one, screens are already small, and controls are already uncomfortable enough in some regards. Nobody would spend time watching a movie, video, or even reading a book on a screen that small, as it would hurt their eyes. My thumbs already take up much of the space on the iTouch my parents own; how would that even work? I definitely don’t like the concept.

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