The
last round of rumors was sparked by reports of large orders for iPhone-style camera modules.
This time, according to
Wired magazine, the news from "a well-connected source" is that the Chinese factories that build iPods are already turning out iPod Touch modes with both cameras and microphones.
The source says to look for the devices to go on sale in "two to three months."
Adding a microphone and the (already available) Skype app to the iPod Touch's existing WiFi capability could theoretically turn the device into a VoIP mobile phone, throwing a wrench into the existing carrier-bound smartphone market.
It would also enable the Touch to be controlled with voice commands, the same way the iPhone now is.
Adding a camera could also throw a wrench into the growing market for pocket-size video cameras such as the Flip.
The iPhone already includes basic video editing software and the ability to post video directly to YouTube. A lot will depend on how an iPod Touch with Video is priced, of course.
For the latest on an Apple tablet, see Page 2.
The other persistent rumor is that Apple is finally getting close to introducing some kind of sub-notebook device.
Whether it's more like a netbook or more like a very large iPod Touch remains to be seen.
But according to an article translated from the
China Times and posted on
macrumors.com , Apple has finalized orders with three manufacturers: Foxconn, Wintek, and Dynapak.
The devices will supposedly come out in October, in time for the holiday shopping season.
The China Times article claims that the iTablet will have a 9.7-inch touchscreen manufactured by Wintek--the same size screen as the new Kindle DX.
One unanswered question is whether such a device would run standard Mac OS X, making it more of a general-purpose computer, or the iPhone OS, making it more of an Internet and media device.
Basing it on the iPhone OS would also provide another outlet for the iPhone App Store, which is a lucrative revenue stream for Apple.
Also, the
China Times reports that the price is planned to be around US$800. A giant iPod Touch might have more cachet, and be able to command such a price, better than a device seen as a subnotebook, especially when it may not have a true keyboard.
