With Macworld coming up in just two weeks, the parade of Apple-flavored rumors, wishes, and murmurings continues.
The latest to surface--or resurface--involves a purported concept photo of what's said to be an "iPhone Nano," a more or less three-quarter-size version of the Apple iPhone. Even as it presents the photo, MacRumors.com also invokes a healthy dose of skepticism:
We have some serious doubts about the likelihood of such a device. These doubts are based both in the quality of the sources as well as the practicality of introducing a new form factor to the iPhone/iPod Touch platform.
Those cautionary words echo the historical perspective offered by CNET News' Tom Krazit, writing a week ago on the occasion of some earlier Nano-esque reports:
iPhone Nano rumors date back to the launch of the original iPhone, when a financial analyst predicted that Apple would have a slimmed-down version of the iPhone out for the 2007 holiday season. That obviously didn't happen, and other reports this summer and more recent speculation about a $99 4GB iPhone to be sold at Wal-Mart have kept the rumor alive.
And Monday, Tom took stock of a potential clue in this story: "iPhone Nano cases appear online."
See also:
: No Jobs means no Macworld splash
: Apple's blind-side hit on IDG
: Rumor has Apple updating Mac Mini
: Analyst predicts Apple will unveil Netbook
: 'MacHeads' film to debut at MacWorld