News
Camera-laden iPod nano prototype reappears
By Charles Starrett
Senior Editor, iLounge
Published: Wednesday, February 1, 2012
News Category: iPod nano
New photos of a clip-on iPod nano with a camera have appeared online. Taiwanese site Apple.pro has posted (Translated Link) four new photos showing what appears to be a sixth-generation iPod nano shell with a camera built into the upper left of the rear of the device, as well as a small hole on the top that would presumably be for a microphone.
Notably, the same website was the source of a similar photo last April, leading to speculation that a seventh-generation nano with camera functionality would appear in 2011. While such a device was never released, an Apple patent illustration—for a speaker that would be built in to the device’s rear clip—subsequently provided proof that the company had been working on such a design. While there is little doubt that the item pictured is a real Apple prototype design, it remains unclear at this point whether Apple actually plans on releasing such a device, as the challenges relating to photography on such a small device remain significant, and the value of this feature versus others that Apple could include in a new iPod nano is questionable. [via Mac Rumors]
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1
The real irony is that it’s probably a better camera than they decided to stick on the 4G touch.
Posted by Code Monkey in Midstate New York on February 1, 2012 at 3:10 PM (PDT)
2
“...the challenges relating to photography on such a small device remain significant…”
Huh? The camera module in an iPhone or any other phone is miniscule. What on earth are the significant challenges? Looks like based on the MacRumors article the lens is positioned mostly outside the main Nano body, using the depth of the clip as well as the body which would house the sensor etc.
Posted by Tim on February 3, 2012 at 11:59 AM (PDT)