Analyst: New iPod nano due Q4 with magnesium casing

American Technology Research analyst Shaw Wu believes we won’t see the next generation iPod nano until sometime this Fall, and that the new model may sport a new magnesium-based enclosure. Wu says the new nano is facing transition issues due to a move to an SOC (system-on-a-chip) architecture. “In terms of timing, we continue to believe calendar Q4 is most likely, specifically October and at the earliest, late Q3, meaning the 2H of September,” he says. Corroborating a similar report earlier today, Wu says the new nanos may sport a new magnesium-based casing. “We believe this new casing will improve scratch-resistance, durability, and help lower Apple’s support and warranty costs,” he says.