Apple has confirmed repeatedly that they’re not going to make an iPhone nano. So while that means they may or may not, it definitely means the knock-off artists are making them. Register Hardware brings us this little gem:

The Mini’s touchscreen in resistive rather than capacitive, a choice no doubt partly dictated by cost and partly by the need to use a stylus to type on the diminutive virtual Qwerty keyboard which only appears in portrait mode. That’s not to say you actually have to use the stylus – after some practice we managed to finger-type with around a 60 per cent chance of getting the right letter the first time.

Anyone racing over to get one?

[Thanks to Icebike for the tip!]

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Friday Fun Fake: iPhoney Nano

It wasn’t MacWorld 2007, was it? Too much hype, too little delivery? Rumors of secret features and analysts wetting themselves over lower-margin product revelations set the bar too high? Or did Apple just decide to slip under it this time?

Either way, for iPhone lovers like we here at TiPb, Apple spared only about 10 seconds worth of attention. Highlights were limited to Firmware 2.1, which will be available Friday and include better battery life, less crashy apps, and… working 3G?!

Apple’s already made their money for the year on the iPhone, however, so it was time to pump the holiday purses: iPod Nano and iPod Touch. Read on for pics and the full roundup!

Kevin Rose must be smirking, see how several of his predictions came true, at least to some degree.

The Nano has the new/old Tall-Boy widescreen form factor, and comes complete with iTunes 8 compatible Genius music recommendations and playlists, and accelerometer, shake to shuffle, and more colors than a bag of skittles (no, I’ll never tire of that visual).

The Touch looks to be positioned directly against the Nintendo DS and Sony PSP, with Spore and Need for Speed featured, along with built-in Nike+ integration, and the same Genius features as the Nano (and the iPhone, right Steve?!)

The Classic gets a one-size-fits all reduction to 120GB only, and the Genius features.

Updated: And iTunes 8, which will be available today, wraps it all together along with skim-able grid view, accessibility improvements, HD TV, the return of NBC (on bended knee?), trippy new Visualizations, and full on Pandora/Last.fm-style recommendations, as rumored.

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iPod Takes Center Stage At Lame-ish “Let’s Rock” Event

Engadget has scored a couple of sneaky first looks at both Apple’s upcoming “Let’s Rock” event (above) scheduled for Tuesday, and the new 4th Generation iPod Nano (below) that’s all but certain to be released there.

Once Kremlin-eque in their secrecy and security, Apple’s iPod division has either grown leakier as of last year’s 3G “fatty” Nano, or Apple itself is doing a little guerilla marketing to soften the news up and build anticipation.

Which one is it?

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Photo Firsts: Let’s Rock and 4G Nano!

Was Kevin Rose right? Is the Analyst-busting 8-Ball now batting 500? Could there be any more speculation about something that’s close-to, but not quite an iPhone?? Engadget Spanish (via MacRumors) has seen the usual pre-Special Event hype, and raised the first “in the wild” case leaks:

The case is by Hama and is a Sport Case specifically labeled “for iPod nano 4G”.

While notoriously secretive Apple managed to shock the world with the iPhone in 2007, things have been a tad more leaky ever since, with the “fatty” Nano, MacBook Air, and even iPhone 3G details all getting out before Jobs could utter a single Boom!

Not many were thrilled with the Nano 3G prior to holding it in their hands, and not many seem thrilled with the advance peaks at the 4G either (calling it Zune-like — ouch!). Personally, I’m not sold on the design yet either, but I’ve learned the hard way you don’t ever count Jonathan Ive out.

What do you think? Hawt or really not?

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ZOMG! iPod Nano 4G Case in the Wildz!

…Just multiply! So says MacRumors, gossiping this time about a UK report that has Apple launching an iPhone Nano just in time for the holidays. But is anyone buying what the DailyMail is cooking?

Nope. Not even on coupon night. Though MacRumors does state the more sensical:

More reliable sources have indicated that Apple has been working on a smaller iPhone, but there is no expected time-frame for that product’s release.

Of course, at any time the uber-secret Apple labs are doubtlessly working on countless projects, many of which Steve Jobs is proud have never seen the light of day. iPhone Nano could be one of those too, just like it’s much bigger, equally mythical iTablet brother…

(Now watch both drop this Tuesday…)

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iPhone Nano Rumors Will Never Die…

First came the iPod, then came the iPod Nano. Well, okay, there was the intermediary Mini, but that’s neither here nor there. Eventually — and currently — there was — and is — the Nano. So it should come as no surprise that ever since Steve Jobs dropped the iPhone bomb back at Macworld 2007, people (and analysts, who may still technically be people?) have been predicting an iPhone Nano.

And now some Apple patents have been revealed which may just bring it a few technical hurdles closer to being!

In a nutshell, it covers a method for making an iPhone-style touchscreen out of “sensor panel substrate called polyethylene terephthalate (PET)”. It’s directed towards an iPod Classic style device, although an example phone is also detailed, but in our iPhone world, we’re imagining it might also one day find its way into an iPhone Nano as well…

Check the read link for a much more in depth rundown…

Read

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Patent Watch: Apple Preparing for iPhone Nano?