New iPod Nano or Just More Rumors?

iDealsChina reportedly has gotten their hands on a plastic mold for a 4th generation iPod nano. They claim the new nano will be the same size as the 2nd generation nano, long and slim. It will also sport a much larger display.

Of course, we always see iPod rumors around this time of year, because we expect Apple to once again introduce new or revamped iPods in mid-September. Although iDealsChina has been accurate in previous rumors, this one seems to have a bit of a functional flaw. The first problem I see is that according to their case mold, the new nano has a rounded surface, including the glazing that would go over the screen. A display based on this design would be subject to reflections from any nearby light source. Think of the old-style TVs and monitors that had rounded display tubes. When they transitioned to flat screens or nearly flat screens, one of the big selling points was the lack of reflections. Why would Apple take a step backwards to a display that would perform poorly?

The other problem I see is that the plastic mold lacks any method for connecting the nano to a computer. There's no molded section for docking connectors, headphone jacks, or any other way to make a connection to the nano. Even if the new nano used wireless connectivity and Bluetooth headsets, how would you charge the battery?

What do you think? Leave a comment below and let us know.

You can see images of the plastic mold at iDealsChina website.

You can also see a rendering of what the finished nano might look like.