iPhone Nano - Which features will be missing?

jarofclay73 · 08-03-2008, 02:25 PM

It's been a while since we had iPhone Nano reports, but since the 3G has come out, the UK's Daily Mail is the first to have something a little more concrete than pure speculation: Apple to launch the iPhone 'nano' in time for Christmas

It says O2 will have it for £150 ($296 US) for pay-as-you-go customers.

So, how would that translate to AT&T in the states? I can see the price staying about same - $299 for the device, but you pay month-by-month with no contract. I can see a LOT of people loving this.

But, with the flexibility of having no contract, which features from the iPhone 3G will the iPhone Nano NOT have?

The only thing I didn't like about the Daily Mail report is the idea of a touch wheel on the back and the normal display on the front.

That just seems WEIRD.

Well, first of all, it's probably going to be smaller given past reports about a smaller form factor on the horizon: Is This the New iPhone’s Touchscreen?

If the iLounge report (with picture) is to be believed, then the Nano will sacrifice about a half inch off the current screen size. Not bad.

I'm guessing the Nano will NOT have GPS. That's an easy one to scratch off.

The Nano should probably come with a camera, since that's a given on most mobile phones these days.

Perhaps no native iPod functions? That would make it easier to still market the 32GB iPod Touch. If there's no iPod on the phone, then I can see a 4GB or 8GB model.

Although some reports have said that the Nano would NOT have the internet, I highly doubt that. Perhaps not 3G speeds though. Maybe EDGE speed with the same current battery. That would solve battery problems for many users. Wi-Fi is a given.

So, with the internet you can still stream video and music although probably not at 3G speeds.

I'm sure Nano owners will still have access to normal App Store apps.

I'm also guessing with LESS features the software for the Nano should be more stable than the 3G. And that's just a guess.

So, my guess for the Nano - No GPS, no iPod, no 3G. About the same price as a 16GB 3G ($299) but with no contract. I can even see the price being even lower like $199-$250 since there could be no GPS and 3G radios in them.

What do you think?

tzhourdeka · 08-03-2008, 03:21 PM

I doubt they will make one, if they do then I won't buy it.

kisstine · 08-03-2008, 03:30 PM

I think the iPod feature of the phone is part of what makes it an iPhone. Without it, the device is no longer a part of the iPod product line and instead just a phone with internet capability. Additionally, I don't think they'd want to cut off the revenue stream that exists as a result of access to the iTunes store from the device.

jarofclay73 · 08-03-2008, 03:38 PM

Originally Posted by kisstine

I think the iPod feature of the phone is part of what makes it an iPhone. Without it, the device is no longer a part of the iPod product line and instead just a phone with internet capability. Additionally, I don't think they'd want to cut off the revenue stream that exists as a result of access to the iTunes store from the device.

Yeah, I've been rethinking leaving off the iPod. I'm just thinking of a way to pair it down from the 3G.

If the only features missing are GPS, 3G and a 16 GB capacity, then this might be even MORE popular than the 3G considering you might be able to get this without a contract.

psylichon · 08-03-2008, 03:59 PM

I'm picturing a slower processor and perhaps a subset on the appstore for IPN games (kinda like iPod games are their own thing). Maybe a 320x280 screen rez?

That is, if they would even make this thing, which I don't really think they would.

SmartAlx · 08-03-2008, 04:02 PM

It won't have a camera, nor iTunes, nor the app store. It won't have wifi, but it will have EDGE. No 3G. And you can forget YouTube and google maps. Obviously no calculator, clock and calendar. It might be that they give us the ability to install apps from iTunes, but they will be limited.

It wouldn't surprise me if they gave this phone something we all want, like A2DP. And after the new year they will sell a new wireless bluetooth headset.

Of course this is all personal speculation, but it's an educated guess.

Trevowski · 08-03-2008, 04:07 PM

Because of not being contracted in, I can definetly see these customers having to pay for updates. Mabye not bug fixing updates, but as far as feature updates.

and how would the data plan be controlled? i could see people racking up astronmical bills

Saverino · 08-03-2008, 04:08 PM

Originally Posted by SmartAlx

It won't have a camera, nor iTunes, nor the app store. It won't have wifi, but it will have EDGE. No 3G. And you can forget YouTube and google maps. Obviously no calculator, clock and calendar. It might be that they give us the ability to install apps from iTunes, but they will be limited.

It wouldn't surprise me if they gave this phone something we all want, like A2DP. And after the new year they will sell a new wireless bluetooth headset.

Of course this is all personal speculation, but it's an educated guess.

So what will it have?

And if the iPod Nanos, and Classics, etc, can have a clock and calendar, why cant this one?

gotzaiPhone · 08-03-2008, 04:32 PM

IF this is true, really, what's the point? The whole point of the iPhone is to be the Internet, the iPod, the multi function, and the phone device all in one. If someone wants a nano sized phone, there are plenty other phones out there. But that's just MHO.

SmartAlx · 08-03-2008, 04:36 PM

Originally Posted by Saverino

So what will it have?

And if the iPod Nanos, and Classics, etc, can have a clock and calendar, why cant this one?

Oh, I didn't know that. Ok. They might be on it. Really I think it's going to be an iPod with simple phone functions and a little bit of internet. Oh it probably won't have a mail app either.

I'm pretty pessimistic at this point, as you all can no doubt tell. Prove me wrong Steve. Prove me wrong.