Original URL: http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/07/17/iphone_rumour_points_to_ipod/
Apple will release a second-generation, lower cost iPhone in September for an iPod-like price of $249-299 - if a Chinese-language newspaper report citing Taiwanese industry moles is to be believed, that is.
The story - relayed (http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20070716VL200.html) by local newssite DigiTimes - goes along these lines: supplier Wintek has been contracted to make touchscreens for the new product. Wintek is already producing samples.
Said insiders claim the screens are for the much-rumoured second-gen iPhone, but there's no evidence to back up that claim.
In fact, we're sceptical. For starters, the iPhone's screen is believed to come from Germany's Balda, though that doesn't mean Apple wouldn't look elsewhere for a cheaper panel for iPhone 2.0.
But the biggest niggle is the alleged price - half of what Apple and AT&T are asking for iPhones today. And we're expected to believe this massive reduction is going to take place a mere three months after iPhone 1.0 was released? We think not.
Wintek may be making screens for a future Apple product. It may even be working on displays for the iPhone family. But our money's on a next-gen iPod - quite possible the long-awaited widescreen video-oriented model (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/03/22/quanta_video_ipod/), now forgotten or at least way overshadowed by the iPhone hooplah.
That's a product that might well debut in September - a traditional time for iPod updates - for $249-299.
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http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/08/23/apple_readies_osx_ipods/
Only 'major' EU countries to be in second iPhone rollout (27 July 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/07/27/apple_q4_iphone/
Mac and iPod save Apple's quarter (25 July 2007)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/07/25/apple_iphone_results/
CIOs pooh-pooh the iPhone (24 July 2007)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/07/24/cios_badmouth_iphone/
AppleStore shut for 'update' - new kit coming? (17 July 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/07/17/apple_store_down/
El Reg lobs iPhone at Genius Bar (16 July 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/07/16/elreg_returns_the_iphone/
JP Morgan's iPhone Nano report is rubbish (11 July 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/07/11/apple_iphone_nano_report_rubbish/
Imagination licenses PowerVR, won't say who to (9 July 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/07/09/imagination_coy_annoucement/
Apple 8GB iPhone components 'cost $220' (6 July 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/07/06/iphone_part_prices/
Quanta 'to make next-gen video iPod' (22 March 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/03/22/quanta_video_ipod/
Next-gen video iPod to launch 'March/April' (3 March 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/03/03/apple_vid_ipod_date/