Is this the iPod Nano 7th Generation?

Rumors of next-gen Apple gear are always floating around. But a new (alleged) prototype iPod Nano has something new — a camera.

From the leaked pictures, the only physical improvements appears to be the addition of a camera and a camera alone.

In other Nano news, a patent filing back in November eludes to an iPod Nano featuring a built-in speaker of some sort, possibly for future Siri integration. Bluetooth 4.0 has also been name dropped a few times. Maybe the iPod Nano will become the new “iPod Touch Nano/iPhone Nano” if Siri, internet capabilities, and a camera end up making an appearance, no?

It seems like it would be kind of weird taking a picture with something as tiny as the iPod Nano (with camera) would be. Of course, on the opposite end of the spectrum, taking pictures with an iPad isn’t exactly natural looking either.  

If the rumors pan out, look for the new iPod Nano to hit stores sometime in March/April.

Apple To Hold Media-Related Event In New York This Month

Well, shortly into the new year and we are already gearing up for the flood of Apple rumors. With the iPad 3 to be – historically – announced and released in the coming months, the rumored Apple Television set, and the iPhone 5 all on our minds we sit and wait for Apple to throw us a bone. Well, a bone, and not the bone we were hoping for might come by the way of a “media-related announcement” later this month.

All Things D is reporting that “sources close to the situation” are telling us that Apple is planning on an announcement that will not have anything to do with any upcoming software, but geared more towards it’s media side of things. Apple SVP of Internet Software and Services Eddy Cue – who has been involved with iTunes Store, App Store, iBookstore, as well as iAd and its iCloud services – is supposedly involved in the event. With CES just around the corner, we’re obviously ready for any and all product announcements, let’s just hope Apple gives us something thick and tasty to chew on later this month.

I’m curious to know if it will have anything to do with the recent opening of the new Grand Central Station Apple Store (pictured above) in New York. What do you think we’ll be hearing about? Other than the alleged iPad 3, Apple television set, and iPhone 5, is there anything media-related you’d like to hear?

PSA: Unlock That iPhone 4S for T-Mobile, Maybe. [Rumor]

Rumor has it that there is an unlock that has been discovered for the iPhone 4S running iOS 5 – without a jailbreak. I personally cannot test this, but from what the interwebs has been saying, it works. Some users have had to attempt the hack multiple times to get it working, but eventually it yields you an unlock.

Please test this at your own risk, I can’t say whether or not this can cause any damage. I would suggest either waiting for an ultrasn0w unlock or purchasing a full price unlocked iPhone from Apple.

Jump past for the instructions…

[Rumor] Is Apple Testing Siri On Non-iPhone 4S Devices?

Jailbreak Nation broke some news yesterday that Apple is testing Siri on devices other than the iPhone 4S. This is big news for those of you that decided the iPhone 4S was just fluff enough to not bother with. But this can also be a huge blow to Apple and how they treat the consumers that buy their products.

We all know the selling point of the iPhone 4S is Siri and the camera. Yes, we have a 64gb option, but really, it comes down to Siri and the amazing 8 mega-pixel that snaps gorgeous photos and captures 1080p videos. But after watching the event, and really seeing the marketing strategies Apple has put forth, the headliner is Siri. The iPhone 4S does rock the A5 chip, but this is only really marketed as the only beast that can handle Siri. For those that wanted a reason to upgrade, Siri was it. But now that the hype and massive sales number of the iPhone 4S launch has probably hit it’s peak, Apple might cut the community at the knees and release the sexy personal assistant on other devices – the iPhone 4 is what is mentioned.

Sources close to Apple told JBN that they are testing Siri on devices other than the 4S. This could mean a nice software update (I’d say 5.1 as it would be a major update) could see the light of day allowing the robotic goddess to run on non-4S devices. Apple has reportedly given employees access to a special software version that incorporates Siri’s features to older devices.

We aren’t sure if these rumors are true. I can only begin to imagine how this would upset people. I personally am so addicted to the speed and camera that I wouldn’t bat an eye, but for those that upgraded because of Siri being iPhone 4S only might be a bit pissed. Siri has already been proven to work on the iPhone 4 and latest iPod Touch generation, so we know it is possible. Maybe this is just a way for Apple to not be made a fool of.

How would you feel if Apple let the girl reign on older devices? Would that make you regret the upgrade?

Rumor: Apple To Hold iPhone 5 Press Conference On October 5th.

PocketGamer is reporting their sources close to Apple are saying the Cupertino Fruit will be holding their iPhone 5 event on Wednesday October 5th. Putting the iPhone in retail locations a week later on the 12th. These dates someone fit into the the previous rumors we’ve heard about mid-to-late October device release. As you’ve probably figured out by now, the tech world has no idea what is going on. Apple has already missed so many “normal” release windows for previous devices we are all left wondering.

Our inside source says there will be a press conference announcing the new hardware on October 5th, with retail release occurring a week later. This broadly fits with the movement of recent rumours, which peaked with a – since proven erroneous – 21st October release date, bought forward to a October 15th date, according to Orange CEO Stephane Richard.

We still aren’t sure if we’ll be seeing a major design change or the rumored iPhone 4S with upgraded guts. Apple has really changed things up this year with no June/July iPhone release, and no – as of now – scheduled Fall Music Event. Around the first week of September, for the last umpteen years, Apple has held a Music Event showcasing their iPod line and iTunes presents. It was initially rumored we’d see a combined event, as well as Apple discontinuing their iPod line in favor of a low end iPhone/Cloud phone that will match your iTunes library for easy listening via the device.

Hopefully we’ll be hearing something soon. We are all eagerly waiting getting our sweaty mitts on Apple’s latest magic device, and hopefully have a review for you there after.

Pre-Holiday Season To See MacBook Pro Refresh?

Sources close to AppleInsider are saying that Apple is planning on release an update to it’s Pro laptop line in the coming weeks – following the close of Apple’s Back-To-School Promotion which ends on September 20th. With the Air line receiving their update this past July, and the Pro series not seeing anything since this past February, it is actually possible Apple would like to bridge the gap between the last update and the release of Intel’s next-generation Core i-Series mobile platform.

According to people with proven insight into Apple’s future product plans, the late-2011 MacBook Pro refresh will deliver marginal speed bumps to the notebooks’ Core i-Series of Sandy Bridge processors but will otherwise introduce no material changes over the existing models.

AppleInsider says the latest 2.4GHz, 2.5GHz and 2.7GHz quad-core Core i7 processors could replace the current 2.0GHz, 2.2GHz and 2.3GHz versions currently powering Apples professional series notebooks. The 13-inch entry level MacBook Pro could see a bump with the listed 2.5GHz to 2.6GHz processors now available.

No one really knows what Apple has planned for this Holiday season. With no scheduled annual September Music Event, nothing concrete regarding the iPhone 5 – there is no telling what will happen. I don’t feel Apple will only give the current line a 7 month life, but that is just my humble opinion. We’ll all have to wait and see. You guys think it makes sense to release a refresh now in light of the wait until Intel’s second quarter of 2012 next-gen release?

Internal Sprint Memo Suggests Sept. 30 – Oct 15 iPhone 5 Release?

And here we are with yet another iPhone 5 rumor – again involving Sprint. A ninja just happened to capture an internal memo over at Sprint barring any employees from taking time time off during the first half of October. “Due to the possibility of a major phone launch in October, we are blacking out September 30th through October 15th.

Does Sprint have any other “major” phone up it’s sleep? Could we really be seeing this iPhone released on the 3rd largest carrier in the US? We’ll see how the next few weeks play out with the release of the iPhone 5/4s and possibility of Sprint getting it’s mits on Apples newest baby.

Rumor Squash: Best Buy Not Receiving iPhone 5 Display…Yet

Remember a few days ago when we told you about that mysterious display showing up to Best Buy brick and mortar locations stating on October 21st? The interwebs(we were hopefull) assumed it was material and a set date for the newest iPhone release based on the start time they wanted Managers or key holders to be in store for delivery.

Well, as many of the other rumors that have been churned out of the mill – this one has been squashed. Sources for MacRumors are stating that the display mentioned in the memo are that for an iPad end-cap display to give the retail giant adequate space to display the iPad 2.

We have heard from several of our Best Buy sources, however, that this is not the case. The “C2 end display” cited in the calendar listing is the location of Best Buy’s iPad display, and updates to this display are fairly routine with new promotional materials or other layout changes. We have heard that Best Buy may be planning to enlarge these “endcap” displays with this event to be able to display more iPad units.

Hopefully this means we’ll see the iPhone a bit earlier in the month. But here we are, September 7th and we still don’t have any proof of a September Event or any type of normal September music party. We’ll just have to wait and see.

Rumor: Best Buy Memo Puts iPhone 5 Pre-Orders This Week – iPhone In October

Well, as Mikey posted earlier today about Best Buy Managers being called in to be in store for an Apple fixture being constructed and displayed on Oct 21st, we are now seeing more Best Buy leaks claiming that the Big Box locations will begin taking pre-orders of Apples newest baby this week and putting it in our hands the first week of October. This leaked memo also adds fuel to the Sprint iPhone release as well, making them the 3rd carrier to have the iPhone in it’s arsenal.

Rumors have been flowing out of the mill around the launch being in late September / early October, does this confirm it? Best Buy does state that Apple product launch dates are subject to change.

You readers think we’ll be seeing the iPhone rocking the Sprint logo? Will Apple announce the iPhone this month? Rumors won’t stop funneling through our fingers, but as always, they are just rumors.