Apple’s head of iOS product marketing Greg Joswiak came on stage during Wednesday’s iPhone 5 media event in San Francisco to announce the new 7th generation iPod nano. Apple has experimented with the iPod nano various times over the past few years. The company has tried different form factors and features for the nano lineup, from nano with video and then slimmer longer nano and then multitouch nano which many used as a wrist watch.

The new iPod nano sports a much larger screen than its predecessor, has the new Lightning connector and separate hard volume buttons on the left side. The new design looks very similar to Apple’s iPod touch, with a home button included on the bottom, and a home screen to launch apps from.

In the latest generation, Apple has brought back widescreen video playback and retained features such as the FM tuner with live pause, pedometer built-in, and integrated with Nike+. The iPod nano has not changed much feature wise but has gotten a larger, more integrated design with Apple’s product lineup. The new 7th generation nano, will have over 30 hours of music playback due its larger battery and will be starting at $149 for a 16GB device. It will be shipping in October.

On Tuesday, Apple confirmed a media event for September 12th where the next generation iPhone 5 is expected to make an appearance. Now, 9to5Mac reports that the Cupertino company may also be introducing updated fifth gen iPod touch and other iPod models alongside the new iPhone.

Apple has not added any major changes to the iPod lineup in over a year, adding a white version of the fourth gen iPod touch, which is still technically on the its fourth generation and has not updated the design of the iPod nano. According to the report, Apple will be introducing multiple lines of iPods, in a variety of colors.

All these new lines will come in multiple colors, one of the lines will come in two size capacities, and the other two lines will come in a single storage capacity.

With the current iPod nanos and iPod shuffles both available in multiple colors (and with the nano currently available in two capacities and the shuffle in one), we think it is likely that new iPod nanos and iPod shuffles are launching next week.

However, it is possible that there is a third line as well (that, too, comes in multiple colors). With the iPod touch currently available in two colors and three capacities (black/white, 8GB, 32GB, 64GB) we don’t believe that the iPod touch is third line that comes in multiple colors.

While two of the updated lines will most likely be the iPod nano and the fifth gen iPod touch, it is unclear what the third will be. The iPod nano, in accordance with rumors over the past several months is expected to receive a taller screen, and even a home button. Rumors even suggest that this could end up being a whole new line of iPods.

The iPod touch, which has yet to be updated will likely match up with the next generation iPhone, as it has done in the past. This means that the fifth gen iPod touch could gain the same taller 4 inch screen, an A5X chip, a redesigned outer shell, and updated dock connector. Apple’s media event is scheduled for September 12th at the Yerba Buena Arts Center and coincides with the usual iPod/Music event, suggesting that iPods may very well be a part of this event.

{via MacRumors}

The release date of iPhone 5 and iPad Mini has been the cause of speculation for several months now. Multiple news sources and rumor sites have found images, mockups, and even parts of iPhone 5 and iPad mini. According to a report from iMore, Apple’s next generation iPhone 5, new iPod nano, and all new 7.85 inch iPad mini are all going to be announced during special media event on September 12th.

The iPad mini will be announced at the same September 12 event, as will the new iPod nano. We haven’t heard a release date for the iPad mini yet, but it could be the same as the iPhone 5. It seems likely the new iPod touch will make an appearance on September 12 as well, though we haven’t heard any specific information about that yet either.

The report also mentions that following the announcement on the 12th, Apple will likely release the iPhone 5 for sale on September 21st. Apple announced the iPhone 4S on October 4th last year, and released it on October 14th leading to speculation that the company may do the same again and release the iPhone a couple of weeks after announcement.

Although in reports, the next generation iPhone is referred to as “iPhone 5”, it is also very likely that Apple will simply call it “the new iPhone”, much like “the new iPad”, released several months ago. The report also notes that the 7.85” iPad and even iPod touch 5th gen is slated for announcement that day, although details on the 5th gen iPod touch are not confirmed. The iPad mini was entirely rumor based initially, a number of credible reports from NYTimes and WSJ have essentially suggested that there is indeed such a device in existence.

The sixth generation iPhone is expected to have a taller 4-inch screen, high speed LTE networking, a smaller dock connector and unibody construction. iMore has a proven track record with release dates, correctly reporting the launch date for the iPad 3 and the pre-order date for the iPhone 4S.

{via MacRumors}

Last year in April according to the rumor mill Apple was planning to release a new iPod Nano with a 1.3 MP camera, however, this rumor failed to come to fruition after Apple released the same 6th generation design in September 2011, updating the software and lowering the pricing on the 8 GB and 16 GB models.

On Wednesday, new reports surfaced that indicate Apple is indeed planning an iPod Nano refresh, with the addition of a 1.3 MP camera attached behind the clip. Rumors of the new iPod Nano revived in November following a May 2010 patent application on speaker designs that appeared to show a hole in the iPod nano’s clip in the same location as the leaked pictures.

Apple.pro now reports [Google translation] that a series of new photos have surfaced, revealing further details on the proposed 8th gen iPod Nano, with images of the casing as well as an almost identical housing and clip-on design. The new iPod Nano appears to be housing a camera outside of the body of the device, as opposed to inside where the battery is located.

The camera module would be placed directly underneath the clip, allowing it to stay within the overall envelope. Apple’s plans to add a camera isn’t surprising, as they removed a video-only camera on the fifth generation iPod Nano in order to accommodate the 1.57” multi touch screen, hard volume buttons, and the new clip, adopted from the iPod Shuffle.

An Apple patent application in 2009 suggested that Apple was looking to add a camera to the current iPod Nano form factor and it is very likely that these photos may be of a prototype that Apple developed in-house to test out the different camera capabilities and limitations.

Whether this model of the iPod Nano will see the daylight is unclear, however, there is no doubt that this product is attempting to make up for the reduction in features from the 5th generation to the 6th. It does seem very Apple like to do something like this, and appears almost identical to the previous model, ruling out any possible fakes.

{via Mac Rumors}

When photos of the small touch screen panel which was rumored to be Apple’s new product hit the web many people speculated that it might turn out to be an iWatch. The new iPod nano feels more like an iPod shuffle with touch controls as Apple has taken away the video recording and playing capabilities.

In the last week many accessory makers have started offering straps and cases for the new 6th gen nano and a few of them caught our attention.

Third party accessory makers were quick to offer their solutions to turn your new iPod nano into an iWatch and we recently reported on a watch strap called Rock Band by iLovehandles. The nano clips onto the specially designed leather strap and enables you to wear the nano on your wrist however, it does not provide any protection for the screen. So, if you wear it on a daily basis you might end up with scratches on the screen.

Incipio offers another great solution and turns your nano into a wristwatch with its new accessory called “Linq”

Incipio is taking a whole new design path with this wrist-worn carrying solution for the iPod nano. Meet the most rugged carrying solution for iPod nano produced to date, the Linq™. This is for users who already have or aspire for a lifestyle of action. Linq™ provides the user with an all-day, everyday accessory that may be worn effortlessly but always boldly.

Your once fragile iPod nano is not so fragile anymore as it sits in Incipio’s award winning Next Generation Polymer material securing to the wrist with a nylon and Velcro interchangeable strap.

The Linq™ is expected to release towards the beginning of October for $24.99. Additional watchbands may be purchased for $9.99 each

Do you want to wear the nano as an iWatch? Will you buying any accessory for the new iPod nano? Let us know in the comments section.

In early July we reported on a small touch screen panel which was leaked by a website and was rumored to be the next iPod shuffle with touch controls or the new Apple iWatch. Apple surprised us during the special music event where Steve Jobs announced the new iPod nano which turned out to be the smallest Apple device with multi-touch controls.

Apple’s best selling iPod was the nano before iPod touch surpassed the sales to become the #1. Previous gen iPod nano offered video playback, was capable of recording videos and was larger. When Apple introduced the new nano it was clear that they are trying to focus on offering more features in the iPod touch and restricting iPod nano’s and shuffle’s role as a music player only.

If you were disappointed  about Apple not introducing an iWatch then you’d be happy to know that iLoveHandles has come up with a unique accessory for the new iPod nano. The company has started selling Rock Band, a leather strap which has been specially designed to support the new iPod nano and enables you to wear it as a wristwatch. The leather strap will cost you $19.95.

Have you bought the new iPod nano? Will you be buying iLoveHandles leather strap to turn your nano into an iWatch? Let us know your thoughts.