iPod shuffle now "world's smallest MP3 player"

Damn, looks like even the humble iPod shuffle is getting a bump today. After having sold 10 million of the first-gen shuffles, the new model is now reportedly the size of the iPod radio remote, comes in just a 1GB capacity, and sports a shiny new aluminum body with a clip for easy wearability. Steve's calling it the "world's smallest MP3 player" and hey, who are we to argue? It's available for preorder today and expected to ship with its itty bitty dock and ear buds sometime in October, for the bargain basement price of only $79.

Unconfirmed: New iPod Nanos Coming Next Week, Called iPod Touch?

The last few months of iPod rumors have all come down to this, a final push before the supposed launch next week. What's going to be new? Supposedly, a two-inch-square flash-based iPod that may be called the iPod Touch, based on the fact that it's going to play back video and cost $299 and $399 for 4GB and 8GB.

If the rumor is true, It would essentially be a phone-less iPhone, which was what everyone's been thinking Apple would bring. It makes sense that they're not following up with a 6G iPod that looks exactly like the iPhone, instead making a smaller nano with a larger screen that fits easily in your pocket. Then later this year or early next year they can come out with a big 6G iPod with a huge 16:9 screen and an iPhone-like interface. Of course, this is all conjecture now, but the pieces do start to fit together. [9 to 5 Mac]

Update: The link's gone down because of supposed TOS violations. Should be back up in a few days.

Touchscreen iPod Due This November Says Our Secret Source

Apple's upcoming iPod will make its debut this November and will definitely feature a touchscreen, Gizmodo has learned. Let's just say that we have a couple of people fairly high up the Apple food chain who have made it known that the iPod's touchscreen is truly the bee's knees. Apple is also apparently working its tail off to make sure that the planned November launch of the new iPod will still happen.

Our super secret sources didn't reveal any information regarding the iPod's rumored wireless capabilities, however.

Oh, and those pictures? Those were supplied by a fine reader of ours, Samuel Mularczyk. Supposedly, they were found on Apple's Web site. Granted, they pictures do read "iPhone," but no one ever said that the iPod and iPhone won't be one in the same, right? (But yes, it could just be another silly mock up.) – Nicholas Deleon

UPDATE: Oh, vanity, thy name is fake iPhone picture! Ok, so we're pretty darn sure the above picture is as fake as fake can be. How do we know? Well, the Darth Vader artwork was actually done by another reader, Kreg Steppe, some time ago. We'll work on getting better sources for pictures next.

ThinkSecret: New Video iPod Coming

Thinksecret chimes in today with a rumor about something I've been thinking about for awhile now: What's next for the iPod Video? Specifically, they claim to have confirmation that Apple is wrapping up development on a video-enabled iPod with a 3.5" touch-enabled color screen. One of the problems with a device with a 3.5" screen is, where do you put the controls. Apple's solution, if this rumor is true, is to put the controls on the screen itself. This rumor is in alignment with recent Apple patent filings for using gestures on a touch-screen.

If this is true, I'll buy this device without reservation. Like many, I've been waiting for an Apple PDA of some sort for years and a device like this might finally come close to what I'd expect Apple to release. Apple doesn't need to buy Palm, they just need to keep expanding the iPod as a device to tie together the different parts of our computing experience. An iPod video "tablet" would fit that bill nicely.

While I personally believe that Apple is definitely working on an upgrade to its video iPod and that this is likely the form factor, I don't believe it will ship in "late March or early April" as ThinkSecret suggests. I believe we won't see an upgrade to the iPod video line until September or October.