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1. bobolicious

   Fresh-Faced Recruit

   Joined: Aug 2002

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   02/14, 10:57am | report spam | close reply

   iPhone Nano...

   ...it's about time... :)

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1. climacs

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   Joined: Sep 2001

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   02/14, 11:05am | report spam | close reply

   sure why not

   I was concerned about iPhone nano cannibalizing iPhone sales, but this makes sense. Still a great smartphone, but if you want local storage for your media, get the regular iPhone.

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1. wrenchy

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   Joined: Nov 2009

   -6
   02/14, 11:13am | report spam | (1 reply) close | reply

   Perfect for those

   
   who just need a phone and not all the bells and whistles like media and picture storage.
   
   BUT....
   
   Will it still be Magical?

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1. Rezzz

   Fresh-Faced Recruit

   Joined: Jan 2006

   +19
   02/14, 11:25am | report spam | close reply

   Data Plans

   If you are storing nothing locally, that is a lot of data moving over the air when not in range of a hotspot. Since unlimited data plans have been squashed, I could see some hefty cellular bills hitting mailboxes. It's the carriers who "Rule the Air" not the manufacturers. Apple will need to consider this when negotiating terms.

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1. Paul Huang

   Dedicated MacNNer

   Joined: Sep 1999

   +2
   02/14, 11:45am | report spam | close reply

   Now the truth comes out

   We know what's cooking in North Carolina.

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1. Treuf

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   Joined: Mar 1999

   +5
   02/14, 11:47am | report spam | close reply

   Data usage

   In addition to the Data Plans comment, we often have issues (at least here in France) with overused networks.
   Data connection in dense places (La Defense business area for me) tend to be damn slow due to intense usage.
   Adding this would for sure kill the network capacity.

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1. Lifeisabeach

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   Joined: May 2010

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   02/14, 11:53am | report spam | (1 reply) close | reply

   Now it makes more sense.

   The prime difficulty in the whole "half-sized" rumor was that existing apps simply couldn't possibly run or look right. Apple has been committed to sticking with the existing dimensions and screen resolutions for very good reasons, and throwing in something much smaller, likely at a different resolution entirely, would complicate their market in ways they won't find acceptable. By lacking internal storage, it's clear that this will NOT have access to the App Store and 3rd party apps. This leaves it with whatever Apple puts on it, which will be tweaked and optimized for whatever display dimensions it comes with.
   
   I share the concerns about it being solely cloud-based and the effect this could have on those with limited data plans. Personally, I hope a data plan won't be required. I've come to realize that, especially with free wi-fi virtually everywhere I go, I simply don't need one and the financial burden of having 3 iPhone data plans on my family account is wearing me thin.

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1. B9bot

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   Joined: Dec 2008

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   02/14, 12:45pm | report spam | close reply

   Not possible or feasible

   You need memory to run the OS and the apps. Without it, its not possible. And running off of the cloud would be WAY TO SLOW!!!!!!! Even if you were running at WIFI speeds running apps and streaming would be to slow. The whole idea doesn't seem feasible.
   Memory storage is cheap and I don't think it occupies that much space. The biggest space hog would be the battery, not the memory. And obviously you can't run it without a battery either.
   This whole story I believe is FUD!!!

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1. B9bot

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   Joined: Dec 2008

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   02/14, 12:51pm | report spam | close reply

   The networks can't handle what they have now

   The networks can't handle what they have now. Add a phone that strictly runs off of the networks would definitely kill them completely. I agree with Treuf, data usage would be to high and the networks would come to a stand still. I don't think they would even approve of such a device to run on there networks.
   
   Just not realistically possible with what is structured on the cell networks today even if it was a real 4G network

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1. jwdsail

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   Joined: Jun 2000

   +9
   02/14, 01:07pm | report spam | close reply

   Why?

   This rumor makes no sense at all.
   
   Who would buy an iPhone that doesn't run any of the existing apps? That won't be able to play music, videos, audiobooks, w/o a data connection? Who would buy an iPhone that had the best parts of the iPhone taken away? Seriously, tell me, I have a bridge I'd like to sell them...
   
   ATT is selling the 8GB iPhone 3GS for $49 with subsidy.. it can't be much more than $199 w/o, right?
   
   I could see a smaller iPhone, with an edge to edge screen, with the resolution of the original iPhone, and 8GB of storage memory... That could then make use of cloud data storage, or streaming/subscription music service, to *augment* that 8GB... but 0GB of storage? No 3rd party apps?
   
   Meh.
   
   I'll believe it when I see it.
   

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1. jwdsail

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   Joined: Jun 2000

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   02/14, 01:11pm | report spam | close reply

   What if it isn't an iPhone?

   What if it isn't an iPhone?
   
   What if it's just a small iPod Touch w/o storage to use as a controller for AppleTV apps on an updated AppleTV??? (for AppleTV users w/o an iPad or iPhone)
   
   
   

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1. Salty

   Professional Poster

   Joined: Jul 2005

   +2
   02/14, 03:10pm | report spam | close reply

   Bunk!

   Bunk, first of all 4-8 gigs of flash memory now is CHEAP, Apple wold save almost nothing by ditching the internal memory. Even the Apple TV has 8 gigs of memory when it could probably use 4 or less really.
   
   Not to mention I think a smaller budget iPhone is probably meant to be less data intensive, allowing the networks to sell small data chunks, to people who only wanna do things like use Google Maps sometimes, or get their email on their phone. People who want huge data usage would then stick with the classic iPhone.
   
   I imagine part of this might be because for the last few years Apple has been trying to move the last gen iPhone down to the entry level one. My guess is the retina displays are still a little too hard to come by, and so they're doing this instead.

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1. WiseWeasel

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   Joined: Apr 1999

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   02/14, 03:22pm | report spam | close reply

   BS

   I call BS. I have my 32GB filled to the brim, and the vast majority of the space is taken up by apps. An iPhone without apps is not an iPhone.

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1. lamewing

   Forum Regular

   Joined: Aug 2004

   +1
   02/14, 04:36pm | report spam | close reply

   Removeable storage

   This would eat into data plans and put owners' of these little iPhones in serious hot water, financially speaking....UNLESS Apple allowed for a micro SD card to slide in the side of the device.
   
   The removable storage would reduce the cost and allow the owner of the mini iPhone to still carry music and videos with them. BUT...that would mess up the "lines" of the phone and Steve would NEVER accept that.