4th-gen iPod touch to have flat back, no flash

The fourth generation iPod touch may have had some of its details clarified tonight through a rumor this evening. The design would abandon the curved back of the current model and would have a flat back like the first generation model: similar to the "top of a MacBook Pro, only smaller," according to iLounge. It would have the rear camera, but a space near the camera would hold a microphone, not a flash.

The very small design hinted at lately would be the rumored 1.7-inch touchscreen device, but would hint at consolidation of Apple's iPod lines. The same sources say it's being characterized as an iPod nano and, by extension, that the small design might replace both the current nano and the shuffle.

Apple may be eager to cut costs for its iPod division as the group has been seeing decliningsales simply due to the shift towards smartphones. Most sales of iPods now go to the iPod touch rather than the frequent favorite nano and give Apple little reason to keep selling conventional models. Most if not all questions should be answered in the September 1 music event.

by MacNN Staff