iPhones, iPods to stick with separate shapes

A company called Luna Commerce is selling what it claims is a fifth-generation iPod touch part, according to Macotakara. The component is a white headphone jack, which may back other reports pointing to white Touches being in development. The jack is also notably slanted, suggesting that Apple will be sticking with the curved edges used on the fourth-generation Touch.

Alleged next-generation iPhone jacks leaked last month were flat, much like the iPhone 4. If both the Touch and iPhone parts are genuine it indicates that Apple is continuing to distinguish the iPhone both cosmetically and internally. The company generally reserves its best features for iPhones, even when they have no bearing on phone calls or 3G data.

New Touches should be announced sometime next month, or at the latest early October. If so, it will likely mark the first time new iPhones and iPods have been announced simultaneously. Apple has traditionally launched new iPhones in June or July, but appears to have shifted its schedule to the fall for reasons unknown. It may have simply needed the time to work on iOS 5, which represents a substantial firmware overhaul.

by MacNN Staff