Analyst: Apple supply chain checks show iPhone nano, new iPod shuffle, ‘cheaper’ MacBook coming
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 - 10:26 AM EDT Wedbush Morgan analyst Craig Berger recently sent a note to clients highlighting Apple's product pipeline for the coming year:"We have incremental checks into the Apple supply chain. First, we see several new Apple products coming in 1H09. Our contacts see a lower-cost version of the iPhone, possibly in mid 2Q. Apparently, Qualcomm is replacing Infineon as the baseband supplier in this device. Some call this device the 'iPhone Nano'; whatever one calls it, we believe this device is on its way," Berger reports via Seeking Alpha.
"Also, we anticipate a new and smaller version of the iPod Shuffle, possibly in mid 1Q, with chip content largely unchanged," Berger reports. "Finally, we see a cheaper MacBook notebook coming, although we do not believe this PC will qualify as a netbook."
Full article here.


Well, pretty much everyone is expecting a new iteration of the iPhone sometime mid-year. After first two models, Apple has clearly established a logical product refresh pace, so there would otherwise be a lot of disappointment if no new phone is out by mid-summer.
As for a smaller shuffle, I'm not sure how much smaller can it really get; half of its current size is the USB plug anyway.
A cheaper notebook? Only if Apple can keep their profit margins as fat as they are on current MB(A/P), or iPod lines. Otherwise, no sub- $1000 models (except the soon-to-be-discontinued white model).