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Comment by dave1619 | Hacker News Reader

Android is definitely picking up pace. I just hope Apple releases an iPhone for Verizon. I think that will give the iPhone a boost. Apple should also release an iPhone Nano, a smaller version of the iPhone. Maybe also have colors.

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Hm, iPod nano might actually be a viable idea.

I mean, now, when Apple (a) stopped sticking to the only resolution for all iPhone OS devices and (b) is putting much higher resolution screen into older package - maybe it might make sense for them to also put old resolution (320 x 480) into smaller package?

The problems I see in these approach are the following:

1. How can one meaningfully make iPhone smaller/more energy efficient/cheaper?

2. Do people need a smaller iPhone? Is physically smaller touch screen as usable?

Yeah, good points. I think they can make the screen a bit smaller than the current iPhone, but keep the 320x480 resolution. This way apps will still be usable. But they can also remove space from the top and bottom of the phone and make it a lot thinner. Overall, I think they can really shrink the iPhone significantly. This could appeal to lots of people. Especially, now the iPad is out and people don't mind having a smaller iPhone to compliment their iPad.

My fat fingers can barely hit some of the tiny buttons now...I don't think the keyboard could get smaller and still be usable.

I think if Apple ever does an iPhone Nano it will be more of an extension of the current iPod Nano than a smaller version of the iPhone. It would be difficult to scale the iPhone UI/apps down to a physically smaller screen without usability problems. I imagine they would only go this route if iPod sales really plummeted due to convergence of media players in phones. It might be a compelling device though with an iPhone-ish UI and some simplified widget style applications.

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