More evidence supports earlier iPod camera rumors

New evidence has turned up recently that supports the notion that Apple will add camera functionality to the iPod touch in the near future, possibly even the iPod nano. Given the sources of the evidence, though—which include some Chinese case designs and a rumor from TechCrunch—it still remains merely plausible conjecture. 

MacRumors has dug up several references to case designs for both an iPod touch and iPod nano that have cutouts where a camera lens could be expected. Case designs helped to out the iPhone 3G and the fourth-gen iPod nano before official announcements from Apple, but the mere existence of a case design hasn't made the oft-rumored "iPhone nano" magically appear. We think this evidence alone isn't convincing.

Independently, TechCrunch is reporting on a source in Asia that said that Apple has placed a huge order for camera modules—an order so huge that it can't be just for producing new iPhones. In fact, the order is so huge that it might lend credence to rumors that Apple will also add a camera to the iPod nano. "Everything but the Shuffle may have a camera in it soon," this unnamed source told TechCrunch.

Taken together with previous rumors, it certainly makes the idea seem plausible. Even the camera module's low cost—rumored to be about $10—makes it seem like adding a camera to iPods is a foregone conclusion. But the module's price alone doesn't account for all the necessary changes needed to add support for a camera. The iPod nano, in particular, would need additional retooling for the case and extra software to handle its operation.

The iPod touch seems the most logical place to add camera functionality. Software support already exists in iPhone OS 3.0, and a new iPod touch will most certainly be based on the new iPhone 3GS hardware. However, there's still nearly a $400 difference in price between a 16GB iPhone 3GS and a 16GB iPod touch—I sincerely doubt that a camera, GPS chip, and cell radio can account for all the difference in price. Adding a camera or other hardware could result in a significant price increase.

You can count us among the hopeful that Apple will add a camera to the iPod touch—it would certainly add more unity to Apple's mobile platform. You can also count us among the ambivalent about adding a camera to the iPod nano—it just seems to add needless complexity to the svelte device. But count us out of the group of folks that are convinced that all this camera talk is a sure thing.

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