Apple testing iOS 4.1 alongside next-gen iPod Touch, iPad and ‘unknown’ product
Deep down in the secretive world of Cupertino, Apple (AAPL) is testing their first actual update of iOS 4 on the next iPod Touch, iPad revision and an “Unknown” product, Appleinsider has discovered.
According to people familiar with the matter, the latest beta of iOS 4.1, which is due to ship in the coming weeks, includes three new “Configuration Descriptors” within its USB configuration files — all of which pertain to devices that list “Apple, Inc.” as their “manufacturer”; can be seen in the screenshot below.
The first product, a fourth-generation iPod touch, is referenced within the code as “iPod 4,1.” That particular identifier shows the device will be the first iteration of a fourth-generation device, rather than a revision to the touch’s existing design, which would have been denoted as an “iPod 3,2.”
For Apple, this represents the fourth consecutive year in which the company will deliver a significant internal or external design change to its flagship iPod, keeping a tradition that has seen the media player’s adopt the architecture of iPhones that hit the market a few months earlier.
As such, this year’s iPod touch family calls for models akin to a slimmer iPhone 4, equipped with dual cameras, FaceTime support, Apple’s custom A4 processor, and high resolution Retina Display. For reference, the first three generations of the iPod touch were identified as “iPod 1,1,” “iPod 2,1” and “iPod 3,1,” respectively.
The second unreleased product referenced in the USB configuration files is “iProd 2,1.” All indications are that this device represents a material update to the company’s iPad, as the inaugural version of the device released this past April was similarly listed in configuration files as “iProd 1,1” prior to its announcement.
Finally, and most intriguing, is a previously undiscovered mention of a mysterious device listed only as “unknownHardware.” Although the configuration files tag this device with a unique Apple product ID of 20547, it’s textual descriptor is similarly listed as “Unknown- Add device descriptor info for this device.” Could this device be the hotly, most anticipated, Verizon iPhone we’ve been hearing about recently in the past few weeks? A source code and sources have noted that Apple is about to hit field testing for the devices, so I wouldn’t be too surprised if these are actually the iPad 2 and CDMA Verizon iPhone. Only Apple knows the actual details of these products and will eventually tell us what they are. Fortunately September is just right around the corner, so the iPod touch news isn’t that far away (September is when Apple decides to release their latest refreshes/updates to their iPod line). The other two products might be held off until January to line up with CES 2011 and who else other than Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg to Keynote the expo off with a bang. I hope you registered for this event because I know we here at Smartphone Nation did. See you there!
Source Appleinsider
