iRumours: Flash sources point to cheap iPhone 4. Or 5

Or whatever

A Korean company is apparently manufacturing a Flash drive for an 8GB version of the Apple iPhone 4, according to sources interviewed by Reuters.

The two people familiar with the matter declined to be identified "because the information has not been made public", but claimed the new iPhone is expected to launch within weeks.

A smaller Flash drive would make a cheaper iPhone, something that could appeal not only to developing markets, but also quite possibly to recession-squeezed Western consumers.

Apple is traditionally extremely close-mouthed about any of its developments, preferring to drip-feed leaks, rumours and conjecture in order to whip its fans into a frenzy of non-specific longing.

However flimsy this latest rumour, it seems likely that something is going on over at the Cupertino HQ, since it arrives hot on the heels of a rumour from Japanese website Macotakara that an all-new Mac will arrive this year, as the Reg reported yesterday.

As if that weren't enough, today's sources also said that Apple is targeting an end-September launch for the iPhone 5, backing up similar rumours that have been circulating on tech sites for some time now.

The new iPhone will have a bigger touchscreen, a better antenna and an 8Mp camera, one of the moles told Reuters, and manufacturers have been told to prepare production capacity for up to 45 million units altogether. ®