Apple's next iPod mini to have 5GB HDD

A revision to Apple Computer's popular iPod mini digital music player is scheduled to debut early next year, AppleInsider has learned. According to reliable sources, the iPod mini will see an approximate 25% storage increase that will allow it to carry 1250 songs, up from the player's current maximum capacity of 1000 songs.

Like Dell's new Pocket DJ and Rio's Carbon, sources say the new Apple player will be based around a 5GB hard drive. Hitachi, which supplies Apple with drives for the current line of iPod minis, has yet to officially introduce a 5GB version of its microdrive, though similar offerings are reportedly available from both Seagate and Toshiba.

Also in early 2005, Apple is expected to launch a flash-based iPod that will sell for below (US)$200.

More details at AppleInsider