Will Apple go plastic for a low-cost iPhone?
KARYNE: Hey, I�m Karyne Levy EMILY: And I'm Emily Dreyfuss. KARYNE: Welcome to Rumor Has It! The show where we round up the week's biggest tech rumors. EMILY: And vote on what sounds legit, and what seems like it'll never ever happen. KARYNE: And remember: you can vote on all the rumors! Keep your eye out for the poll in the interactive player, if you're watching on CNET. EMILY: First up, is this a weird mysterious 5th-generation iPad, as 9 to 5 Mac claims it is? Is your NEW new ipad already obsolete again? KARYNE: Of course it�s obsolete! It always will be, as Apple will release a new version every year, but you knew that. My first-gen iPad has been obsolete since a month after I bought it. EMILY: Is this slightly scuffed and taped up backpiece an actual part for the new device? No one knows. If it is, the new iPad is going to have a thinner bezel than the 4 -- something akin to the iPad Mini�s. However, that�s an obvious change. If you can eliminate a bezel, you do, and Apple is definitely trending toward edge-to- edge screens, so this could just be a very well-executed and not particularly insightful guess by an accessory maker. KARYNE: Next, according to the site AdAge, YouTube is aiming to offer paid channel subscriptions this year. The paid channels would likely be created by large media companies that already have channels and lots of subscribers. The channels would cost between $1 and $5 a month. A YouTube rep told CNET they've been looking into a subscription model for years. EMILY: YouTube is supposedly also eyeing a plan to charge for other items, including entire libraries of videos, live events, and advice shows. KARYNE: The paid channels, which are rumored to launch next quarter, would still have ads in them -- so now you'd be paying to watch videos, plus you'd get ads. Sooo... sounds exactly like cable TV. Only cheaper. EMILY: This is upsetting news--no one wants to pay for YouTube, but the one good thing is it would encourage higher-end, better-produced content. EMILY: Mooving on, the rumored low-cost new iPhone will be a cross between the iPhone 5, the fifth-generation iPod Touch, and the classic iPod, says Apple news site iLounge. I can feel your eyes rolling from here. You�re thinking what I�m thinking: aren�t all iPhones a cross between a phone and an iPod? And what does throwing the Classic in there even mean, that it�ll be thick and plasticky? KARYNE: Yep, that�s exactly what the rumor alleges. By going plastic, Apple would achieve that cheap price we�ve been asking for. And that cheap look, too. EMILY: This is one of those �we have no information but want to add something to the story rumors.� KARYNE: Credibility? zilch. Desireability: 100 -- who doesn't want a $99 iPhone? Don't you guys want a cheaper new iPhone? Will it be made of plastic? Don't forget to vote in our poll while we see what the CNET Council thinks... EMILY: And the CNET verdict is... KARYNE: We have some sad news! Emily's time on Rumor Has it is coming to an end -- after this, she'll only be with us for two more episodes, as she's moving across the country to live in Harvard Yard. Sad faces for everyone. EMILY: Guys, this is truly sad for me. I am so proud of this show, and I�m going to miss talking to you every week. But it�s not over yet! Let us know what you want to see me do in my last two shows: Juggle? Talk in my old lady voice? Juggle while talking in my old lady voice? KARYNE: Send us your suggestions and share your rumors at rumorhasit@cnet.com or call us at 1-800-750-CNET. And tweet us! EMILY: Tune in next week for more tech rumors.