So a tech blogger walks into a bar and finds the next iPhone prototype. Stop me if you’ve heard this one…
Seriously, Gizmodo may have gotten the severe scoop on the rest of the tech journalism universe with a fortuitous discovery of just what appears to be a prototype of the next iPhone (iPhone 4G?). It was actually found it in a Redwood City bar by a Gizmodo reporter. After checking with Apple-connected John Gruber of Daring Fireball, Gizmodo found out that Apple had lost a prototype and was surely “very interested” in getting it back. Whether or not they were ready to use payday advances to sic Sherlock Holmes on the case is unclear.
An iPhone prototype that seems to be dressed in 3GS clothing
The plastic case of the iPhone prototype looks like an iPhone 3GS on the surface. There are definite details making this prototype much more different:
- Front-facing video camera in addition to a back camera with a flash and larger lens
- Micro-SIM – a lot more secure, a lot more storage, a lot more allowable connections. This would be the first use of this tech in a U.S. cell phone
- Higher-res display (exact numbers unclear so far)
- A second microphone port and second volume button
- Metal buttons
- A flatter, a lot more squared-off design
- Higher-powered battery… 5.25 WHr (watt hours) at 3.7V, compared with 4.75 WHr within the iPhone 3GS
Is it a new iPhone or red herring?
Gizmodo believes this new iPhone is a real discovery for numerous reasons. It was running the iPhone 4. operating system before that OS was even announced first of all. Second, the iPhone prototype was remotely killed before Gizmodo could dig any further to the OS. When it is connected to a Mac OS X system, the device was recognized as an iPhone in both Xcode and iTunes, but no firmware updates were available, which indicated to Gizmodo that this was an unreleased unit. According to Gizmodo, the fact that the Mac OS X System Profiler reported it as an iPhone in restore mode is consistent with the phone having been “remotely wiped.”
Under the hood is the proof
The internal components are Apple-labeled and fit together well inside the case. Gizmodo claims that if this were 3G or 3GS parts in some modified housing, then the parts wouldn’t fit so well. They feel that it was thus designed for that case. Speaking of the case, it’s thinner than the 3GS, but slightly heavier (maybe because of the metal buttons). The design seemed like it was just a little less sleek than most Apple products. IPhones previously had a lot more curves than this one that was ugly, just like tax debt, and boxier. This might be chalked up to this iPhone being a prototype, nevertheless.
Consumers want to know exactly what this means
The next-gen iPhone is going to be announced this summer. If the iPhone prototype found by Gizmodo is an indication of the future, individuals waiting to upgrade may want to take the plunge. A better back camera, a better battery, a second microphone for better voice clarity, and a front video cam addresses some of fans' major concerns. Just sexy up the case a bit and you may just have a deal.
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