3G iPhone case molds leaked in pre-WWDC hysteria?

The spy shots just get weirder and weirder in the breathless run-up to the presumed WWDC 3G iPhone launch. In fact, this is the first time we can recall seeing case molds -- in this instance, from Griffin -- leaked prior to an announcement. Nevertheless, that's exactly what iDeals China Insider claims they possess. While consistent with the XSKN case, specs, and other leaks we've already seen, it's proof of nothing except a lot of self-perpetuating nonsense. Check the 3D images purportedly used to make the silicon molds after the break.

[Thanks Cal]

[Darak @ May 28th 2008 6:40AM]

Gasp. A mold for a case. The amount of new information that was just revealed to me by the rounded impression in a piece of metal could cure cancer.

[David @ May 28th 2008 6:44AM]

Actually it can cause cancer, check out Smith v Leech Brain & Co.

It set the precedent for the Eggshell Skull Rule. Fascinating

[supermeerkat @ May 28th 2008 7:55AM]

And it can clone dinosaurs and time travel.

Much like the Holy Stone of Clonricket.

[Derry Quinn @ May 28th 2008 11:28AM]

Which is to be upgraded to a class 2 relic ;-)

[Richard Lai @ May 28th 2008 7:33PM]

The next time round we'll be getting microscopic spy shots of the material used in the base.

But seriously, what happened to the Home button?

[David @ May 28th 2008 6:39AM]

Wow molds! in the Library! with the candlestick!

[Ethan @ May 28th 2008 6:45AM]

I've checked the envelope and you're wrong.

[ReductiMat @ May 28th 2008 10:50AM]

Seriously. Who is this 'news' for?

[Sukhminder @ May 28th 2008 6:42AM]

MOAR!!!

[Engadgetluvsappl @ May 28th 2008 6:42AM]

If this is real, it reveals that the new iPhone will still have a shit camera with no flash.

[Adam @ May 28th 2008 6:43AM]

I agree...but will we have a higher megapixel shite camera with no flash? That's the question.

[Pradster @ May 28th 2008 7:19AM]

Its still Shite, only in higher res ( if at all)

[w00t @ May 28th 2008 8:37AM]

It doesn't matter if it has a bazillion megapixels, in those size constraints with no flash it'll still produce a nasty grainy image.

Just a much larger nasty grainy image!

[adam @ May 28th 2008 9:51AM]

it's a phone, who cares how many megapixels the camera has or if it has a flash, get a real camera.

[nerdz182 @ May 28th 2008 11:41AM]

@woot

tbf it had a billion pixels. it wouldn't be grainy nor poor picture, as it would pick up all the colors easier coz it can read them all or what ever, Kind of like the eye. imagine if that had a flash now "/

[Aarun @ May 29th 2008 2:19AM]

You are a moron. even with a billion pixel sensor, the picture would still be shit. Think about it, why do professional photographers have cameras with very large lenses?? Duh...

[Adam @ May 28th 2008 6:42AM]

Where is the cutout for the home circle button?

[Blaine Oliver @ May 28th 2008 7:03AM]

Why would they cut out a part of a silicone case for the home button? surely because silicone is soft, you would just press down on the indent where the home button is?

[Turd @ May 28th 2008 6:43AM]

I think I see the Virgin Mary in the mold.

[Ethan @ May 28th 2008 6:49AM]

No matter what leaks there are, you can't steal the thunder of a Stevenote. The image of the device is so integral to what it is that even after seeing the whole thing on a cam-phone shot, the whole media blitz can still completely change how we view or even use the device.

[Chris @ May 28th 2008 9:36AM]

And...?

[brc @ May 28th 2008 6:50AM]

interesting how the ear piece on the mold and on the 3d mock-up don't match and how the rather prevalent home button is missing on the mold - neext!

[fred @ May 28th 2008 7:07AM]

"it's proof of nothing except a lot of self-perpetuating nonsense."

Score one for Engadget.

[Vidit Bhargava @ May 28th 2008 9:57AM]

yeah...its amazing how engadget comes up with a little tid-bit about the 3G iphone everyday and enjoy the scene in the forum...you rock engadget

[Greg Mcp @ May 28th 2008 7:12AM]

So. the new iPhone looks fairly similar to the old one, but perhaps with a white backplate.

Well I'm excited.

[shaun @ May 28th 2008 7:14AM]

Anyone notice how the moulds have a long bit on the top where the speaker is but in the 3D mockups it's much smaller?

[Ryan Trevisol @ May 28th 2008 7:25AM]

that's for the forward-facing camera . . .

[FTY @ May 28th 2008 7:38AM]

Shattering news for all the .... oh wait, wrong debate

[Spencer @ May 28th 2008 7:59AM]

Oh come on guys, these photos can't possibly be legit - they're not even blurry.

[Jeremy Horwitz @ May 28th 2008 8:24AM]

iDeals China is owned by the same dodgy person who owns Xskn, which "leaked" some awful-looking iPhone 2 case shots previously to get attention. He is primarily a silicone case manufacturer, and one with no scruples, so his "insider" information can come from his own factory. Note that if you believe the dateline on this piece, he is admitting that his previous iPhone 2 case shots - supposedly dated in early April - were nothing more than guesses, as only these shots from an actually reputable company's products could establish the real design.

iDeals China was set up to rustle up business for this guy's case and export companies, by posing as an independent news resource for people interested in products from China. Looks like it has succeeded.

[Twitchy @ May 28th 2008 8:26AM]

Not really - I actively try to avoid anything made in China. I don't always succeed, but at least I try.

[psxp @ May 28th 2008 8:47AM]

good investigating Mate!

[ste @ May 28th 2008 8:40AM]

yawn

[Nomi @ May 28th 2008 9:04AM]

well said...

[Jeff Snugglebutton @ May 28th 2008 9:07AM]

The only new thing i see here is that the home button will now be touch sensitive and not require a hard press, pretty cool, but i hate that.

[Wii60Warrior @ May 28th 2008 9:02AM]

When is WWDC?

When will all the madness stop?

[phatfel @ Jun 5th 2008 4:25PM]

this isnt madness this is SPARTAAAAA!!
(you did it to yourself, you set yourself up lol!)

[Steffen Jobbs @ May 28th 2008 9:03AM]

If you want a good camera, then buy a good camera. A cellphone makes a poor substitute for a camera. It has something to do with the smaller sensor size in used in cellphones. So now the iPhone is only 98% perfect since it lacks a flash. Big deal.

[Nomi @ May 28th 2008 9:06AM]

true...but most companies have decent cameras for their top of the line phones now. n95, g800 and k850i to name a few...

[thethirdmoose @ May 28th 2008 9:35AM]

No 3G takes off about 25% - 73%
No MMS is about 15% - 58%
QVGA screen is 10% - 48%
Shitty speaker is 10% - 38%
No tactile keyboard is 20% - 18%
And finally, AT&T is 18% - 0%

So actually, the iPhone is 0% perfect.

[konshuss @ May 28th 2008 9:06AM]

oh my god case molds! aaaaahhhhh!!!! i'm freaking out! please have a multi page article the second they reveal the kind of plastic sticker used to protect the screen during shipping. also need more shots of the amazing, amazing white backing. it's white! aaaahhhhhh!!!

[Jeff Snugglebutton @ May 28th 2008 9:09AM]

That 3D image doesn't match up at all. The top cutout oon the mold is 150% larger and there is no home button it's touch sensitive now.

[ralph @ May 28th 2008 9:25AM]

For all the people saying that the iPhone sucks because it doesn't have a flash, just remember that every phone has it's flaw. The N95 or whatever isn't perfect and I know that without even ever using one. I own an iPhone and there are some things I dislike about it but overall it's the best phone I've ever had. A missing flash on the camera doesn't mean the phone is a piece of s**t so grow up and quit trying to find things that are wrong with it. You sound like a little 2 year-old who can't be pleased no matter what.

[thethirdmoose @ May 28th 2008 9:36AM]

Here is your logic:
All products are flawed
Ignore the above statement

/facpalm

[thethirdmoose @ May 28th 2008 9:43AM]

clearly, that should be /facepalm.

[Duke 2 @ May 28th 2008 9:33AM]

Yes, they're molds- for the current iphone

[Vidit Bhargava @ May 28th 2008 9:54AM]

so...how is it different from the 1st gen iphone??? can you tell by just looking at the mold of the device??? and whats the buzz about???

[Ken @ May 28th 2008 9:58AM]

Holy mold ejectors!!!! There's like over 100 of them!

[Coolone3000 @ May 28th 2008 10:38AM]

I don't really care if this is legit or not, because most likely it is not. To all you people that are complaining that the 3D image doesn't match the mold because the top cutout is sooooo much larger...............did you even stop to think that the 3D image, is a 3D representation of the new iPhone? They then used that as a reference to make the mold around it.......it is obviously not a 3D representation of the mold itself!! I would have thought that wasn't a very hard thing to grasp, but more then a few people in this forum just don't get it. The top cutout is longer because the light and proximity sensor is hidden behind the glass right next to the ear piece on the original iPhone, and maybe that is the same with the next one.

[chillis @ May 28th 2008 10:49AM]

So no forward facing camera? The hole is still in the same place as the original IPhone.

(for the sake of argument becuse i don't believe these are legit)