Seriously folks, what's up with these
prototype iPhones falling out of nondescript white vans and ending up on eBay in the shadiest of manners? Just months after we saw an
original iPhone prototype (ancient OS included) pop up on The 'Bay, now we've got one of the world's first iPhone 3GSs on there as well. According to the highly ranked eBay seller, the "guy" he "got it from" actually stumbled upon it at an airport, and rather than doing the nonsensical thing of hitting up lost and found, he decided to make the most of the sudden opportunity. According to the new owner, an Apple Genius has confirmed that it is an
iPhone 3GS, but due to its prototype nature, they can't help him get past the "Connect to iTunes" screen. In other words, it's an incredibly rare brick. If that sounds like just the thing to complete your collection, you can visit the road to overpaying through the read link below.
[Via
ElectricPig]
posted Jul 3rd 2009 2:03PM
Seems like someone is going to get into trouble! That serial code on the screen will no doubt trace it back to the engineer/reviewer in question.
I would think the issue came up long ago when he or she showed up for work the next day empty handed.
I suspect it was remote wiped and bricked intentionally after it went missing.
Yeah...invest in a 'RARE' bricked iphone?
"Invest"?
"in"?
"a"?
"'RARE'"?
"bricked"?
eyefon?
"kangaroo"?
Wait... that's not right...
I loled hard. best....thread...ever....
"loled"?
Apple should be removing this auction in 5... 4... 3...
ebay...the original "Find my iPhone"
No kidding, I can't believe it is still online. Amazingly there are actually some idiots bidding on it.
Remote bricking?
iPhone? Not necessary...
I guess i am the only one who would see an engineer sample or something like it laying around , would try it out a little then call the company to return it?
Easier said then done.
"Hi, Apple Support? I have this prototype phone I found lying around. You want it back?"
I'm sure that they would believe you.
I want my ebay iPhone advertised on engadget! :(
How much?
I hope you write a better description than that guy did.. it was painful to read!
I call BS
occurring to the serial number this was built in Nov. 2008; It's probably just a 3G, that's why this guy gets an error message when he tries to load the 3GS firmware onto it.
So it's impossible that a prototype of a new product that had millions of units ready at launch in June 09 wasn't being testing in November of 08?
.....really?
"Occurring" to the serial number? Learn 2 use words.
@Jeremy W:
I don't think "2" is a word either...
@John Batchelor : You fail at wordz. :)
@Kevlar:
Well, yes, "2" is not a word per-say, but it is a symbolic/numerical representation of the word "two". So, not only did he not actually use the word "two", the word which the symbol represents wasn't even the correct word... now I've gone and made a jerk out of myself. I don't know why I do this. I'm sorry.
Call me pedantic, but I get so tired of people misspelling per se.
This thread is a fail train o.o
slap something about micheal jackson on it and he could make a pretty penny off of it
How is it any different than iPhone3GS?
I mean OS inside can be different, but outside, it looks exactly the same, no?
How is it any different than iPhone3GS?
I mean OS inside can be different, but outside, it looks exactly the same, no?
Urm, wouldn't this be considered stolen if the person that found it failed to hand it in to lost and found?!
Yes, it is theft. Unless you found it in a dumpster or trash can or in some other place that would lead a reasonable person to assume the property was abandoned.
No,
When you lose something, it's your own fault. If the person wasn't aiding in the engineer's separation from the item (IE stole it), then he is under no obligation to return it, other then the moral one. It's basically abandoned property. If you find 7 100 dollar bills on the ground, are you going to try to track someone down to determine whom it belongs to?
Basically, finders keepers
This obviously does not extend to every situation on earth, and I would imagine there would be consequences if he used the phone to rack up charges IE caused financial damage to Apple ect, similar if you found a credit card. You aren't required to return the plastic card, but if you use it fraudulently, then you are breaking the law.
But as it stands, looks like this random fool is pretty lucky, as the people of our nations are financially ignorant, and well armed with Visa cards powered by the money from their 4th mortgage.
@tamp03cobra
Not sure what country your posting from, but here in the U.S. finding something does not make you the owner. You have to prove that you own the item. And selling said "found" item only gets you in hotter water.
I'm pretty sure that Apple may not care about this phone now that the launch has happened. But trust me, if they wanted it back, they would get it back. The only other question that would be asked is if they want to press charges.
yeah since its probably misplaced, and so long as its not in an area thats deemed to be trespass, the finder has to turn it in to the lost propery/site owner etc and then the owner gets a chance to pick it up, some places will have a if its not claimed in X days then its returned to the finder, varies by state.
abandoned property is different to misplaced though, but its unlikely this is abandonment.
of course that is only if the back story is legit.
tampa03cobra next time you lose your car in a parking lot I hope some good citizen finds it for you.. and keeps it.
No country has a "finders keepers" law because that is INSANE. All you have to do is steal stuff and claim you "found" it. The only exceptions are discarded property (which can still not be "find and keepable") and items where ownership can not be proved by anyone.
I pick up pennies sometimes off the ground and keep them. Does that make me a thief? Or does that make me look poor?
It's ok.. I throw pennies on the ground all the time because they are useless to me. Although I'm pretty sure it's illegal to toss them. Crap!
This looks exaclty as any other old iPhone 3G 16GB (see the grey iPhone print on the back).
Why would Apple put print on the back of a Prototype? You would think Prototypes would be hand assembled or something
Model number on the back is for a 3G, not 3GS. Text on the back doesn't look to be chromed. Must be an early prototype?
It would make sense because of the nature of development. The OS team and hardware team are separate so neither knows what the final device will look like.
Stop confusing us with facts! Those are not welcomed in these comment threads.
According to this site (http://www.chipmunk.nl/klantenservice/applemodel.html) it really is an iPhone 3GS!
That site is very useful: You can enter sour serial numbers of Macs, iPods, iPhones, Apple-Batteries, etc and you get information about build-date and place, as well as other useful information about the product.
I posted this on my website within a hour of it being listed. The linked website shoulda creditted me instead.
A puc of the serial number is listed and any AT&T or Apple store would identify the phone as stolen ... So the seller us lying that he took it to an Apple store in the up and up.
If the Apple store rep had "Serviced" the phone they are required to get your evaluation number for prototypes.
(Ive prototyped / tested a product fir Apple before)
"(Ive prototyped / tested a product fir Apple before)"
No you haven't-
Yes, by looking at your post I can see that you exhibit the demanding attention to detail that Apple prizes.
And I am Steve Jobs.
Boo frickin' hoo, you didn't get listed, probably because you weren't the first. Deal with it.
Really?
does it bother no one that Ebay is fencing stolen goods?
You mean like Kijiji, Pirate Bay, Demonoid, sometimes Amazon.. And then all those sites that sell flash carts and mod chips for game systems to play backed up games when they are not your own..
Not really.
I have a prototype macbook pro that I bought off Craigslist. Do a google search for "macbook pro prototype boing" and you'll see.
If Apple took down my auction for a prototype macbook pro from 2006, they'll take this down just as quick. The best part is that not only will they not let me sell it on eBay but they won't communicate with me about it in any shape or form. If anyone wants a prototype macbook pro, let me know....
Hey, guys! I am the one who listed it on ebay. I did not find it, I BOUGHT IT off ebay. Tried to make it working with no luck, cause at that time Firmware for this iPhone was not available. I contacted the seller to get more info on where did he get it from, and got the answer "found at the airport". SO I AM RESELLING THIS PHONE!!! And I did went to Apple Store 3 Times, Called Apple about it and agreed to have a brand new 3G S in exchange for this prototype, but they did not hear me, so what should I do with it??? What would You do in my case???? Once again, this is a confirmed iPhone 3G S, but Apple wont support it. I feel am mad at myself I did not list it before 3G S came out - that would be a true sensation!!!
What was the auction number when you purchased it?
If the phone is stolen, like you just admitted, then the only thing you should do is take it to the police.
Ebay item number 150343471275
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150343471275&viewitem=&sspagename=ADME:X:RTQ:US:1123&salenotsupported
Ebay item number: 150343471275
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150343471275&viewitem=&sspagename=ADME:X:RTQ:US:1123&salenotsupported
You could probably fix the phone by using the rslite application that was the beta for the Redsn0w JB, you would connect to it using Libusb and rslite and "clearenv" and "saveenv 1" (I forget which one of them needed a 1 after it)
Just checking the picture!
Transformers!
Maybe it has always been a brick.
It takes the 3gs firmware, and rejects the 3g one, serial number sequence states it's a 3gs, and it lights up just like 3gs, also I confirmed with the apple store and apple product specialist that this is an iPhone 3gs. It might have the 3g plastic, but hardware is definitely 3GS. Thanks
Also To the poster of this blog - You better contact me first before publishing madeup ideas. I am glad to answer on all You questions.
Also in reply to RUS - apple has no trace for this phone in the database (that's what they told me) so how come somebody states it was stolen if no records exists for this serial number. Think before posting.
I think all iphones look the same so I don't know if it is really a 3GS or an 3G, Because the letters at the back were grey but not chrome, but anyhow.
All of this is apple's fault!!lol
If they could make a new design to every generation, we won't be guessing what type of iphone it is!!!!
that's cool
Check my ebay page, I did open the phone to take couple pictures and show how it looks inside. As You will see - it is an iPhone 3GS Prototype.
If you ask me, it sounds pretty shady to me. I mean come on... Who would seriously believe that this guy would just find it sitting around... Not likely.
-David
http://www.woodfieldlabs.com
Which guy are You talking about? I bought it on ebay thinking that this is iPhone 3G, I did not realize it's prototype 3GS until 3GS came out....
I wonder if it supports full OS video output like Steve demo's on stage. If so, that'd be pretty damn handy.
Starting price: US $200.00 May-04-09 14:19:42
Buy it now price: US $300.00 May-04-09 14:21:38
Now that's a purchase only 2 minutes after it was put on sale. Amazing that you found it so quickly and decided to purchase it almost instantly given the description of the phone.
I dont think Apple will take down the auction b/c they probably dont care. The phone was probably reported lost by the tester and remotely wiped and bricked.
Uh if I'm not mistaken there is fine print on credit cards that state you are required to return it to the issuer. Finders keepers is a major FAIL.
buy my zune. do it! http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260440729737