Well, we
told you so. The
fourth-generation iPhone prototype that leaked its way out into the world over the weekend has found its way to
Gizmodo, and they've examined it exhaustively enough to prove that it's the real thing. Not only does it show up in iTunes, Xcode, and System Profiler, but it has different product identifiers than the 3G or 3GS, and it's packed with Apple-labeled components inside. Unfortunately, they couldn't get it to boot out of recovery mode, but a number of new features and changes are evident just by holding it. Obviously, it's thinner than the 3GS, with smaller internal components and a larger battery inside the metal frame. There's also a front-facing camera, a larger and better camera with a flash on the back, a higher-res display that's slightly smaller than the current models, a second mic for noise cancellation, and that new back, which
Giz seems a bit confused about but we're fairly sure is glass or ceramic. It's also three grams heavier than a 3GS, with a 16 percent larger battery and the same new MicroSIM slot used in the iPad.
We're also told the phone was found running iPhone OS 4.0 but that it was remotely killed before
Giz could actually see it, and that they can't get it to boot because it requires a bespoke build of the OS. We're assuming Apple's hot on the trail of this thing, so hit the source link while you can and check a couple more pics after the break.
posted April 19th 2010 10:47AM
Wow. I bet Apple are pissed.
@in5ane
I Am Weasel
I. R. Baboon
@in5ane indeed.
@in5ane Pissed alone? I smell a public hanging coming to who ever let this slip through...how dare they taint apples tight lock downynessness. *yeah I made that word up so what*
This is siiiiiick!
@in5ane No doubt. Someone is definitely getting fired! I bet they know who lost it. Bahaha well good for us anyway :)
@in5ane Steve Jobs must be really upset! Me, I'm just happy we get to see it so soon!
@in5ane
I'm pretty sure this was a deliberately leak. So they will probably be publicly upset, and privately happy at the buzz this is generating. No one "loses" a prototype phone in a public restaurant.
This thing looks AMAZING. I cannot wait to get my hands on it.
@in5ane this kinda ruined by anticipation of the keynote in june
Does this iPhone have a time warp feature so we can all be transported to July and actually buy this awesome thing without waiting for THREE months?!
With the hard edges (unlike previous iPhone revisions), it looks somewhat like the HTC Hero.
@in5ane
oh well, i was hoping for a little more roundy edges. no biggie tho. i think it looks ok. its not beautiful, its ok. but a front facing camera and flash are big wins!
@in5ane Wow I bet you didn't pass high school Engrish.
@in5ane
Well, unless this is a *new* type of PR stunt? The old 'no comment' way was kinda cool, but also led to rampant speculation. This way, no one can speculate anything 'better' than the actual product :)
@Dinochicken
Agreed. With all the stories of locked down iPads (literally locked down to a table) I find it odd that someone just happened to "lose" a prototype iPhone in a resturant.
Right...
@bazookafx3
And I bet you're a jerk who loves correcting peoples!
@in5ane How possible do you think it'll be to buy this & put that microSIM in an iPad & have one BIG ASS iPHONE?
@in5ane
I bet someone is loosing their job
@in5ane Yeah, because this doesn't look like a completely staged leak whatsoever.
@in5ane
I'm so glad they got rid of that stupid design from before. I had more problems with the curved corners cracking and splitting. Not to mention the glossy back finish was terrible. Only a few months into ownership on two 3G phones with normal use and the glossy finish was scratched like brushed metal.
It looks like Apple took some design cues from other phone companies.
@TechGuySteve losing
@in5ane It looks so much like a chocolate box... ewww. iPhone 3G/3G S look better, sorry.
@in5ane
Apple ninja's incoming in 5...4...3....
@in5ane
They are. I can only imagine Jobs facial expressions after reading Engadget and Gizmodo sites.
Jobs: Thats what i was going to say. Forget it. Ill throw magical, and revolutionary in my keynote speech and the consumers will eat it up.
All in All. I like the new design. Its totally different than the previous three. Its looks edgy, sexy and contemporary. Whats wrong with a few seams? But im surprised they didnt increase the screen real estate. I dont know if the Apple R&D looked at the competitors lately but the screens (EVO/Dell to name a few) this summer are going to be massive with impressive OS's to boot. Im a little worried Apple may get behind a little more this summer. Jobs isnt getting younger and the competition is at its highest. Only time will tell. This is opionion of course ;)
@in5ane
Not when its released to Apple fanboy crowds.
@in5ane Reports of murder in 5......4......3......2......1.....
@slinky317
Yeah, based on the way pre-release iPads were handled, plus they can't boot the phone... definitely a purposeful leak.
@in5ane Bring on 1200+ comments!
How many gb is it, I couldn't see because the gizmodo logo was in the way
@in5ane Come on. Apple couldn't use the "Find My iPhone" function?
Finder should have turned on Airplane mode, then the remote kill would have been disabled. Fook!
@Luke
Giz do say the phone booted *before* they got their hands on it. Remotely locking down an iphone is something you can do with a mobile me account in case of theft. That might add a little more credibility to the 'lost' angle.
It's just so out of character for Apple tho.
@in5ane well at least they made the rest of the world happy to see improvement
@in5ane Pissed????? They are intentionally revealing it early because of the like of Driod Incredible, HTC EVO 4G, and Samsung Galaxy S making appearances.
It's pretty evident that this is all happening with Jobs' blessings.
It's narrower and doesn't look nice, it's like Apple designers going back to square one (like the iPhone 2G)
@Billy
Hopefully not... I didn't realise how many emails you get sent if you reply to something first!
LEEKED ON PURPOSE!!
Called it.
So this guy walks into a bar...
@n0ne I love l33ks!!!
@Chizzed Let's hope nobody wll die because of it
@Dinochicken I couldn't agree more. Only maybe 10 people at Apple, Jobs being one of them would even be allowed to take the prototypes off campus.
unless... THIS IS ERIC SCHMIDTS MISTRESSES IPHONE!!
@in5ane I doubt it. Whatever is out here, is out here because Ninja Assassin Steve wants it out here. I also think WWDC is going to be very very soon!
@urandom indeed it does... so much for the innovation that came from apple years ago. those were the days :)
@ceteras
I would like to say that the new iPhone make the 3GS look like a KIRF in that side-by-side shot.
Thank you.
@in5ane Apple is now using MobileMe to track Gizmodo like any other perp. Just sayin'
@in5ane
I think some Apple employee might "commit suicide" sometime soon
or "have an accident"
@in5ane
...aaaaaand somebodys fired
@GGG
http://www.engadget.com/tag/hp+slate/
So much for dreams of an HD2 like phone.... Smaller screen? I guess Apple puts large screens are in the same pile as pens and buttons. :(