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
@in5ane :
1. Someone is going to get BURNED, by Steve, and lose their job.
2. I love the new look. Apple's finally leaving behind the outdated 3G design. The new stuff looks great.
3. I'm still going Evo if this isn't better than it.
@in5ane
Steve Jobs is camped outside a Chinese factory with a sniper rifle as we speak.
@Dinochicken Yep. And right before the Droid Incredible was released. Just enough info to put doubts in some people's minds.
Coincidence? I don't think so.
@in5ane
I would imagine an emergency meeting in Apple HQ, S Job; now we need to promptly redesign the new iPhone and fire all parts involved in the leak.
BTW engadget, you will not receive you Apple cheque this month.
@thisisit,
1. Put in flight mode
2. Remove SIM
3. Destroy dock connector
4. ???
5. Profit!!!
@GGG All we will ever know is a email to N. Patel that says in part"...an Apple employee lost a prototype 4G iPhone. The Apple Employee died." Actually, I thik this was a PR plant to keep the Apple hype machine going and to try to neuter the Microsoft and Android news
@phobic99 i agree, this is bullcrap. Appel doesn't loose iphone prototypes and apple employees certainly don't. We couldn't even get a pic of the ipad. this isn't the next iphone and anyone who thinks it is, is a lune.
@TechGuySteve I bet some-one is getting tortured Guantanamo/Wu-tang Clan style.....
@in5ane
Christ, how do you lose an iPhone in pre-release stages..?
Sent from my iPhone 4G.
@in5ane
"screen that's higher-res but slightly smaller"
WTF? Can't they get a ruler out and tell us the dimensions?
There is TOO much bezel. uggh. The pixel density on the iPhone is fine. It's the size that can be improved upon.
EVO 4G it is (unless this truly has a 80GB of storage)!
@Miakandogadget
Yep, so sick actually, that it should already have died.
Some poor apple employee is looking for his long lost next generation iPhone followed closely by Steve Jobs who will when said iPhone is found, kill that employee post haste or perhaps demote them to earbud design.
@in5ane
You see that crow over there, I guess I am about to eat it.
You win Josh, it's real.
Some poor apple employee is looking for his long lost next generation iPhone followed closely by Steve Jobs who will when said iPhone is found, kill that employee post haste or perhaps demote them to earbud design.
@in5ane Some poor apple employee is looking for his long lost next generation iPhone followed closely by Steve Jobs who will when said iPhone is found, kill that employee post haste or perhaps demote them to earbud design.
@slinky317 i was just thinkin the same thing.. some impressive android phones like the incredible and evo comin out.. people w/ the iphone 3G itchin to get a new phone.. this might be enough to hold them off until summer.
@Ryan Deen
Nice, haha.
@thisisit HAHA love the little tagline at the end!
@in5ane
I call BS on Gizmodo "finding a lost phone". More like Apple giving Gizmodo a phone to reveal. These leaks are just too common, anyone with a half a brain would be careful to not lose a prototype of anything (or anything that holds some value).
@in5ane But that may be well done on purpose to stimulate the itneres.
Now apple has a strong competition from HTC EVO, NEXUS and so on...
Many people are looking to get EVO ( i got HD2 for now ) and to stop people from getting other phones before Iphone s revealed would be a good move.
The only thing disapoints me ( i was looking to wait for iphone 4g) is the screen. I hoped they will move to 4+ inch screen but according to article the screen is even smaller but highier dencity.
@Dinochicken
Yes! Exactly!
Finally someone shows some common sense!
@spasewalkr
Roundness limits space for extra batteries and such. I'd rather the extra juice.
@in5ane
I'll be honest, I'm not too impressed with the new design. It looks like my friend's Samsung Eternity touchscreen phone.
@madwh I totally agree, I can't see Jobs signing off on this one.
@in5ane
I actually imagine this is a marketing ploy to try and silence some android thunder
@Dinochicken I agree. It was intentional and they are loving the press. Anyone that was thinking about making a dive into the smart phone arena or going droid or going WebOS, they will wait now for this sweet little morsel. Not everyone, but quite a few. Tasty!
@Chizzed
I should feel sorry for the dumbass who lost his phone in a bar (I'm betting that there was no attempt to do the right thing and return it) but at least he'll be dead soon and won't have to worry. [The Steve Jobs Death Squad is swift and efficient, right?]
@eminisp
yeah - screen is going to feel small next to the competition.
How this there already an FCC approval stamp when it hasn't been through the fcc yet?
@Boh Aww, this is a great comment albiet out of context. *votes you up* FIGHT ON BROTHER FIGHT ON.
@spasewalkr seriously the flash alone for me is worth it. been hanging on my 3g for a while now and didn't find the 3gs worth the upgrade (yes yes much faster etc etc meh). one of the main uses for my iphone though is the myriads of awesome camera apps which all basically became useless after 5-6pm. woohoo for camera flash and higher res screen!
@in5ane
Did anyone actually believe someone lost this in a restaurant? C'mon, this is a deliberate leak.
And it's good to be an Apple fanboy site because those "leaks" are likely to show up at your door.
@in5ane
You bet! Especially coz it shows that even the GodPhone had to come down to the level of MortalPhones and start having seams and boxy looking form factor instead of the sleek unibody we are used to and there was nothing the Big J could do about it.
@in5ane I kind of think this was a PR stunt by Apple to get the Hype train moving again. Apple has been in the minds of people for months now with various rumors and devices, and this will just extend the mind share. Who knows....
@Dinochicken Apple doesn't do leaks.
@in5ane They did this on purpose to take the hype away from the onslaught of crazy Android phones coming out.
Next week, there will be another 'leak' from Apple.
@Ryan Deen
I think you need a cell signal for that to work. And seeing that this is still on the AT&T network, and was inside a building...
@eminisp
New and refreshing? It loos like a long iPod turned into a iPhone
@in5ane even more pissed that it gives away the iPod design aswell...
@Ahmed Alzayani
What apple cheque? You mean apple won't give engadget their cheque for photos obtained by gizmodo?
Its for the greater good.
@in5ane
What!?!?! You guys wanted the OTHER Flash.. Never heard of em....
@in5ane #
It is very simple, AT&T released this iPhone 4G prototype because in this moment they have thousands of users that are finishing their contract in the following months, even if Apple didn't really accepted this strategy.
In this moment the best phones on the market are coming from Android form Sprint (HTC EVO) and from Verizon (HTC Verizon), it was very tempting for a user to switch from AT&T to the concurrency without a something to worth waiting on AT&T. A study showed them that they will lose an important percentage of clients in favour of Verizon and Sprint if they do not announce something to try to mach the concurrency …and they did it, they "lost a iPhone 4G in a bar" !
@in5ane Haha what if it was Jobs who lost it hahaha.
@sliderem
Even though the new one looks narrower, I think the screen size is the same only the border was narrowed down.
@in5ane
I'll wager that Apple, just to spite whomever leaked this device, will announce the "Official 4G" as a triangle shaped phone.
@brillow iPod nano phatty, definite leak there!
@Dinochicken Agreed.
@Matt314 Im with you on this one. i was really hoping for a bigger screen.
@in5ane If Giz won't to stick to this ridiculous "accidentally lost and found" story, then they won't do the next logical step, which is sending it over to XDA devs, and see if they can unlock it, jailbreak it and have OS 4.0 running on it.
Apple's insecurity is making me more optimistic for the future of Android. Froyo will be announced next month, and like it or not Androids are getting Tegra 2 and Scorpions this year... with smooth youtube HD playback in the browser, and great battery life.
I'll admit though, unlike the other iToys, this is a serious piece of gadget worth of respect.