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
@Tes
"To say that this UI is competitive with something like iPhone OS 3.1 (or 4 for that matter), or Palm's webOS is an understatement; in many ways it's superior to what Apple and Palm are offering."
@slinky317 Normally I would believe that, but its just not very "Jobsy" to do such a thing. To my knowledge, they've never intentionally leaked a product in any form, esp a working unit like this, to anyone ever. Remember when the 2nd Gen G4 iMac got outed early in Time a day before the keynote presentation? Yeah, Jobs 'bout busted a nut over that one.
Now, I do think its a possibility that they perhaps leaked this prototype model as a decoy & that the 4th Gen iPhone will be much different.
@peestandingup
...and by fired, I believe he means "shot"....
@PerryAJ GPS only works outdoors... and they don't need to track it to find it. They could just write Gizmodo, or have their lawyers write Gizmodo. Its not as if Apple is going to send over a gang of hired thugs to said GPS location.
As for virals, they only work close to the product launch. This is early. And any company intelligent about marketing wouldn't leak a pre-product with less than aesthetically complete housing. That only damages product reputation, as does leaking a product months ahead of launch... just look at Sony Ericsson for proof of that.
@peestandingup
Except they would have commited suicide by now.
@Plazmic Flame Ah yes, by "fired" I indeed meant getting a "firing squad".
@Merkie Because the Droid Incredible is releasing in about 5 days. That means that people who are tired of the iPhone can jump ship and go to Verizon and sign a 2-year contract with them. Apple doesn't have time to have Jobs speak at a keynote - they need to leak this some other way in order to generate buzz so people stick around with AT&T and Apple to get the new iPhone.
Word
I dunno....
@n0ne
I dunno either. Looks interesting and all but not enough for me to go back to AT&T/iTunes lock-in.
Oh well, yay for choices!
@n0ne I have to say, I'm way closer to being convinced than I was the other day, but some things throw me off a little. For instance, it has all the FCC markings on the back......a. from what I've read their test units usually have barely anything on the back, let alone FCC approvals... and b. If it was already through the FCC wouldn't someone have found SOMETHING about it?
@n0ne
Same here. Lost me at, "display that's slightly smaller than the current models."
@phobic99
The thing about this is its probably the one heading to Verizon/Sprint
@ColinScatt There's a picture of it right next to a 3GS that also has the same FCC markings on it. Not sure that point was really worth trying to make
@TPAYNE87 That would be some serious hardware fragmentation. I don't think they should do that.
@killplay Of course, because the 3GS has FCC approval...You kind of helped make my point lol
@ColinScatt
Look closer, the FCC ID has a bunch of XXXXXs
cough - Placeholder - cough
@logicbombde Good look!!
@logicbombde
's for brand recognition, dude! Specifically so someone would look and see: "Ooh, that's an iPhone! Wait... IS that an iPhone? The shape, the back, the cameras! MAGICAL!"
i might actually sell my soul to AT&T for this...
You will give your soul to me, no questions asked
Well, it looks like I stand corrected!
@BergerFan Can't blame you. The fact that it wasn't strictly unibody is the main thing that threw me off into thinking that it was just another fake and everybody was getting a stiffy in their pants over nothing. I think the fact that they're getting rid of the bezel is a huge plus, but it makes me wonder what they're going to do for the body of the iPod Touch.
@Velorium Well, they HAVE to do the same thing to the Touch, right? No use in recycling that same design, then they'll be designating 2 different designs for 2 products that basically do the same thing, sans GPS and Sim Radio.
No denying that phone is secksi...apple hater or not.
@ThatDudeSolo
Mmmmmm.... very Mac-like industrial design. Not sexy at all!!
oh wow.... Mass suicide confirmed in China!
BEWARE OF STEVE JOB's FURY!!!!!!
@kingofwale
Bet you it was "lost" on purpose.
@kingofwale
4 shizzle! El Jobso eats chines children for breakfast!
@kingofwale
More like high fives all round in Apple's Marketing division.
Looks the nuts.
@Jetpaq
Looks like dick alright.....
DANG!!! Someone definitely lost their job over this one. On a side note: I'm getting this phone!!!!
Exactly which day in June can I mark down on my calendar to go stand on line for this?
Someone at Apple is going to get the boot.
@AckbarsFist
Get the boot? More like sued dude! Pay back all the money you have earned while you worked there and then some!
Looks like it would be a Winmo phone.
@sethmo
Agreed. Looks a little Zune HD-ish.
@hsevna I thought so too but lacking the Zune's quirky personality.
I for one welcome our new HTC-looking iPhone overlords.
Ah, so NOW we know why Apple was suing HTC.
HTC stole Apple's designs... but they invented a time machine and did it from the future!
@Elranzer People are ALWAYS doing that to Apple! The bastards...
@technogecko6 agree, an HTC-like iPhone, HD2-killer !!
@Elranzer Just like the argument of joojoo stealing apple's idea of the iPad even though they announced it before apple.. Haha these wars never end.
Who is going to die?
Of course it was probably leaked on purpose - iPhones are so outdated and boring - it was about time to shake things up a bit.
Very nice, I'm glad its not rounded on every side, and the silver bezel is gone.
Hopefully there will be less cracking issues, and its a little sturdier this time too!
@RokenR I was going to write the same thing. Looks awesome.
WANT WANT WANT WANT WANT WANT WANT
WANT WANT WANT WANT WANT WANT WANT
WANT WANT WANT WANT WANT WANT WANT
WANT WANT WANT WANT WANT WANT WANT
@FrankTheCrank
I second your WANT. But I'd want it a lot more if it didn't have iPhone OS 4. My dream would be this design + Windows Phone 7.
Anyway, where I live it's unlikely that it will arrive before holiday season, if at all this year.
Looks kinda bland to me, bur hey, that's just me.