Gizmodo Grabs Early Hands On Photos and Video of Apple's Next iPhone

In an unprecedented breach for a notoriously secrecy-obsessed company, what appears to be a late-stage prototype of a next-generation iPhone has surfaced in the wild

By John Mahoney Posted 04.19.2010 at 11:49 am 14 Comments

The Next-Gen iPhone From the Side Gizmodo

In an unprecedented lapse for one of the world's most secretive companies, Apple has lost control of what appears to be a late-stage prototype of the next version of the iPhone. And unluckily for them, the lost bird found its way into Gizmodo's hands. They've splayed it open for all to see, similar to how Steve Jobs is now hoping to splay open whomever lost his top-secret phone.

Photos of the phone, found by a third party "lost in a bar in Redwood City," popped up on Engadget over the weekend. Gizmodo claims to have had what is most certainly the same phone "for about a week" and has posted videos and photos of their own today.

What we see is nice: a new, less rounded case with a flat back housing a new front-facing camera, an improved main camera with flash, dedicated buttons for volume on the side and, supposedly, a higher-resolution display, even though no photos are present of the device turned on--Apple has apparently remotely wiped the phone's memory. Upon taking it apart, Apple-branded components and an exceptionally finished feel seem to verify that it's not an Asian counterfeit, as was initially speculated upon the first photos' release.

It will be incredibly interesting to see what happens next. It is likely that the phone was paid for; Gizmodo's owner Nick Denton has made no secret of offering such ransoms in the past (Gawker, a sister site, publicly offered $100,000 for hands-on time with Apple's then-rumored tablet). It is also likely, as others have pointed out, that Apple views this as paying for stolen goods, and not as an accident. Having never been confronted with such a thorough and tangible breach, it's not clear how Apple will react. Will they alter the finished phone in some way in the context of the leak? Will they/have they already murdered the employee responsible and his family? Will the early reveal put a damper on Apple's uniquely powerful new-product hype storm? Will Gizmodo still be Steve Jobs's favorite gadget blog?

Whatever happens, I'm glad I'm not sitting down the hall from Steve Jobs today.

And From the Back: Gizmodo

[Gizmodo]

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14 Comments

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Surge64

04/19/10 at 11:51 am

Does this one have a built-in camera?

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Tor

04/19/10 at 12:17 pm

Whoever lost this prototype is gonna be in BIG trouble! :P

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Thumper_DS

04/19/10 at 1:25 pm

looks like they are taking design cues from zune.

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mjfr226

04/19/10 at 2:31 pm

Apple is so smart they didnt use the "Find my iPhone" feature they created. doh! Instead they remote-wiped it. What's the conspiracy? is this deliberate?

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picassobro

04/19/10 at 2:45 pm

@surge64
The camera is on the front. Someone got a hold of the iPhone 4.0 software and suggested that it had capabilities for video conferencing. You can see the camera eye next to the speaker.

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kormiko

04/19/10 at 2:53 pm

Though I tend to doubt it, it wouldn't surprise me if this was left in a bar deliberately to get a reaction out of bloggers and their followers.

It's quite a coincidence to see this revealed shortly after the HTC Incredible's official announcement and before its release.

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animemaster

04/19/10 at 3:22 pm

A while ago apple killed a Chinese employee because someone dropped an iphone prototype behind a desk and they could not find it. These guys are the worse than drug smugglers, apple DONT BE EVIL!

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Soroshi

04/19/10 at 7:15 pm

I bet that isn't going to be the final form factor for the new phone. It would be totally unlike apple to make such a brick of a device. When I saw the first pics a few days ago I though for sure it was fake because of how boxy and brick like it was. After reading Gizmodo's page, I am willing to believe that is could be real, but more pictures of the inside would be good. The claim of apple branded parts desperately needs pictures to back it up. If this device is real then I'm certain that apple will still have the smooth curved form factor for the final release version.

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Vega_Obscura

04/19/10 at 8:49 pm

I've been following this topic for a while now on various sites and I don't understand why everyone is doubting/so against the look of this phone.

I think it is damn sexy and ultra clean.

The most telling design cue of it being a legit Apple product, other than entire product itself, is the two screws on the bottom by the speakers.

I know an Apple product that has the same exact design characteristic. The iMac.

It looks more robust and heavy duty. I'd be much less afraid to drop this phone than my current 3G. While the flat back does increase it's stability and grip on flat surfaces (I've brushed mine off a table once or twice by accident), I worry how that'll continue to be a benefit with camera involved. The beauty of the curved styling of the current iPhones is that it elevates the camera from the danger of getting scratched. Unless the camera on this phone is recessed, scratch resistant or the phone is in a case, I see this being a major consumer annoyance.

I'll miss the chrome lip, but that aluminum is calling me.

I'm all for elegant design and the super future look of Apple products these days, but I like my tech to look techie and heavy duty.

This is a great step forward for the product and with the new OS, it'll be a quantum leap.

Day one purchase, no questions. I hope I can get a good price for my 3G to soften/negate the blow to my finances...

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omaracoustic

04/19/10 at 11:51 pm

Take a look at the past 3 or 4 previous iPhones. There are waaay too many seams on that thing. HTC is gonna stomp on Apple. It's only a matter of time. Apple is getting scared.

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Vega_Obscura

04/20/10 at 1:46 am

And it's been confirmed as the real McCoy.

Skeptics be damned and haters start your engines.

I'm going to need some entertainment while I wait for this to hit the streets...

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androgen

04/21/10 at 9:50 am

Thanks for the interesting news, subscribe to the rss? I will check back often.

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kiego

04/21/10 at 11:03 pm

The curved back of the current IPhone is sexy but non-functional to me. It is one of the main reasons why I haven't gotten one yet. This new look might sway me towards it.

30bcf4e2

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hybgbt

05/04/10 at 4:19 am

what is the xxgb ??????????????

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