iPhone 4G/HD Possibly Discovered on Bar Floor
Apple lost a prototype iPhone.
A fairly strange story developed over the weekend. A strange smartphone was found on the floor of a San Jose bar inside an iPhone 3G case – but inside the case was not an iPhone 3G. It was a phone that had iPhone-like characteristics, but it wasn't any iPhone currently out in the public.
Engadget managed to get some hands-on time with the device and found it to have a front-facing camera, 80GB of storage and an OS that was "decidedly new."
After some more digging, Engadget found evidence that suggest that this 'found' phone might actually be a legitimate prototype. A similar looking device was photographed in a supposed leaked picture from inside an Apple test lab. At the time, all eyes were on the large-screened device as the hype on the iPad was at an all-time-high, so no one noticed the oddly-shaped iPhone.
Daring Fireball has chimed in too, theorizing that it could be the real thing sporting a ceramic enclosure that can be smooth like glass, but far stronger, more scratch resistant, and most importantly, radio transparent.
Now Gizmodo has gone hands-on, and even disassembled the supposed new iPhone. They believe that it's the real deal.
While we won't know if this is the real thing until Apple shows off the next iPhone this summer, this one discovery is both the most surprising and solid we've had yet.
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... haha, I wonder if the original owner is reading this going "What the?!?!"
Why do I get the feeling someone's severed head will be sitting on Steve Jobs desk.
I am sure the 80GB is just for the prototype. Whoever left this might need to look for a new job though.
Can it make a phone call? If it can it's a phone, get rid of all the rest of the crap extend the battery life and I might think about buying one.
You'd think they found a pot of gold or something.
And hopefully the person that dropped the phone will keep their job, even if they do work for Apple.
meanwhile in other news, the Droid is still just hanging out being the superior smartphone.
I dunno, there are a lot of Chinese manufactured iphone knockoffs that are very good but if it has a ceramic enclosure I would tend to believe it is legit.
Possibly intentionally dropped by Apple so the hype can begin boiling towards the release of the iPhone HD. Anyway, not excited.
probably purposely "dropped" to add hype, seems to work with TH .. they will allways pick up on anything apple lol.
I'm a very tech-oriented guy living in the U.S., but I've never owned a cell phone. It seems in general like they offer very little benefit, compared to the cost and compared to the frustrations people have with billing and with whatever app store is associated with their brand of phone.
So when I see people getting outright frantic about a new Apple phone, I'm doubly mystified.
Would someone please explain to me what makes cell phones such a big deal as to garner this level of interest?
I'm thinking that the person (an Apple employee) got paid off to 'lose' this device for somebody to conveniently 'find'. What are the odds of one lost phone making its way to tech sites so soon? Seems like Apple has a leak to stop.
The most expensive iPad has 64 gigs of storage, and this thing has 80?
I'm guessing they won't make much of these, probably a special edition or something.
looks real apple will probably send gizmo a cease and desist
It's either purposely "dropped" to create more hype (as evident here), or the person who dropped it is fired or worse.
Anyone else find the shape and ports out of the norm for Apple?
I'm a very tech-oriented guy living in the U.S., but I've never owned a cell phone. It seems in general like they offer very little benefit, compared to the cost and compared to the frustrations people have with billing and with whatever app store is associated with their brand of phone.So when I see people getting outright frantic about a new Apple phone, I'm doubly mystified.Would someone please explain to me what makes cell phones such a big deal as to garner this level of interest?
If i could i would lol ... I have an N97, good phone .. does more that a phone typically does ... but it as the iphone ... is hardly newsworthy!
I suppose that's why forced and fashion hype is the only way to get this publicity .. seems to work tho eh ... everywhere you go . .relentless applecrap ... good job there are far less people buying them than there are talking about them or we would be doomed!
It'd be hilarious if someone dropped it on purpose to get fanboys to chase the rabbit.
I'm a very tech-oriented guy living in the U.S., but I've never owned a cell phone. It seems in general like they offer very little benefit, compared to the cost and compared to the frustrations people have with billing and with whatever app store is associated with their brand of phone.
You know there are cell phones out there that have nothing to do with buying apps? I've never owned a smartphone nor bought anything for my cell phone, but I can see the appeal (going to college, I see a lot of people who play with their phones instead of having real world interaction. I've done it! Tetris demo ftw!). I don't see how you could be employed without having a cell phone in all honesty.
All I'm thinking is this is a corprate spy op.
No way somebody's just carrying around the next iPhoney, and then just decides: "Oh, since I have this with me, maybe I should take it to the bar!"
Either it was an intentional leak, or some poor soul is going to be committing "ritual suicide" pretty soon.
What surprises me the most is the fact that whoever found it didn't bother to try and get in touch with the owner to give their phone back. Instead they took it apart to see what was inside?
Looks like the Apple hype machine is back at work. I'd venture to guess, like the others here, this was a organized leak to get the media in a frenzy again.
There will still be better Android phones when this comes out.
Someone at apple just got a handful of Sith Lightning.
But... But, if this this is a marketing ploy, it's truly genius.
Someone at apple just got a handful of Sith Lightning. But... But, if this this is a marketing ploy, it's truly genius.
Don't you mean "it's completely obvious" and the people who "swallow it" are far from genius?
Just checking ^^
So... who just disassembles some poor guys phone
Well, some poor lad at Apple just lost his job...
couldn't they just power up the device and see if it contains OS 4.0?
no one to my knowledge has actually put the OS on a different phone...
lack of design ~
i will go for HTC HD2
So who is gonna "jump" out of a window for this mistake?
This just in! Another Foxconn employee was thrown off the roof today...
As inclined as I am to think this person might lose their job... who the hell would be carrying this around at a BAR. Even if they were, and it was a stolen prototype.. who would know who did it? Obviously they could hire a detective but still, c'mon. It was DEFINITELY planted. For sure. Cool lookin phone though!
HTC needs to 'lose' a prototype ASAP and steal Steve-o's iThunder.