An iPhone prototype “accidently” left in a random bar….
Gizmodo got their hands on an iPhone that was found at a bar in Redwood City, CA. It appears to be the new iPhone 4.0. If you visit Gizmodo, you can see the pictures of it and read the complete article. Here is what they discovered after examining the device:
What’s new
- Front-facing video chat camera
- Improved regular back-camera (the lens is quite noticeably larger than the iPhone 3GS)
- Camera flash
- Micro-SIM instead of standard SIM (like the iPad)
- Improved display. It’s unclear if it’s the 960×460 display thrown around before-it certainly looks like it, with the “Connect to iTunes” screen displaying much higher resolution than on a 3GS.
- What looks to be a secondary mic for noise cancellation, at the top, next to the headphone jack
- Split buttons for volume
- Power, mute, and volume buttons are all metallicWhat’s changed
- The back is entirely flat, made of either glass (more likely) or ceramic or shiny plastic in order for the cell signal to poke through. Tapping on the back makes a hollower and higher pitched sound compared to tapping on the glass on the front/screen, but that could just be the orientation of components inside making for a different sound
- An aluminum border going completely around the outside
- Slightly smaller screen than the 3GS (but seemingly higher resolution)
- Everything is more squared off
- 3 grams heavier
- 16% Larger battery
- Internals components are shrunken, miniaturized and reduced to make room for the larger battery
The front-facing video chat camera would confirm the rumor of video chatting coming out with the use of iChat. An improved camera with a flash isn’t a surprise. Each iPhone release thus far has upgraded the camera. Hopefully the larger battery means better battery life. I have the 3GS, and battery life is horrible.
So the next question is: Did someone really leave this phone at a bar? If so, was it an accident or was it planted? Apple is holding a press conference June 22nd, which everyone speculates that is when the new iPhone will be announced, but HTC is releasing The Droid Incredible April 29th. Could Apple have leaked this phone on purpose to get the buzz out about the improvements and changes to deter consumers from buying the new Droid Incredible and hold out for the new iPhone? I wouldn’t put this past Apple at all. HTC has been converting Apple customers to Droid customers for the past several months with their lineup of new phones and the Android OS. It will be interesting to see what Apple has to say about this phone “found in a bar…”
