Its possible its not the final design, however its April (the phone is launched in june) and this was fully functional up until the point apple remote killed it.
You work in production, what do you reckon.
Those pics are a backward step visually, and I can't see Apple making that mistake. It just doesn't look 'Apple'.
Tough call. There could, and I guess would, be fair few development units floating around regardless of the final design. Test mules of the phone world if you will. If the bezel was seamless I could buy it. Perhaps that is the final shape but I'm not 100%. I think the final design, if based around that, will look more slick. Those pics are a backward step visually, and I can't see Apple making that mistake. It just doesn't look 'Apple'.
The back wont come off unless you force it off. As in its not designed to be removed in normal use.
Is it possible at all on any level that apple meant to 'lose' this phone?
Only reason i can think of why they would do this is to get a wider opinion on the phone? Or is that a stupid idea?
just seems a bit strange that an iphone would be lost and conveniently fall into the hands of someone who would plaster it all over the internet?
Regardless of the prevalence of the current-gen iPhones, the chances of a scrote not 'finding' it first are remarkably small... Seems too coincidental that someone tech-savvy enough to care about the next iPhone should get hold of it first, much less post it on the internet.
I'd like to think that I'm interested enough in the next iPhone, but would have kept a find like that to myself for fear of it being an Asian 'interpretation'.
Maybe they've had to square it off for production costs/quality issues etc?!
I think there might be a tweak but that's 99% it.
It's too elaborate for it to be a forced leak. Apple go mental with crappy low res test shots of products, this is proper f**ked any announcement that's coming.
Someone won't be working in the tech world anymore..
Agreed, something doesn't quite look right about it?
Why didn't Apple just ping the phone like the Police do, find it's location?
Has apple acknowledged anything about this 'leak' yet?
They won't say anything. Most we'll get is a no-comment.
EDIT:It has been reported lost
Apple-connected John Gruber—from Daring Fireball—says that Apple has indeed lost a prototype iPhone and they want it back:So I called around, and I now believe this is an actual unit from Apple — a unit Apple is very interested in getting back.Obviously someone found it, and here it is.
It’s been an open secret to those of us in the racket that Gizmodo purchased this unit about a week ago, from those who claimed to find it. That this belongs to and was made by Apple is almost beyond question at this point. Just how much it looks like what Apple plans to ship this summer, I don’t know. Note that it’s thinner than a 3GS.
I’m mentioned in the article, and must respond. Jason Chen writes:Apple-connected John Gruber — from Daring Fireball — says that Apple has indeed lost a prototype iPhone and they want it back:Note that I did not use the word “lost”. It is my understanding that Apple considers this unit stolen, not lost. And as for the “someone(s)” who “found” it, I believe it is disingenuous for Gizmodo to play coy, as though they don’t know who the someones are.So I called around, and I now believe this is an actual unit from Apple — a unit Apple is very interested in getting back.Obviously someone found it, and here it is.