Another iPhone Prototype in the Wild

Come on, Apple. Why is it so hard to keep your prototypes locked down this year? First one gets lost in a bar, now another turns up in Vietnam somewhere?

Macrumors is reporting today that Vietnamese website Taoviet.vn, has posted pics of another iPhone prototype, that they apparently purchased in the US. Macrumors doesn’t really have any more info than that, and the original site is down. (Probably due to traffic crashing their server). I grabbed these pics from the Macrumors site, so let’s take a look.

We are seeing a few differences, on this prototype. The main difference in this model, is that it seems it was actually turned on, and running some kind of prototype firmware. It looks like it’s called “Inferno”, as we kind of see that at the top of the screen, then there is some diagnostic looking text, at the bottom.

Next, we can see that this unit actually has the storage amount on the back. Not just XXGB. Model number and all other numbers are still X’d out. This unit appears to be a 16GB model.

Another difference is, this unit does not have any screws on the bottom.

We also get to see more tear down pics of the new iPhone. In these, we can see that there is an Apple branded processor inside, but it’s uncertain if this is a variation of the A4 processor we have in the iPad.

These guys actually connected this one to a computer, but as suspected, they were not able to do anything with it. They posted these screen shots, though:

Real, or fake? This certainly looks pretty much the same as the one Gizmodo got their hands on, so I’m inclined to believe this one, as well. We’re about 3 weeks away from WWDC, where Apple has typically announced new iPhones in the past, so it would make sense that we see something closer to a production model, like this.

Here is some video of this new prototype.

Here’s the English tanslation of what he is saying in the video:

Hi guys, this is the Iphone 4G in my hand, from Mr. XXX. It seem small but I feel pretty long and a little bit narrow when holding it in my hand. The machine is strong and solid with both sides made of glass (0:36, knock! knock! knock!). The camera comes with flash and the machine is 16GB as indicated and the code at the back with numbers of X characters (0:46). There is another camera next to the speaker at the front side and the home button. Once again you can see it’s a bit longer but narrower. On the left side you can see the on/off sound and the separate up/down volume buttons in round shape (1:16). On the right side is the SIM tray and at the bottom are the speakers but not sure of stereo/mono type. I dont see any sight of how to open and may need to force for open up(1:45). The screen is disabled and I think Apple giving this phone to some one together with a CODE and from time to time he has to enter that Code otherwise the phone will auto disable, not to be disabled remotely by Apple(2:00). Comparing with the current version, the phone is narrower approx 4mm, the length is little longer, the machine is thinner and screen is similar. It looks manly but the sharp edges may hurt your fingers (2:39). This is the SIM tray using miniSIM card. The back is so solid and the new Iphone feels stronger and more modern than the current one. OK thank you!!!

I’m excited for this new iPhone, and I’ll be lining up this summer to get one. Oh, speaking of that, anyone want to buy a used iPhone 3GS?

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