Apple’s new iPhone features a front-facing camera, a larger battery, the OS 4.0 and a slightly smaller screen.
That’s what Gizmodo has reported after a week testing a device that was, according to the gadget site, “lost in a bar in Redwood City.”
The phone was being tested by Apple engineer Gray Powell, disguised as an iPhone 3G S, when it was left in the bar.
The person who found the prototype gave it to Gizmodo, which confirmed it was “the real thing” – an early version of Apple’s next iPhone, expected to be launched in June.
Gizmodo has confirmed it paid for the prototype, with editor Nick Denton tweeting that they are “proud practitioners of checkbook journalism. Anything for the story!”
But he did not put a figure on the payment, which is rumored to have been between $5,000 and $10,000.
Despite the payment, the company was initially skeptical about the phone, which was running OS 4.0 before it was publicly announced.
But it said “the overall quality feels exactly like a finished final Apple phone—and disassembling this unit, there is so much evidence stacked in its favor, that there's very little possibility that it's a fake.
“In fact, the possibility is almost none. Imagine someone having to use Apple components to design a functioning phone, from scratch, and then disseminating it to people around the world. Pretty much impossible.”
John Gruber from the well-sourced Daring Fireball blog confirmed that Apple had indeed lost a phone and “is very interested in getting it back.”
Gizmodo said the back of the device was entirely flat, most likely made of glass or ceramic, with an extremely high-resolution display.
It is 3 grams heavier than the 3GS iPhone and the battery 16% bigger. The components have been shrunk to make room for the larger battery.