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I got some iPhone Prototypes

Brooklyn8

Brooklyn8

macrumors member
Original poster
Jan 3, 2009
59
3
I don't post on here(yet) however I though some of you guys might think these are cool. I also hope maybe you can give me some advice on how to get one of them to power up. :D

I picked up 2 iPhone prototypes on the bay. The seller didn't know what they were, and just listed them as as-is parts units. Neither units say "iPhone" on them anywhere, or list the storage capacity. I did some research on the serial numbers, it appears they were both manufactured about 6 months before the release of the iPhone.

Phone #1:
-Doesn't turn on (tried leaving on charger for awhile, along with various reset procedures)
-Glass screen
-Serial number YM650xxxxxx which corresponds to a factory in China, manufactured week 50 of the year 2006. (The iPhone was announced on Jan 6 2007 and release June 29 2007.)

Phone #2:
-Powers on OK
-Plastic screen
-Serial number YM649xxxxxx which corresponds to a factory in China, manufactured week 49 of the year 2006.
-Runs iPhone OS 03.06.01_G (iPhone Launch OS 1.0 was version 03.11.02_G)

The phone that works is pretty neat to use. It does make calls(with my ATT sim), and I can surf the net. However when I did get to web pages they were the mobile versions, not the regular versions. I can receive SMS but not compose my own, other than 5 included test messages. It doesn't sync to itunes. Camera seems to work. It has tons of testing options. I included some pictures for you all, cause if I don't have pics it didn't happen ;)

Also, the working phone has several subtitles that alternate on the screens including:

[Skank is the new black]
[Nine parts perspiration]
[Say hello to the Newton MessagePad 3000]
[Skankphone]

Two prototypes side to side: http://img119.imageshack.us/my.php?image=iphone1dw1.jpg

Back side of both models: http://img75.imageshack.us/my.php?image=iphone7pj1.jpg

Home screen of phone #2: http://img399.imageshack.us/my.php?image=iphone2go0.jpg

Dialing screen phone #2: http://img83.imageshack.us/my.php?image=iphone3bd3.jpg

Network band selection screen (quad band): http://img383.imageshack.us/my.php?image=iphone4ox2.jpg

Screen that shows the operation of various phone features: http://img352.imageshack.us/my.php?image=iphone5zz3.jpg

Browser(no page loaded): http://img383.imageshack.us/my.php?image=iphone6zd6.jpg
 
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Reactions: ASentientBot
Probably just need to restore with 2.2 and they will be fully functional. I vaguely remember someone getting an iPod Touch with that weird software on it. A DFU restore fixed it. It was fully functional afterwards.
 
The General said:
Probably just need to restore with 2.2 and they will be fully functional. I vaguely remember someone getting an iPod Touch with that weird software on it. A DFU restore fixed it. It was fully functional afterwards.
Click to expand...

!!!!!

Don't do that! You'll lose a copy of the beta (alpha?) software. It's exceedingly rare, and there's no reason to destroy something like that.

I'd recommend getting in touch with some skilled embedded hackers and seeing if they can dump the flash of the units. Might find some interesting gems there... ;-)
 
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This is truly a great find! It also seems to show you that the hardware team had no idea what the software team was working on as the buttons are all just place holders. My guess is that the software team had no idea what the hardware team had worked on either.

"Skank is the new black" Wow, that's one heck of an inside joke.
 
Yea, if there was a way to dump the firmware I would do it. Don't worry, I don't plan to wipe the working phone. Its possible that the current software wouldn't work anyway, as the hardware in this phone might not be the same as the hardware in the release version. I did try hooking the phone up to the computer in recovery mode to see if it would be detected ok, and I got a driver error message, even though I have the latest itunes.
 
Very interesting, that's a piece [or 2 pieces as it were] of iPhone history right there, thanks for sharing :)
 
when i read the title, i thought "oh god another douche with a painted back iphone claiming to be the new 4g or osmething' but this is pretty bad ass...deff dont erase that. send a message to the dev team and see if they can do something for you.
 
^ I second veeco3110's comments regarding contacting the dev team, would be interesting to see what they have to say, though I fear that because these are 2Gs they will be of little interest, still would be good to see if they could get the 1 working though.
 
OMG..
That my friend, is a great find.
Tell us, how much was that?

Just as a joke, you should take it into the Apple Store and see what they can do.:D
 
MST said:
^ I second veeco3110's comments regarding contacting the dev team, would be interesting to see what they have to say, though I fear that because these are 2Gs they will be of little interest, still would be good to see if they could get the 1 working though.
Click to expand...

Actually, this is a 1G.
Due to the fact that it's a prototype, I would call it a .5G.
 
ppc750fx said:
!!!!!

Don't do that! You'll lose a copy of the beta (alpha?) software. It's exceedingly rare, and there's no reason to destroy something like that.

I'd recommend getting in touch with some skilled embedded hackers and seeing if they can dump the flash of the units. Might find some interesting gems there... ;-)
Click to expand...

:apple:I would try to get in contact with the iPhone Dev team they may buy them from you or at least copy the firmware.:apple: DONT SYNC IN ITUNES ANYMORE!
 
OOOoooooo nice!
2.gif
 
How cool is that??
One question: You said the iphones were manufactures 6 month before the release.
Jobs announced the iPhone exactly 6 month before it's release and when he did that it was already running the OSX Software.
How comes that the working iPhone is still running the dummy software?
 
So, what do you plan to do with these?

I think we should all pitch in a little over paypal and give it as a gift to the dev team. they deserve it, right?
 
Well, the iPhone was announced on Jan 6 2007 and released June 29 2007. These were manufactured the first and second weeks of December 2006, which is still about a month before the announcement.

Also, I don't know what I'm going to do with these yet. I don't plan on using either one as a phone.
 
Lucbert said:
How cool is that??
One question: You said the iphones were manufactures 6 month before the release.
Jobs announced the iPhone exactly 6 month before it's release and when he did that it was already running the OSX Software.
How comes that the working iPhone is still running the dummy software?
Click to expand...

Get hardware bug-proof first before software. Then focus on the software.
 
Brooklyn8 said:
OK, here are some more quick pics-

Comparison picture of plastic screen vs. glass screen: http://img383.imageshack.us/my.php?image=iphoneaan3.jpg

SMS menu screen(when I press compose message, the software crashes back to the main menu): http://img383.imageshack.us/my.php?image=iphonebgk4.jpg

WiFi screen: http://img386.imageshack.us/my.php?image=iphonecxr0.jpg

Text Entry screen: http://img220.imageshack.us/my.php?image=iphonedxb6.jpg
Click to expand...

To be honest...I like the plastic screen. Looks nice.
 
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