I got some iPhone Prototypes

Brooklyn8 · Jan 3, 2009, 08:03 PM

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.

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

The General · Jan 3, 2009, 08:07 PM

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.

zap2 · Jan 3, 2009, 08:07 PM

wow!

those shots of #2 are cool!

how much they phone cost you?(if you don't mind me asking)

ppc750fx · Jan 4, 2009, 12:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The General

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.

!!!!!

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... ;-)

QuarterSwede · Jan 4, 2009, 01:00 AM

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.

Brooklyn8 · Jan 4, 2009, 02:05 PM

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.

Chris Bangle · Jan 4, 2009, 02:21 PM

That is an awesome ebay buy!!! Homescreens quite comical, (playground)

MST · Jan 4, 2009, 04:26 PM

Very interesting, that's a piece [or 2 pieces as it were] of iPhone history right there, thanks for sharing

veeco3110 · Jan 4, 2009, 04:38 PM

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.

MST · Jan 4, 2009, 04:44 PM

^ 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.

iParis · Jan 4, 2009, 04:53 PM

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.

iParis · Jan 4, 2009, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MST

^ 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.

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

MST · Jan 4, 2009, 04:58 PM

^ 0.5G, I like it

svndmvn · Jan 4, 2009, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iParis

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

how do you know these phones aren't EDGE=2G?

acfusion29 · Jan 4, 2009, 05:32 PM

I like the UI

I'm curious... can you take a pic of SMS? I'd like to see how that looks! Thanks

iParis · Jan 4, 2009, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by svndmvn

how do you know these phones aren't EDGE=2G?

How do you know they are?

Brooklyn8 · Jan 4, 2009, 07:24 PM

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

Airforcekid · Jan 4, 2009, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ppc750fx

!!!!!

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... ;-)

I would try to get in contact with the iPhone Dev team they may buy them from you or at least copy the firmware.

DONT SYNC IN ITUNES ANYMORE!

paulandre · Jan 4, 2009, 07:58 PM

OOOoooooo nice! [IMG]http://**************/img/1858/y08m1110mhmd/2.gif[/IMG]

Lucbert · Jan 4, 2009, 08:12 PM

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?

kinkster · Jan 4, 2009, 10:14 PM

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?

Brooklyn8 · Jan 4, 2009, 10:17 PM

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.

acfusion29 · Jan 4, 2009, 10:20 PM

It'd be cool if he could somehow SSH into it and then extract the entire system.

Warbrain · Jan 4, 2009, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lucbert

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?

Get hardware bug-proof first before software. Then focus on the software.

Warbrain · Jan 4, 2009, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brooklyn8

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

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

Jan 3, 2009, 08:07 PM	#3
zap2 macrumors 604 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Washington D.C	wow! those shots of #2 are cool! how much they phone cost you?(if you don't mind me asking) __________________ "We can't all be heroes because somebody has to sit on the curb and clap as they go by." Will Rogers
	0

Jan 4, 2009, 01:00 AM	#5
QuarterSwede macrumors 604 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Colorado Springs, CO	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. __________________ Help stop children from viewing internet pornography. "Next to the Word of God, the noble art of music is the greatest treasure in the world." -- Martin Luther
	0

Jan 4, 2009, 02:21 PM	#7
Chris Bangle macrumors 6502a Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: UK	That is an awesome ebay buy!!! Homescreens quite comical, (playground) __________________ imac G4....Classic II....Performa 6200....2nd gen 4gb blue mini....30gb black 5g....2nd gen 1gb shuffle.....
	0

Jan 4, 2009, 04:26 PM	#8
MST macrumors 6502 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: London, UK	Very interesting, that's a piece [or 2 pieces as it were] of iPhone history right there, thanks for sharing __________________ Under construction...
	0

Jan 4, 2009, 04:38 PM	#9
veeco3110 macrumors 6502 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: brick nj	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. __________________ ive been hearing rumors of a revolution...
	0

Jan 3, 2009, 08:03 PM	#1
Brooklyn8 macrumors member Join Date: Jan 2009	I got some iPhone Prototypes 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. 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
	0

Jan 3, 2009, 08:07 PM	#2
The General Banned Join Date: Jul 2006	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.
	0

Jan 4, 2009, 02:05 PM	#6
Brooklyn8 Thread Starter macrumors member Join Date: Jan 2009	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.
	0

Jan 4, 2009, 04:44 PM	#10
MST macrumors 6502 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: London, UK	^ 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. __________________ Under construction...
	0

Jan 4, 2009, 04:53 PM	#11
iParis macrumors 68040 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: New Mexico	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. __________________ - AirPort Express Base Station 2012 - iPhone 5 64GB / Black & Slate / Verizon / iOS 7 b1 - MacBook C2D 2.16GHz / 2GB ram / 120GB HD / 10.7.5 - Mac mini C2D 1.83GHz / 4GB ram / 120GB HD / 10.7.5
	0

Jan 4, 2009, 04:58 PM	#13
MST macrumors 6502 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: London, UK	^ 0.5G, I like it __________________ Under construction...
	0

Jan 4, 2009, 05:32 PM	#15
acfusion29 Guest Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto	I like the UI I'm curious... can you take a pic of SMS? I'd like to see how that looks! Thanks
	0

Jan 4, 2009, 07:24 PM	#17
Brooklyn8 Thread Starter macrumors member Join Date: Jan 2009	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
	0

Jan 4, 2009, 07:58 PM	#19
paulandre macrumors newbie Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Bay Area, CA	OOOoooooo nice! [IMG]http://**************/img/1858/y08m1110mhmd/2.gif[/IMG]
	0

Jan 4, 2009, 08:12 PM	#20
Lucbert macrumors regular Join Date: Dec 2008	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? __________________ 13" MacBook Pro, 2.26 GhZ, 3GB RAM; iPhone 3GS 16GB; 4 GB iPod Nano
	0

Jan 4, 2009, 10:14 PM	#21
kinkster macrumors 6502a Join Date: Sep 2008	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?
	0

Jan 4, 2009, 10:17 PM	#22
Brooklyn8 Thread Starter macrumors member Join Date: Jan 2009	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.
	0

Jan 4, 2009, 10:20 PM	#23
acfusion29 Guest Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto	It'd be cool if he could somehow SSH into it and then extract the entire system.
	0

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