Apparent Next-Generation iPhone Gets a Thorough Hands-On

[CubusX]

New Design

A lot of people seem to think it is a step backwards. I have to agree, it does not seem to have the sleek design we have come acustom to in Apple devices.

Maybe the hopes were to make a strudy phone that will not have it's signal depleated by an aluminum casing.

Hopefully they aren't in development yet and will be redesigned. It's not attractive and seems bulky. There goes the thinner case out the window.

 

[squirrellydw]

ugly

the case is ugly but I think it will look like the regular iphone if you just put a ring around it to finish it off.

 

[DotCom2]

Why is there some debate as to whether the back is glass, plastic or ceramic?
Don't the people who have this in their hands know?

 

[hwhalers]

eww

Oy.

Yeah. This thing is Apple ugly, not ugly ugly .

 

[ReallyOldGuy]

If this were real we would be seeing a video of the software and the screen. Lets see it working people!!

you really shouldn't jump in after 400 posts.....

 

[womble2k2]

Having looked at the various images and videos now available of this device, I have to say I love the design. It is refreshing, it is different and it stands out as something new.

Most of the features (below) I've been hoping for Apple to include are now present, so roll on June / July.

Front facing camera - Yes
5 or 8 Mpix camera - Yes
Xenon flash - Looks like LED to me, which is an improvement but doesn't have the throw of Xenon.
microSD - No
microUSB - No
Noise cancellation - Looks like it
Inductive (wireless) charging - ?
Touch sensitive casing - I believe so
3 x optical zoom - No - Although I'm not surprised as it would be difficult to house
Longer battery life - Yes

Features added by iPhone OS 4;
Folders - Yes
Multitasking - Yes
Improved mail - yes

 

[pdjudd]

Why is there some debate as to whether the back is glass, plastic or ceramic?
Don't the people who have this in their hands know?

Gizmodo talks about it in their article and they say it is either a really shiny plastic or a ceramic - they don't know for sure.

 

[Mac.]

Wow, ugly as hell. Looks like the 3G in that pic is THE newer model.

 

[Anuba]

Somebody just got themselves fired...the fact that it's squareish on the edges instead of rounded seems odd, but it could be legit, IMO.

I dunno, it all feels curiously intentional. Considering the ludicrous security restrictions in effect @ Apple (stories about developers being required to keep future iPhones tethered to desks, only in rooms with blackened windows etc) it seems bizarre that someone would just accidentally drop an iPhone 4G in a public location.

Apple knows by now that there will *always* be leaks, no matter how tight the security is. There's just too many people involved, from Chinese factory workers to accessory manufacturers who leak like sieves. And being notorious control freaks, maybe Apple figured that the only way to control the leaks is to start planting controlled leaks. Maybe they're dubious about the new case design and wanted to float it by the rumor sites before it's too late to tweak it. Or maybe it's the most elaborate decoy ever.

Either way, I don't think the squarish edges and flat back are all that odd, really. They need more room to house the new stuff (front facing cam, better optics, larger battery and probably 64 GB), but they don't want to make the device thicker at its thickest point, so instead they expand it in the previously curved/tapered areas. Maybe they're also disappointed with how the iPhone is doing in the enterprise world, so they reluctantly decided to make it more conventional and rugged, with a replaceable battery. Maybe the new glass/ceramic back needs to be flat and needs a metal frame to support it, in which case the new design was necessitated by the choice of material. It sure beats going back to an ugly plastic "wireless window" on the back.

And to anyone who says this is a step backward, well... I personally felt that the 3G/3GS was a huge step backward from the original aluminum iPhone, which looked much more premium than its cheap plastic successor. The new one ditches the plastic (which kept cracking for a lot of people) and brings back the premium look and feel, with nothing but glass and metal all around, and no stupid chrome that gets scratched up... I like it, and my JustMobile xStand is probably going to like it too since it will finally be able to hold an iPhone that stays firmly in place.

 

[Joe23]

It would be hilarious if Apple leaked this, all of the competitors make something identical to it and bam Apple comes out with the next iPhone that looks even better.

I agree with this. As much as I actually do like the design of the "leaked" iPhone, I can imagine they'll announce something that looks even better in June and being Apple they'll probably never even acknowledge the existence of this one.

Either way, I'm excited to see what they actually do come up with. In terms of new hardware additions, they've got it spot on.

 

[Diode]

Gruber doesn't think it's real. Here's a tweet from him :

"Remote-wiped iPhones still power on. This thing is a total hoax, and if it's true they're charging money to see it, shameful."

But they can turn it on - they just get a connect to itunes screen. However dunno why they don't show it....

 

[Tones2]

I'm sure of two things:

1) There is no way that Apple has staged this themselves. If they did and someone found out, it would cause them a slew of negative press and maybe even legal action. Plus, they are admitting that there a new phone exists and is coming soon which hurts there current sales (and even though all of US here know there's a new phone coming, the general public is rather unware about these things). This would be WAY too risky for Apple.

2) There is no way this phone was "found" in a bar. It was obviously stolen in some way, probably not at a bar as there is no way Apple let's someone carry this out of the building.

Now, whether this is a final design phone or not - who knows. Most likely a protype where the final design will still be tweeked.

Tony

 

[DJ Dilbert]

Couldn't it possibly just be a prototype version that Apple either discarded or maybe purposely let out as a marketing strategy to get people psyched again for a new release. That second one may be a little far fetched, but then again who knows what they are thinking.

I agree that it would be very un-apple like but they are well known for "Thinking Differently ".

What do you all think?

 

[macfan881]

again this being a prototype we don't know how early of one this is i think now between either wwdc will see a few minor brush ups. between now and then.

 

[Shasterball]

I don't think it's very responsible to take someone’s property (that probably had identifying information on it, so you could find them) and destroy it. I think it's pretty dumb to attach your face to the destruction of the property....

 

[NSK123]

It's not attractive and seems bulky.

Bulky? The 3GS is much more bulky than the new one. Look at the comparison

 

[Mac Head]

Felt like sharing some of my thoughts.

The more I look at it, the more I like the design. Very sharp yet smooth, it also has that distinct Apple quality build and finish. The only thing I would change in exterior design is probably make the aluminium side sit flush, and maybe make the home button a rounded square. This design looks inspired by Sony (some phones and MP3 players).

Also I am not sure if this phone is actually going to be ahead enough in technology, phones with 8MP cameras are becoming normal. Flash on a phone was standard 5 years ago. OLED screens are becoming standard etc. All this and Apple are only releasing in summer. I hope they are bringing some bigger surprises too... Otherwise the iPhone could just end up following the same route that the Macintosh computers are currently taking.

P.S Let's hope they have proper bluetooth!

 

[Peace]

But they can turn it on - they just get a connect to itunes screen. However dunno why they don't show it....

That was my point earlier before it got personal.

I see no reason why Gizmodo would leave out such an important photo.

Either it is real and it is no longer in the hands of Gizmodo and Apple has it already or it's a purposeful leak by Apple.

This is Monday. A BIG news day on the internets. Strange coincidence indeed.

 

[DJ Dilbert]

2) There is no way this phone was "found" in a bar. It was obviously stolen in some way, probably not at a bar as there is no way Apple let's someone carry this out of the building.
Tony

That's definitely true, "finding at a bar" does sound like an excuse that was fabricated. If someone wasn't supposed to have something and they want to tell people about it then the likely excuse is that they "found" it someplace it shouldn't have been.

Oh well, we'll see in due time.

 

[LagunaSol]

If this was an unintentional leak, I hope Lord Jobs doesn't destroy Alderaan as a retaliatory demonstration of his power in the galaxy.

 

[hwhalers]

microSD - No
microUSB - No

Did you honestly believe an Apple product would ever have either of those, though?

 

[/dev/toaster]

Sorry, I stil don't believe it. If this really is the next gen iPhone then Apple lost their touch and we are all in serious trouble. That thing is disgusting looking!

There is no way Apple intends on releasing this device. This has to be a red herring.

 

[str1f3]

Anyone who thinks this new iPhone is ugly may want to check out the new Droid Incredible for a little perspective:


*shudder*

My god that thing is ugly but tech now mostly compare artistic styles between different Apple designs and not competing products.

 

[newdeal]

...

Let the ives nuthugging from all tge people who said they would never buy this

 

[richard371]

Correct me if I am wrong here but

aren't prototypes intellectual property of Apple? Can't that poor guy be sued big time for keeping it and showing it online. Something is fishy here. I bet it is a decoy otherwise this guy would have been anon.