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Prototype iPhone Spotted on eBay
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If these were late 2006 prototypes then they were very late generation prototypes. The most amazing thing is how late 2006 prototypes could still have looked so crappy. There were functioning prototypes around MUCH earlier in 2006. Those would be the interesting ones to see.
Several known things to factor in:
1) Apple didn't start porting OSX to the ARM until early 2006, just one year before the iPhone was publicly shown off. No doubt the UI took a long time to work out.
2) Only 30 people at Apple had ever seen it in one piece, with complete software, before Jan 2007. Even Google wasn't shown the entire thing until a month or two beforehand, although they had been working on software for it.
3) Apple employees only worked on pieces at a time. The final UI was hidden from some of them. Bogus models were also built to throw off internal employees.
4) Versions with a simple UI were built to allow Cingular to do preliminary radio testing.
With a build date of the first week of December 2006, it's possible that these were radio test models as in (4) above.
1) Apple didn't start porting OSX to the ARM until early 2006, just one year before the iPhone was publicly shown off. No doubt the UI took a long time to work out.
2) Only 30 people at Apple had ever seen it in one piece, with complete software, before Jan 2007. Even Google wasn't shown the entire thing until a month or two beforehand, although they had been working on software for it.
3) Apple employees only worked on pieces at a time. The final UI was hidden from some of them. Bogus models were also built to throw off internal employees.
4) Versions with a simple UI were built to allow Cingular to do preliminary radio testing.
With a build date of the first week of December 2006, it's possible that these were radio test models as in (4) above.
Android
I love how the interface looks more advanced than the android phone. And seems much easier to use than a windows mobile phone.
I love how the interface looks more advanced than the android phone. And seems much easier to use than a windows mobile phone.
iLounge points out a prototype iPhone recently listed on eBay. Obviously, it is difficult to determine the authenticity of these claims, but the prototype operating system depicted closely resembles the diagnostic screens found on the iPod Touch.
Two prototype iPhones are being sold. Neither have the word "iPhone" written on the back of them. Based on serial numbers, each unit was manufactured in China in late 2006. The iPhone wasn't officially announced until January 2007, and didn't start shipping until June 2007. The working unit runs iPhone OS 03.06.01_g vs the launch version which ran version 03.11.02_G.
Beta units of Apple products have been known to escape Apple's labs before. Recently a prototype MacBook Air was purchased on eBay by a MacRumors forum member.
Article Link: Prototype iPhone Spotted on eBay
so how come we haven't heared that the guy who bought/sold the prototype macbook air has been "arrested" or at least sued? as far as i know, buying stolen things is as illegal as stealing them
In the UK, at least, if you buy items 'in good faith' they are legally yours even if they turn out to be stolen. In the MacBook Air example I seem to remember that it was originally advertised and sold on Ebay as a standard MBA, so, in the UK, buying it under those provisos wouldn't be a crime.
i must be blind and stupid, but can somebody be so nice to post the link to the ebay auction?
iLounge points out aprototype iPhone recently listed on eBay. Obviously, it is difficult to determine the authenticity of these claims, but the prototype operating system depicted closely resembles the diagnostic screens found on the iPod Touch.
I have highlighted for you.
Yea my $1,575 bid was a tad off, lol. I would fail on Price is Right. I honestly laughed when someone was talking about $10,000 dollars!! Especially in this economy. But after looking this morning and its at $2,320, geeze that doesnt look to be out of this realm at all!!
NOOOOOOOOOOO Looks like someone from Cupertino found about the phones!!! Listing has been removed from Ebay. I wonder is someone at 1 Infinite Loop found out and called in some favors to the Ebay folks?? Either way guess we'll never know what the price would be, or where the phones are now!
That's both disappointing and suspicious. Maybe the pictures on the previous forum thread will be the next to go.
The last bid I saw was for $2,320. I really wish we could find out why it was pulled! I am going to to see if I can find that users name on ebay and send a messege to see what happend.
The video is back up on youtube! Might be posted by someone else but just search prototype iphone and its there and working.