Samsung v. Apple Trial Documents Reveal Early iPhone and iPad Prototypes

[MacRumors]

The plethora of court cases between Apple and other companies over trademarks, design decisions, and patents have only occasionally offered anything of interest to the average observer. Today, however, The Verge has dug up a treasure trove of images of early iPhone and iPad prototypes.

Early designs include an eight-sided iPhone with diagonal corners, early Sony-inspired designs, and another model that has the same aluminum-based design as the old iPod Mini.

Of particular note are multiple iterations of the iPad featuring different types of kickstands, what appears to be a 16:9 model with wide handles on either side, and an eight-sided iPhone with diagonal corners. Also of interest is a slim, sleek iPhone prototype labeled the N90. The N90 was widely believed to be the codename for the iPhone 4, and while this narrow device definitely bear some aesthetic similarities to Apple's glass-and-metal design, this variant appears to feature a much smaller screen.

One Sony-inspired design from 2006, which bears a "JONY" logo in honor of Apple chief designer Jonathan Ive, looks strikingly similar to the iPhone 4 that debuted years later.

The Verge has a number of other images scattered across two different posts. They're worth a look.

Article Link: Samsung v. Apple Trial Documents Reveal Early iPhone and iPad Prototypes

 

[S.B.G]

Glad those designs didn't make the cut!

 

[Dewroo]

Some of these designs are incredibleeee

 

[SPNarwhal]

I actually really like both of those designs. Especially the one that looks like an iPod Mini.

 

[iAppl3Fan]

Those look hideous. I'm glad they didn't make the cut otherwise I may not have owned the original one....lol

 

[barberio]

But "The iphone design is obvious!", so why on earth are there all these alternative design prototypes... I mean, it's not like they took a long time on working out the exact way a phone like this should look, because that would mean the design patent might be a valid use of the patent system.

 

[nickn]

So even when Apple blatantly copies Sony, that is all fine and dandy, but when Sammy was apparently "inspired" by Apple, a court case is immediately started... Ok, then....

 

[street.cory]

Don't Go!

I hope Jony Ive doesn't go anywhere. I've thoroughly enjoyed his designs throughout the years.

 

[Reach9]

Waiting to see if Sony sues Apple for using their logo!

 

[Sixtafoua]

Love the 8-sided design. It would work great with a 4+ inch screen.

 

[9822737]

The one on the right reminds me of the recent Nokia Lumia's!

 

[harley3k]

The one on the right looks like the new Nokia...

Er I guess the new Nokia looks like the old iPod Mini.

Never noticed that before.

 

[dscuber9000]

Waiting to see if Sony sues Apple for using their logo!

Apple's not allowed to Photoshop?

 

[Capt Underpants]

We hit the jackpot today! A rare glimpse inside Apple's design process.

 

[Konrad9]

Ah yes, the Battlestar Galactica version of the iPhone.

 

[aricher]

The 8-sided one looks a bit like the iCoffin:

 

[ivladster]

So even when Apple blatantly copies Sony, that is all fine and dandy, but when Sammy was apparently "inspired" by Apple, a court case is immediately started... Ok, then....

Copies Sony? Did you even read the article. It was Apple designer who made that, because they wanted to see what Sony phone might look like back in 2006. It was all part of research. It was inspired by Sony's design ethics, but that's not Sony's product. Read!

 

[barberio]

So even when Apple blatantly copies Sony, that is all fine and dandy, but when Sammy was apparently "inspired" by Apple, a court case is immediately started... Ok, then....

Except the 'Sony' prototype wasn't a copy of any existing Sony-Ericson phone or product. It just took some hints about chrome and black plastic. And I also note that early design was one where they hadn't yet consolidated all front facing buttons into a single home button. It's basically a design excersize of identifying what a touch screen phone of some kind might look like. And that it does not imediately have all the design features of the iPhone is suggestive that those features are non-obvious and worthy of protected design patents and trademarks.

 

[ivladster]

Waiting to see if Sony sues Apple for using their logo!

It's an internal court document, why would Sony sue?
People put apple logo all over the place, it doesn't mean Apple has to sue them all. Only when people try to mimic and fool people into thinking it's Apple design when its not, like Samsung.

 

[wkdtime]

Interesting, Wonder what else comes out with all these proceedings.

 

[ivladster]

Except the 'Sony' prototype wasn't a copy of any existing Sony-Ericson phone or product. It just took some hints about chrome and black plastic. And I also note that early design was one where they hadn't yet consolidated all front facing buttons into a single home button. It's basically a design excersize of identifying what a touch screen phone of some kind might look like. And that it does not imediately have all the design features of the iPhone is suggestive that those features are non-obvious and worthy of protected design patents and trademarks.

Which makes a great argument in the court.

 

[east85]

Thank god we never got a "menu" button.

 

[Serelus]

I actually really like both of those designs. Especially the one that looks like an iPod Mini.

So buy A nokia lumia.

 

[adildacoolset]

Thank god we never got a "menu" button.

Funny enough, if it WAS included, we'd have a "thank god we never got that ugly rounded square"

 

[pgiguere1]

So even when Apple blatantly copies Sony, that is all fine and dandy, but when Sammy was apparently "inspired" by Apple, a court case is immediately started... Ok, then....

"Blatantly copies"?

Did you read the article?

The design was made by Apple, not Sony, they just decided to put a Sony logo on the concept image to imagine what a nice looking Sony phone would look like. It was just Jony Ive having a little fun, those were not meant to be publicly shown originally.

Sony smartphones from 2006 looked like this: