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The back of the iPhone 4G to be made of ceramics?

Good thing this iphone-4g 'prototype' got found. Now apple can use our feedback on it's design to make some changes, cuz it looks awful imo.
Doubt any removable battery though, would be handy.
 
This design looks very "Sony Ericsson"!

I don't mind the look of the buttons (perhaps they're designed to be multi-function, not just for volume control), and slim is always a good thing, but two things bug me about it:

- The seams in the case are pretty ugly, and will collect dirt/dust.

- Edges look very square - doesn't look like it will be as comfortable to hold as the smooth edges of the 3G/3GS.
 
Although I do kinda like it, I'm not totally convinced. I think that devices like the HTC legend seem to have dealt with aluminium and replaceable batteries in a much more elegant manner.

Also In 10 years, the only time I've had to access the battery of a phone was to replace the SIM that’s underneath it, or to force it off after its crashed on me. So to be honest I'd retain a non replaceable battery just so I can keep that seam at bay.

In a strange way, it reminds me of the offspring of two Sony phones I used to own;

the K750i - one of the best phones I ever owned (prior to my iPhone, naturally)

.. and the c902 - one of the worst

I should stipulate "best and worst" are only in terms of user experience, not design
 
ghostlines said:
Good thing this iphone-4g 'prototype' got found. Now apple can use our feedback on it's design to make some changes, cuz it looks awful imo.
.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, if it is real, its now far too late to make any major design changes for a June release.
 
iZac said:
the K750i - one of the best phones I ever owned
Click to expand...

I totally agree. Even though it was a bit clunky and the software was slow and laggy it was one of the most stable and versatile mobile phones I have ever had. It also survived countless drops :)

And one of the best features was sliding open the camera lens cover on the backside and pressing the * sign to get an instant flashlight that was really bright :)
 
Hm... I thought about this for a while.. and I realized that this would be the perfect decoy for Apple.

They noted that the next iPhone would be an "A+" update.. so how can you divert attention from your manufacturing and design process?

You create a 'dummy' phone, which you have conviently laying about next to an iPad. And then dump it in some kind of bar 3 months later.

Especially the bar part is really spotty, a regular person hardly loses his phone in a bar. What are the odds that an highly placed Apple employee, (I reckon you'd have to be at the top in order to acquire a new iPhone model) losing a top secret project in a freaking bar.

Do those people even visit bars?

It doesn't make sense. Nor does the design, which I'll keep ranting on about.

Besides, SJ could be all: "well, we all know that these pictures of the iPhone had leaked. And we studied the responses, and noted that actually few people appreciated the features it had, and especially loathed the design. Of course it was a fake phone, but it gave us a nice opportunity to study what our consumers want. So here's the new iPhone, prettier and snappier than ever, alas without a user-removeable battery and front facing camera, because you guys have seen how ugly it was going to be with those features. It would have looked like our competitors' phones."

Think about it. Apple loves publicity.
 
Steve Jobs would say something more by the lines of: "We have asked our customers, and apparently: they don't even want such a thing!"
 
look at the back

if you look at the back of the phone, youll notice its not an apple logo, its actually some circle tron looking thing. so... with the logo not being right, it being ugly as crap itself, having a sim card reader, and removable battery. im going to throw the bs flag on this phone.

apple obviously isnt worried about competition, they made the iphone with no buttons lol. but on top of that, look at their line up. all the macbook pros, ipads, and ipods all do NOT have removable batteries. we dont need removable batteries anymore, this isnt the 90s. and with them now making sim card reader attachments for the ipad, what makes you think this phone would be real. dont be so stupid. as for the looks, apple has patiended the chrome besel and i dont think that they would patient it and then stop using it. this phone dont even look like apple grade looks. it looks bolky and poorly designed. if they change the design (and i think they will), they will prolly make it look like the ipad.

i hope macrumors post an article that at least says this is fake. that way when it does come out to be fake, they can say they said it was.
 
specs

hello, here's something i do not understand: somebody lost a prototype in a bar, it was found and...
... where is it now? engadget have it?
why is nobody taking it apart and telling us what's inside? which processor, how much ram. etc?

B
 
Berio said:
hello, here's something i do not understand: somebody lost a prototype in a bar, it was found and...
... where is it now? engadget have it?
why is nobody taking it apart and telling us what's inside? which processor, how much ram. etc?

B
Click to expand...

If it is a prototype it most likely an older lab prototype where concern about final design is last on the list of priorities and testing for stuff like signal interference with various material shells are more important.
 
Trexznl said:
Hm... I thought about this for a while.. and I realized that this would be the perfect decoy for Apple.

Besides, SJ could be all: "well, we all know that these pictures of the iPhone had leaked. And we studied the responses, and noted that actually few people appreciated the features it had, and especially loathed the design.
Click to expand...

i doubt SJ or anybody else thinks that the responses on these forums are in any way representative of the millions of people who buy apple products.
 
mdriftmeyer said:
If it is a prototype it most likely an older lab prototype where concern about final design is last on the list of priorities and testing for stuff like signal interference with various material shells are more important.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I'm thinking prototype, at most. Maybe just a testbed for the 4G electronics so it can be tested 'incognito' in the wild. Same way unreleased cars are road tested:
 

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Not Apple material!!!

I'm suprised so many people think this is the next gen iPhone. The only way I would consider this significant is because there might be a slim chance that the handset pictured is simply a housing to test certain hardware in real world situations. From a design perspective this is a step backwards compared to the past 3 generations.

User replaceable battery? highly unlikely for Apple to do any such thing since it opens the door for 3rd party manufacturers, harms the aesthetics of the handset (yes, a big deal for Apple) and provides for another opportunity for potential casing damage/failure. Besides, the average consumer upgrades their phone before the battery even needs replacing. There would be no need for Apple to factor this into the next generation iPhone. Especially considering hardly anyone avoids considering the current iPhone despite it's non user replaceable battery.

Jonathan Ive doesn't do stuff like this. Anyone that has even a basic knowledge of Apple's products over the past decade knows they never skimp on design. Especially to implement a feature that doesn't even worry the average consumer.
 
mdriftmeyer said:
If it is a prototype it most likely an older lab prototype where concern about final design is last on the list of priorities and testing for stuff like signal interference with various material shells are more important.
Click to expand...


well yes, final design is last on my list of priorities too, so why are these threads all about the appearance and exterior? rather than the specs of the next gen iphone?

the prototype that was found did contain the guts of an iphone right?
where is this prototype npw?
 
Environmental Considerations?

Not sure if anybody else has mentioned this, but - from an environmental perspective - a replaceable battery makes a lot of sense. Apple has been criticised heavily by Greenpeace for not allowing the battery to be removed from the enclosure (which would expand the lifespan of the device and allow for safer regulation of the disposal of the battery). If you think about the environmental sensitivities/considerations shown on the newer Macbook/Macbook Pros, then it is not out of the question that Apple could be motivated to improve their green credentials for the iPhone.
 
To everyone saying that Apple wouldn't include a user-replaceable battery:

The EU is passing new laws that require all cell phones for sale in the EU to have a user-replaceable battery. Apple is not exempt from this, and I don't see them building a special "EU Only" iPhone with a user-replaceable battery.

Also; remember this is a prototype. This is by no means the final design. Personally, I quite like it...

And another thing; Why hasn't Apple demanded the pictures etc. be removed? This is a big story on all the major tech. blogs now. Just now, there's still doubt that it is the real thing, but what bigger confirmation would there be that this is real than if Apple demanded that it be taken down?
 
Salacion said:
Not too keen on the possibility of a removable battery. Who is really going to swap batteries?
Click to expand...

We swap spare batteries all the time:

  • When my wife forgets to charge her phone and is going crazy leaving for work.
  • When we're on a camping trip, it's simple to take spare batteries.
  • After I spend all day on the phone and then want to go out all night. Just swap in a charged spare and I'm good to go.
  • After my daughter spends a long time using Slingplayer watching TV and my battery is about dead, I don't mind... just swap in a spare.
People without the ability to use a spare battery, often adjust their lifestyle to their phone. I believe the phone should adjust to mine.

Swappable batteries also make a phone more attractive to business usage, and they could be very handy if video calling gets popular.
 
Why does everybody get emotional over progress???

Anthony T said:
Am I the only one who DOESN'T want a user-replaceable battery? I feel like it will affect the phone's design in a bad way.
Click to expand...

Not to pick on you directly but Apple employes many good engineers they can move the iPhone in new directions with ease. Frankly you sound like some guy from the last century complaining about the last steam engine going out of service. The experience didn't get worst or better it is just a different experience.

As to the new design, I'm undecided. I'm not the least bit worried about the device appearance but I was really hoping for a larger screen and a USB or SD port. When it comes to phones functionality is king.

Dave
 
There are directives pressing every manufacturer to include removable batteries on their devices, granted. However, Apple already provides free recycling for all their batteries, thus making the main objective of the directives redundant. Being so, why should it be pressed in order to make the batteries removable?
 
Trexznl said:
They noted that the next iPhone would be an "A+" update.. so how can you divert attention from your manufacturing and design process?
Click to expand...


Steve Jebbs also said the next line of Macbook Pros would be on the next level!!! Errrrrr 13" with C2D processors and pretty standard graphics which according to steve are "killer"!


Fail
 
kdarling said:
We swap spare batteries all the time:

  • When my wife forgets to charge her phone and is going crazy leaving for work.
  • When we're on a camping trip, it's simple to take spare batteries.
  • After I spend all day on the phone and then want to go out all night. Just swap in a charged spare and I'm good to go.
  • After my daughter spends a long time using Slingplayer watching TV and my battery is about dead, I don't mind... just swap in a spare.
People without the ability to use a spare battery, often adjust their lifestyle to their phone. I believe the phone should adjust to mine.

Swappable batteries also make a phone more attractive to business usage, and they could be very handy if video calling gets popular.
Click to expand...


Well put


Totally Agree
 
I also doubt Apple will introduce an user removable battery in the next iPhone, even more considering that the only evidente for that is simply this small hole next to the mini jack connector. That hole could also indicate the presence of a led light for notifications. Or it could mean absolutely nothing because it is there for prototype designing reasons.
 
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