Device literally raided by those who are in its possession

May 12, 2010 10:46 GMT  ·  By
Leaked images reveal that this new prototype is closer to production
2 photos
   Leaked images reveal that this new prototype is closer to production

It has been confirmed that a second fourth-generation Apple iPhone has been spotted in the wild, with its current “owners” posting tons of pictures and a video of the device. Via two well-known sites comes a massive amount of information regarding the prototype device, including the lack of certain features found on the first-leaked iPhone 4G.

Images of the device, originally leaked by Vietnamese forum Taoviet.vn, show that Apple’s next-generation iPhone is almost in production-ready state. Placeholders on the backside stamp are marked with “X”es, but a reference to the storage capacity can be seen - 16GB. The device isn’t likely to have iPhone OS 4.0 on it, judging from the “Bonfire” firmware test routine displayed on the screen. However, unlike Gizmodo’s iPhone 4G, this unit could actually be turned on. MacRumors points out that, “It appears to say ‘Inferno’ on the screen with some text on the bottom that indicates the battery life is at 24%.”

“There are also no screws on the bottom of this unit,” another observation over at the rumor-focused forum goes. This newer prototype may lack other hardware features as well (compared with the one lost by engineer Gray Powell), while featuring new ones too. Surely, this will be confirmed, once more tech-savvy people have a closer look at the parts making up this device.

Although visibly switched on, the device doesn’t respond to any input methods - pressing the home button, tapping on the screen, etc. The diagnostics mechanism appears to be the only proof that this iPhone is alive and kicking. A YouTube video uploaded by the folks at Tinhte.com shows the device in all its glory.

The person handling the unit points out (in a rather agitated manner) to all the new features, compared with current-generation iPhones. As shown in the video, this person seems to suggest that the new design makes Apple’s iPhone much more comfortable to hold and handle. The back side of the shell, which the protagonist taps on like crazy for no (apparent) good reason, is reportedly made of sapphire, a material known to be extremely scratch-resistant. Engadget notes that, “The cleaner design could indicate a newer prototype (closer to the actual retail model).”

Finally, more images leaked to these tech-focused sites suggest that a teardown is already underway. Those who pried open the prototype iPhone unit revealed that this device was also powered by an Apple chip (like the iPad), which doesn’t come as a surprise.

Photo Gallery (2 Images)

Leaked images reveal that this new prototype is closer to production
A teardown of the device in question - close-up shows an Apple-branded chip
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