14 DAY TRIAL // A video and pictures purporting to depict various internal parts and design changes of the alleged iPhone 5 have surfaced on the web.
While the video in question has been taken down due to a copyright claim by none other than Apple Inc., the pictures keep floating around, fueling what is clearly the hottest string of rumors Apple die-hard fans could ask for.
The images in question show parts that are clearly different from the current-generation hardware.
Notable changes include the antenna design, the screen frame, the internal camera assembly, and the placement of various internal parts.
A picture that highlights the differences in detail (alleged iPhone 5 on the left) is available above.
It may be too early to speculate further than what these pictures purport to show, but readers are more than welcome to share their impressions with us in the comments.
The source of these images is reportedly GlobalDirectParts.com.
“We have carefully examined and scrutinized these components and have confirmed 100% that these are born from an Apple iPhone not yet released,” the PDA and smartphone parts supplier said.
“Could it be parts for the CDMA Apple iPhone 5 for Verizon Wireless or simply a reworked Next Generation Apple iPhone 5 or Apple iPhone 4 for AT&T that will be released ahead of Apple’s Traditional June Launch?” GlobalDirectParts.com asks.
“Perhaps these parts belong to an Apple iPhone 4 CDMA Version that will be released on Verizon Wireless Only? One thing is for certain, these parts are new and internals for a yet unreleased Apple iPhone Handset,” the company concludes.
It is possible, some claim, that the new design pertains to an improved version of the iPhone 4, perhaps the one rumored to emerge on the Verizon CDMA network.
And while the clearly visible SIM card tray would indicate otherwise, it is also possible that Apple is going for a universal design with the upcoming iPhone model, be it an improved version of the current-generation handset, or the 5.0 iteration of its insanely popular smartphone.
Perhaps it is worth noting that Apple pundit John Gruber (of the Daring Fireball) calls the news “Crazy.”
He adds: “My guess is that these are parts from N92, the upcoming (but as yet still unnannounced) CDMA iPhone 4. But why a SIM card slot? World compatibility?”, he writes.
