We’d like offer a proverbial standing ovation to the fine folks at Gizmodo, who posted this morning a convincing visual and functional explication of the top-secret, yet-to-be-launched 2o1o iPhone. In a stupendously thoughtless misstep, someone left the prototype in a bar in Redwood City, California, and Gizmodo editors examined the phone from front to back, inside and out. We’re left wondering whether it’s all an elaborate red herring and if not, what happened to the unlucky Apple employee who lost the device. Unemployment? Most likely. Death? Quite possible. Peep the specs after the jump.
The most noticeable new features, via Gizmodo:
— Improved regular back-camera (the lens is quite noticeably larger than the iPhone 3GS) with flash — Improved display with much higher resolution than on a 3GS — Split buttons for volume — The back is entirely flat, made of either glass (more likely) or ceramic or shiny plastic in order for the cell signal to poke through — An aluminum border going completely around the outside; the shape is squared off instead of having a curved back — 16% larger battery
The blockier casing has been duly noted as a throwback to mid-century Braun electronics (which has already been recorded as a direct aesthetic influence on Jonathan Ives’s original iPod design). We’re digging the Dieter Rams-ish look; what say ye?
Tell us what you think: Real? Fake? Enough new features to justify replacing the current 3G model?
Update: In case you were curious, how much Gizmodo paid for the scoop.