Design of iPhone 4G Prototype Was Nearly Final?

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Posted April 22, 2010 at 11:45am by iClarified

Barcodes attached to the iPhone 4G prototype revealed by Gizmodo indicate that it was nearly a finalized design.

Daring Fireball's John Gruber has learned that starting a few weeks ago a number of iPhone engineers were allowed to begin using pre-production units outside of the Apple campus. These units were disguised as the iPhone 3G/3GS, were not allowed to be demonstrated to anyone, and were tagged with barcodes to distinguish the unit.

According to Gizmodo, one of the barcodes attached to the unit read “N90_DVT_GE4X_0493”. According to several sources (of mine) familiar with the project, “N90” is Apple’s codename for the fourth-generation GSM iPhone, slated for release this June or July. “DVT” stands for “design verification test”, an Apple production milestone. The DVT milestone is very late in the game; based on this, I now believe that this unit very closely, if not exactly, resembles what Apple plans to release.

Gruber continues on to discuss the legal and ethical issues that Gizmodo faces by having published this story.

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Design of iPhone 4G Prototype Was Nearly Final?

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ricardo - April 23, 2010 at 10:55am

My goodness. It is very square, in fact ugly or common. lost its appealing look. I was expecting something very similar to the shape of iphones and ipads. You hear me Steve?

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Jay - April 22, 2010 at 5:53pm

I think when they announce this iPhone this summer they should have the guy who lost it start the Keynote instead of Jobs.... It would be funny.

Humberto - April 23, 2010 at 2:32am

Or at least with the new 'wallpaper on the springboard', put his picture in the backround ! HA HA HA

mdc - April 22, 2010 at 1:43pm

You like it in the butt, sir.

Noman - April 22, 2010 at 1:52pm

t11chb: You seem to have misunderstood the story behind this. Apple knew this device was missing but did not know who had it. When they found out who had it they asked for it back. It's a bit late for C&D now, everyone's already seen it.

bumble berry - April 22, 2010 at 3:18pm

I love you guys, you make me laugh. Yay iPhone!

bumble berry - April 23, 2010 at 4:53am

Don't take that t11! Did you hear what he just called your momma? Cyber fight!

bumble berry - April 23, 2010 at 8:32am

No way! That's a burn! Who prefers green apples to red? I sure do. More brain milk for everyone.